Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
However, following the lack of customer service here in the UK I recently moved the site back to US hosting - where it began life.
Two questions:
First, I know that around a year ago Google would only return either .co.uk domains or .com domains hosted in the UK when choosing "pages from the UK".
Is that still the case?
Second, as far as The Big G is concerned, are there any downsides to hosting the site in the US?
First, I know that around a year ago Google would only return either .co.uk domains or .com domains hosted in the UK when choosing "pages from the UK". Is that still the case?
We now have a thread dedicated to Google's UK results - [webmasterworld.com...] You'll see in there that the bulk of the recent discussion is about strangeness in the "pages from the UK" results. But as a general rule, you pretty much still need a UK ccTLD or UK hosting - and both is much better. Backlnks from the UK and setting your preference in Webmaster Tools may also play into the mix, but not so strongly.
as far as The Big G is concerned, are there any downsides to hosting the site in the US?
There is a trade-off, I'd say. Because Google deosn't currently offer any "results from the US", US hosting often gives you more play on other Google ccTLDs - and at the same time, you usually do not appear in any "pages from country" results.
you usually do not appear in any "pages from country" results.
This is really the crux of the matter for me: I would prefer to appear when a user checks "pages from the UK".
Several major sites in my industry host a.com in the US - they still appear when searching only for "pages from the UK".
You're saying this happens, but is more often the exception than the norm?
You can always use Webmaster Tools for a .com to tell Google that you are targeting a specific country, too.
