What is International SEO and why is it Important?

We are living in an attention economy where having an online presence and a global digital footprint for businesses is of paramount importance. According to research, the E-Commerce industry is projected to rise by 18.7% in the next five years. Hence, competitive businesses are consistently looking for new avenues to expand their global reach and explore untapped markets to ensure their long-term growth.

However, reaching global audiences and boosting brand visibility is a tiring task that requires a robust strategic approach. This is where an immensely powerful marketing strategy known as International SEO comes into play. 

Let’s begin by thoroughly understanding international SEO.

What is International SEO?

Search engines are engineered to match search results to the language and location of users.

Traditional Search Engine Optimization is the practice of optimizing websites so that search engines rank them higher on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) when a user searches for a particular keyword. However, traditional SEO only focuses on a specific geographic location or language.

International SEO can be defined as the geolocation of SEO. It is the process of optimizing websites to attract traffic from a broader audience encompassing diverse regions, languages, and cultural contexts. For instance, if your website is primarily targeted for the English-speaking audience in the United States but you also want to show your content, or products to the French-native audience in France then you’d optimize your site using international SEO.

International SEO works by signaling to search engines that your site has content suitable for searchers based in a particular country. This allows search engines to easily identify which countries you want to target and which languages you use for your business.

Benefits of International SEO

Now that you fully understand the core concept behind international SEO, let’s discuss some of its key benefits.

• Reach a Broad Audience and Exploit Untapped Markets

International SEO marketing is one of the most effective strategies to reach a vast and diverse audience. The Internet has globalized the marketplace allowing companies to expand their reach beyond local markets and tap into international opportunities.

By implementing international SEO strategies, businesses can easily find out if there is a demand for their product or service in an untapped market. Targeting potential customers in different geographic regions allows companies to skyrocket their brand exposure and boost revenue in various markets.

• Boost Organic Traffic and Conversions

The majority of digital marketers agree that organic search has the best ROI. According to BrightEdge, organic search driven by SEO contributes to over 53% of all trackable traffic.

International SEO strategies will allow your content to appear in search results for relevant keywords in different languages and locations. This will significantly increase organic traffic to your websites and attract users who are actively searching for products or services in their native languages and regions.

This strategic approach will increase conversion rates, ultimately boosting revenue and overall business growth.

• Global Brand Visibility and Enhanced User Experience

International SEO marketing is the cornerstone for building a strong online presence in multiple countries and establishing credibility on a global scale. When users consistently find your brand in search results it automatically fosters trust in them and instills confidence in the brand’s legitimacy.

Furthermore, if users visit your website and find content tailored to their language and cultural relevance it will enhance their user experience and encourage them to buy from you. Garnering attention from international users in the form of positive user reviews and experiences fosters loyalty and encourages word-of-mouth marketing, elevating the brand’s position internationally.

• Gain a Competitive Edge

The modern-day business landscape is extremely competitive and companies are always striving to find a competitive edge to strengthen their position on the market. By implementing international SEO services, you can outrank your competitors in international search results, and attract more international traffic, leads, and conversions.

Almost 70% of small businesses have no SEO strategy which means that you can wipe out the majority of your competitors by following a strategic international SEO marketing approach.

Don’t know where to start? Why not leave the SEO intricacies in the hands of the best international SEO services provider in the world?

Ayraxs will implement the best international SEO strategies custom-tailored for your business to skyrocket your digital footprint and enhance your online visibility.

• Diversification and Risk Mitigation

Diversification and risk mitigation are the most overlooked benefits of international SEO. Considering the macroeconomic conditions of most countries businesses can’t solely rely on a single market or geographic region. Factors such as seasonal fluctuations, unforeseen market changes, market saturation, and regulatory changes can seriously impact and halt operations for most businesses.

Therefore, having a diversification strategy in play is vital for modern-day businesses. International SEO plays a key role here in allowing businesses to diversify their customer base, reducing dependency on any single market or geographical region.

A diversified audience ensures the long-term success of a business. If one localized market gets hit, the other markets can still keep the business flourishing.

International SEO Checklist

Use the following checklist to build a robust International SEO strategy:

1. Conduct market research to analyze your potential in target locations
2. Perform international keyword research for each target market
3. Use an optimized URL structure for international users
4. Create localized content for each target language
5. Add hreflang attribute across international pages
6. Optimize On-page elements such as meta-tags and interlinking for international pages
7. Optimize Technical SEO elements such as faster loading speed, XML sitemaps, and mobile responsiveness
8. Build links from local resources to show authority to search engines
9. Regularly monitor and analyze international SEO performance
10. Stay updated with the latest international SEO trends

Ready to Create Your Brand’s Global Digital Footprint?

Let Ayraxs help you boost your brand’s online presence today by analyzing global opportunities for your business and implementing an effective international SEO strategy. Ayraxs Technologies is a widely renowned marketing agency offering the best international SEO services across the world.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the benefits of international SEO?

International SEO can be used to increase organic traffic and conversion rate, boost brand visibility in international markets, and reach broader audiences across the globe.

Q2. What is the international SEO process?

The following steps given below can be used to implement international SEO:

1. International market research
2. International keyword research
3. Optimizing URL structure
4. Creating localized content
5. Adding hreflang attributes
6. Optimizing On-page SEO elements
7. Optimizing Technical SEO elements
8. Building links from local resources
9. Monitoring international SEO performance
10. Staying updated with international SEO trends

Q3. What is the difference between international and local SEO?

The main difference between international and local SEO lies in the target audience and the scope of geographical reach: international SEO targets a global audience and aims to rank websites for users worldwide, whereas local SEO targets a local audience primarily within a specified area such as a city or a neighborhood.

Q4. What is SEO and why is it important?

SEO is the practice of optimizing websites so that search engines rank them higher on the SERPs when a user searches for a particular keyword or subject.