On the other hand, the user can also search on location<\/strong>: with his search query, he has filter options for example to select \u201conly pages in Dutch\u201d or \u201conly pages in Belgium\u201d (or for Dutch users: \u201conly pages in the Netherlands\u201d).<\/p>\n So, location indeed plays a role when it comes to the SEO of your website.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With generic domain names such as .com, .org or the many new domain extensions such as .bike, .xyz or .app, Googles bases itself on the IP address of the server<\/strong>, an indication of the country where the server is located. Google also assumes that the webmaster chooses a hosting and web server that is located as closely as possible to the country of his target audience. Furthermore, Google also considers the clues in the content of the site, contact details, content snippets, backlinks, etc.<\/p>\n In each of these cases, you can also use the Google Search Console to indicate on which country your website specifically focuses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes and no.<\/p>\n Local hosting in Belgium or its neighbouring countries has the additional advantage that you may assume that the hosting companies in these countries respect the rules of privacy and data processing of the GDPR<\/strong>, that have been applicable in the entire EU since 25 May 2018. Something that is not always the case with overseas hosting!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> Provide a translation of the content<\/strong> in the desired language \u2013 Google does not consider this duplicate content and will not penalise you for this. And do not forget to use proper language Meta tags<\/strong> that allow Google to know in which language the content is written (<html lang=\"en\">)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n (For more tips about international SEO, please read \"How to optimize your website for other countries<\/a>\" and \"Getting started in international SEO<\/a>\")<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A quick loading time is important for the user experience of your website visitors. This again has a large impact on your ranking. With these tips, you create a quick website:<\/p>\n For your ranking in the search results of Google, the location of your web server is particularly important as it affects the loading speed of your website. Choosing good quality web hosting is therefore essential!<\/p>\n![\"Influence](\"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/files\/Influence-of-the-server-location-on-Google-SEO.jpg\" "\\"Influence")
When ranking the results of a search query, Google will always try to give the most relevant possible result, also geographically<\/strong>. Because it makes little sense to mention the address of the baker from Bruges who sells \u2018rye bread with currants\u2019 when the user who enters this query is located in Kempenland.<\/p>\nHow does Google determine the location?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/files\/Google-determines-location-for-SEO.png\" "\\"Google")
Google relies on several factors. If it is a website with a country code domain name<\/strong> (.be, .fr, .nl), Google will automatically assume that this website is located on Belgian, French or Dutch territory, or that it focuses on users from these countries.<\/p>\nSo, is the location of your web hosting decisive for the ranking of your website at Google? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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And what if your website focuses on target groups in different countries?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Server](\"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/files\/Server-location-influence-the-SEO.png\" "\\"Server")
If your company focuses on users in different countries, you can make this clear to Google in different ways:<\/p>\n\n
User experience (and therefore also quick loading) is very important to Google<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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