I've recently put some websites online and they have all been indexed on Google.com - they are showing up in the top few pages for the required keywords. BUT they aren't showing up at all on Google.co.uk - they aren't even in the top 25 pages. They are all UK websites using .COM domains and I have setup permanent 301 redirects using htaccess on the equivalent .CO.UK domains. Just wondered if anyone knows of any common causes for this, or has any tips for getting the sites indexed by Google.co.uk?
If you want to rank in Google.co.uk, your best configuration is to have a .co.uk TLD, have your site hosted in the UK, and get backlinks from other .co.uk sites. You should also set the Dashboard -> Settings -> Geo-Targetting in Google's Webmaster Tools for each of the sites to UK. Other than that it just requires normal SEO... Good on-page SEO with each page on your site focused on a particular targeted keyword phrase with good <title>, <h1>, <h2> elements targeting the same keyword phrase(s) as the content... and link building from relevant sites with link text containing the targeted keyword phrase (or slight variations of that targeted keyword phrase). Non-country specific TLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.) should be used when your site's intended audience is in the US or you have a global presence in many countries around the world. Similarly, the best configuration for ranking well in Google.com is to have a non-country specific TLD (like a .com) and hosting it in the US.