Can a .com site be ranked #1 on Google.CO.UK?

[Bulldozer]

Can you rank a site with a generic domain extension like .com, .edu, .net or .org on Google UK?
Is this even possible???
If yes - how to do this?

Google UK favors co.uk domains heavily.
I'm left with the impression that, unless a site with a generic extension is super big and super important, Google.co.uk would pretty much ignore/trash/sandbox it.

I believe that when the servers of the site are located in the UK, this also helps generic sites rank well on Google UK, but what if the server is not in the UK and the site does not have a .co.uk extension?

When trying to rank a generic domain on Google.co.uk, is it a wise idea to add another domain to your existing site that has a co.uk extension and try to rank for that new domain name on Google.co.uk?
Will this have a reverse effect?
I mean, will having two domains for the exact same site harm you on the SERPs?

[stephencammeron]

Why not use Google.co.uk search yourself on some various keywords? You'll surely get the answer you are looking for.

co.uk is an advantage in ranking in Google.co.uk, however, that doesn't mean that .com is a disadvantage.

[Joesorrell]

Of course it can... Just do a search

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by Joesorrell

Of course it can... Just do a search

Uhhh.. what do you mean?
A search can't rank my site. Or am I wrong?

I've done searches for my keyword and I found out that:

• 8 of the Top 10 results on Google UK are co.uk sites
• The remaining 2 are generic name domains (com, org, net) that have their servers based in the UK

So, I can't beat those guys because in one way or anther, they are local UK sites.
But is it possible to somehow beat them, using a trick or something?
Can I use an additional .co.uk domain and not get banned?
That's the big question here...

[stephencammeron]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Can I use an additional .co.uk domain and not get banned?

What makes you think you'd get banned from the first place?

[Josh MacDonald]

Originally Posted by stephencammeron

What makes you think you'd get banned from the first place?

This is just disappointing. Banned from who?! Google Ranking? Adsense? Domain Registrar? Web host?

Good luck with your seo :S

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by stephencammeron

What makes you think you'd get banned from the first place?

I read that using two different domain extensions for the same site can cause problems.
A different domain extension, especially one for a specific country, suggests that your site needs to have a different physical address in that country (street, contact person, etc), also a different contact form and so on.
Google/AdSense likes it that way.

But even if we accept that this is not a problem, could an additional .co.uk domain be useful for ranking on Google UK anyway?

[Valera]

I think you should try and get some solid .co.uk backlinks, that might help improve the relevancy of your site to UK and might even help you get that #1 position.

I am in Australia and it is the same issue here, I can never seem to get .com #1 on google.com.au, however, i have seen .com domains rank #1 in google.com.au, I think hosting in that country you are trying to rank in helps a lot as well.

[Josh MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

I read that using two different domain extensions for the same site can cause problems.
A different domain extension, especially one for a specific country, suggests that your site needs to have a different physical address in that country (street, contact person, etc), also a different contact form and so on.
Google/AdSense likes it that way.

But even if we accept that this is not a problem, could an additional .co.uk domain be useful for ranking on Google UK anyway?

Just get an international EMD and be done with it.

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by Josh MacDonald

Just get an international EMD and be done with it.

What is an international EMD?

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by Valera

I am in Australia and it is the same issue here, I can never seem to get .com #1 on google.com.au, however, i have seen .com domains rank #1 in google.com.au, I think hosting in that country you are trying to rank in helps a lot as well.

Yeah, this is what I'm talking about too.
I guess I will have to buy hosting space in the UK and migrate my site there.

[stephencammeron]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

I read that using two different domain extensions for the same site can cause problems.

No, certainly not at all.

[Steadyon]

It will help a little, to have a .co.uk domain, and have it hosted in the UK.

[KevinA]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Yeah, this is what I'm talking about too.
I guess I will have to buy hosting space in the UK and migrate my site there.

No you don't. If you have a .co.uk extention (primary indicator) it does not matter where your site is hosted. Google will know the location you are targeting. The country of your hosting server is only a secondary indicator. I looked this up a while ago and this is what I found.

