{"id":146006,"date":"2023-12-31T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-31T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=146006"},"modified":"2024-12-19T06:44:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T11:44:33","slug":"international-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/international-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"10 International SEO Best Practices + Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">International SEO is the process of optimizing your website for users in different countries and speakers of different languages. Its goal is to drive more traffic from an international audience.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the international SEO best practices below to better target foreign markets.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Looking for an international SEO checklist?<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\">\n\n<p>We\u2019ve got you covered. Download the checklist below to implement all of these best practices with&nbsp;ease.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1660\" height=\"944\" class=\"wp-image-170406\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-checklist-in-google-sheets.jpg\" alt=\"International SEO checklist in Google Sheets\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-checklist-in-google-sheets.jpg 1660w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-checklist-in-google-sheets-680x387.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-checklist-in-google-sheets-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-checklist-in-google-sheets-1536x873.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1660px) 100vw, 1660px\"><\/figure>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1RvTJOWTQrPiT8qD824mpHIIwwrOUo0RoQcsH9NRT--E\/copy\">Google Docs \u2192 <\/a><\/li>\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1B8wR2WxVwTtuBM_e2sKiCpGIWStKYyZAvmZSXFSm6BI\/copy\">Google Sheets \u2192<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_1z4gfscp7kko\"><\/a>International SEO best practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#define-your-international-markets-upfront\">Define your international markets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#consider-all-languages-spoken-in-each-global-market\">Consider all languages spoken in <em>each<\/em> global market<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#choose-the-right-international-seo-url-structure\">Decide on your URL structure<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#install-a-content-delivery-network\">Install a content delivery network (CDN)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#do-keyword-research-for-each-of-your-foreign-seo-markets\">Do keyword research for <em>each<\/em> of your foreign markets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#use-one-language-per&nbsp;page\">Use one language per&nbsp;page<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ensure-internal-links-only-go-to-content-in-the-same-language\">Ensure internal links only go to content in the same language<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#implement-hreflang-properly\">Implement hreflang properly<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#don\u2019t-redirect-users-based-on-their-ip-address-or-cookies\">Don\u2019t redirect users based on their IP address or cookies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#build-your-backlink-profile-in-each-of-your-target-countries\">Build your backlink profile in each of your target countries<\/a><a id=\"post-170405-_n8otyl61xrb6\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"1. Define your international markets upfront\" data-section=\"define-your-international-markets-upfront\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Define your international markets upfront<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s likely you already have an idea of which global markets you\u2019d like to target based on non-SEO factors, like your ability to operate in a specific country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s also worth checking SEO metrics to understand which markets hold the strongest potential for your business. Your business may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Naturally decide to serve this market in future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be missing out on a foreign market with huge search demand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be missing out on a foreign market with low search competition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get a rough idea of the markets with search potential by entering competitors into Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a>. Just check the graph that shows their estimated organic traffic share by country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"884\" height=\"514\" class=\"wp-image-170407\" style=\"width: 554px; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/traffic-share-by-country-in-ahrefs-site-explorer.png\" alt=\"Traffic share by country in Ahrefs' Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/traffic-share-by-country-in-ahrefs-site-explorer.png 884w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/traffic-share-by-country-in-ahrefs-site-explorer-680x395.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/traffic-share-by-country-in-ahrefs-site-explorer-768x447.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 884px) 100vw, 884px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the site above is one of our competitors and gets over a quarter of its traffic from Brazil. This shows us that this might be an international market worth targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> You will, of course, need to dig deeper than this to validate the success of an international SEO strategy in each of these countries. But we\u2019ll tackle that when we get to doing keyword and competitive research. For now, this should give you a good idea of potential countries to start thinking about targeting on your international website.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"2. Consider all languages spoken in each global market\" data-section=\"consider-all-languages-spoken-in-each-global-market\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_i0kqdgf1xgey\"><\/a>2. Consider all languages spoken in <em>each<\/em> global market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If your global <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/orchard-seo-strategy\/\">SEO strategy<\/a> will include countries where the users\u2019 first language can be one of several, you may need to consider providing content in multiple languages per country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Wikipedia tells us that both French and English are official languages in Canada. To target this market, you\u2019ll need to roll out a French-Canadian version as well as an English-Canadian version to target both English- and French-speaking users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1142\" height=\"374\" class=\"wp-image-170408\" style=\"width: 580px; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/wikipedia-states-that-english-and-french-are-co-of.png\" alt=\"Wikipedia states that English and French are co-official languages of Canada\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/wikipedia-states-that-english-and-french-are-co-of.png 1142w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/wikipedia-states-that-english-and-french-are-co-of-680x223.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/wikipedia-states-that-english-and-french-are-co-of-768x252.