Google announced that going to a specific Google ccTLD will no longer change how Google shows you search results. Instead, Google is going to detect where you are, no matter the ccTLD you are on, and automatically serve you search results based on your current location.
So if you wanted to get German search results, going to Google.de won't get you those. Instead, you need to fly to Germany and search while you are in that country. Or, for a cheaper method, you can go to your search settings and change the country there manually.
Google wrote:
Today, we’ve updated the way we label country services on the mobile web, the Google app for iOS, and desktop Search and Maps. Now the choice of country service will no longer be indicated by domain. Instead, by default, you’ll be served the country service that corresponds to your location. So if you live in Australia, you’ll automatically receive the country service for Australia, but when you travel to New Zealand, your results will switch automatically to the country service for New Zealand. Upon return to Australia, you will seamlessly revert back to the Australian country service.
If you want to change it, here is a GIF of the setting in action:
John Mueller from Google said on Twitter that this really doesn't impact SEOs:
I'm not sure if this really changes anything for SEO, referring domains might be different though.
— John ☆.o(≧▽≦)o.☆ (@JohnMu) October 28, 2017
Some of the folks over at WebmasterWorld are not happy, one said "Yet another example of Google disrespecting what the user has requested:." Although, I am not sure how true that is.
Of course, one person made the cloaking comment, which Google rebutted:
Here are some ways you can use the user's location on an international site: https://t.co/JTvx3AGUit
— Google Webmasters (@googlewmc) October 30, 2017
What do you all think?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld & Twitter.
