Geo-Targeting Subdirectories

[doughayman]

I have searched this forum and Google itself, and I have come up with several articles that state that you can geo-target subdirectories via GWT. Hence, I could have:

www.example.com/en/ -> Geo-Target US
www.example.com/de/ -> Geo-Target Germany
.
.
etc.

I do NOT see any facility currently, to facilitate geo-targeting at a sub-directory level. Have I missed something, or does Google no longer support this ?

For several reasons, I would prefer to have a multi-lingual site architected via sub-directories, rather than have separate TLD's for each.

Thanks in advance, for any information that can be provided on the above.

[tedster]

Each directory first needs to be set up as a verified website on its own - then you get all the bells and whistles.

[doughayman]

Hmmmm......that's interesting, Ted.

Now what happens if I already have:

www.example.com

which has a subdirectory structure associated with it, and has been in existence in GWT. That is to say, all subdirectories under www.example.com are already geo-targeted to U.S.

Can I create a new sub-directory, and add a new website entry into GWT of:

www.example.com/de/

as a separate verified website ? Will this "new website's" geotargeting effect the geo-targeting of any other part of the domain ?

[edited by: tedster at 10:16 pm (utc) on Feb 27, 2010]
[edit reason] switch to example.com [/edit]

[tedster]

I've got clients who have done it - it worked for them, whether it's a new subdirectory or an old one. The key is the separate verification.

[edited by: tedster at 10:43 pm (utc) on Feb 27, 2010]

[doughayman]

Thanks for this, Ted. This is extremely valuable information, and I greatly appreciate your timely response !