You may have come across several misconceptions and myths surrounding international SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It can be quite confusing to first-timers. There are various reasons cited for the same. Do have better understanding of its functioning and how proper tactics and strategies can be applied to your site.
Myths concerning International SEO
- Multiple sites necessary to rank globally: You may assume that your international content will require separate sites or ccTLDs. The latter is termed to be top level, country-coded domain like ‘.ca’. Your site can rank well in several locations globally by choosing the best SEO services in Delhi. Sub-domains or multiple sites are not required for ranking internally. You are allowed to work within your existing domain in several cases.
- Appropriate structure for ranking internationally: Plenty of debate goes around concerning the right structure for international rankings. Will it be ccTLDs, Subdomains or subfolders? A few consider ccTLDs to be the best as some users prefer to shop from local sites. This causes higher click-through rates. A few prefer sub-directories or subdomains. Each option has its own pros and cons. Research available options to determine the best one.
- Search Console-based Geo-targeting sufficient for search engines to rank correctly your content: It could be there are two similar looking pages and you try to geo-target the same in Search Console. It is not necessary for both pages to display in Google’s correct version. However, you should not avoid or skip Google Search Console-based geo-targeting. Several clues are used by search engines to manage international content. Other signals are not trumped by such geo-targeting settings.
- Duplicating sites on geo-targeted subfolders or ccTLDs. Each is expected to rank in respective Googles: It involves taking a site and duplicate it, placing it upon another subfolder, subdomain or another domain for geo-targeting purpose. Here Googles means country-specific Google versions like google.co.in. There is no point in duplicating your site as you don’t derive an added boost. Rather, it can be expensive, as well as ineffective for hosting duplicated site across multiple domains.
- URL parameters to determine if language is OK: This is not recommended by Google. URL parameters are best avoided to indicate region or language. Based on parameter used, page region or target language tends to change. However, parameters are not completely dependable. At times, they can be indexed or not! Unique URLs are favoured by search engines. The leading SEO services in Delhi can provide you value worth your investment.
- Why reinvent again? Simply copy what multinational companies are doing: What you need to understand is that multinational firms give less preference to SEO. Rather, they commit plenty of SEO mistakes most of the time. The myth is you need to go through top e-commerce sites or Fortune 500 sites to find out how their sites are structured. The fact is they don’t get it right always. Careful thought should replace flattery.
- Including hreflang tags help rank better my multinational content: When international SEO toolbox is concerned, Hreflang tags are considered to be a powerful tool. It is the basic to successful international optimization strategy. But, it is not actually a ranking factor. Rather, it is meant to ensure correct display of localized page in Google’s correct localized version. Follow documentations as it is to derive right hreflang tags. This way, you can avoid errors.
- Existing URLs can have proxy localized content: Here, the site uses the user’s Accept-Lang header or IP address. The objective is to detect their browser language preference or location. Then page content is changed based on derived information. Although URL is the same, content tends to change. Bing and Google avoid parameters. For one URL, they recommend maintaining one language. Search engines find it difficult to index page with a particular language using sided-by-side translations, cookie served content and proxied content.
- My site can incorporate flag icons to indicate used language: Understand that flags cannot be termed as languages. It is a myth. For instance, English speakers the world over are not represented by UK’s Union Jack. Another example is flag icons being used for determining language. A creative approach will be to use localized greetings to replace flag icons. Flags are not to be used to represent language in multi-lingual sites. You can get more information on the same from the top SEO services in Delhi.
Know the common myths and truths
It an accreted fact that international SEO is surrounded by several common myths that you need to be aware about. Getting clarity on the same can allow you to be better equipped to create a viable global site strategy. Globalization is likely to lead to increased demand in international SEO.
