SEO IP Location Question
 

A silly question that I really feel I should know the answer to but have never had to do before so have no data available...

I'm thinking of moving a VERY well ranked site. The site ranks more than OK on google.com but more importanly is no1 for most of its terms on the local google (.co.uk) which is where 95%+ of UK users are directed to and search from.

Currently the server the site is on is located in the UK, which is where it also ranks the best. Just curious about people's thoughts if I move it to a USA based server?

In theory it shouldn't matter but given how fussy Google is these days and how easy it is to trip pointless and badly conceived Google filters and bomb, moving it is a worry for me.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience in the past few months and been affected by it? Please don't reply with half-truths that you've read on some board somewhere. I'm far more interested in actual experience.

Some say server location plays part in your ranking position, as well as server uptime. Have you considered moving it to another UK host?

Your site will inevitably be slower for UK people when placed on a US server.

Do not move it as it will effect the rankings. Maybe very little, but effected anyhow. If you must move, try to get UK IPs

Actual experience = Dropped in the serps when moving a CC tld domain abroad, and, dropped in ranking when moving a .com (with swedish content) abroad.

Thanks for the replies. The speed part is a concern but a smallish one as the delays these days are pretty small for a good host and won't put too many people off. Other stuff I have that's hosted in the USA still performs very well with UK customers.

The biggest problem with UK hosting is simply a lack of choice and expense. This thread is connected to another asking about hosting and as I mentioned in that, I simply want something cheap and cheerful (but reliable) for the project in mind.

As far as more local hosts go, UK2.net are pretty cheap but not an easy company to deal with so I'd rather not use them. Other UK based hosts with a similar price point and service level are hard to find. USA is the way to go from that point of view but again the rankings are a worry. Good no1's in google take a long time to get these days and I'd hate to lose them.

I think you should ask yourself what is more important to you: losing SE traffic and thus losing money, or paying a little extra money for hosting. If you loose more money than you would spend, then don't change to a US host.

These guys had an office nextdoor with me for a while:
http://www.webhostdir.com/

Might want to take a look on there and see if there are any UK hosts that might suit you.

Yeah I agree.

Actually I have been looking for hosting in the UK before, but always found it to be 1. to expensive and 2. to little to choose from. Really your options in NL or DE etc are much better, but then again its still has the same drawback.

Yes it is true that your server location could affect your rankings. However if you are doing you SEO WORK or using a reputable SEO company you should be able to maintain your rankings.

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I would more than happy to discuss with you more about our services.

Very good point although even taking into account cost, reliable, dedicated UK based hosting isn't that prolific. So many people in the UK seem to prefer virtual so options are low.

There are smaller hosts around but they often suffer the same as my current UK host ie too much downtime and response times too slow. Larger, dedicated hosts in the UK remain few and far between and even weighing cost against SE traffic loss, you still have to take into account potential profit and offset hosting cost against that so have to be realistic on price.

Last time I discussed this issue with goodgirl I was told that regional IP's to your location are a good thing.

yes it is a factor... also the server location of your backlinks..

You could host on multiple servers and IPs. When the IP of the request is from the UK, you could serve from the UK server, when from another location, another. This should preserve your current rankings.

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