A ccTLD (country code top-level domain) is a domain extension specific to a country or territory. For example, “.es” is the ccTLD for Spain.
Let’s take .es as an example:
What’s the difference in search results or page rankings between Google.com and Google.es?
i.e., does improving SERP on Google.es affect Google.com?
Short answer: They’re almost the same — SERPs on both have similar strength.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Searching on Google.es and Google.com will return very similar, if not identical, results.
Target Audience:
Google.com: Primarily targets users worldwide (international).
Google.es: Specifically targets users in Spain (.es is the country code for Spain).
Search Results:
Google.com: Generally, it shows global results, but may consider your location for some queries (like news or weather).
Google.es: Primarily shows results relevant to Spain, including Spanish websites, news, and businesses.
Language:
Google.com: Default interface is usually in English, but can be changed based on your settings or location.
Google.es: Default interface is in Spanish.
Local Features:
Google.es: May offer features specific to Spain, like local business listings, holidays, or Spanish language tools.
Why the similar results in your test?
Search engines like Google personalize results to some extent based on various factors. Since your location might be influencing both searches, you might have seen very similar results.
Here are some scenarios where results might differ:
Searching for Spanish-specific content: Google.es might rank Spanish websites higher, while Google.com might prioritize English ones.
Local news or events: Google.es would likely prioritize Spanish news sources, while Google.com would focus on news relevant to your broader location.
Searching for local businesses: Google.es would prioritize businesses in Spain, while Google.com might show results based on your current location.
Overall, both Google.com and Google.es offer the same core search functionality and reflect the same SEO strength. However, Google.es tailors the experience for Spanish users and prioritizes content relevant to Spain.