10 common mistakes in International SEO
As the CEO or CMO of a company with an international presence, you may be aware of the importance of SEO in expanding your reach to new markets. However, with so many different factors to consider, it can be easy to make mistakes that can damage your ranking and prevent you from reaching your target audience. In this blog post, we’ll go over 10 of the most common mistakes made in international SEO so that you can avoid them in your own campaigns.
1. Not Using The Right Keywords
Relevancy is key when it comes to keywords. Just because a keyword is popular in one country does not mean that it will be effective in another. Make sure to do your research and target keywords that are relevant to each market you are targeting.
2. Not Localizing Your Content
Localization is not just about translating your content into different languages. It’s also about understanding the cultural nuances of each market and tailoring your content accordingly. Failing to do this will result in content that sounds unnatural and will turn off potential customers.
3. Ignoring Mobile Users
With more people than ever using mobile devices to search the internet, it’s important to make sure that your site is optimized for mobile users. This means having a responsive design that looks good on all screen sizes and connection speeds, as well as making sure that your content loads quickly on mobile devices.
4. Not Optimizing Your Images
It’s important to optimize all the images on your site for SEO purposes. This means giving each image a relevant file name and ALT text so that search engines can index them properly.
5. Forgetting About Local Listings
If you have brick-and-mortar businesses in multiple countries, then you need to make sure that each location is properly listed on local directories and map services. This helps potential customers find your business more easily and can also improve your rankings in local search results.
6. Not Creating Separate Pages for Each Country
Creating separate pages for each country or region you are targeting is essential for international SEO success. These pages should include country-specific content, such as contact information, currency converter, etc., as well as targeted keywords for each market. Failing to do this will dilute your chances of ranking well in any one market.
7. Not Using The Right Keyword Modifiers
When choosing keywords, it’s important to use modifiers such as “local,” “near me,” and “nearby” to indicate to search engines the location you want your business to appear for searches. For example, if someone is searching for “pizza near me,” choosing the keyword “pizza” without any modifiers will likely result in your business being lost among the millions of other pizza places around the world.
8. Not Monitoring Your Rankings
It’s not enough to just set up your international SEO campaign and forget about it – you need to be actively monitoring your rankings across multiple countries and regions so that you can adjust your strategy as needed. This can be a time-consuming process, but it’s essential if you want to stay ahead of the competition.
9. Not Tracking Your Conversions
In addition to monitoring your rankings, you also need to track conversions so that you can see which countries and regions are actually producing results. This data will help you focus your efforts on the markets that are most likely to generate sales or leads, saving you time and money in the long run.
10. Relying on Automated Translation Tools
Automated translation tools may be tempting, but they are not always accurate, which can lead to embarrassing mistakes in your content. If possible, it’s always best to use human translators who are familiar with the culture and language of each market you are targeting. These are just some of the most common mistakes made in international SEO – but by avoiding them , you can give yourself a much better chance of success.
Conclusion
When expanding your business into new markets, it’s essential to avoid these common mistakes if you want to succeed with international SEO. By following these tips, you can set yourself up for success and avoid any costly errors.
