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StevenHook

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Would it be SEO safe to get a .co domain?

Hi,
We've recently expanded our services to a few more countries, and for each we registered a local domain that they can use for their site. Essentially each site is a clone of our main one, which apparently isn't good for SEO, having duplicate content under many domains.
So we've thought of getting a main, goe-neutral domain to put the sites under and having wither sub-domains or sub-sections in the URL for each geo-location's site.
According to what I can see it's the wiser way to go.
The problem is, I don't want to buy the .com from the guys who are sitting on it, In my opinion they're asking more than it's worth. I;m happy for them to keep it if they don't want to sell for a reasonable price. I'll take a .biz or something else.
So one of the ones that we were strongly considering was .co - I like it, it's short and neutral at first sight, but I see it is the TLD for Columbia.
Will having a site with multiple geographically dependent subsections like /za/ (za.) or /mu/ (mu.) or /zw/ (zw.) hosted under a domain with a geographically connected TLD (.co or .rs) negatively affect our localised SEO work. Will it decrease out .za score in south africa or our .mu score in mauritius - If I can put it that way.  or will it work the same as a truly geographically independent TLD like .bix or .com?

Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve
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Gary
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Nothing wrong with one main domain but you are probably better following the advice here
http://searchengineland.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-multilingual-and-multiregional-seo-157838

Basically tell the search engines which page to serve based on location.
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StevenHook

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What I am really after is if the .co domain in particular will have any negative impact because of it's association with columbia?
Thanks
Steve
Well it wouldn't inspire any confidence in me if they were asking for credit card details
:) I mean ....
... is if the .co domain in particular will have any negative impact on the SEO here in South Africa or in Mauritius -  because of it's association with columbia?
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Gary
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Cool.
That's exactly what I was after.
Thanks
Steve
Thanks for the help and advice.