Targeting the US market, Will i need a US server?

[Paullas]

Just wondering if this is a myth or is it true that if i want to target the US market i will need to host the domain (.com) on a server based in the US.

Thanks in advance.

 

[accelerator]

My opinion - You don't have to because you can set site location in Google Search Console, but it's a case of every little helps. It's probably only worth worrying about if you take the algorithmic side of SEO really seriously. There are other much bigger factors in site traffic.

 

[martin-s]

Do you need a .com? Most likely yes
Do you need a US based server for SEO? Not really
Should you have a US based server for latency? Probably yes

 

[Adam H]

Run one of your sites through this : https://performance.sucuri.net

If you have poor latency it could have knock on effects. Obviously to help you could use a good DNS provider who has datacentres in most locations.

 

[Paullas]

Hi Adam.

Thanks for the above. What would you class as poor latency? I have just done a test on the server i have and it shows the following:


UK London: 0.016 secs
USA, New York: 0.310 secs
USA, Los Angeles: 0.425
Canada, Toronto: 0215

 

[Adam H]

Sucuri have it pretty spot on with the traffic light colours imo as those are based on averages. Id certainly want a green in the area of which you were mainly targeting.

 

[Paullas]

Thanks Adam, i will get a server in the US and give that a try.