Website Hosting and Google Rank

[midlandi]

The next step after planning and developing a website is to host it on the Internet. Who you're hosting with is an issue to be considered. Should you look at it with your SEO eyes or not? The issue of Web hosting is not just related to the price and features of the web hosting provider. Website owners who are far sighted consider other factors, such as search engine optimization. Does choosing a host provider make any difference in search engine rankings?

 

[Robster]

I have learnt that if you have a UK site, and want to get it listed as "UK Sites Only" in Google, the physical location you host it doesn't make any difference (I host in the US). The important thing seems to be having a .uk domain.

One of my domains is a city guide site, been around for several years. Its a .net and doesn't get listed as UK by google. One of its competitors, a .com does but that seems to be because its listed in DMOZ under UK.

I have launched a similar site under a .uk domain, and that got listed as UK by Google as soon as it was indexed.

sorry if this is a little off topic, but I hope its useful to people.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

The search engines use a few factors in determining geo relevancy.
1. domain extension
2. Physical location of IP (IE where the Ip address physically resolves ownership to, not where the server is physically located) These are diferent things.
3. Inbound links. A uk relevant site is likely to attract uk relevant links.

Just thought I would clear that up