[JawadAshraf]

Have your On-page SEO set, then search for your targeted keywords in the Google.co.uk and look where your site is, then start/keep building the authority one way links. Soon you will be beating your competition.

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by kaka21

If you have a .co.uk extention (primary indicator) it does not matter where your site is hosted. Google will know the location you are targeting

Yes, but I don't have a co.uk doman.
This is the goal of this topic - ranking a non-co.uk site on Google.co.uk

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by JawadAshraf

Have your On-page SEO set, then search for your targeted keywords in the Google.co.uk and look where your site is, then start/keep building the authority one way links. Soon you will be beating your competition.

Sorry, I didn't get this one...
My site is #2 on Google.com.
At the same time it is not even Top 500 on Google.co.uk
I am building backlinks, of course - aren't we all doing this anyway?
But those backlinks don't seem to help at all. Especially with my CO.UK ranking.

[lalitbansal004]

No, Only One Thing Is More Important for you.

Just Make More Backlinks from .co.uk Website.

These Are Really HElpful for your domain. and No need to HOST .co.uk domain.

Thanks.

[Alexis Barnabe]

This is another tricky myth that has some grain of truth, but needs clarification. According to Google spokesperson Matt Cutts, the domain extension does play a small factor in the ranking algorithm, but only for defined countries.
So for example a .ca might show better results in Canada. For other extensions like .com, .info, .net, .org, they are all equal, of course you will see much more results from .com on SERP, because they sold much more of those extensions.

But if you want to rank with a .com in .co.uk get backlinks from the UK, create profile on UK forum and if your website doesn't talk about UK have a google places in UK or anything about UK that shows google hey I am targetting UK, how could google know you want to rank in UK? You might already have those information on your site, but it might help if you don't.

Alexis Barnabe

[alistair]

Do you use webmaster tools?

Google sees a .com as geographically targeting the US so if you use webmaster tools you can change the geographic target in the settings so that Google understands your .com site is aimed at a UK audience.

This is something I make sure I do when using .coms, .nets etc.

[vdhun]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Can you rank a site with a generic domain extension like .com, .edu, .net or .org on Google UK?
Is this even possible???
If yes - how to do this?

In order to specify your geo target one possible way to use Google Webmaster Tools.

1. Add your .com .net or .org site there.

2. After that you can specify the geo target of your site: Site configuration -> Settings -> Geographic target -> Select United Kingdom in the dropdown menu. That's it.

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by alistair

Do you use webmaster tools?

Google sees a .com as geographically targeting the US so if you use webmaster tools you can change the geographic target in the settings so that Google understands your .com site is aimed at a UK audience.

This is something I make sure I do when using .coms, .nets etc.

This is very interesting and vdhun is talking about it also.
Isn't "Google Webmaster Tools" just a diagnostic set of tools?
Can you really control the way Google looks at your site from Webmaster Tools and actually tell Google to rank it for this country more than for that country?

[MaverickUK]

Yes, it's completely feasible to rank a .com domain in Google UK - I've actually done this for a friend who's in the electrician business. The site is hosted in the US, too, plus geo-location is set to the US.

You generally need a good few .co.uk backlinks, plus if the keyword is location specific get backlinks from websites within that location. Also I have a .co.uk domain ranking for a UK term in Google.com on the first page, where it's currently in the second page on Google UK.

[commoditytrainer]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Can you rank a site with a generic domain extension like .com, .edu, .net or .org on Google UK?
Is this even possible???
If yes - how to do this?

Google UK favors co.uk domains heavily.
I'm left with the impression that, unless a site with a generic extension is super big and super important, Google.co.uk would pretty much ignore/trash/sandbox it.

I believe that when the servers of the site are located in the UK, this also helps generic sites rank well on Google UK, but what if the server is not in the UK and the site does not have a .co.uk extension?

When trying to rank a generic domain on Google.co.uk, is it a wise idea to add another domain to your existing site that has a co.uk extension and try to rank for that new domain name on Google.co.uk?
Will this have a reverse effect?
I mean, will having two domains for the exact same site harm you on the SERPs?

