SEO: Does TLD/Extension affect Search Ranking?

[daddybear]

This is a question for those who are really involved in developing domains rather than parking.

I would like to know whether a .in domain will fare better than say a .com or .org etc. for the same keywords if the search is from India.

Example will Google prefer to show domain.in above domain.com for the same keywords if the search is from India?

Please give your comments on this topic.

[Jeff]

There does seem to be some sort of ranking bonus for .in and .co.in domains in Google.co.in.

You could also improve your rankings in Google.co.in by adding a physical address in India to your website, by hosting in India, and by obtaining links from other India based websites.

[daddybear]

Thanks for that Jeff. Btw can you suggest any good India hosts with servers based in India?

[chandan]

Originally Posted by daddybear

Thanks for that Jeff. Btw can you suggest any good India hosts with servers based in India?

i think mitsu , netlynx etc directi interface enabled registrar offers that look with their sites once

[itssri]

Originally Posted by Jeff

There does seem to be some sort of ranking bonus for .in and .co.in domains in Google.co.in.

You could also improve your rankings in Google.co.in by adding a physical address in India to your website, by hosting in India, and by obtaining links from other India based websites.

Jeff is right about the extension bonus. A case in point is my own domain LocalRentals.in.

For the domain keywords "local rentals" and out of about 75 million web pages, it does not rank even in the 1st 100 (10 pages) on Google.com, but on Google.co.in it is ranked #2.

I have setup a Regional Php Link Directory on it and GoDaddy is both the registrar and host. So, the host may not have a bearing, but yes, with recent developments at Google, giving a local address may push up the ranking.

Another point to note is that I have not obtained any links for the site and I haven't yet got many listings either. This makes a strong case for keyword rich domain names.

A further point: if Google.com is accessed from an Indian IP address, it defaults to Google.co.in. All the more reason for a website to go for .IN if they are targeting Indian market. Also, a redirect won't work - you need to have static and dynamic content.

[itssri]

Same is the case with TimeshareRentals.in.

Out of 1 million web pages, it's #8 on Google.co.in and not in top 100 on Google.com.

Get IN folks! Get the .IN

[freeads]

At the local level (India) it is good. But this will discourage international buyers of .IN , as geting a .IN site to first page in the buyers country (say US or UK) will be very difficult.

[itssri]

@freeads

There is no point in getting a .IN to the first page on a search based in a country like USA or UK. A dotIN is supposed to be targeted to India based web visitors.

The whole point is:
- If you are an India business with India market then you should use .IN
- If you are Global business with India market then you should use .IN
- If you are an India business with Global market then you should use .COM/NET/ORG etc.
- If you are an India business with only USA market, then you should use .US/.COM

and so on...

The only international domain buyers having interest in .IN without the marketing interest, are from a particular country who have somehow come to associate .IN with .InterNet

[nomar86]

about .com and .net etc.. no difference if you ask me