CcTLDs Differences Between Each Other

[andresgmontero]

Hi, this is a simple question, many ccTLD look like this:

.com.es

.es

.org.es

1.What is the difference from one another regarding SEO?

2.Does the .com.es has any advantage? Like targeting the "world" and "Spain"

3.Is there one better than other?

4.Will a .com.es or any other domain like that be able to rank globally? or just in Spain?

Thanks!

[gfiorelli1]

Really there's no big differences, if not the "purpose" they were created by the (usually) statal organization. In the case of the Spanish ccTlds:

• the .es is the equivalent of the .com domain termination... the .com.net has the same function, but usually it is a second option and, from my experience, practically nobodies buy it;
• the org.es for not profit;
• the .gob.es had been thought to be the same of .gov (even though neither the Governamental websites use it, preferring the .es, has some words related to them are reserved to be used by state's sites)
• the .edu.es as the spanish ccTLD version of .edu
• the nom.es was thought just for personal and not commercial websites

Personally I've never seen domains other than .es well ranking, but I think it is more because they represent the 90% of the Spanish ccTLD domain names. Infact, I saw few .com.es domains ranking well in Google.es (well, ranking for quite simple keywords).

[andresgmontero]

Hi Gianluca, thank you, do you think a ccTLD like .com.es or .com.au will be able to get on top ranks for Google globally?

[gfiorelli1]

Hypothetically they could, if they respond to all the characteristics a site must have to rank in the first positions for the given keywords:

• On Site
• Many c-blocks/unique domain names linking to them
• Sufficient presence of Social Signs (tweets, likes, shares...)
• Site Speed optimized

I know that Rand did studies last year where also the domain terminations was somehow influencing rankings, but if I remember well the correlation metrics were not so to think the termination as an primary factor.

Repeating myself, I think we don't see those domain names ranking mostly because people tend to prefer domains like .es, .co.uk, .

About the .com.au, that's the main ccTLD for Australia

[andresgmontero]

Thanks Gianluca, I am asking because there is something going on that you will find interesting, there are many online gambling websites here in Costa Rica, and these last few weeks the US government has been seizing their domain names, e.g http://www.beted.com/ , some of the main players in the industry have moved their websites: sportsbook.com to sportsbook.com.au and betus.com to betus.com.pa, just in case the US tries to seize them too.

At this point they were able to redirect everything from .com to .com.pa or .com.au, but what do you think the consequences of doing this will be on their rankings/traffic?

BTW / you are a GURU? awesome! congrats!

[gfiorelli1]

LOL... I'm a guru because is sooo much time I'm writing here and therefore I accumulated a lot of mozpoints

The case you are describing is interesting (why don't you write a Youmoz about it?).

What consequences? I think they can have quite a lot if they are already not a very solid brand.

In fact, the .com domain name (as any other generic one) gives the opportunity to rank in any Google, while the ccTLD binds the domain name to the regional Google.

Therefore, even if they did the migration from one domain to the other correctly, they probably are going to loose rankings to competitors sites that still reside in a .com termination.

But this is mostly theory, as it is something that can be verified after few weeks from the migration.

[andresgmontero]

Yeah its interesting, I might take your advice on that and write a Youmoz, so I can catch up with your points...all I just need 3500 more... jajajaja.. thanks again Gianluca!

[usaccess608]

If there is an es then it would not target the world