I watched this video from Google Webmaster Help channel in Youtube where Matt Cutts answered a question regarding the results in Google.co.uk where non-.co.uk sites are currently ranking well on the SERPs (search engine result pages). Right before the changes on the algorithm of Google, website that utilizes ccTLD (country code top-level domains) on their website are more visible on a specific country. Now, its different. Google look more on the relevance of the content to the country. It doesn’t immediately make any geo specific sites to rank higher than generic TLDs (.com, .org or .net). It means that, if you’re targeting topics to rank well on a specific country, make sure that the contents and backlinks are related to your target. If you want to rank in the Google Philippines data center, your content (even your title doesn’t contain the name of the country) should be very relevant to the said geo-location.
Here’s the video that I am talking about featuring Matt Cutts of Google:
Actually, I bought a .pk domain a while back which i thought will target USA without realized that ccTLDs can hurt search rankings. Why would I buy a pk to target USA? because I could get a domain name called “techblog.pk” but I feel useless running it now 🙁
I think your site is just fine and you’re doing great with it. Just don’t worry about that ccTLD and TLD thing. If your content is worth to read then you’ll just gain your audience US or non-US.
you words “Google look more on the relevance of the content to the country. It doesn’t immediately make any geo specific sites to rank higher than generic TLDs” might sound right in the case of .com/net/org ranking higher in UK SERPs but can a pl (poland) domain rank higher in UK SERPs because it has UK targeted content on it? I don’t think so! the webmaster tools at the google say pl is targeted to Poland and it can’t be changed
@Hamad, that’s basically the point. Its better that you use generic TLDs rather than ccTLDs and make sure your contents really contains what you want Google to find you. Why would you use .PL if you’re targeting UK audiences? It just doesn’t suit well. 🙂