Choosing the right international URL structure is crucial. Discover how gTLDs, ccTLDs, subdirectories, subdomains, and URL parameters influence SEO.
Best International URL Structure: 6 gTLD & ccTLD Examples
Understanding the Difference Between Country Codes and Language Codes
Before diving deeper, it is important to note that a well-structured international URL helps search engines understand the geographical and linguistic targeting of your content. From my experience as a Freelance Marketing and International SEO Consultant, I have noticed confusion between country codes and language codes. To clarify these concepts, I have written another article titled How ICANN, Country Codes, and Language Codes Shape ccTLDs and gTLDs. I encourage you to read it for a better understanding of how these elements interact and their key differences in URLs. Additionally, there is an SEO infographic titled Best International URL Structure: Pros & Cons that illustrates the concepts discussed in this article.
Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD)
A Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) is a domain that is not tied to any specific country or region. These are the most common domain types, such as .com, .org, or .net, used for global or non-regional purposes. They are ideal for businesses that want to target an international audience without focusing on a specific country or language.
Examples of gTLDs
- website.com
- website.org
- website.net
gTLD Pros
- Simple to manage and consolidate
- Consolidates domain authority across regions, strengthening SEO
- Trusted by users worldwide due to familiarity
gTLD Cons
- Weaker localization signal to search engines compared to country-specific domains
- May lack a sense of local relevance, making it harder to connect with regional audiences
Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD)
A Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) is a domain that is tied to a specific country or geographic region. These domains are used by businesses to target audiences within a specific country and can be highly beneficial for regional SEO strategies.
Examples of ccTLDs
- website.ca (Canada)
- website.fr (France)
- website.mx (Mexico)
- website.es (Spain)
- website.dk (Denmark)
- website.se (Sweden)
ccTLD Pros
- Strong localization signal to search engines, which can improve visibility in local search results
- Trusted by users for localized content, which can boost user engagement and conversion rates.
ccTLD Cons
- SEO efforts can be challenging to consolidate, as each ccTLD is treated separately
- May dilute site authority across different country-specific domains
ccTLD + Subdirectories
Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) can be combined with language codes to create a more personalized and relevant user experience. For example, a website with the ccTLD .ca (Canada) might use language codes like /fr for French or /en for English, catering to Canada’s bilingual audience.
Examples of ccTLD + Subdirectories
- website.ch/fr – A website with the Switzerland ccTLD (.ch) targeting French-speaking users in Switzerland
- website.ch/de – A website with the Switzerland ccTLD (.ch) targeting German-speaking users in Switzerland
- website.ch/it – A website with the Switzerland ccTLD (.ch) targeting Italian-speaking users in Switzerland
- website.be/fr – A website with the Belgium ccTLD (.be) targeting French-speaking users in Belgium
- website.be/nl – A website with the Belgium ccTLD (.be) targeting Flemish-speaking (Dutch) users in Belgium
ccTLD + Subdirectories Pros
- Clear localization signals, as subdirectories allow for specific regional or language targeting, while the ccTLD strengthens the localization signal.
- Enhanced regional targeting, as content can be tailored for specific languages and regions, improving user experience and relevance.
ccTLD + Subdirectories Cons
- Potential hreflang tag issues, requiring careful implementation to ensure the right content reaches the right audience.
- Increased maintenance, as managing multiple subdirectories requires more resources to keep language-specific or region-specific pages up-to-date.
gTLD + Subdirectories
A gTLD with subdirectories uses a single generic domain and organizes the website content by language or region into subdirectories. This structure can help businesses target multiple countries or languages under one domain while maintaining some SEO benefits.
Examples of gTLD + Subdirectories:
- website.com/en (English)
- website.com/fr (French)
- website.com/es (Spanish)
- website.com/da (Danish)
- website.com/sv (Swedish)
gTLD + Subdirectories Pros:
- Consolidates domain authority under one domain, improving SEO
- Cost-effective and easier to manage compared to multiple domains
gTLD + Subdirectories Cons:
- Weaker localization signal to search engines than ccTLDs
- May feel less personalized to users in specific regions, as subdirectories don’t inherently signal a specific country
gTLD + Subdomains
A gTLD with subdomains is similar to the subdirectory model, but instead of using folders, it creates separate subdomains for each language or region. For example, you might have fr.website.com for French content and sv.website.com for Swedish content.
Examples of gTLD + Subdomains:
- en.website.com (English)
- it.website.com (Italian)
- de.website.com (German)
gTLD + Subdomains Pros:
- Clearly targets specific regions or languages
- Easier to organize and manage content for different markets
gTLD + Subdomains Cons:
- Search engines may treat subdomains as separate websites, potentially diluting SEO authority
- Domain authority is spread across subdomains, which can reduce the overall effectiveness of your SEO strategy
gTLD + URL Parameters
A gTLD with URL parameters appends language or region identifiers to the URL, often in the form of query parameters (like ?lang=en). This structure is simple to implement but can present some challenges when it comes to SEO and user trust.
