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International SEO Services

International SEO focuses on optimizing your website to achieve high rankings in search engine results for specific regions, countries, or languages. This involves tailoring your content, keywords, and technical aspects to meet the needs and preferences of audiences in different locations.

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International SEO 101

If your search metrics show high search impressions but low clicks in international locations, international SEO could be beneficial. It can also help if your business is expanding into new markets. By implementing a strategic international SEO approach, you can improve your website’s rankings in global search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract more relevant traffic from different regions.

A Strategic Approach Technical International SEO

Choosing how to optimize the technical aspects of your website can be challenging. Partnering with a technical SEO expert can simplify decisions about domain types, href tags, and the use of CDNs. This expertise helps ensure that your website is strategically optimized for better performance and search engine visibility.

Global SEO Reporting

Analyzing SEO data through country-specific reports helps you track your website’s performance in targeted regions. Partnering with an SEO team that uses advanced tools, such as Search Atlas’s GSC Insights, provides accurate and up-to-date global data. This enables you to effectively evaluate your site’s search engine rankings across various countries.

Competitor Research for Foreign Markets

Understanding how your competitors rank internationally can give your business a significant edge in the global market. When performing keyword research, tailor your focus to your target country to develop a strategy supported by meaningful data.

International Link Building Strategy

To boost your international SEO, focus on strengthening your backlink profile by partnering with local publications in your target regions. This strategy improves your chances of ranking well in their search engine results pages (SERPs). Elevate your international SEO efforts by positioning yourself as an industry leader through high-quality, contextually relevant backlinks. Provide valuable content and thought leadership to gain recognition and credibility in your field.

What Exactly Is International SEO?

International SEO improves your search visibility by tailoring your website’s content, technical SEO, and off-site link building to meet Google’s quality signals for specific countries or languages. This approach not only helps boost your site’s rankings in international search results through geotargeting but also enhances overall site performance, providing a better user experience for all visitors.

Meet Your Searchers Where They Are: Rank Internationally

Start your international SEO journey today

Data-Driven Quality Content: The Best Approach to Foreign SERPs

Creating content that ranks well internationally requires precise location-targeted keyword research, thorough topic coverage, accurate linguistic expression, and engaging writing. Poor translations can negatively impact your ability to rank for targeted keywords and damage your brand’s reputation in foreign markets. As Google’s natural language processing (NLP) algorithms evolve, the importance of high-quality, original, and clear content grows. Employing native-speaking or multilingual SEO content writers ensures the production of top-notch content that maintains long-term visibility in search engine results and provides real value to your audience.

Backspace IS AN ENTERPRISE SEO EXPERT

Why use Backspace to reach an
international audience?

Our team of SEO professionals is committed to helping your site excel in international markets through consistent, high-quality content. We analyze your metrics and perform competitor research to tailor your site for specific geo-targeted locations. Plus, you’ll have access to our SEO editor, ensuring that every page on your site follows SEO best practices and effectively engages with your audience.

International Link Building

To boost your rankings in international search results, securing backlinks from authoritative domains with high domain ratings is essential. Search engines take your site’s location into account, so having a local IP and obtaining local links are crucial for success in foreign markets. A data-driven approach to targeted outreach can help you acquire these valuable backlinks and enhance your brand visibility while increasing your domain authority. We offer solutions like Suggested Outreach reports and international backlink campaigns to help expand your global search presence. With our expertise, you can identify and pursue backlinks from trusted, high-profile websites around the world.

Reach Your Audience,
No Matter Their Location

Creating topically rich content for international markets can be challenging, especially when managing remote teams. However, using the SEO Content Assistant can help ensure that the content your writers produce captures Google’s attention effectively.

Ensure your metrics aren’t lost in translation. With geotargeted data and clear analyses from GSC Insights, you can easily understand how your website performs internationally.

Boost your discoverability by targeting high-value backlinks from globally recognized and influential websites. Although remote work can make reaching potential publication partners challenging, the Search Atlas Suggested Outreach report simplifies the process by identifying link opportunities for you.

How much does it cost for an international SEO campaign with Backspace?
At BACKSPACE, we offer a range of plans to suit your business needs and budget, so you can find the perfect service for you.
How do I find keywords for international locations?
With the Keyword Researcher, you can adjust the targeted search location. The tool will then tailor your keywords, Focus Terms, Autocomplete data, Questions, and SERP competition to the selected country. You’ll also see each keyword’s country-specific search volume, helping you make informed decisions for your SEO content creation.
Does Search Atlas have a Baidu or Yandex tool?
Not yet. While Baidu holds the majority of search share in China and Yandex dominates in Russia, Google remains the most widely used search engine globally, accounting for 92% of all searches. Search Atlas is built on Google’s API, ensuring you receive the most accurate search data from the world’s most popular search engine.
How does Search Atlas generate country-specific data?
Search Atlas operates using Google Search Console’s API. Since Google Search Console provides detailed and accurate data, we can offer users the ability to filter their search data based on localization signals.
What is a ccTLD, and should I use one?

A ccTLD, or country code top-level domain, is a domain extension specific to a country. The "cc" stands for "country code," and TLD stands for "top-level domain."

Your international SEO strategy depends on your business type, target countries, and budget. Maintaining a ccTLD can be more costly, as each ccTLD requires its own domain authority (DA) building, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Choosing the right URL structure for your needs is crucial. Deciding between a new domain, ccTLDs, gTLDs with language parameters, subdomains, or subdirectories can save you time and money while accelerating your path to top-ranking positions. An SEO strategist can help you make the best decisions for your business and optimize your investment.

