Launching Website Overseas before NZ

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seekestate

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#147190 11-Jun-2014 23:19

Hey

I've just started a website. Because it is new and doesn't have a lot of content, despite my best SEO effots, it doesn't appear in Google SERPs.

I barely receive any hits to the website because of this. Google has such a massive market share in NZ over 94% of search queries, I'm finding it impossible to get the word out about my site.

I'm thinking of trying to customize my content in my website for countries which Google doesn't have a search monopoly, so I can get listed in some other search engines and directories. Is this a good tactic? Has anyone had any success trying to launch overseas?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1063757 11-Jun-2014 23:22

Is this domain using a .co.nz or a TLD linked to its main country market? Google will automatically rank it based on TLD - a .com.au site won't rank as well in New Zealand as a .co.nz.

Using Google Webmasters you can change the country settings for non-country TLDs, for example .com, .net, etc. But this is not an option for country TLD.

Have you submitted the site to Google via Google Webmaster? Have you submitted a sitemap XML? Have you got any links (non-spammy comments, real links) to this site?

seekestate

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1063758 11-Jun-2014 23:24

Hi

I'm using a .estate tLD

its a new tLD

I thought about buying a .co.nz and point a 301 redirect to the .estate domain. Is this a good tactic?

mattwnz

15854 posts

Uber Geek

#1063759 11-Jun-2014 23:27

seekestate: Hi

I'm using a .estate tLD

its a new tLD

I thought about buying a .co.nz and point a 301 redirect to the .estate domain. Is this a good tactic?

You have it hosting on NZ based servers? I believe this can make a difference if you aren't using a .nz domain. Your best option is perhaps google adwords.

seekestate

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1063760 11-Jun-2014 23:28

Hi

I'm using digitalocean to host the website in Singapore. Does the ip of the webhost affect SERP?

mattwnz

15854 posts

Uber Geek

#1063761 11-Jun-2014 23:31

seekestate: Hi

I'm using digitalocean to host the website in Singapore. Does the ip of the webhost affect SERP?

I think it depend on the search engine. If I had a NZ website for the NZ market, I would host it in NZ where the traffic is. Also if it is slow loading for the market, that can also affect search engine rankings.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1063771 11-Jun-2014 23:50

Not the location as much as the speed.

seekestate

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1063774 11-Jun-2014 23:58

I guess the site speed will affect the Bounce Rate, but when I ping the Digital Ocean singapore DC it is quite fast + my site is very DB intensive, I'm renting a Quad Core server for USD 40/month. The same setup would be cost prohibitive to rent in NZ, probably north of NZD 150/month.

gzt

11181 posts

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#1063782 12-Jun-2014 06:47

To rise up the rankings you need other related sites (or blogs) to link to you. Content alone will not get you there esp for this kind of site.

It seems a bit slow retrieving results but overall it is a good effort. If do you want some detailed feedback about the site ask for that in offtopic or startups. It is normal for geekzone members to be a bit hard on the feedback so be prepared for that, but it will be high quality.

seekestate

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1065717 14-Jun-2014 20:33

Hi GZT

Thanks for the feedback. I can't post in Startup forums yet, so I will wait until I can but:

http://qz.com/220909/does-the-advertising-business-that-built-google-actually-work/

This story perfectly explains what is happening. Established companies like eBay buy up to "100 million or more keywords" to shut out new entrants. And because I'm on a new .estate tLD I don't have enough domain authoirty or backlinks to rank well on the organic search pages.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1065756 14-Jun-2014 21:41

You should be able to post in the Startup forum with seven posts...