Country specific searches - what sites are included?

[HuhuFruFru]

hi everyone!
I appreciate any comment on this:
when google searches for sites in a specific country - how does it work? just by looking to the domain-ending? what happens with .com,.org,.net,.biz,.info-sites?

I have a .com-site, which is in austria based- what can I do to get listed when someone searches "sites only in austria"

thx a lot!

[mack]

The domain extension isn't as powerfull a tool for asigning a country as you may imagine. I think Google takes a few factors into account. As you mentioned, domain name extension.
IP range, very usefull for assessing where the sites server is based and also the sites language.

[heini]

Name server location, or perhaps server location. ccTLD. Language is not involved.
What else? Not sure if we really have definite answers at this point.

[MHes]

Hi
To qualify for a country specific search you need to have the appropriate domain ending and/or be hosted in that country.

We have a .co.uk site hosted in the states and come up on .co.uk only searches.

The domain name ending is the most important, as some engines that use google results... e.g. aol ignore hosting location and only list the appropriate domain ending.

.com .net etc are all worldwide, but will appear in localised searches if the hosting is in that country.

Note that a .co.uk is good if the domain is used in a link in... as you get the benefit of 'uk' in the anchor text. Most people (80%?) use worlwide search in the UK with 'uk' on the end of the search phrase, so this can have a good effect.

Experimentation by google appears to be presently being applied to the travel sector, where language is a new factor.

I doubt if hosting location will ever become a big factor, and probably be dropped. Too many people host outside their own country for a variety of good reasons.