We need an expert SEO opinion

What’s Your Take On This Ongoing WHT (WebHostingTalk) Discussion?

What does Google.co.uk look for when indexing UK specific search results?

------------------------------------------
The Background

iThink (thread starter

The Thread : Reliable host in UK?

I host many websites with Pair.com and I'm very satisfied with their service and prices, so I'm looking for UK equivalent of Pair.com.
I need to host 4-5 small sites on a server in UK.
The websites under question are supposed to target UK markets and hence they need to rank well in search engines, google.co.uk free results in particular. To the best of my knowledge either I have to use .co.uk domains or host the sites on an IP address in UK. With .co.uk domains I can host on a server in USA and still do fine but I have .com and .net domains so I have to host on a server in UK to be counted as a site relevant to UK specific search results. Hence this search.



The Feedback :
Craig
If you want to be included in local searchs then it was always my understanding that you needed to have your site hosted in the UK.
So I think you are maybe looking for a host that actually hosts in the UK, rather than having their servers elsewhere.

Karl
Craig is right that you have to be on UK IP addresses or use .uk domain to get listed on google.co.uk

othellotech
AFAIUI google uses the location of the IP address to determine location, so for google.co.uk/pages in the uk , you would need to be hosted on a server *in* the uk, not run by a UK company

my_forum_id
That's not correct - our servers are in the US but our clients are 99% UK based those with .uk domains ARE listed on google uk.

The previous poster that stated that the domain either be in the UK OR have a .uk domain is correct.

tomkohlt
BTW I'm sure you don't need the .co.uk to get googled by Google UK.

Karl
Tom - Google doesn't read the address, it's too resource intensive to check WHOIS for every domain it spiders and not all sites have an address and the pattern matching for an address wouldbe quite complex. So google uses IP or the fact that it's a .uk domain as already mentioned by several people.

tomkohlt
I'll ask the guys at SEOChat.
But Google does index the Contact pages as this search result for Purple-Paw illustrates :-
------------------------------------------------------------ Information, URL. Our sales team are available for online chat at peak times... PurplePaw is a Limited Company registered in England (No. ...
URL - 21k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from URL ]

Meanwhile I'll see what the guys at Seochat forum have to say.

Adrian posted 10-06-2003
I have done some experimenting with country specific results from google.co.uk and google.ie and there are definitely results in there which have neither the .uk domains ( or .ie for google.ie) or IPs resolving to the UK. So I think google is using some other method of indexing these sites in addition to the domain and IP location
-------------------------------

What comments from SEOCHAT can I convey to this WHT thread to help make things clearer?


:grin:

Hello Tom,

1st, welcome to the forum.

accoding to my expeince there is not need for one to have either uk domain or server to indexed by uk server.

because google indexes as per the content of the website, i mean if you have contact address of uk and few more text in your website regarding uk then google will list you in google.co.uk too.

also you need to have UK, england, london, etc kind of keywords in your meta tags and should be used in your text, because that is the best way to be listed in any country specific listing.

i myself have done for a few and got them listed in .de

Sawan

----------------------
http://www.intranet-services.com

Thanks for the welcome Sawan.

And for the tip.

Btw I also posted my query at Jill's High Rankings Forum & thus far have received 3 replies. As a matter of interest I'm quoting their replies here:-

---------------quote from HR Forum------

HR 3
All country specific searches include:
1. Hosted in said country.
2. Country specific domain, e.g. .co.uk for UK, and .com.au for australia etc.

That is pretty much all that is required.

--------
HR2
To my mind, othellotech is correct -
*AFAIUI google uses the location of the IP address to determine location, so for google.co.uk/pages in the uk , you would need to be hosted on a server *in* the uk, not run by a UK company*

I remember problems arose for some sites hosted on servers in the UK whose IPs were not being "recognised" as UK ones, turned out the company was using some Dutch ones as well as UK ones.
----------

OldWelshGuy
we have .com.info etc uk based sites, and they show up in google uk search no problem.
----------------------------------------------end quote------------------

Looks like there're a few ways to skin the cat. I'll report back to WHT with your reply an theirs.

Thanks again.


:grin: