SEO Tycoon

**jmeager** · 12-13-2010, 05:55 AM

Hi,

I'm working for a popular .com retail site in the UK. We're expanding in to Europe in the coming few months, having the website translated in to several languages.

I've been reading a lot in Google Webmaster Tools Help with regards the URL design. It's left me quite confused!

I see two clear options for our .com site:

a) Have the languages as sub folders .com/fr/ .com/de/ .com/es/ etc... and geo-target in Webmaster Tools

b) Use completely distinct URls for each langauge .fr .de .es

What are the benefits of each in terms of getting the site ranking and SEO?

Are there any benefits to keeping everything under the one .com domain? Does Google rank multilingual sites better in the home country?
Or is it better to start from scratch with a 'naturally' geo-targetted site such as .de?

**chrishirst** · 12-14-2010, 06:03 PM

Using the native language and country code TLDs will work for ALL search tools and their USERS.

**full house** · 12-14-2010, 08:44 PM

I think it doesn't really matter... submitting your links to the local market would help and also the language Google would see that...

**Benmoore47** · 12-15-2010, 12:13 AM

Me too as long as they have different languages. Don't bother thinking of it.

**jmeager** · 12-15-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Using the native language and country code TLDs will work for ALL search tools and their USERS.

Yes - I suppose we need to keep a focus on the priorities - the actual user experience.

**compassout01** · 01-06-2011, 01:57 AM

I think option #1 might be better. for #2, are all those sites considered 1 site or seperate ones? If they are seperate ones, it may dilute the power of your future SEO.