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No matter how many times Google changes its algorithm, search engine optimization will always be the best and most effective way to drive traffic to a website. SEO has been with us since the first search was completed on Archie back in 1990 and it’s evident that a “good” website has drastically changed into more than 100 complex ranking factors. Back in the day, we only relied on backlinks.
A majority of companies choose to only optimize their websites for the country and market they operate in. However, if you want to expand your company, optimizing for international search might be a good idea as it allows you to reach a wider audience, generating both traffic and revenue. This is especially beneficial to websites that receive a lot of traffic from other countries.
Below are a few best practices for optimizing your website for international search.
Consider keywords in other languages
Adding keywords in other languages is a great way to boost your search engine ranking. It’s often that people living in non-English speaking countries will search for information in their native language – and if your website is optimized for keywords in these languages, they’ll show up in search results. Even if your site is in English only, people will often search in their native language. If the person that lands on your page doesn’t speak English, he or she will be able to use tools like Google translate to get a better understanding of your products and services.
International social media
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may be popular in the states, but social media is not the same for the rest of the world. LinkedIn is the most popular and commonly used professional network in the United States, but Xing is its equivalent in Germany. Do your research and be sure to set up social media accounts for each market appropriately by populating them with quality, keyword-rich content. This will help further optimize your website for international search, ensuring that you’ll be easier found in search result pages.
These aren’t all possible optimizations for international search, but it’s a great place to start. Optimizing your website for international search comes with great benefits and can have a huge impact on your search rankings, authority, and reputation.
Do you know other best practices for international website optimization? Leave a note below!