Examples of gTLD + Language Parameters:
- website.com/?lang=en (English)
- website.com/?lang=fr (French)
- website.com/?lang=de (German)
gTLD with URL Parameters Pros:
- Easy to implement without needing separate domains, subdirectories, or subdomains
- Cost-effective
gTLD with URL Parameters Cons:
- Potential technical issues, such as indexing problems or content duplication
- Weaker localization signal to search engines
- Lower user trust as the URL doesn’t clearly indicate language or country
International URL Structure Best Practices Summary
| URL Structure | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| gTLD | Generic top-level domain (e.g., .com, .org) | Simple to manage, consolidates SEO, trusted globally | Weaker localization, less local relevance |
| ccTLD | Country code domain (e.g., .ca, .fr) | Strong local SEO, trusted locally | SEO efforts fragmented, diluted domain authority |
| ccTLD + subdirectories | Country domain with language folders (e.g., .ch/fr) | Clear localization, tailored regional content | Hreflang complexity, higher maintenance |
| gTLD + subdirectories | Generic domain with folders (e.g., site.com/en) | Consolidated SEO, cost-effective | Weaker localization signals, less personalized |
| gTLD + subdomains | Generic domain with subdomains (e.g., en.site.com) | Targets regions clearly, easier content management | SEO split across subdomains, more setup |
| gTLD + url parameters | Generic domain with query strings (e.g., ?lang=en) | Simple, cost-effective | Indexing issues, duplicate content, weak localization |
Get a Free SEO Consultation for Your International URL Strategy
Choosing the right international URL structure—whether it is a gTLD, ccTLD, or other options—is crucial for aligning with your audience’s geographic and language preferences. If you’re unsure which approach best suits your international SEO needs, schedule a free SEO consultation for expert advice on navigating multilingual and multi-regional SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions About International URL Structures
What is a ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain)?
A Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) is a two-letter domain extension that represents a specific country or geographical area. These two letters are derived from the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes, which are standardized abbreviations assigned to countries and territories. For example, .ca is the ccTLD for Canada (ISO code CA), and .de is the ccTLD for Germany (ISO code DE). ccTLDs are primarily used by businesses to target local audiences within a specific country, signaling to search engines and users that the content is region-specific. This makes ccTLDs valuable for regional SEO strategies, as they enhance visibility in local search results and foster user trust.
If ccTLDs are based on ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes, why does the United Kingdom use ".uk" instead of ".gb"?
While country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are typically derived from ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes—like Canada’s .ca (from CA) and Germany’s .de (from DE)—the United Kingdom is an exception. Its ISO code is GB, but the ccTLD is .uk. This is because .uk was introduced in 1985, before ISO 3166-1 codes became widely standardized. Although .gb was technically assigned later to align with ISO, it was never adopted, as .uk was already well-established and widely used. To avoid confusion and disruption, the United Kingdom retained .uk as its primary ccTLD, leaving .gb largely unused. This makes the UK an unusual but well-understood exception to the rule.
What is a gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)?
A Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) is a domain extension not tied to any specific country or geographic region. Popular gTLDs include .com, .org, .net, and newer options like .shop or .tech. These domains are often used for global or non-regional websites and allow businesses to reach an international audience without focusing on any particular location. While gTLDs are easy to manage and familiar to users worldwide, they offer weaker localization signals to search engines compared to ccTLDs, making them less effective for region-specific SEO strategies.
Should I use a gTLD or ccTLD for my international SEO strategy?
The decision between using a gTLD or ccTLD depends on your business goals and target audience. If you’re targeting a global audience and do not wish to focus on any particular country, a gTLD like .com or .org can be a good choice, as it offers flexibility and simplifies management. However, if your goal is to cater to specific regional markets, a ccTLD (e.g., .fr for France or .de for Germany) will provide stronger localization signals, helping improve SEO visibility in those countries. Combining a gTLD with subdirectories or subdomains can also be an effective middle ground.
Meet the Author: Catherine Gason, International SEO Consultant
Tags: localization seo | seo terms
Fluent in French, English, and Italian, Catherine Gason is a Multilingual Marketing and International SEO Consultant who addresses audience and platform differences with data-driven SEO strategies. She delivers top-tier international SEO consulting, training, and services under GasOn Marketing. Through this blog, Catherine provides actionable insights on global SEO, covering strategic planning, technical optimizations, and analytics. Her distinctive approach seamlessly integrates in-house and outsourced SEO resources, fostering collaborations with SEO companies, agencies, freelancers, and experts.
