Are you thinking of expanding your business to an international market? Have you considered how that will affect your SEO strategy? Although Google holds the largest share of search engine users, don’t discount other platforms. In Russia, Yandex serves 44% of all search queries. While in China, Google trails far behind Baidu’s popularity. To ensure your website gets seen you must follow an international SEO strategy that targets local trends. This article outlines some international SEO basics. We share 4 key areas of a successful global SEO strategy. And we provide essential SEO tips that can put your site on top. Read on to learn the benefits of SEO in another country and how to tap into those new markets.
1. Research the Landscape
Before spending a dime on SEO be sure to research the global landscape. Investigate the region that you wish to sell to, specifically their online search habits. Collate real-world data to build your decisions on. Don’t always bank on your local strategy having the same effect in an international context. To assist you, Google has developed a service called Market Finder. It offers in-depth guides on building an international SEO strategy for businesses of all types. And it also gives advice on practical concerns like currency issues and regional advertising.
2. Develop a Keyword Strategy
One of the fundamental SEO basics is to discover which keywords work best for your business. A global SEO strategy is no different. You must analyze what your new customers search for then optimize your site accordingly. Google’s Keyword Planner tool offers this facility as does SEMRush. The latter also lets you breakdown results by country. Yandex’s Keyword Statistics facility is an excellent choice if you want to target Russian visitors. And don’t forget to factor in differences in language in your research.
3. Don’t Translate but Localize
SEO copywriting remains an essential part of search engine optimization in 2021. Does that mean you can offer the same content, just translated into the target language? Free translation tools like BabelFish.com cannot convey feelings and local sensibilities adequately. A good-natured phrase in English might have the opposite effect in Hindi or Mandarin. What’s needed is a professional SEO copywriter who understands how to localize language. They should be aware of regional search phrases and how to include them in your website correctly.
4. Employ an International SEO Agency
The techniques outlined so far require time, skill, and knowledge of your target market. What if you aren’t able to match these requirements but still want to sell abroad? Smart business owners hire an international SEO agency to manage their search engine strategies. These professionals offer expert advice on regional planning, development, and implementation. They provide services like copywriting and keyword analysis. And they’re fully versed in the local dialect and users’ search habits.
International SEO Strategy Advice and More at Small Business Brain
In this article, you’ve seen how the right international SEO strategy can yield excellent SERP results for your business. From solid research and choosing the right keywords, you can optimize your site for the global marketplace. Selecting the right international SEO agency remains key to the process so be sure to choose the best. Remember to sign up for our newsletter to receive new SEO tips directly into your inbox.