If I’m running a website outside of the USA (which typically uses .com), does using a country-specific TLD significantly affect my SEO performance in that country, or is it a minor factor?
For example:
New Zealand uses .nz or .co.nz
United Kingdom uses .co.uk
Singapore uses .sg or .com.sg
Would running a .com domain hurt my chances of success locally if everything else, like local ranking signals and content, are the same?
Using a .com shouldn’t hurt. Google says ccTLDs (country-specific domains) associate with the target country, but .com is widespread and doesn’t face any bias. Run a search in your region for your keywords, and check the TLDs on the first 2 pages.
In short:
If you’re only targeting one country, use the ccTLD. But if you’re thinking of expanding globally, stick with .com.
@BlazeInferno
That’s exactly what I needed, thanks!
Amy said:
@BlazeInferno
That’s exactly what I needed, thanks!
Good luck! Just remember to pick an easy-to-remember domain name, and avoid spammy TLDs like .biz or .xyz.
Google does favor ccTLDs. You can test it by buying a .com and a ccTLD for the same keyword and see which ranks higher. The ccTLD will likely win, but it won’t help if you don’t have strong SEO basics.
@KeywordKaiserKara
Do you know how strong the preference is? I’m wondering if good local SEO signals can offset the difference.
Having a country-specific TLD might not boost your ranking much, but it can improve your click-through rate since people may prefer local domains. Your content’s relevance and how well it meets user intent are more important for ranking.
Using a country-specific TLD sends a clear signal to search engines that you’re targeting that country, which helps SEO. Also consider using local hosting, language settings, and building backlinks from local sites.
Running a regular .com website won’t hurt your chances of success in that country. Additionally, using a country-specific TLD doesn’t significantly impact your SEO. Don’t stress too much about it—choose what works best for you, with .com being a top option.
Using a local TLD, like .nz or .co.uk, can slightly help with local SEO since it signals relevance to users in that country. A .com domain won’t hurt your chances, but a local TLD might give you a small advantage.
In smaller markets, I’ve noticed that ccTLDs and exact-match domains work really well for SEO. It helps me rank websites at the top in just a month.
If your business is local, a ccTLD works better for ranking in that country. But having a strong backlink profile and high-quality content matters more. Combining a local TLD with strong backlinks and good domain authority will put you ahead.