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1142px) 100vw, 1142px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The same may be needed in countries with culturally diverse populations, even if there is only one official language in that country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, for a website about visas or immigration services, you may need to consider creating international content in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a id=\"post-170405-_x9cn5eeaez31\"><\/a><\/p><div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Can I just create language-specific content no matter what country my audience lives&nbsp;in?<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\">\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s perfectly within Google\u2019s guidelines to only target users by language and not worry about country-specific SEO targeting. For some types of content, you may even get away with this approach. I recommend searching your top keywords to see how the best ranking results approach this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking on a language-first approach may be the perfect starting point for your business, particularly if you are tight on resources. You\u2019ll be working with fewer pages, which also results in less of a chance of things breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, if you have a specific country in mind, rolling out country-specific SEO content is the most optimal approach. This allows you to focus your content around the users in each country that you intend to target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For starters, you\u2019ll want to serve your products or services in the right currency. Furthermore, you can tweak the terminology used, and adapt your content to match the local culture, as this varies from country to country (even when the language remains the&nbsp;same).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"3. Choose the right international SEO URL structure\" data-section=\"choose-the-right-international-seo-url-structure\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_31g1onrj3a59\"><\/a>3. Choose the right international SEO URL structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning your URL structure is vital for international sites and helps determine where content for each foreign SEO market will live on your website. There are three main options to consider, each with different pros and cons, and one to avoid at all&nbsp;costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_rzr3or9hq5nh\"><\/a>ccTLDs for international SEO<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"826\" class=\"wp-image-170409\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-cctlds-for-international-seo-site-structure.png\" alt=\"Using ccTLDs for international SEO site structure\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-cctlds-for-international-seo-site-structure.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-cctlds-for-international-seo-site-structure-395x425.png 395w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This option is very popular, most notably because users are familiar with the top-level domain of their country. This contributes to users having that feeling of being in the right place when they land on the&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, you\u2019ll need to consider the cost of purchasing several domains. In the opinion of many SEOs, you\u2019ll also be diluting your <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-pagerank\/\">PageRank<\/a> by splitting content across several domains. This is because you\u2019ll need to build up SEO authority across multiple domains as opposed to a single, stronger domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Target country is clear to&nbsp;users<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ability to use localized hosting for enhanced page load&nbsp;times<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Usually more costly, as you\u2019ll need to purchase several domains<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintaining several domains can be technically challenging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content or design changes will need to be copied across multiple websites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>URL doesn\u2019t specify the language (e.g., .ca could be for English or French speakers)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_x42pe31jiest\"><\/a>Subfolders for international SEO<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"777\" class=\"wp-image-170410\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subfolders-for-international-seo-site-struct.png\" alt=\"Using subfolders for international SEO site structure\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subfolders-for-international-seo-site-struct.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subfolders-for-international-seo-site-struct-420x425.png 420w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subfolders-for-international-seo-site-struct-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Subfolders are not only very popular among SEOs but also webmasters. This is because all of the content sits within a single domain. That means you\u2019ll only need to maintain one international website and it can display localized content to each of your global SEO markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also much easier to create a new version of a page by simply changing the URL path (or slug) compared to rolling out a new page on a completely different hosting setup. Reporting is easier too, as you\u2019ll only need to install your analytics tag on a single domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Relatively straightforward to set&nbsp;up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customizable naming (e.g., example.com\/germany)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easier to track and report<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Users may not be as familiar with this URL structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_u0ebnah3t598\"><\/a>Subdomains for international SEO<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"777\" class=\"wp-image-170411\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subdomains-for-global-seo-site-structure.png\" alt=\"Using subdomains for global SEO site structure\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subdomains-for-global-seo-site-structure.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subdomains-for-global-seo-site-structure-420x425.png 420w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/using-subdomains-for-global-seo-site-structure-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Subdomains are less popular but do have some unique benefits. The ability to use customizable naming conventions is a notable one. This is not achievable with ccTLDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cons, however, are closely aligned with those of the ccTLD. Despite subdomains effectively being an extension of your main domain, Google will have to crawl these separately at&nbsp;first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ability to use localized hosting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customizable naming (e.g., france.example.com)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintaining several domains can be technically challenging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Users may not be as familiar with this URL structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content and design changes will need to be copied across multiple websites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_h7rezx4oepv4\"><\/a>Parameterized URLs (avoid!)