Best Practices For International SEO – A Complete Guide

Search Engine Optimization is critical for businesses willing to rank on the first page of the search results. However, as people are pushed more towards the internet, brands see newer opportunities to expand outside local markets and capture more customers.
The traditional SEO strategies that helped the brand rank online may not work when trying to compete in international markets. This is where professional SEO services come into play.
International Search Engine Optimization is optimizing the website to expand the company’s digital presence to drive organic traffic from multiple regions and languages. However, it is not just about translating content; it combines processes, practices, and policies the business uses to optimize content for countries worldwide.
In this post, let us look at five influential international SEO tactics brands can use to enter newer worldwide markets.

  1. Conduct Keyword Research for Newer Markets

Before optimizing your content for international markets, you need to conduct localized keyword research to find out what keywords work for different regions and languages.
You can either conduct complete keyword research in the target language or use the keywords from your original website. Once you have researched the keywords, you should check the search volume across regions.
Next, you can create a keyword strategy that defines what content you should create to rank for your identified keywords. When targeting different countries, analyze the SERPs to keep a tab on the search volume in the regions and the meaning of the keyword in the local language. Using SEO services London, you can tap into the plethora of opportunities that will come your way once you end up building a solid SEP strategy.

  1. Conduct Competitor Research

To ensure you develop a robust international SEO strategy, you must know what the competition looks like and what edge you have over your competitors.
Please do your research to identify your rivals and gauge their performance in terms of SEO, content marketing, and paid ads. Feed the identified keywords into a rank-tracking tool to see which websites compete with you in the markets you want to enter.
Once you recognize your top competitors, see how they are doing things and what seems to work for the market. Check their page and content optimization to assess your potential to create better content and outrank them. Discover the keywords up for grabs and use them for your new content.

  1. Decide On the Right URL & Site Structure

The URL structure of your site decides how easy it is for search engines and visitors to find your content. The key is researching and finding the best site and URL structure to cater to your audiences.
See whether your audiences benefit from using ccTLD, or you can continue using the existing domain name. Consider the pros and cons of different methods and decide the best one for your site.
In an ideal condition, TLDs (Top-Level Domains) is the best approach as it allows multiple managing domains simultaneously. Depending on the available resources and needs, you may even choose to go with Subdomains or Subdirectory.

  1. Get your Hreflang implementation right

International SEO implementation means making sure your users from the target countries and languages come to the correct version of your website.
Hreflang tag plays a crucial role in this process as they are aimed at cross-referencing pages that resemble in terms of content but target different audiences. Incorrect hreflang implementation can impact your rankings as well as user experience negatively.

  1. Optimize Content for The Language & Region

You want to ensure that all your new content is optimized for the regions and languages you are targeting. More than 7000 languages are being used worldwide; your site may not reach them all, but you should ensure it shows up in their primary language.
Google also prioritizes websites that appear before users in their native language. Don’t simply rely on automated translations. Make sure each phrase on the website is in the correct language. Also, avoid redirecting people to different languages based on their location; instead, give them options.

Key Takeaway

Professional SEO services can take your content to the next level. All you need is a solid strategy to execute the plan. Crafting an international SEO strategy can be a long and complicated process. However, focusing on URL structure and keyword localization should make it easy for you to enter newer markets with a solid strategy that guarantees success. 

Author Bio – : Rudra Kumar is a senior manager of search operations at Techmagnate with more than 9+ years of experience in search engine optimisation. He has helped many businesses in growing revenue via search engines of his strengths.

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