Optimising domain names for search engines

[drev]

I have an existing (Australian) website with a .com domain name, and I have just bought the corresponding .com.au domain name. I'm trying to decide whether to set up a re-direct from the one URL to the other, or operate them both as identical sites with different URLs.

I'm not sure about what's best in terms of optimising for the search engines - I'm assuming that Australian engines would favour a .com.au suffix, or would it make no difference? Also, bearing in mind that the existing .com domain is appearing in some engines (AU & other) I don't want to have to start from scratch if I don't have to!

[bcarroll]

Get your ISP to host both name records on the one account rather than use a redirect
that way you have the benefit of both worlds- 2x addreses and only one site to maintain.

[christof]

Hi

I've had a similar issue recently, I bought a .com.au for my domain name. I simply used the redirect function from iprimus domains to "forward" the .com.au url to the .com.

When I've got more time I'll probably get some hosting and create a dupicate page for the new .au domain - then link it heavily to the .com so page rank and link relevance is improved. I've heard that google isn't too keen on lots of duplicate pages online, (especially when they link to each other in an effort to improve their rankings) so changing the content slightly probably wouldn't hurt to just to be safe.

Lastly, when determining "results from Australia" google looks at two things, one is the .com.au extension and it will list a site no matter where in the world it's being hosted. The other is the physical location of the server. All websites, .com's .au's, .co.uk's etc, will show up in the Australian results if they're on a server located within Australia.

Cheers

CT

[niko]

I have results for either .com or .com.au in Australian listings as well as International. The host is irrelevant, the extension is important. To be a bit more precise... I originally had octapc.com to be adurl in both Google AU and Google Int and yet I couldn't see it in the AU listings. It was seen internationally so, I decided to buy the AU. Instantly the .au listing showed in Google AU. I have all of my web sites hosted by Netfirms in USA and the fact that .com.au pops up in Google AU is proof enough for me location of host is not relevant but the extension is. I asked google about this issue I had and they reported back with same answer.



What ever you do, do not let the .com go like I did after having spent thousands on google adwords later to find someone snapped it up quick smart for directory listing.