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"777\" class=\"wp-image-170412\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/avoid-using-parameterized-urls-for-international-w.png\" alt=\"Avoid using parameterized URLs for international websites\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/avoid-using-parameterized-urls-for-international-w.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/avoid-using-parameterized-urls-for-international-w-420x425.png 420w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/avoid-using-parameterized-urls-for-international-w-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This option should be avoided at all costs. <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/url-parameters\/\">Parameterized URLs<\/a> are not user-friendly and can confuse bots&nbsp;too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This option is <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/crawling\/managing-multi-regional-sites#locale-specific-urls\">not recommended by Google<\/a> for internationalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For these reasons, let\u2019s take the parameterized URL option completely out of the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Jamie\u2019s verdict<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\">\n\n\n\n<p>In my opinion, the cons of the subdomain option far outweigh the advantages. So for me, it is a straight shoot-out between ccTLDs and subfolders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When starting from scratch, I personally prefer the subfolder option. For me, the benefits of hosting all content under the same domain should not be overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, it\u2019s OK to prefer a different route, as many SEOs do. You won\u2019t be penalized, as all three options are supported by Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"4. Install a Content Delivery Network (CDN)\" data-section=\"install-a-content-delivery-network\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_sw0ir57cnm52\"><\/a>4. Install a Content Delivery Network (CDN)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If users have a slow experience when loading your site from abroad, it can impact your international SEO rankings. If you opted for a ccTLD or subfolder URL structure and have paired each site with localized hosting, it\u2019s more likely your content will load fast in each of your foreign markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you are serving users in multiple countries from one international website, there\u2019s never been a more crucial time to implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CDNs use a group of distributed servers, ensuring visitors load your international content from a localized server as opposed to a single, centralized server. This helps to keep page load times down, resulting in a more satisfying user experience worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"838\" class=\"wp-image-170413\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/how-a-cdn-works-for-serving-content-to-users-world.png\" alt=\"How a CDN works for serving content to users worldwide\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/how-a-cdn-works-for-serving-content-to-users-world.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/how-a-cdn-works-for-serving-content-to-users-world-389x425.png 389w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"5. Do keyword research for each of your foreign SEO markets\" data-section=\"do-keyword-research-for-each-of-your-foreign-seo-markets\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_7i98boosjgah\"><\/a>5. Do keyword research for <em>each<\/em> of your foreign SEO markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have your technical foundations in place, the next step is to carry out international <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/keyword-research\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/keyword-research\/\">keyword research<\/a> and to localize your worldwide SEO strategy for each of your chosen markets. This is recommended, even if you decide to only roll out your international strategy in a single language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier on, I mentioned that terminology varies from country to country, even if the language remains the same. This, in turn, will have an impact on the keywords your potential customers are searching for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, in the US, it is more common to use the terminology \u201cibis bird\u201d instead of the colloquial phrase \u201cbin chicken\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"168\" class=\"wp-image-170414\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/relative-search-volumes-in-the-us-via-ahrefs-keyw.png\" alt=\"Relative search volumes in the US via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Australia, there are very few searches for \u201cibis bird\u201d compared to the 12,000 for \u201cbin chicken\u201d each&nbsp;month:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"159\" class=\"wp-image-170415\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/relative-search-volumes-in-australia-via-ahrefs-k.png\" alt=\"Relative search volumes in Australia via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Search volume will also differ from country to country, as population and search demand vary. This is something we\u2019ll need to take into consideration in our foreign SEO strategy when making projections based on keyword data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, using Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>, we can see that the UK holds the highest search volume for the term \u201chome insurance\u201d with 67K monthly searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"425\" class=\"wp-image-170416\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/estimated-search-volume-for-home-insurance-in-th.png\" alt=\"Estimated search volume for &quot;home insurance&quot; in the UK\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on this data, we can expect that the UK and US markets will bring the most search traffic for this keyword. Whereas visitors from other countries may use other keywords more frequently.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where using our AI Translator can come in handy. It can auto-translate an entire list of keywords, preserving local nuances between dialects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-180184\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AI-translations-example.gif\" alt=\"Multilingual keyword research using Ahrefs' AI Translator\" width=\"1188\" height=\"698\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also offers automatic translations for 40+ languages and dialects in 180+ countries, with more coming soon.<br><br>Sometimes your foreign SEO strategy may require keyword research in different languages (that you don\u2019t&nbsp;speak).