.com versus local domain extension

[TWDCEMEASEO]

This post is deleted!

[gmellak]

Hi,

As you can define the localization of generic TLDs in the Google Webmaster Tools, you don't have to worry about the "association with the US" (think that was more the case a few years ago). Using a .com with the local setings in the webmaster tools, and maybe even a local IP, you're almost as good as a local TLD I believe.

[SteveOllington]

*Edit:

Deleted this due to not understanding question and giving wrong answer... sorry.

Will give myself a thumbs down for that lol!

[TWDCEMEASEO]

Thanks for your response Steve, so do you mean going for www.local-name.com or www.local-name.fr/es/it etc?

[firstconversion]

I don't think theres much issue from a SEO perspective, however from a user perspective I would go .fr etc - its a more seemless and expected interaction (I certainly expect English content on a .com btw)

S

[SteveOllington]

Ah sorry, I had completely the wrong end of the stick... I thought you were talking about the mixed local .com domains, such as ".uk.com"

In that case ignore everything I said lol

[gmellak]

That might depend on the location where you're from ... here, in Spain, .es domains are pretty rare, .com is what you will find the most, users' expectations, for this reason, also change ...

[TWDCEMEASEO]

This is an interesting observation about .es domains being rare in Spain. All of the communications from both Google and our internal teams always say .es. I will follow up thanks

[gmellak]

You'll find .es as well, of course, especially when the .com is already registered people will look at .es domains. But be prepared to find tons of very small businesses, clubs, associations, etc. with .com domains.