7 Best SEO Practices for International Targeting

September 11, 2022

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In today’s global economy, it’s more important than ever for businesses to have a presence in multiple countries. But what does that mean for your website’s SEO? How can you make sure that your site is being seen by the right people in the right places? The answer is international targeting.

International targeting is the process of optimising your website for different countries and regions.

If you want to target a global audience with your website, then you need to make sure that your site is optimised for international SEO. This involves taking into account a variety of factors, from the language you are targeting to the location of your audience. This can be a tricky process, but it is definitely worth the effort.

What Is International Targeting?

International targeting is the process of making your website accessible and relevant to people in different countries. This can be done in a number of ways, but the most important thing is to make sure that your site is available in the right languages.

It’s also important to consider the location of your target audience when you’re optimising your site. Different countries have different rules and regulations about what can be published online, so you need to make sure that your site complies with all of the relevant laws.

Finally, you need to think about the cultural differences between your target audience and your own culture. What might be considered normal in your country could be offensive in another, so it’s important to be aware of these differences.

Why Is International Targeting Important?

There are a number of reasons why international targeting is important for your website’s SEO.

Firstly, it ensures that your site is visible to people in different countries. If your site is only available in English, then you’re missing out on a huge number of potential customers. By making your site available in multiple languages, you can dramatically increase the number of people who can see it.

Secondly, international targeting helps you to rank higher in search engines. Search engines like Google take into account a variety of factors when they are ranking websites, and one of those is the location of the target audience. If you want to rank higher in search engine results, then you need to make sure that your site is accessible to people in different countries.

Finally, international targeting helps you to avoid cultural misunderstandings. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to inadvertently offend people from other cultures. By taking the time to understand the differences between your culture and others, you can avoid any potential problems. 

All of these factors can contribute and positively impact your businesses revenue and growth.

How Do I Optimise For International SEO?

There are a number of things you can do to optimise your website for international SEO.

Firstly, you need to make sure that your site is available in multiple languages. The most important thing is to have your content translated by a professional translator. This will ensure that the meaning of your content is not lost in translation.

Secondly, you need to consider the location of your target audience. You should make sure that your site is hosted in the country where your target audience is located. This will help to improve your website’s loading times and ensure that local users can access your site.

Finally, you need to think about the cultural differences between your target audience and your own culture. You should avoid using offensive language or images, and try to understand the different customs and traditions of your target audience.

How To Change Country In Search Console?

If you want to change the country that your website is targeting, you can do so in Google Search Console.

First, log in to your account and select the website that you want to change.

Next, click on the “Legacy Tools & Reports” in the left sidebar.

Then, select the “Country” tab and select the country that you want to target.

By following these steps, you can change the country that your website is targeting in Google Search Console. This can be a helpful tool if you’re trying to improve your website’s international SEO.

How Can I Improve My International SEO?

International SEO can be a complex and daunting task, but there are several ways you can improve your website’s ranking.

By taking the time to understand the different factors involved, you can ensure that your site is optimised for international audiences. Here are 7 best SEO practices to help you improve your website’s international targeting:

Identify The Countries You Want To Target

The first step is to identify the countries you want to target. One way you can do this by looking at your website’s analytics data to see where your traffic is coming from.

Once you’ve identified the countries you want to target, you can start to optimise your site for those audiences.

Choose The Right Domain Name Extension For Each Country

The next step is to choose the right domain name extension for each country. The most common domain name extensions are .com, .net, and .org.

However, there are also country-specific domain name extensions, such as .us for the United States and .uk for the United Kingdom. By using a country-specific domain name extension, you can build more trust with local audiences in those countries.

Use Hreflang Tags To Indicate The Language And Location Of Your Audience

Hreflang tags are a code that you can add to your website to indicate the language and location of your audience to search engine crawlers.

This code helps search engines to understand which version of your content is relevant for each user. By using hreflang tags, you can improve the ranking of your website in international search results.

Optimise Your Title Tags And Meta Descriptions For Each Different Language

Your title tags and meta descriptions are two of the most important elements of your website for SEO. 

Therefore, you should make sure that these elements are optimised for each different language. This can be done by including relevant keywords and using persuasive copy to encourage clicks from users.

Use Localised Keyword Research To Target The Right Keywords For Each Market

Keyword research is an essential part of SEO, and it’s even more important when you’re targeting international audiences.

By using localised keyword research, you can find the right keywords for each market. This will help you to improve your website’s ranking in international search results.

Create High-Quality, Relevant Content For Each Country

One of the most important factors for international SEO is to create high-quality, relevant content for each country.

This means that you should avoid using generic content or copy-and-pasting your content from one country to another. Instead, you should take the time to create unique content for each market.

Make sure you use a professional content writer who is native to the country you’re targeting. This will help to ensure that your content is of a high standard and relevant to your audience. Culture and grammar can vary greatly from one country to another, so it’s important to get this right.

Promote Your Website Through International Directories And Social Media

Once you’ve optimised your website for international SEO, you can start to promote your site through international directories and social media. 

This will help to increase your website’s visibility and traffic from different countries. You can also use paid advertising to target specific countries.

International targeting is a vital part of SEO for any business that wants to succeed in the global market.

By taking into account the factors mentioned above, you can make sure that your site is visible to people in different countries and that you’re ranking higher in search engine results. International targeting can be a complex process, but it is definitely worth the effort.

If you need help with your international SEO, contact us today. We’re experts in the field and we can help you to optimise your website for global success. You can book a discovery call with us to find out more.

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Gatis Viskers

I am the Founder & CEO of the award-winning digital marketing agency, Ambition Digital. With my holistic approach to digital marketing, which combines data-driven strategies, creativity, and cutting-edge technology, I am proud to have been recognised in numerous industry-leading publications.

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