ranking .co domains?

by 33 replies
38
I read somewhere that google stated that they are gonna treat .co (Columbia) domains just as general .com/net/org domains. Meaning they should rank in google.com as easy as the general TLDs for worldwide searches not just local ones.

Well i grabbed one and gave it a try (3 months now), it's no where to be found in the first 1000 for the main phrase, which is an exact match domain as well.
So seems to me, that this is not true.
If you managed to get results with this please do share
#search engine optimization #domains #ranking
  • Just because you have an exact match doesn't necessarily mean that you'll rank for the keyword. This idea is sold by a lot of people but it isn't the whole picture. You need authority links to your site or it will be beaten by competitors who do have them. The more competitive the niche, the more authority you'll need to rank.

    Another thing to consider is that the domain is new. Unless a new domain gets authority links relatively quickly it will fluctuate in results, mostly downward, as Google's algorithms score it over time.
    • [1] reply
    • I couldn't agree more. For work, I work with an number of domains that don't have the keywords in the domain and they're ranking pretty well. And then I've had personal domains with my exact keywords in them that I had a hell of a time trying to get to rank well. I have to say, I feel like a lot more depends on the competition of your target keywords and building high quality links (and of course your on page SEO). Exact match domains are just a little boost, they're not some divine miracle to bring amazing rankings.
  • you need to work hard for links and do some directory submission.
  • You didn't say if you optimized the domain for SE and any backlinking.I had this type of domain before even with backlinks,they are just useless to me(3 .co.cc sites).I have to neglect them later.
  • the keyword woudl have to be incredibly competitive for an exact match domain not to be in the top 1000 after 3 months... I almost always say an EMD in the top 100 within a week or two and top 20 by the end of the first month.
  • It doesn't metter much what you need is backlinks and hundreds of them, quality backlinks..
  • when i said i've been working on it for 3 months, i meant mostly link building
    it does have links, all quality ones

    usually as stated above, with EMD like that and that kind of links i'll be in top 50 at the worst case.
    Right now im not in the top 1000, so there is something.
    Actually most of my EMD start from 200-300 position after being indexed and no or almost no links.

    Did someone manage to get a .co on first page of google.com at all?
  • I'm on page 3 with a .co so far. I haven't applied any serious seo effort to it yet - I was seeing where it would naturally appear - so I would expect it to be on page one as soon as I make an effort.
    • [1] reply
    • damn, very good
      that's the info i was looking for

      How many results for the phrase and how tough is the page 1 competition? Do you have an EMD for that phrase?
      And how long since registering to page 3?
      • [1] reply
  • Ive purchased a .co domain too, I spoke with a guy at go daddy who said these domains have been v popular, i will be trying to rank it over the coming months, I was told they are a top level domain too, so could be a steal if people purchase them now.

    Woc
  • I'd stay away from .co domains. Reasons for it are because of what is going on with the .ly domains currently. Reasons for it are because the vast majority of us do not know Colombian law.

    Libya seized vb.ly for violating Libyan law. For those that don't know, vb.ly was a URL shortening service. Apparently one of the users uploaded a sexually oriented picture's URL to be shortened, and this is what violated Libyan law.
    • [1] reply

    • Eh? :confused:

      Can you expand on this please because I haven't got a scooby what you're driving at?
  • Time will tell MGTAR!

    Woc
  • EMD? I AM CONFUSED WHAT IS THAT?
    • [1] reply
    • Exact Match Domain
  • .co is NOT columbia. when you add them into GWT it lets you specify what country to target, this means its a TLD non geographic and not fixed to any country like .co.uk

    and for the record they act exactly the same as any other domain, google doesnt have a preference.
    • [3] replies
    • yeah that's the theory and what made me try as well
      Sometimes though it's different on practice, that's why is the thread.
      I want people sharing their personal experience. the theory we all know
      • [1] reply
    • ROFL, so now the .co extension isn't for Colombia?

      .co - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    • You can set the geo-target of .co domains to any country.

      But by definition .co domains are not TLDs. It is still the country code of Columbia.
  • Hi guys

    Think they did used to be columbian domains beforehand though, when i spoke to the godaddy bloke he said they were being used as .company domains now though. And they are a top level domain now !

    Woc
  • ok so that makes it pretty much official then
    .co is not treated the same way as .com
    • [1] reply
    • I'm afraid not mate no. I'll continue to keep you posted (if you could do the same for me that would be great). I'll give it until Christmas and then do a simple re-direct (to a .com or .org) if these domains continue to stay static in the SERPS.
  • thank you, i sure will do the same
  • Update: Well something weird has happened to my .co now - since I started to actively promote it.

    All was progressing logically until today:

    Search for domain word - zero results - both World & UK
    domain word+keyword - top of page 3 - in World search - nowhere to be found in UK search?
    domain word+2 keywords - page 1 #1 - in World search - nowhere to be found in UK search?

    I DO want to be available worldwide so at least that's working but its a bit odd that I'm invisible on my home patch of the UK.
    Up until yesterday World and UK results were almost the same.

    Anyone notice anything similar?
    • [1] reply
    • Interesting stuff. Both my .co domains are still stuck at 25 & 26 in Google.com respectively. Like you, even though i'm targeting the UK (and before anyone asks, YES I have set my geo-targeting to the UK), neither sites are showing in Google UK.

      To be honest, it's was worth a punt on these .co domains but i've decided to cut my losses and do a simple re-direct from both.

      Even though they are an EXACT MATCH for the keywords i'm targeting, I'm putting the sites on:

      1. mykeword4u.com
      2. my-keyword.com

      I'll keep you posted with my progress. I anticipate a jump as soon as Google notices the move from a (totally sh1te) .co to a credible .com.

      Cheers,
      Martin
  • I guess .co domain will only work to dominate Columbia Serps

    very hard to rank it globally
    • [1] reply
    • Well, I am ranking 3rd for a pretty competitive keyword with co.cc domain (which is practically a subdomain). I've started out in page 8th. People, don't blame a domain if you can't rank, you just have to build more links, write some articles and stuff.
      • [1] reply
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 38

    ranking .co domains?

    I read somewhere that google stated that they are gonna treat .co (Columbia) domains just as general .com/net/org domains. Meaning they should rank in google.com as easy as the general TLDs for worldwide searches not just local ones. Well i grabbed one and gave it a try (3 months now), it's no where to be found in the first 1000 for the main phrase, which is an exact match domain as well.