Stats on google.com searches v's google.co.uk

[doodledunk]

Does anyone know how many people use google.com rather than using google.co.uk. I was led to believe that there are loads of UK users who still search using the .com search engines rather than a country specific one. Is there any stats on this?

Is it important for a UK site to be listed on both?

Cheers!

[hannamyluv]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe G will direct you to the correct geographic engine based on your IP address. So even if you are in the UK and you type in google.com, you will still get results from google.co.uk.

[Receptional Andy]

There is (currently!) only one Google database/index. When you go to Google.co.uk you get the same results as at Google.com, except an extra filter is added. For 'UK only' searches the string

&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB

Is added to the search url in order to only return uk results. You can try it yourself by going to google.com, running a search and then pasting the string above on the end of the url. You will be seeing uk only results.

If you're listed in Google you are already in google.co.uk results by default (although you will only be in 'uk only' searches if you are uk-based or have a uk domain name)

>>G will direct you to the correct geographic engine based on your IP address

I've seen this happen occasionally for some countries, but I have never been redirected to google.co.uk typing in google.com. It's fairly uncommon.

In the end it really doesn't make any difference because the results and database are the same, and the default on regional googles is to search worldwide :)

[doodledunk]

Thanks for the info guys, but from your replies can I say that most people (in the UK) will search the main database using no country filter at all. Rather than clicking on 'pages from the UK'.

Are there any figues on this anywhere?

[Shak]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe G will direct you to the correct geographic engine based on your IP address. So even if you are in the UK and you type in google.com, you will still get results from google.co.uk.

If ONLY they would do that, we could have some real fun :)

as for figures, I think Ian Turner round here once posted some figures in relation to numbers specifying .co.uk or similar.

I do know that the number is gradually rising, especially with the launch of Google news in UK.

Shak

[Receptional Andy]

I've seen wildly varying figures on the numbers that choose 'uk only', so I won't quote figures, but I will say this:

If you are a uk based business or looking for uk traffic, there is a substantial and rising number of people who do choose the 'uk option', whether or not the majority don't bother. I've found this to be increased for shopping-based queries, because people want a business in their own country.

[added]
>>If ONLY they would do that, we could have some real fun

I second that ;)
[/added]

[doodledunk]

Incidentally - do you know if google publishes the impressions per keyword on a say month basis (no of searches on a given search phrase?)

Thank-you!

[hannamyluv]

Hmm, I had read posts in other threads that Google does redirect but they didn't say under what conditions, which is why I wasn't sure about my answer. The one I am thinking of (I think) mentioned that their grandfather was now redirected to google.de when he typed google.com. Did he have to set something for that to happen or does google only do that for non english speaking countries? Or was the poster just off his rocker and had no idea what he was talking about

On the side, I am glad I am only based in the US and don't have to figure this stuff out. :)

[Shak]

quite a number of countries do this if I recall correctly.

however as the UK are your favourite cousins, we get to choose :)

Shak

[hannamyluv]

favourite cousins

Favorite cousins, nah. Heck, you guys are our great grandparents. Gotta show the respect. :)