Website domain hosting and set-up for foreign domains?

[AdeLewis]

Hi,

I am just wondering what the best practice is for marketing a business in two separate countries?

I have a new client that wants me to create their website targeted at the UK market which for me is normal but they also want to target Australia (Probably couldn't get any further away)

My initial thoughts are that the business would need two separate websites. The first one in the uk and the second website hosted on servers in Australia with different content.

Is this correct? or does anyone have any advice which may simplify getting this thing off the ground.

Thanks in advance.
Ade.

[AdeLewis]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your reply.

Website budget and SEO budget are both an issue and so the sub directories route is definitely the way that we will be going with a .org domain.

Thanks again.
Ade.

[Keszi]

To bad there is no place where we could brainstorm live (without being cached :P)

L.E.: seoMozzers we need a chit-chat place

[RobertFisher]

Ade,

For some reason this must be the beginning of the year of International SEO as there are a ton of questions lately around it. Istvan is correct on Rand's WBF being very good. (Note that some of the thread comments are great as well). A point within this is that the answer is not black and white but more based on client/brand capabilities and resources, is having cc TLDs worth giving up the links for or do you need them combined, etc.

As to having it all be separate, I don't think it is necessarily a rule that cc TLD with server "in country" is best. With the two you mention (and I am a Yank) I do not see any type of French bias. Given that, you are more likely at one site on a lot of levels.

Then use sub directories so that the domain as a whole builds authority. So, if you can get a good gTLD and then have all on one, there may be some economies in time, effort, $, and link power.

I am currently dealing with Africa / South America / US ...... and can't find a way yet to get to one site for the client..........

[Keszi]

YW!

I am glad i could deliver something valuable For further question contact me via PM and will help you out. Done some similar projects in the last few months.

Istvan

[AdeLewis]

Hi Istvan,

Thanks for your reply, the white board friday link was just what I needed.

As budget is a big issue my client will most likely go for the same .org domain hosted in the UK with geo targeted sub folders.

www.domain.org/en
www.domain.org/au

I thought that I would have an issue with duplicate content if both of these URLs were showing the exact same content but there was a link in the comments of the White Board Friday (http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2010/03/working-with-multi-regional-websites.html) that suggests that as long as both sub-folders are geo targeted at different contries then it isn't a problem.

Thanks again.

Ade.

[Keszi]

Hi Ade,

When targeting two very different countries then I would go for two separate websites, just as you have mentioned.

Also I would go for country specific TLDs which will help you in targeting the local markets easier. Build up country specific link partnerships, do some local SEO.

If going for only one domain you could go for a domain with different subfolders/subdomains which you geo-target for the specific countries.

If you are going for the second option, maybe you would like to check this whiteboard friday: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/international-seo-where-to-host-and-how-to-target-whiteboard-friday

I hope it helped,

Istvan