When it comes to hosting, the location of the server matters a lot, even though many people ignore it. Unfortunately, some of the hosting providers too try to keep their clients in the dark when it comes to the location of the server. With that being said, does the location of the server actually matter? Is it that important? Let’s find out.
Location of the server affects the speed
If the server is located closer, you can expect faster data transfer speed. That means, your website will load quicker if the server is located closer to you. Generally, visitors don’t like to wait long until a website gets loaded.
If a website takes more than 3 seconds to load, your visitors will likely leave your site without looking at what you have to offer.
If you are a website owner, you should be smart in selecting a server location. You should first do some research and learn about the geographical location of your customer base. Then, you should ask your hosting provider if it is possible to assign your website a server located within that location. For instance, if you are targeting a clientele in Canada, your preference should be a server located in Canada, no matter where you are actually based in.
Server location matters in terms of privacy
As a website owner, you should know that different countries deploy different rules and regulations in regard to information security. In some countries, they allow specific authorities to access their servers and monitor the information related to websites they host.
If you know the location of the server, you can learn the laws entertained in the respective region and decide if the server is suitable for your purpose. For instance, if your server is located inside Canada, you can go through The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) to learn more about the Canadian Privacy Policy. Likewise, different countries have different acts related to your data stored in their servers. But none of these Acts become useful if you don’t know the exact location of the server.
Note: This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can store prohibited/illicit content by selecting a server located in a different region or a country.
Server location affects Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The impact of server location on SEO is a highly debatable topic. No one is quite sure about the current impact of the server location to an aspect like SEO. But, it is believed that SERP rankings of your website can change depending on the location of the server.
For instance, if you use a server located outside Canada and perform SEO strategies targeting Ontario, the effectiveness can diminish. However, no one really knows the smart behaviors of the Google algorithms that affect the rankings of your website. Still, we strongly suggest you picking a server located in the same country where your target clientele resides – at least for the sake of the speed.
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