What are the most common TLDs?
There are various top-level domains (TLDs) used on the internet. The most common TLDs include .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz. Additionally, there are country-specific TLDs, such as .uk for the United Kingdom and .au for Australia.
What are hreflang tags, and do I need them for international SEO?
Hreflang tags are used to indicate to Google which language your content is targeting. This is crucial for international websites, as it helps Google deliver the correct content to users in different countries. Without hreflang tags, Google might serve users content in a language they don’t understand, which can negatively impact your website’s SEO.
What is a gTLD?
A gTLD, or generic top-level domain, is a type of domain name that is available for anyone to register. Common examples of gTLDs include .com, .net, and .org.
How do I update my site's hreflang tags?

If you want to update your site’s hreflang tags, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps.

First, you’ll need to identify which pages on your site need to be updated. You can do this by importing your URL into the SEO Content Assistant then using the Techincal checker, where you will find your hreflang attribute.

Once you’ve done that, you can update the hreflang tags (or hreflang attributes) on those pages using the correct syntax. Finally, you’ll need to verify that the updated tags are working correctly.

What are the most common hreflang attributes?

The most common hreflang attributes include hreflang="x-default," hreflang="en," and hreflang="es."

In the context of international SEO, a subdirectory is a directory within the main website directory used to organize content by topic or type. For example, a website might have a main directory for general content and a subdirectory specifically for images.

When optimizing a website for international SEO, it’s important to consider the site’s structure and how subdirectories can be utilized to enhance search engine rankings.

What is an international subdomain?

An international subdomain is used to represent a specific country or region outside of the one where the domain is registered. For example, "co.uk" represents the United Kingdom, while "ca.us" represents Canada.

The subdomain helps Google determine which version of your site should appear in international search results. When an international user performs a search query for which you rank, the subdomain directs Google to show the language or region-specific version of your page.

What is a subfolder when it comes to an international domain?

A subfolder is a folder within a domain used to organize website content. For instance, if a company’s website is located at example.com, they might create a subfolder called "products" to house all their product information. This organization helps visitors easily find what they’re looking for and keeps the website structured.

When optimizing for foreign languages, update your subfolders to align with how your target audience categorizes information for the best URL structure.

Should I invest in CDNs for international SEO?

There’s no definitive answer on whether to invest in a CDN for international SEO, but there are some key factors to consider.

First, it’s important to understand what a CDN (Content Delivery Network) is and how it benefits your website. A CDN is a network of servers that distributes content—such as static files and websites—to users worldwide. This can enhance website performance and reduce load times, especially for users who are geographically distant from the server.

CDNs can be valuable for international SEO by speeding up website loading times for users in different countries, which is crucial for those with slow or unstable internet connections.

However, not all CDNs offer the same quality. When choosing a CDN, research its network quality and global coverage. Additionally, test the CDN’s performance before making a commitment.

Ultimately, whether or not to invest in a CDN for international SEO depends on your needs. If you want to improve website performance for international users, a CDN could be a beneficial solution.

How does international SEO strategy differ from regular SEO?

International SEO involves optimizing your website and content for foreign search engines. While the fundamentals of SEO remain the same, there are key considerations when targeting international audiences.

First, research the popular search engines in your target markets and adapt your website and content to their specific algorithms. You’ll also need to localize your site and content for each market, using the appropriate language and cultural references.

To maximize your international SEO efforts, create and promote localized content and specific keywords that resonate with foreign audiences. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and more. By targeting international audiences with relevant and engaging content, you can improve your website’s search engine rankings and attract more visitors from around the world.

Is internatioanl SEO the same as multiregional SEO?
Multiregional SEO is a specific type of international SEO. It involves targeting different countries or regions with distinct websites, often featuring tailored content and optimized for various search engines. In contrast, international SEO aims to reach a global audience with a single website.
Why does the origin of the backlink matter in international SEO?
In international SEO, the origin of backlinks is important because it can affect a site’s ranking in different countries. For example, if a site has numerous backlinks from high-quality sites in the United States, it is likely to rank higher in the U.S. compared to a site with fewer high-quality U.S. backlinks. However, this doesn’t guarantee strong rankings in other countries, where the site’s backlink profile might not have the same impact.
Can my website appear in local SERPs outside of the U.S?
Google determines a website's location based on the location of the server hosting it. To improve your website’s visibility in local search results for a specific country, you should host your site on a server located in that country.
Do I need to worry about canonicals or using canonical tags for my site in another language?
There is no need to use canonical tags for pages in different languages. Canonical tags indicate to search engines which version of a page should be considered the "official" version. Since search engines can automatically understand and index pages in different languages, canonicalizing these pages is unnecessary.
How do native-language SEO content creators affect international SEO?
On-page SEO is crucial for SERP performance worldwide. By utilizing expert SEO writers and content optimizers with geotargeting, you can offer high-quality information to visitors without needing translation. For the best ranking potential, have native linguists create your landing pages, blogs, product descriptions, and meta tags within the SEO Content Assistant.
What other SEO services do you offer?
As a full-scale digital marketing and link-building agency, we specialize in all areas of paid media, content marketing, and search engine optimization. Whether you need local SEO, competitor analysis, blog content, or access to our white-label SEO software, we offer comprehensive digital marketing services to small businesses, enterprise-level organizations, and private label SEO firms.

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“They are dedicated to our success and offer valuable feedback on our ideas, even on projects beyond our main SEO focus. I appreciate their flexibility with shorter-term contracts, unlike the typical 1-year commitments from other SEO firms. Most importantly, they consistently deliver on their promises.”

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Ph.D, Co-Founder & CEO Therapy Group DC