SEO question

[lostrisq]

I am wondering.... how important is the fact your website is running on a server in your country of company? So Dutch server for .nl company/webshop and Belgian server for Belgian company/webshop.

Sometimes you think you host your site with a Belgian company, but it turns out their servers are in The Netherlands.
Or sometimes even in the States.

Does this affect your rating in google for Belgian googlers?

Hope someone has some experience in this matter...

[Doublespark]

Use a TLD specific to your country for example .nl

Specify in Google Webmaster Tools the target country.

Then you should be fine.

[lostrisq]

So it does not really matter where the server is?

There is quit a bit of price difference in the Netherlands en Belgium. I prefer to always use a Dutch hosting company, also for my Belgian clients. Of course the have a .be extention.

[Doublespark]

Does not matter at all!! Although you may find contradictory advise on the internet, but that will be outdated.

So long as you use Google Webmaster Tools you will be fine.

If SEO is important to you and your clients, the SEOmoz blog and forums are good places to keep abreast up to date info.