Not appearing in Google UK

The site I run from the UK doesn't appear in Google UK listings.

[jamieoconnell]

Hi
The site I run performs well in Google.com and the majority of traffic is from the US. The site is actually run from the UK though and much of the content has a UK bias.

The site however does not appear in the UK listing for Google at all.

This is not a new site I have been running it for about 6 years now.

The domain name for the site is a .com
The site is listed in UK directories.

How do I get it to come up in Google.co.uk searches, do I need to get the co.uk (currently owned by someone else) or the org.uk? I am reluctant to put 'UK' Keywords on the homepage as it is an international site.

Your comments really appreciated.

Many thanks

Jamie

[andye]

It's in the UK section of Dmoz?

[jamieoconnell]

hi,
It's listed in dmoz.com in the appropriate category.
but not any UK section.

I just found the UK section can I be in the general DMOZ listing AND the United Kingdom part?

I see other .com sites that are listed in UK google search aren't in the Dmoz UK section. So it may not be the solution.

[edited by: jamieoconnell at 12:37 pm (utc) on June 15, 2005]

[wheelie34]

jamie
Is it hosted in the UK or US, I moved a .com yesterday from US hosting to UK hosting, it costs more here though, it works of the IP if its a UK ip and a .com it will be shown as a UK site when UK searchers search UK only

[jamieoconnell]

It is hosted using a company in the US but the machine is located in Germany.

Other sites are an the same server with the same IP and are listed in google UK including .com's

So that may not be the solution either?

Do you think I should buy the org.uk domain and use it also?

[rj87uk]

What i would do personaly is leave the website you have alone and build a new website hosted in the UK.

- I wouldnt use the .org.uk as not many people know this TLD.

- My next step would be to create a new domain name for .co.uk

- Build your website mention UK, any area specific Scotland, England etc and Also include a UK address on the front page.

[jamieoconnell]

I'm sure that would work but the thought of starting again with a co.uk and a new site is not appealing.

The nature of the site doesn't lend it to this as it is a content driven magazine site with loads of content on there. It isn't directory site or a shallow ecommerce site or business site that could easily be modified and replicated.

The strength of the site is it's content and so I would want to put the same content on it.

I don't want to have to update a UK site and a rest of world site. It would detract from the existing site if i removed any content that i felt had a UK bias and put it on a new site. I would be left with 2 'ok' websites instead of one really good one.

I will try to get the co.uk of my current domain from the owner but it is a long shot.

[phantombookman]

I have some 15 sites all in the same boat, US hosting is the cause.
I am doing nothing about it though, I suspect at some point Google will refine itself a little on this issue and use other factors to decide

[jamieoconnell]

I assume having a co.uk works even if the site is hosted out of the UK?

[phantombookman]

I assume having a co.uk works even if the site is hosted out of the UK?

I believe not, you need a UK based IP etc

[jamieoconnell]

But i have other sites that are on the same server that are in google UK, including 2 .coms and some co.uks

[phantombookman]

Ignore my pevious post, I just checked the one .co.uk site I run, it is with a US host and it now appears in the search UK only, though it did not a while ago