SEO Guru's Help Needed.

[DarkTangent]

Hi,

I would like to ask that how can we target the regional google search engine like google.com.au etc.

What factors make the page rank top at that page?

Also how can we know that how much a specific keyword is being searched in that region?

Lastly how can one guess about a sites traffic, i.e where is it coming form ? Either he is getting it from Google or some where else.
( The last one is not specific for the SEO expert, anyone can answer.)

Regards

[zaizaices8]

I use Google Webmaster Tools to monitor SERPs, Top search queries and etc.

According to Google Webmaster Tools:

If your site targets users in a particular location, you can provide us with information that will help determine how your site appears in search results, and also improve our search results for geographic queries. You can only use this feature for sites with a neutral top-level domain, such as .com or .org. Country-specific domains, such as .ie or .fr, are already associated with a country or region. If you don't want your site associated with any location, select Unlisted. (Note: If you do this, your site will probably receive less traffic from Google.)

Learn more about setting a geographic target Geotargeting - Webmasters/Site owners Help

[lockwood77]

Yeah, if you read through the link that Lyka posted, you'll see these are the things that affect geo-targeting:

1. Country-specific domain
2. IP address of web server
3. Geo-targeting setting in Webmaster Tools

So, ideally you need a domain name for the country you are targeting, for a website hosted in that country and Webmaster Tools set to target that country. I would also add links to the website from other websites hosted in that country. Oh, and being written in the language of the target country is pretty important too!

This is easier/cheaper in some countries than others (France, for example, is particularly tricky as they require a registered company number in France to register a domain there!)

[CliveG]

Add an entry in the Google Local Business Center. Gets you a link right at the top of Google for a search for a place name followed by "business" and some other terms for example. You have to be eligible for the entry though.

[lockwood77]

With Google Local, you need to have a phone number and address for the locality, which makes it difficult if you're not based there! Also, remember that Google have just updated their ToS for Local Business Centre, which includes requiring your full legal name as the business name, to try and stop people putting keywords in their business name (this is not just in the States or UK): Google Local Business Centre Updates Guidelines | IanLockwood.net

[CliveG]

Originally Posted by lockwood77

With Google Local, you need to have a phone number and address for the locality, which makes it difficult if you're not based there! Also, remember that Google have just updated their ToS for Local Business Centre, which includes requiring your full legal name as the business name, to try and stop people putting keywords in their business name (this is not just in the States or UK): Google Local Business Centre Updates Guidelines | IanLockwood.net

This is true but if you can use it it's a great way to get to the top of the front page.

[goclarkanderson]

You can target the keywords from the Google's keyword research tool for Australia.
:-)