Googlr regional search

[DMZ]

I am in Ireland but use a "domain.com". When I use google.ie , as a large number of people in Ireland would, I am presented with a radio button allowing me to select pages from Ireland. If I select this option does google only look for "domain.ie" type domains or will my site be found? Thanks.

[PaulHarris]

I have a .com that is listed in the .co.uk of yahoo and google. I think its also down to where the server is located with your site on it.... unless anyone can tell me otherwise

[Johan007]

Nothing to do with where server is located. these are the ways to get into regional.

1. You have a .co.uk that points to your .com
2. You run off a .co.uk
3. An editor of DMOZ has ticked your domain as a UK website

ALo note there are two query string variables that can be used by portals countryGB and countryUK. Pages from the uk use both GB and UK strings:

UK (erm was used by NTL at one time)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...cr%3DcountryUK

GB (no one uses yet I think)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...cr%3DcountryGB

GB + UK (Google pages from the uk arial button)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...UK%7CcountryGB

[I, Brian]

It has a lot to do with where your server is located. For UK sites, you need a .co.uk OR be physically hosted in the UK to show in UK only results. I should assume a similar criteria for Ireland searches as having an Irish tld OR hosted in Ireland to qualify.

I know the server issue works because I moved *all* of my websites to UK servers from the US to tap into the additional marketing and branding potential.

[Johan007]

I, Brian m8 are you 100% sure about server location cos I have to strongly disagree and have evidence to back it up:

www.eurocarsbushey.com has always been hosted in the UK and so has www.kilrushcars.com (Ultra-hosting in London). They will only be listed in pages in the UK when I hook up the .co.uk

The main point is why should server location even factor? Many UK people use US servers and apart from ping times there is no reason to consider this a factor.

[loki]

i can confirm that brian is 100% correct re *true* uk-based hosting.

this is not the same as a hosting co that is based in the uk, with their servers somewhere else, usually the usa.

craig

[Johan007]

I have used trace route and all mine and above are hosted in the uk, I have seen pictures of the data centres and they are UK. They say that they are hosted in the UK. Just look at the fast ping times if you live in the UK (or slow if you live in the US). I have used co's that host in the US in past and the ping times are slow.

I have plenty of evidence for my case have you?

oh and this actually helps back up my claims...

Originally Posted by loki

this is not the same as a hosting co that is based in the uk, with their servers somewhere else, usually the usa.

...and its for that reason why Google does not regard server location as a factor.

[loki]

i manage a .com site that was hosted in the usa, and getting poor results in the google 'uk sites only' serps.

i changed the hosting co 6 monhs back and within 10 days was getting great results.

i realise it's just one example, but the advice came from someone i trust (makemetop) and the results were spot on.

could there be other factors influencing your situation that have been overlooked?

[Johan007]

Again that’s not evidence you need to give the URL in your post so we can take a peek.

The only 3 ways I know to get into "pages in the uk" are in my above post however if you have a .net / .org etc… domain name then I have no idea how they know where its from apart from DMOZ editors and so this is the only type of domain that I suspect may have to use server location.

Sorry if I sounded harsh earlier but you need to post real url’s and real evidence.

[I, Brian]

Hi Johan -

Well, you should know me better than for me to make too spurious claims.

As for URLs - my hobby sites:

http://www.comparative-religion.com/
http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/index.php

were both hosted in the USA until a couple of months ago - now they are hosted from different datacenters in London and they capture a whole set of rankings on UK only searches that they never had before.

Not only does in bring in extra traffic, but I can also make real claims for these sites to be the largest of their kind in the UK, which has definite branding advantages.

Both of these points were very important considerations when moving them back home.

[Johan007]

I have spent many hours on your website a month or so back - very good read! Have you had a slight design change cos its looking sharper?

You are correct if you use your site as an example it has to be the hosting. I have looked at every other avenue and cant find any other way.

This is weird because I have had many clients that I could never get into that section without .co.uk I may have to try some more hosts.

[loki]

take a look at www.windsorinstitute.com

ps have you done a netgeo ip lookup on your isp?

[loki]

not sure i'm meant to do this...

coincidentally there's an active thread here on the same subject

http://www.ihelpyouservices.com/foru...162#post149162

[Johan007]

Thanks - I will ask my two hosting companies to see where they are listed on this db and if incorrect to get it sorted if its a mistake.

[I, Brian]

Which companies are you with, Johan? I know that some UK hosting companies have servers both in the UK, and the USA. And if you're not careful you end up being placed abroad. Have you tried the digital point tool for checking country location?

If it shows your sites as physically located in the UK and you're not showing up in the UK searches, then this is something definitely to pay closer attention to - I'll try and help you out as I can to track down why they may not be listed there.