Google put more weight in the domain, not so much if the domain is .uk or any other. The basic premise is to use proper white hat SEO and when you see the results you are satisfied. It take work and determination. SEO is tedious and time consuming, where other do not want to do it, but find the easy way out; and there are no secrets to SEO

[owenlee]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Can you rank a site with a generic domain extension like .com, .edu, .net or .org on Google UK?
Is this even possible???
If yes - how to do this?

Google UK favors co.uk domains heavily.
I'm left with the impression that, unless a site with a generic extension is super big and super important, Google.co.uk would pretty much ignore/trash/sandbox it.

I believe that when the servers of the site are located in the UK, this also helps generic sites rank well on Google UK, but what if the server is not in the UK and the site does not have a .co.uk extension?

When trying to rank a generic domain on Google.co.uk, is it a wise idea to add another domain to your existing site that has a co.uk extension and try to rank for that new domain name on Google.co.uk?
Will this have a reverse effect?
I mean, will having two domains for the exact same site harm you on the SERPs?

Im sure you can rank that...the extension does not matter in my views...

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by MaverickUK

Yes, it's completely feasible to rank a .com domain in Google UK - I've actually done this for a friend who's in the electrician business. The site is hosted in the US, too, plus geo-location is set to the US.

You generally need a good few .co.uk backlinks, plus if the keyword is location specific get backlinks from websites within that location. Also I have a .co.uk domain ranking for a UK term in Google.com on the first page, where it's currently in the second page on Google UK.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
So it looks it's all about getting backlinks from co.uk sources.

[BlakeM]

Like others have said, it is definitely possible. I get traffic from multiple different Googles, especially Germany (.de) for some reason. But if you are targeting people in the UK than I'd definitely get a co.uk domain.

Like someone else said, I don't think hosting matters, just get the domain and you should be set. Or just get a decent bit of .co.uk backlinks. Personally, I would do both.

[Bulldozer]

Originally Posted by BlakeM

But if you are targeting people in the UK than I'd definitely get a co.uk domain.

Like someone else said, I don't think hosting matters, just get the domain and you should be set.

Too late for me. I may try to attach a .co.uk domain to my site while keeping it's .com domain too. But I am really not sure if this is an OK idea.

[junne]

Originally Posted by Bulldozer

Can you rank a site with a generic domain extension like .com, .edu, .net or .org on Google UK?
Is this even possible???
If yes - how to do this?

Google UK favors co.uk domains heavily.
I'm left with the impression that, unless a site with a generic extension is super big and super important, Google.co.uk would pretty much ignore/trash/sandbox it.

I believe that when the servers of the site are located in the UK, this also helps generic sites rank well on Google UK, but what if the server is not in the UK and the site does not have a .co.uk extension?

When trying to rank a generic domain on Google.co.uk, is it a wise idea to add another domain to your existing site that has a co.uk extension and try to rank for that new domain name on Google.co.uk?
Will this have a reverse effect?
I mean, will having two domains for the exact same site harm you on the SERPs?

yes it is possible but you have to do more link building to sites with domain co.uk you will definitely come on 1st position.

[gurleen]

In My experience that Website extension is no Big problem to top Ranking in the specific Country. Yes, Sometime domain name can create a problem in the ranking. So my according choose the domain in tgt keyword. Create a specific Pages Meta tags. Even if possible create a target keywords pages. Because seo is Page Specific. IF you have done a good on page and off page seo. Then you will get the Top rank in google.

[g36]

it can. For long term, there's no difference between .com or .co.uk, contrary to popular belief

[James-]

To have a better chance:

You will need to have a .co.uk domain
You will need to have your website hosted in the UK
You will need to set webmaster tools to target the UK if you don't have a .co.uk domain
You will need to focus on .co.uk backlinks

The main thing you need to focus on here is getting relevant links from .co.uk domains.

[Bulldozer]

Makes sense, thanks for the replies, people!

[Amenda Jessera]

It is a kind of myth in SEO industry. If you have quality and unique content and good backlinks (more from your niche related pages as well as from .co.uk domains sites) - Success is yours, nothing can be beaten

[JaySam]

Its possible to get ranked in Google.co.uk by the domain of a .com site this will determine your On page and Off Page Optimization on how you will implement this method as your path to improve your rankings.