Google’s John Mueller On Domain Selection: gTLDs Vs. ccTLDs via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Google Search Advocate, John Mueller, has shed light on the difference between generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), offering practical advice to businesses and SEO professionals.
His comments arrive amidst the recent update by Google that categorizes .ai domains as gTLDs, moving away from their previous association with Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean.
Understanding The gTLD & ccTLD Distinction
A website owner in a Reddit thread on the r/SEO forum asks about the SEO implications of choosing country-specific domains.
Responding to the thread, Mueller notes that ccTLDs, such as .nl, .fr, and .de, are advantageous if a business is targeting customers in that region.