Domain extension question

.ca vs .com

[plumbinghelp]

Hi all,
I was wondering if I made a mistake by choosing a .ca domain extension when making my website. I see my search results are only good for google.ca but the site offers generic information that would not be country specif. Will google.com penalize me for not having a .com extension. I should also mention that the site has only been live for 1 month.
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PS. - This site has been very helpful and I thank the members for their efforts.

[edited by: buckworks at 7:58 pm (utc) on July 3, 2009]
[edit reason] No URLs, please [/edit]

[Webwork]

No one knows for sure how the issue of ccTLDs will work out when it comes to search engine love.

Given that domain names in the ccTLD realm are intended to reflect some connection with the host country I'll venture an educated guess that eventually ccTLDs will how a downside when attempting to present the website as a matter of global interest.

In other words, if you build a site about widgets on a .ca domain you may some day have a problem attempting to rank when marketing Australian widgets or widget services, which tend to be locally performed services (like home building, paving, etc.), to Aussies.

Search engine love is going to be perpetually finicky love, at best, so it's anybody's educated guess.

[edited by: Webwork at 2:16 pm (utc) on July 4, 2009]

[bwnbwn]

I have a .us domain name so this tells the SE's I target US customers a .ca tells the SE's the same message and it is really really hard to get out of CA.

Me if you do want to explore other markets get the .com if available or one really close to your nitch and have it become by main site and either 301 the .ca to it or keep the .ca active and build both sites.

Note if you keep both sites live be sure and keep them different in content so the duplicate issue won't get ya. If ya 301 the .ca to the new one you can just copy the whole site over and do a root 301.

[tim222]

Earlier this year I wanted to get a .ca domain name but the registration form implied that I need to be a Canadian citizen. But it seems like it would be really difficult to verify, since it only requires a check box. Do they really check?

[plumbinghelp]

Yes they do check.