Google Confirms Ranking Boost For (ccTLD) Country Code Domains: On the SEO Office Hours podcast, Gary Illyes from Google answered a query about how national domain names affect search engine rankings. He clarified how country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) affect search engine rankings compared to generic domain names.
What Are ccTLDs?
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are two-letter domains like ‘.uk’ for the United Kingdom, ‘.ca’ for Canada, or ‘.in’ for India. These domains help Google understand the geographic focus of a website, potentially boosting its visibility in regional search results.
The Ranking Boost: What’s the Scoop?
Google has officially confirmed that using a ccTLD can boost rankings for searches conducted in the corresponding country. If you have a ‘.de’ domain, your website is more likely to rank higher in Germany’s search results than a ‘.com’ domain.
Key Stats and Insights (ccTLD)
1 Increased Visibility: Websites with ccTLDs often see up to a 20% increase in local search visibility compared to generic top-level domains (gTLDs) like ‘.com’ or ‘.net’. (Source: Moz, 2023)
2 Local Authority: According to a recent study by SEMrush, websites with ccTLDs tend to have higher domain authority in their respective countries. For instance, ‘.au’ domains showed a 15% increase in domain authority compared to ‘.com’ domains targeting Australia. (Source: SEMrush, 2024)
3 User Trust: Research by HubSpot reveals that users are 25% more likely to trust a site with a ccTLD specific to their region. This can translate into higher click-through rates and better user engagement. (Source: HubSpot, 2024)
Ranking Boosts For ccTLDs
Regarding the superior ranking of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) over generic top-level domains (gTLDs), Gary Illyes answered a query.
The question was:
“Which domain ranks higher in Google searches performed in Korean by a Korean user: .com or .kr?”
Gary Illyes responded:
“Good question. In your scenario, generally speaking, the local domain names.kr, typically performs better since Google Search highlights user-generated local content.”
Purchasing a domain name tailored to a country might be smart for anyone looking to raise their ranks in that nation. Google frequently favors websites with ccTLDs over generic domains that aren’t country-specific in terms of ranking.
Gary went on to clarify the distinction in ranking between gTLDs and ccTLDs:
That’s not to argue that a.com domain can’t function effectively; it can. Nonetheless, a.kr domain typically offers a small advantage, though not a significant one.
Targeting Country Versus Targeting Language
Gary concluded that a site’s language should often fit the user’s query than the domain name itself.
He elaborated:
“If the language of a website matches the query language of the user, it will likely have a greater impact than just the domain name.”
A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is intended to target users in a single nation, whereas targeting a specific language enables a site to reach users wherever they may be.
Gary neglected to clarify that among consumers from the desired country, utilizing a ccTLD can help build confidence. A person in Australia could be more likely to click on ‘a.au’ domain, whereas a user in Korea might consider ‘a.kr’ domain to be more relevant and reliable.
At Graph Technologies, we provide professional services related to PPC and SEO solutions for digital marketing. We assist companies in achieving their objectives and enhancing their internet visibility. Get in touch with us to improve your digital strategy and achieve outcomes. For more information visit our website!
Source – Search Engine Journal
Also read…
Connect with India’s Top Google Ads Partner Agency
How to Find the Top Bing PPC Agency in India for Your Business
