CcTLDs vs folders

[jacob.young.cricut]

My company is looking at expanding internationally, we have sudomains in the UK and Canada currently. I'm making recommendations on improving SEO and one of the parts that I'm struggling with is the benefits of ccTLDs vs using folders.

I know the basic argument about Google recognizing the ccTLDs as being geo specific so they get priority. But I'd like to know HOW much priority they get. We have unique keywords and a pretty strong domain, is having a ccTLDs so much better that'd be worth going that route rather then creating folders within our current domain?

Thanks,

Jacob

[GastonRiera]

Hi Jacob,

Use subfolders. Remember to use the hreflag tag, inclufing the country code.
If  you have the ccTLD domains, redirect them to the subfolder.
For example: If you have yoursite.co.uk point it to yoursite.com/uk/

Also, remember to add every subfolder to Google Search Console (Google Web Masters Tools) and declare for each one the country that is itended to.

Hope it helps.
GR.

[GlobeRunner]

There definitely is a benefit for keeping all of your content on one domain (using folders), and building up the overall Domain Authority of one domain/one site.

When it comes to making the decision on whether or not to go to a ccTLD, consider your users/visitors first. How will they interact with the site, will they trust it more if it's a ccTLD in their country? If so, then consider the fact that it will ultimately be better for your business if the users like it and trust it better.

Another consideration is the fact that you'll be creating an entirely new site on a ccTLD. You'll be starting fresh, and will need links and time to ultimately get it to rank and get the traffic to where you need it to be. Then there's the whole issue of content, you'll need unique content for the site. If you can afford the time and effort involved in creating a completely new site, and it makes sense for users then I would consider the ccTLD route.