This is driving me nuts - how to tell Google my .com.au site is different to my .co.u

Discussion in 'Google' started by ben720, Oct 19, 2011.

  1. #1
    Hi - this has been driving me nuts for a while.We've got a .com.au site which is focused on Australia - Australian pricing, service, contact details, etc. We've also got a .co.uk website focused on the UK - again with UK pricing, service and contact details. If someone does a search on google.com.au I want the .com.au site to show. If someone does a search on google.co.uk i want the .co.uk site to show.But google has removed our .com.au site and listed our .co.uk site. Even if you do a search for the domain, google will actually list the content of the UK site under the AU site.Now you might say "well, its duplicate content" ... but the sites are different (domains are the same, sites are different)! I've been trying to rewrite text etc, but there is only so much you can do just for the benefit of Google. And it's the point that we shouldn't do things just for Google!Is there any way i can tell google to use the .com.au site in Australia and the .co.uk site in the UK??
     
    ben720, Oct 19, 2011 IP
  2. ben720

    ben720 Peon

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    #2
    ...and yes, I've already set the Georgaphic Target to the right countries for each of the two domains in Webmaster tools
     
    ben720, Oct 19, 2011 IP
  3. WishBone

    WishBone Peon

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    #3
    Too bad for you, are they both hosted on one hosting company?
     
    WishBone, Oct 20, 2011 IP
  4. ben720

    ben720 Peon

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    #4
    Good thinking ... They are both on the same ip address. Something we haven't tried yet...

    Don't you love how google is all "just write natural content" and you actually end up jumping hoops so that your natural content actually works!
     
    ben720, Oct 20, 2011 IP
  5. RumpledElf

    RumpledElf Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Natural - hah. Nothing natural about it.

    Google probably thinks they're the same site, look into getting the .au hosted *in* .au, but mind the cost - bandwidth is worth its weight in gold in australia.
     
    RumpledElf, Oct 20, 2011 IP
  6. jophan

    jophan Active Member

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    #6
    yeah. thats it. host your uk site on a uk hoster! how else should google understand that your
    website which is currently in australia is targeted for uk?
     
    jophan, Oct 20, 2011 IP
  7. C.Rebecca

    C.Rebecca Active Member

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    #7
    Are you sure your Australian website is not indexed or its just not climbing the rankings?

    Anyways,

    If possible host your website in target countries... That will surely boost your rankings.

    Other things that you need to do...
    - Set your preferred geographic location in Google webmaster tools
    - Submit your website to local search engines
    - Submit your website to local directories
    - Get backlinks from target countries
    - Participate in online communities that are active in respective countries.
     
    C.Rebecca, Oct 20, 2011 IP