
Best International URL Structure: 6 gTLD & ccTLD Examples
Understanding the Difference Between Country Codes and Language Codes
Before diving deeper, it’s 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’ve noticed confusion between country codes and language codes. To clarify these concepts, I’ve 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’s an SEO infographic titled Best International URL Structure: Pros & Cons that illustrates the concepts discussed in this article.
Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD)
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
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
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
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
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
Get a Free SEO Consultation for Your International URL Strategy
Choosing the right international URL structure—whether it’s 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.