Keywords, Domains & Canadian searchers

how do web users use nationality in their searches

[Cam_Morton]

This is something I'm trying to sort through for a couple of clients and prospects in Canada, but the replies may have wider interest...
These clients want their sites to be found (primarily) by consumers in Canada searching for products available in Canada.
My question is about how those consumers are most likely to search. Do they go to a dot com and use the word Canada in their search, or go to a .ca? If the latter, do they now assume they'll be getting relevant Canadian results or do they still use words like Canada or Canadian.

A related question: where can I find something about which search engines are most popular in Canada?
Can anyone suggest how I get beyond the 'educated guess' stage on these questions (preferably without major expense)? Obviously the answers would be very helpful for both keyword selection and decisions about where and how our SE submission efforts should be focussed. Thanks, Cam

[Macguru]

Hi Cam_Morton,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, you will find nuggets here.

>>My question is about how those consumers are most likely to search.

I am a french Canadian Web site promoter. I rarely see some .ca in search queries. I see names of cities and provinces a lot more. Sometimes people get more creative and try area phone codes and postal codes like (514)and H1E (for montréal) Canadian site owners have a lot of .com and .net too.

Unfortunatly, I dont know of some public source for Canadian Web stats. Sympatico is the #1 destination in Canada. (largest ISP with a portal partners with city search...) hint-hint

They recently adopted Google for the search box. This makes Google with more than 64% of the Canadian maket.
(but most of my sites are French only)

Canadian Yahoo is second for me with about 18%.

<added> OOps forgot MSN on third position with about 12%...</added>

Enjoy here!

[fireice]

These stats may help [nielsen-netratings.com...]