The Perils of Web Hosting on Search Engine Placements
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory SEO.
The Impact of Web Hosting on Search Engine Rankings
Introduction
Did you know that your web hosting provider might be affecting your search engine ranking on Google? It's surprising, but the physical location of your hosting center can play a crucial role in determining your search placements.
The Location Conundrum
You might think you're using a UK hosting company, but their servers could be located in another country like the US or Germany. While this might offer great value and technical support, it can influence how your site appears in search engines.
Domain and Hosting Location
If your website uses a generic domain like .org, .net, or .com instead of a geography-specific one like .co.uk, Google relies on your hosting location to determine your local search index. For instance, if your .com site is hosted in Germany, it might show up in German search results rather than in the UK results when users filter for local sites on Google.co.uk.
Searching Habits and Business Impact
Many people prefer to search locally for services and products, especially when they involve direct contact or delivery. While some studies suggest it's split evenly between local and global searches, it's often more practical to start locally.
Moving Forward
To avoid missing out on potential traffic, consider hosting your website within your target country. This ensures it appears in relevant local search results. Before choosing a host, especially for non-UK domains, verify where their servers are located.
Tools to Check Hosting Location
Use online tools like DNSstuff to check where your website is hosted:
1. Use the "Ping" tool to find your site's IP address.
2. Enter this IP into the "tracert" tool to discover the physical location, checking it against country information.
Conclusion
This issue is unlikely to change soon, as Google's method for geographical indexing is effective. Therefore, being informed about your hosting location can prevent unexpected search visibility problems. Ensure your site is visible in local search results to take full advantage of Google’s services.
About the Author
Paul Rudman, director and head of optimization at Commercetuned, has been developing search strategies and SEO for seven years. He invites you to share your experiences and challenges related to web hosting and search visibility. Good luck!
For more insights, visit [Commercetuned](http://www.commercetuned.co.uk/).
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: The Perils of Web Hosting on Search Engine Placements.
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