How to GEO target Google

Weekly SEO news: 15 July 2008

Welcome to the latest issue of the Search Engine Facts newsletter.

This week, we're taking a look at the best way to geo target Google. There are a few things to consider if you want to reach customers outside the US.

In the news: Yahoo allows you to build your own search service with their data, Google gives a weak explanation of its ranking algorithm, Google Suggest might become international and more.

Table of contents:

Facts of the week
Search engine news and articles of the week
Success stories
Previous articles

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1. How to GEO target Google

Do you want to get customers from outside the United States? Is your business located in Europe or another part of the world? There are a few things to consider if your website is aimed at people outside the United States.

Google's market share outside the US:

Google is the biggest player in the US market. They also have a big market share in other countries:

Country Market Share

Google Germany 89.20%

Google UK 70,25%

Google Bulgaria 90.00%

Google France 89.79%

Google Netherlands 95.00%

Google Poland 90.00%

Google Israel 90.00%

Source: Lunapark

If you want to get customers from outside the US then you must make sure that your website is prepared for Google's local versions. For example, Germans who enter Google.com in their web browsers are automatically redirected to Google.de.

Google returns different results in different countries

Google.com and Google.de return different results. For example, Google.de returns totally different results for the keyword "auto" than Google.com.

That means that websites must meet certain criteria to be listed in Google's local versions.

What you can do to get listed in Google's local versions

1. Get a country specific domain name

If you want to get high rankings in Google.co.uk then you should have a .co.uk domain name. This is by far the most important factor. A local domain name makes it much easier to get high rankings in country specific search engines.

2. Make your web page content relevant to your target market

If you're trying to sell something in Germany, it is obvious that your web page content should be in German. If you're website is aimed at people living in the UK, mention your full UK address in the footer so that search engines can associate that address with your website.

3. Check your server location

If the IP address of your server is based in France then Google can take this as an indicator that you're targeting the French market.

Getting high rankings in Google's local variations is easier if you follow the tips above. Note that your web pages still must be optimized for your keywords if you want to get high rankings.

In addition, Google only lists your web pages if you have good inbound links.

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2. Search engine news and articles of the week

Yahoo lets you build your own search service

"BOSS is a new, open platform that offers programmatic access to the entire Yahoo! Search index via an API. BOSS allows developers to take advantage of Yahoo!'s production search infrastructure and technology, combine that with their own unique assets, and create their own search experiences."

Google blog: Introduction to Google ranking

"The most common question I get asked about Google's ranking is 'how do you do it?' Of course, there is a lot that goes into building a state-of-the-art ranking system like ours, and I will delve deeper into the technology behind it."

Editor's note: If you want to know exactly what you have to do to get high rankings on Google, analyze your web pages now.

Google Suggest preparing for global launch?

"Google France's homepage tests a query suggestion feature based on Google Suggest. The feature seems to be enabled only for the homepage and there's a setting that lets you disable it. In March, other people noticed Google Suggest enabled by default at Google.com."

Google removes the Comic Sans font from AdWords ads

"Based on publisher feedback, we have removed Comic Sans from the current ad format experiment. Thanks again for your continued feedback and suggestions. We welcome any further feedback that you might have and assure you that it'll be passed onto the relevant team."

Google co-founders talk tech

"In a relaxed discussion, the trio fielded questions about Yahoo, Microsoft and their relationships to Google. [...]

The trio of Google execs also used the opportunity to talk about the inroads the company is making with its own branded mobile phone as a replacement for the iPhone."

Search engine newslets

Scour.com is a new meta search engine with 'social' features.
How can Google break the ad-free culture on YouTube?
Google updates Google Earth images.
Is Gphone for real? Or not?
Could Google monopolize human knowledge?
Kohl schedules antitrust hearing on Yahoo, Google deal.
Google, Viacom now clashing over YouTube employee records.
Giving some thought to Google, the 'potential monopolist'.
Is Digg looking to sell to the Guardian?
Solid growth for Google expected despite economy.
Google cutting costs?
Google China's captcha calculator.
Stanford chooses Yahoo! over Google.

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3. Success stories

"IBP is one the best softwares I have ever bought!"

"IBP is one the best softwares I have ever bought! Since I have it, my webpage has a higher ranking and the number of my clients has increased!

IBP makes a clear list of all the main important features that contributes to the high ranking and gives you important suggestions how to improve them.

What I really appreciate is that this software is very easy to use, reliable, always up to date and allows you to make changes every time.

It is the best investment I have ever made! IBP is a tool that also allows you to spare money and I could never renounce to it because it is the key to the success of my webpage! I can just recommend it!"
Annalisa Tamborra, www.Tamborra.at

"It's amazing what you can do with the right products."

"As a single mother of three, and on maternity leave, money isn't free to splash around.

Having to do all the work myself, with the help of iBusinessPromoter I have hit 6th on Google for my chosen keyword.

This has helped the natural progression of the site and has started to turn a profit in just 4 months of being live! It's amazing what you can do with the right products and a bit of elbow grease! Thank you!"
Miss Shelley Smith, www.DirtBikeParts.co.uk

iBusinessPromoter is now available in version 10.2

The new version has an improved keyword manager (now with search numbers from Google) and an improved link builder. You can download it here.

Share your success story with us

Let us know how IBP has helped you to improve your website and we might publish your success story with a link to your website in this newsletter. The more detailed your story is, the better.

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4. Previous articles

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