Domain extensions

Search engine ranking

[limbo]

Does the domain extension effect a sites ranking with search engines.

For example if you built three equal sites the content being identical the only difference being the extension eg;

example.com
example.net
example.co.uk

would one come out on top? or is there no hierachy?

Ta

Limbo

[jackofalltrades]

Its all down to your content; the domain extensions will play very little part in your rankings, if any at all.

A .com is percieved to be of more value if you are thinking about selling your site though.

A .co.uk is good if your target market or site subject area is predominately UK based.

A .org is good for charity orgs and may give a greater percieved value to informational sites.

rgds

JOAT

<added> if you built 3 sites with identical content you would probably be penalised by the search engines for spamming! :)</added>

[edited by: jackofalltrades at 11:03 am (utc) on Nov. 11, 2002]

[heini]

All things equal there will be no difference in SE ranking whatsoever.
What you need to consider with engines is regional targeting.
Example: Google uses the TLD as one factor in determining which sites to display on local Googles for searches restricted to that country.

[limbo]

Thanks,

you have confirmed my suspicions.

>>>
<added> if you built 3 sites with identical content you would probably be penalised by the search engines for spamming! </added>
>>>

no intention to do that mate ;)

[jamesf4218]

<added> if you built 3 sites with identical content you would probably be penalised by the search engines for spamming! </added>

That's really stupid. If you have a popular site that lots of people visit then that can make the pages load slowly - it can make sense to build mirror sites for people in different countries to speed up surfing. You shouldn't be penalised for this.

[creative craig]

Cant remember where but I read something about .net sites not being liked by SE's as much as others. I have two .net sites and they seem to be fine to me :)

Craig

[jackofalltrades]

>That's really stupid. If you have a popular site that lots of people visit then that can make the pages load slowly - it can make sense to build mirror sites for people in different countries to speed up surfing. You shouldn't be penalised for this.

Thats a good point, but spammers are more likely to use it to increase traffic.

Unfortunately they have spoiled it for the rest of us! :)

JOAT