What IS international SEO, and WHY do we need it?
If you’re reading this, chances are you already have a pretty good handle on domestic SEO. But what exactly is international SEO, and why do we need it?
In short, international SEO is the process of optimizing your website for users in multiple countries. And while it may seem like a daunting task, there are actually a number of benefits to pursuing an international SEO strategy:
1. Increased traffic. By optimizing your site for multiple countries, you’re essentially opening up your content to a whole new audience. And the more eyeballs you have on your site, the better.
2. Improved conversion rates. If you’re selling products or services online, then you know that conversion rates are everything. And by catering to users in multiple countries, you’re increasing the chances that they’ll find what they’re looking for on your site and make a purchase.
3. A more robust online presence. By establishing a presence in multiple countries, you’re sending a signal to search engines that your business is serious and here to stay. This can only help your domestic SEO efforts as well.
4. Greater brand awareness. When people in different countries are searching for your products or services, your brand name is going to come up more and more frequently. And as we all know, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. The more people are talking about your brand, the better off you’ll be in the long run.
5. A competitive advantage over other businesses in your industry who haven’t gone global yet. If you’re one of the first businesses in your industry to target multiple countries with your SEO efforts, you’ll have a leg up on the competition from day one.
Those are just a few of the benefits of pursuing an international SEO strategy. But before we get into how to actually go about doing it, let’s take a quick look at some common misconceptions about international SEO:
Myth #1: International SEO is too difficult/time-consuming/expensive for my business to pursue right now Any successful international SEO strategy starts with research, and lots of it. But once you’ve done your homework and figured out which keywords and phrases are most popular in each country you’re targeting, the rest is just a matter of putting in the time and effort to optimize your site accordingly. Sure, it’s not going to be easy – but nothing worth doing ever is.
Myth #2: My business doesn’t need an international SEO strategy Just because your business doesn’t have an international presence yet doesn’t mean it never will (and trust us, if you’re not planning ahead now, somebody else in your industry will be). Even if you don’t think you’ll be selling products or services overseas anytime soon, Pursuing an international SEO strategy now will put you ahead of the curve when/if the time comes that you DO want to expand into new markets. Not to mention the fact that it can only help your domestic SEO efforts as well (see points 2-5 above). So unless you’re 100% positive that your business will never expand beyond its current borders… there’s really no reason NOT to pursue an international SEO strategy now.. At the very least
