Location based IP Redirect cuasing Google Search Issue

[Paul17]

Hi there,

My client has a .com.au site (www.example.com.au) for Australian visitors and a .com site for US visitors (www.example.shopify.com).

The .com.au site has a lot of content while the .com site has little content, due to only recently starting business in the US and due to seasonal offerings.

The client does not want US visitors to see the .com.au site.  Se we set up an IP redirect, so users with a US IP address are directed to the .com site.

This negatively and significantly effected our Google organic search rankings on https://www.google.com.au  My question is what is best practice solution in this situation?

thanks

[MickEdwards]

Have you implemented hreflang to all domains and URLs to indicate to Google your intentions with the domains/URLs?

Also have you checked Analyics >> Audience >> Geo >> Location of www.example.com.au for a period prior to your implementation to see if you have excluded a section of traffic?  I know you said ranking but maybe you refer to traffic.

[Paul17]

Hi Michael

Thanks for your answer!

No I have not implemented hreflang to all domains. I know now this is something I need to to do and will get on to it.

FYI - Further research today uncovered this response from the  officlal Google Webmasters Forum:

_Yes, redirecting Googlebot back to the .com site would be predictably disastrous for the .au site. _

_Google crawls from the US so will always see the IP redirect, it will have to be removed. Anticipating the next question "can we redirect users but not Googlebot? The answer is no."  _

_Can you prevent US visitors from visiting the .au site? No. But if you GEO target the sites properly US visitors on Google will see the .com and Australian searchers will see .au.  _

Unfortunately analytics was only set up after the redirect was put in place, so does not provide historical data. The client anecdotally feels the drop off in traffic through sales though. Search Console certainly does provide historical data that shows that massive drop in both impressions and clicks.