International SEO vs Local SEO
As you may already be aware, SEO in very basic terms is the practise of tactically optimising different parts of a website to improve its search engine rankings. There are however, different types of SEO available to make use of, International and Local being two examples.
The importance of having a decent SEO strategy for your business cannot be understated, especially in the current technological age. That’s why we’ve taken a more detailed look at these two types of SEO, to see what they can offer and whether or not they are relevant for everyone.
What are International and Local SEO?
The fundamental elements of SEO remain within each of these types, in that you aim to improve your website’s content by using keywords to target a specific market. So really, the difference in the definitions between the two is very much what it says on the tin; local is aimed at the local markets while international is for the global ones.
The Specifics of Each Type
Local SEO is best suited to businesses that are smaller in size and want to their main customer base to be within a specific area. This does mean that the keywords in the site content need to be very specific to help search engines target this location. This can include aspects like local language and contact details, and the words that link to the company and what they offer. While this does suit the smaller businesses, the obvious disadvantage you cannot really escape is it does limit the exposure of that particular website.
International SEO is for the companies and businesses who want to offer their services to the global markets. Large organisations that ship products worldwide as well as bigger and more established e-commerce and marketing sites are a few examples. Again, specific keywords are important but the content needs to be something that appeals to a variety of different cultures and demographics. Equally, if a company wants to have their content translated, they need to be as accurate and reliable as possible – otherwise the potentially poor content can be detrimental.
Different countries also favour different search engines, so you need to ensure your analysis and research is specific to what a respective country’s preferences are. Some sites often have several domain names for different parts of the world as a means to help deal with this.
International SEO may offer a company a far bigger online presence but the biggest disadvantage you can face is having much more to manage compared to local.
Is there ‘Right’ Option?
This does beg the question of whether or not there is a ‘right’ option to choose. The answer to this really lies in what your goals and ambitions are for your business and also which SEO company you choose to work with.
By using a reliable and expert SEO company, they can help you make the right decisions to ensure you have success with your website; it is their job to get the best results for their clients. Just simply make it clear what your targets are and whether they’re local or international, and your chosen company can help you reach to them.
Sources
https://econsultancy.com/blog/65718-international-seo-a-beginner-s-skills-guide/
http://blog.localseome.com/the-difference-between-local-and-global-seo/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2014/08/27/basics-of-international-seo/
http://moz.com/learn/seo/international-seo
http://searchengineland.com/local-seo-international-seo-have-lots-in-common-47937