UK results - none

[GoldDust]

My site www.djryanclark.com is showing up in the google .com results (global) but I have noticed only recently that im not showing up in the UK results at all. I would like to know how I can achive results in the both the UK lisitngs as well as maintaining my current listing in google.com (Global)
 
It's been sugested to me to go for a UK based hosting company, this will ensure my site is listed in the UK serps I have been told. But, how comes sites hosted in the states don't show up in the UK listings but a UK hosted site shows up in both? - correct me on this if i am incorrect.
 
Also, I'm concernd that if I do decide to change my hosting to the UK that my current google results will be disturbed. Can some one clear up this for me & suggest to me what the options are & what is the correct thing to do for the transition to another hosting compan if need be.
 
thank you in advance,
Gold

[Commerce Brian]

Hi Golddust  - and this is something that I have direct experience of.
 
 Basically, Google will only list sites that are either physically hosted in the UK, or else use a UK tld, ie, .co.uk or .org.uk, etc.
 
  Obviously, this helps tie down user specific searches based on region.
 
 I realised the various advantages of bringing my sites home a while back, and closed all my US hosted accounts to bring all my sites to the UK.
 
 On the one hand, I have extra traffic brought in specifically by .co.uk searches. It's not actually a great deal more, but it helps bring welcome attention to the sites.
 
  On the other hand, it can help immensely with branding. For example, it's not yet finished, but check out: www.chronicles-network.com - and look at the top left corner. Doesn't that look impressive? It is quite true as well. And that can only help encourage natural linking as other people notice the site and add it top their link lists of recommended sites (in time).
 
 A word of caution, though - a lot of UK companies actually use servers in the US, either exclusive, or else mix them with UK servers. So do watch out that are are actually physically hosted in the UK (ie, datacenters such as Redbus 1, 2 or 3, Telehouse, or Global Switch London).
 
 Also - do note that it's best to actually have the site transferred and running fine on the UK servers, before actually closing your US accounts(s). I made a rather stupid mistake with this and rushed the transfer of Business-Talk.co.uk - this very forum - so as to beat the next payment - gosh, $5 - and ended up losing a third of the forum due to a corrupt database. And as the US account had been quickly closed, I no longer had access to a new copy.
 
 You shouldn't find your rankings affected on Google.com - my sites had established rankings that they have not at all lost - the difference being that your site *may* be easier to find on UK only searches in addition to established rankings on Google.com.
 
 However, do note that it;s still the old game with needing good links in to get the rankings. There may be less competition on UK searches on Google.co.uk - but that doesn't mean to say that the commercially sensitive search terms haven't been grabbed and well SEO'ed for already.
 
  Hope that helps - feel free to ask any further questions.

[GoldDust]

Brain thankx for your speedy reply -

[GoldDust]

Also, you mentioned- do note that it's best to actually have the site transferred and running fine on the UK servers, before actually closing your US accounts(s).
 
Im new to the area of hosting & wanted to know the best method of transfering my site and my forum, as I have not done this before... Do i simply open up a new hosting account and upload my site? and what about the 2 accounts running at the same time will this have any efect on anything?

[Commerce Brian]

Yes, open the UK accounts, and then upload all of your files. However, your domain will only be actually pointing to one of the servers.
 
 Before you change nameservers, though, close down any forums that are running, and making one or more back-ups (try and make sure your final back-up is not corrupted!).
 
 Then go to wherever you registered your domain(s), and change the nameservers to your new UK host nameservers.
 
 Then wait 48-72 hours for the domain name to propagate (ie, to be cached in main internet servers worldwide).
 
 As soon as you see the new server is being pointed at, re-install your forums and open them up.
 
 Voila! Server move.
 
 
 NOTE: There is actually an option in CPanel to transfer all files from one server to another server running CPanel - I've seen a tutorial on this before, but it's more techincally challenging.