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve added many tips in our international SEO checklist for how you can still target keywords in these languages, make sure to check those&nbsp;out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"6. Use one language per page\" data-section=\"use-one-language-per page\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_t7epfvhvk03b\"><\/a>6. Use one language per&nbsp;page<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The outcome of establishing your international site\u2019s URL structure and completing multi-region keyword research will be a localized content plan for each foreign SEO market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important that you only use one language on each page. This means for each piece of content you create, it is ideal that you create a separate web page for every additional language you\u2019d like that content to target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anything that can be localized should be localized. In addition to on-page copy and metadata, this can also include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Images<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Currencies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time zones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phone numbers (where possible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office address (where possible)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Dynamically translating copy that sits on the same URL is a no-go. <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/crawling\/managing-multi-regional-sites#use-different-urls-for-different-language-versions\">Google recommends using dedicated URLs<\/a>, as this allows its crawlers to efficiently discover, read, and index all versions of your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having country-specific versions of the page is also recommended if you\u2019re going for a hyper-focused approach and segmenting your international website by country, not just language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you\u2019re targeting Canada, you will need to create a French-Canadian version as well as an English-Canadian version of each&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"881\" class=\"wp-image-170417\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/create-separate-pages-for-each-foreign-seo-market.png\" alt=\"Create separate pages for each foreign SEO market and tailor the content to each country\u2019s language and culture.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/create-separate-pages-for-each-foreign-seo-market.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/create-separate-pages-for-each-foreign-seo-market-680x390.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/create-separate-pages-for-each-foreign-seo-market-768x441.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These nuances not only matter for users but are also something that Google could pick up too. After all, it\u2019s Google\u2019s job to serve the most relevant result for each user. Therefore, Google will prefer to serve content that is relevant to both the country and language of the&nbsp;user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"7. Ensure internal links only go to content in the same language\" data-section=\"ensure-internal-links-only-go-to-content-in-the-same-language\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_2nyjn7n0wlkh\"><\/a>7. Ensure internal links only go to content in the same language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the easiest mistakes to make when rolling out content internationally is internally linking to the wrong version of your content. Not only can this lead to your users landing on pages in a different language but it may also send conflicting signals to Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, make sure you only link to content that targets the same country and\/or language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"870\" class=\"wp-image-170418\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/internal-link-best-practices-for-international-seo.png\" alt=\"Internal link best practices for international SEO\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/internal-link-best-practices-for-international-seo.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/internal-link-best-practices-for-international-seo-375x425.png 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only have a small number of pages for a specific country or market, this may be a sign that it\u2019s too soon to launch in this international market. Launching into a brand-new market with only a small number of pages will limit your international SEO rankings and traffic. It can also affect user experience if you don\u2019t have enough useful content to serve visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Launching with a wider range of content will also better help Google associate your website and brand with the market you intend to launch within. As a general rule, I\u2019d recommend ensuring you have enough content to link to via your header and footer navigation for each foreign market when launching a new international SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"8. Implement hreflang properly\" data-section=\"implement-hreflang-properly\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_vv3vtuery160\"><\/a>8. Implement hreflang properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Hreflang is a piece of code that usually sits in the backend of a page (or sometimes via sitemaps). It\u2019s essentially a mapping process, providing Google with a list of the alternative URLs for a specific page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps Google to understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which market the current page intends to target.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternative options for users in other markets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A version to serve by default for users searching from markets without a dedicated page (optional).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementing hreflang will not only enhance user experience but also let your rankings benefit from close duplicates (in particular, the versions that use the same language).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While PageRank isn\u2019t passed through the hreflang, Google will use the most authoritative version in the searched language to determine the ranking position. When a user then conducts the search, Google will serve the most relevant version for that&nbsp;user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s no doubt that hreflang can quickly become one of the most complex areas of SEO. No need to fear\u2014our very own Joshua Hardwick has compiled a dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/hreflang-tags\/\">beginner\u2019s guide to hreflang<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-audit\">Site Audit<\/a> (free to use with an <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/webmaster-tools\">Ahrefs Webmaster Tools<\/a> account) is the perfect place to review your hreflang implementation. First, you\u2019ll need to run an SEO audit on your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your audit is complete, head to the <strong>Localization<\/strong> report to uncover any errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"751\" class=\"wp-image-170419\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-audit-showing-hreflang-issues-us.png\" alt=\"International SEO audit showing hreflang issues using Ahrefs' Site Audit tool\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-audit-showing-hreflang-issues-us.