Some time ago, all I know about SEO was keywords, keywords, keywords… Until I started exploring SEO, I did not realize how important it is for the website.
And in this article, get to know about local and international SEO along with me. Have penned down this particular topic since I felt this might be helpful for all of us.
What is local SEO?
Optimizing a website to obtain a higher rank in local search engine results is called Local SEO.
For example, optimizing for keywords that include a local location, such as “grocery delivery in Chennai city.”
The goal of local SEO is to make it easy for people in a specific geographic area to find and visit a local business’s website.
How to determine whether your website is optimised for local SEO?
Local SEO can be determined in several ways:
Check your Google My Business listing: If your business has been verified with Google My Business, your listing should appear when you search for your business name or address.
Use Google Search Console: Check your website traffic by using Google Search Console. Try finding keywords that contain location-specific terms, such as “best pizza in [your city name]”.
Analyze your website’s content: Make sure you have structured data that includes your business name, address, and phone number on your website, as well as keywords that describe your location, such as your city or state name.
Check for backlinks: You can find out if your website contains any backlinks from local websites, such as community organizations, news outlets, and other businesses near you, by using a backlink analysis tool.
Note:
Use Ahrefs or semrush for backlink checkers to get more accurate results. In case you don’t have any backlinks and wondering how to get them for your website, read here.
Check your website’s analytics: Use Google Analytics to know where your website’s traffic is coming from.
Search for your business name: Use Google and other search engines to find your business name. Check local directories and review sites for your business listing.
Test the website on different locations: Make sure the correct version of the website is shown to users based on their location. You can do this using VPN software or other location-changing software.
Optimize your images: Make sure your images are search engine optimized by adding descriptive file names and alt tags.
Check for mobile optimization: This is a vital part of SEO, do verify that your website is mobile-friendly, as mobile optimization is important for local search ranking.
You may have a question like, “how to check if my website is mobile friendly”? To know, click here to test.
International SEO
International SEO is the process of optimising a website to rank in search engine results for multiple countries and languages.
The goal of international SEO is to make it easy for people in a specific country or region to find and visit a website.
Okay, it’s time to explain International SEO with an example.
Heera runs a clothing business located in Paris, France, which has been operational for quite a while and has a great customer base in France.
She, however, aims to increase its customer base from other countries. Her friend proposed to optimise their website with international SEO. She identified the countries and languages for the company and started with customers in Canada who spoke French.
She initiated the use of hreflang tags to point out the language of the website and produced French content that was exclusively for Canada, such as talking about the Canadian climate and taking into account Canadian laws and regulations.
Then, she chose to increase to the UK and created a unique UK version of the website with prices in GBP and local delivery options. Additionally, she made sure the website was hosted on a UK-based server. Finally, she desired to target customers in the United States and produced an English language version of the website.
Subsequently, the business’s web page started to appear higher in search results for different languages and countries. This led to more and more international customers coming to their websites and buying from them. The company was elated to see their international sales increase by adding hreflang tags to point out that the website was intended for US customers.
How to determine whether your website is optimised for International SEO?
When executing an international SEO strategy for your website, there are several stages to consider, including:
Specifying the target countries and languages: Establish which countries and which languages you intend to focus on and categorize them according to your company objectives.
Using hreflang tags: Utilize hreflang tags to specify the language and regional targeting of your content. This will enable search engines to discern which variation of your website is meant for which audience.
Formulating localized content: Compose distinctive and applicable content that is particular to each targeted nation and language. This incorporates utilizing local language, currency, and following local laws and regulations.
Employing a ccTLD: A vital part of international SEO. Use a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for each targeted country.
For instance, with a .fr TLD for France or a .co.uk TLD for the UK.
Optimizing for local search: Enhance your website for local search by including location-specific keywords and information, such as your business address and phone number.
Utilize Google Search Console: Employ Google Search Console to follow your website’s operation in distinct nations and languages. This will help you locate any complications and make the necessary modifications.
Implement geo-targeting: Take advantage of IP detection, browser settings and other methods to guarantee that the proper version of the website is given to the appropriate user.
Observe and Improve: Monitor your website’s performance by utilizing analytics and tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console and other SEO tools. Enhance your website based on the data and make alterations to enhance your website’s presence and ranking.
Final thoughts
It is essential for businesses to practice both Local and International SEO if they intend to connect with customers globally as well as in their immediate locality. Local SEO is beneficial in targeting customers in the company’s vicinity, while international SEO enables the business to attract consumers from abroad.
Hope this article might help you with your business!