In 2015, How Important is having a Local IP address (rather than a cheaper hosting overseas)?

[SEO-NS]

Looking to move several sites from my current hosting provider, and am considering moving them to cheaper, overseas hosting providers. What's the current thinking of how this will impact local SEO results?

[ZoeRigley]

Hi Brian,oo problem, happy it helped! Of course- it's always better to confirm with someone else when there's a lot at stake!

[SEO-NS]

Thanks Zoe, awesome response. Your answer backed up what I thought, to be fair. But as we're rolling out a large multi-site international strategy for a client (with little margin for error), I figured it was a good idea to get a second opinion, just in case!

[galwaygirl]

Thanks Zoe.  I was looking for the answer to the exact same question.  Thanks for the help!

[ZoeRigley]

Hi Brian,

I usually follow this advice from John Mueller of Google in a Google Webmaster Tools help thread:

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For search, specifically for geotargeting, the server's location plays a very small role, in many cases it's irrelevant. If you use a ccTLD or a gTLD together with Webmaster Tools, then we'll mainly use the geotargeting from there, regardless of where your server is located. You definitely don't need to host your website in any specific geographic location -- use what works best for you, and give us that information via a ccTLD or Webmaster Tools.You can find out more about geotargeting at https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/62399?hl=enand https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/182192?hl=en

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I think that as long as your website is fast, and usability & speed are prioritised, you won't see a negative effect. If the move causes your site to slow down at all, you might find an issue, but this could go the other way too.

Hope this helps! 
Zoe