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/international-seo-audit-showing-hreflang-issues-us-435x425.png 435w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"9. Don\u2019t redirect users based on their IP address or cookies\" data-section=\"don\u2019t-redirect-users-based-on-their-ip-address-or-cookies\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_e2s6o63fcq7e\"><\/a>9. Don\u2019t redirect users based on their IP address or cookies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If users are viewing the wrong version of your site, prompt them to switch to the correct version instead of redirecting them automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Redirecting users based on their IP address or by cookies should be completely avoided. This will not only frustrate users but also cause further confusion for&nbsp;bots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google will more frequently crawl content via a US IP address. Therefore, you may be redirecting Google away from any non-US content. Bypassing the redirect for the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/googlebot\/\">Googlebot<\/a> user agent is also not advised. It\u2019s important to ensure Googlebot has the exact same experience as your&nbsp;users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t just take it from me. Google <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/crawling\/managing-multi-regional-sites\">advises<\/a> against this&nbsp;too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>These redirections could prevent users (and search engines) from viewing all the versions of your&nbsp;site.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The documentation expands on this further by saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Don\u2019t use IP analysis to adapt your content. IP location analysis is difficult and generally not reliable. Furthermore, Google may not be able to crawl variations of your site properly. Most, but not all, Google crawls originate from the US, and we don\u2019t attempt to vary the location to detect site variations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As an alternative solution to IP redirection, you may wish to prompt a user, who appears to be in the wrong location, to review their version of the site via navigation. Here\u2019s how Apple implemented its prompt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"195\" class=\"wp-image-170420\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/apples-solution-to-geo-targeting.png\" alt=\"Apple's solution to geo-targeting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/apples-solution-to-geo-targeting.png 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/apples-solution-to-geo-targeting-680x86.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/apples-solution-to-geo-targeting-768x98.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also include a navigation menu to allow users to switch between languages or countries on their own. Providing dedicated navigation to switch back to the right version could be the difference between losing and gaining a potential customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, on our website, all users can easily switch language at any&nbsp;time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"755\" class=\"wp-image-170421\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/example-of-language-selector-on-ahrefs-com-to-impr.jpg\" alt=\"Example of language selector on ahrefs.com to improve user experience for global SEO markets\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/example-of-language-selector-on-ahrefs-com-to-impr.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/example-of-language-selector-on-ahrefs-com-to-impr-680x334.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/example-of-language-selector-on-ahrefs-com-to-impr-768x378.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"10. Build your backlink profile in each of your target countries\" data-section=\"build-your-backlink-profile-in-each-of-your-target-countries\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_fwtxg1psmnw\"><\/a>10. Build your backlink profile in each of your target countries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of whether you have a strong presence in your home market, you\u2019ll also need to build authority in the new foreign markets that you wish to operate within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A backlink from a highly authoritative site in the U.S. may not hold the same weight in Mexico, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quite often, this step is overlooked. Despite appearing last in this guide, it should not be written off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To check the state of your backlinks in each country, check out Ahrefs\u2019 Site Explorer &gt; Overview &gt; \u201cBacklink profile\u201d tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1030\" height=\"842\" class=\"wp-image-170422\" style=\"width: 531px; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/checking-backlinks-in-ahrefs-site-explorer.png\" alt=\"Checking backlinks in Ahrefs' Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/checking-backlinks-in-ahrefs-site-explorer.png 1030w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/checking-backlinks-in-ahrefs-site-explorer-520x425.png 520w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/checking-backlinks-in-ahrefs-site-explorer-768x628.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you scroll a little, you\u2019ll see a world map with indications of where most of your links are coming from. You can also toggle the \u201cCountry-code only\u201d filter to only see links from ccTLD domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"737\" class=\"wp-image-170423\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/backlink-breakdown-by-top-level-domain-in-ahrefs.png\" alt=\"Backlink breakdown by top-level domain in Ahrefs' Site Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/backlink-breakdown-by-top-level-domain-in-ahrefs.png 727w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/backlink-breakdown-by-top-level-domain-in-ahrefs-419x425.png 419w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping an eye on this report over time can show you markets where your link building efforts may need more attention. You can also look at the same reports for competitors website\u2019s to see where their international backlink wins are coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-170405-_2mos1otr1s18\"><\/a>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By using our international SEO checklist, you will easily be able to optimize your website for global markets and to secure rankings in many different countries. Above all, remember to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use the URL structure that fits your needs best (avoiding URL parameters at all&nbsp;costs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Localize your international SEO strategy as much as you can, from keyword research to content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use hreflang properly to send clear signals to Google<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Site speed matters for users in all countries; installing a CDN is a&nbsp;must<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continue to grow your backlink profile in each specific country you target<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Have any questions? Which international SEO URL structure do you prefer? Ping me <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/keyword_king\">on <s>Twitter<\/s> X <\/a>and let me&nbsp;know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Follow the international SEO best practices below to better target foreign markets. International SEO best practices It\u2019s likely you already have an idea of which global markets you\u2019d like to target based on non-SEO factors, like your ability to operate<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[329],"tags":[],"coauthors":[435,458],"class_list":["post-146006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technical-seo","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>10 International SEO Best Practices + Checklist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Implement international SEO best practices on your 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