Multi-regional SEO targets different geographic regions with tailored content. Use hreflang, local hosting, ccTLDs or subdirectories, and region-specific content while maintaining global brand consistency.
Why Multi-Regional SEO Matters
Multi-regional SEO matters because it is a direct path to a new, global audience. In today’s digital landscape, a business that is not optimized for different regions is at a significant disadvantage. By providing a website that is relevant to a user’s country, you can:
- Increase Visibility: You can attract organic search traffic from a new, global audience.
- Improve User Experience: A website that is relevant to a user’s country provides a seamless experience, which can lead to a lower bounce rate and a higher conversion rate.
- Boost Authority: A website that is optimized for different regions is a clear signal that your business is a high-quality resource, which can lead to a higher ranking.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of multi-regional SEO is a technical and content strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their multi-regional SEO by using a plugin like WPML or Polylang. These plugins can help you create a separate page for each country, a clear URL structure, and a hreflang tag that tells search engines about the different regional versions of a page.
Shopify
On Shopify, multi-regional SEO is essential for an e-commerce store that serves a global audience. You can use an app that can help you create a separate page for each country, a clear URL structure, and a hreflang tag.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still create a multiregional website by using the platform’s native tools. The platform’s simplicity encourages a clear and straightforward design, which is great for multiregional SEO.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated multiregional SEO strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
A custom CMS gives you the most control while also assuming the most responsibility. You can create a system that automatically monitors and analyzes your multiregional SEO performance while also providing data-driven insights to your content creators.
Across Different Industries
The way you use multi-regional SEO will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites rely heavily on multiregional SEO. A site that sells running shoes, for example, can create a separate page for each country and a clear URL structure.
Local Businesses
Local businesses that serve a diverse community can use multiregional SEO to attract local customers. A plumber in Sialkot, for example, can create a separate page for each country.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use multiregional SEO to attract a global customer base. A company that sells project management software can create a separate page for each country.
Blogs
Blogs that serve a global audience can use multiregional SEO to attract readers from different countries. A blog about cooking can create a separate page for each country.
Do’s and Don’ts of Multi-Regional SEO
Do’s
- Do use a clear URL structure. The best way to manage a multiregional website is to use a separate URL for each country.
- Do use a hreflang tag. A hreflang tag tells search engines about the different regional versions of a page.
- Do use a tool to check for rendering issues. The URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console will show you how Google sees your pages.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a machine translation. A machine translation can lead to a poor user experience and a low quality score.
- Don’t use the same content for all countries. A website that is optimized for different regions should have unique content for each region.
- Don’t use a JavaScript redirect. This can confuse search engines and can lead to a loss of organic traffic.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to use a hreflang tag: This is the most common mistake. It can lead to a lower indexation rate and a loss of organic traffic.
- Using a machine translation: A machine translation can lead to a poor user experience and a low quality score.
- Using the same content for all countries: This can confuse search engines and can lead to a lower ranking.
FAQs
What is the difference between multi-regional SEO and multi-lingual SEO?
Multi-regional SEO is the practice of optimizing a website for different countries. Multi-lingual SEO is the practice of optimizing a website for multiple languages. A website can be multiregional but not multi-lingual, or multi-lingual but not multi-regional.
What is a hreflang tag?
A hreflang tag is an HTML attribute that tells a search engine about the different regional versions of a page. It is a key part of a multiregional SEO strategy.
Can I use a subfolder for a multiregional website?
Yes, you can use a subfolder for a multiregional website. For example, example.com/us for the US version and example.com/uk for the UK version. This is the recommended practice by Google.
Does a multi-regional website get a rankings boost?
No, a multi-regional website does not get a rankings boost. However, it can significantly boost your click-through rate and brand visibility, which can indirectly lead to better rankings.
How can I test if my hreflang tags are working correctly?
You can use the International Targeting report in Google Search Console to check if your hreflang tags are working correctly. You can also use a third-party tool that can check for hreflang tags.
