Local SEO vs International SEO: Which One Does Your Business Need?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is more essential than ever for businesses navigating today’s digital world. But here’s the catch! Not all SEO strategies are created equal. Knowing the difference between local SEO and international SEO can influence your success by connecting you effectively with your intended audience. So, let’s find out which SEO strategy your business really needs!

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) for searches carried out in a particular geographic location. In simpler terms, local SEO is all about making your business visible to people searching in your immediate area. It’s perfect if you own a local shop, restaurant, or provide services within a specific geographic location.

For example, say you run a coffee shop in Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Local SEO make it easy to find your business when searching “Best coffee in Burj Khalifa, Dubai” or “coffee shop near me.”

Key Features of Local SEO

Here are the characteristics that make local SEO what it is:

1. Google My Business: Your new best friend. This is where your business info is like your address, phone, hours, and customer reviews.
2. Local Keywords: Using phrases like “coffee shops near me” or “best dentist in Dubai.”
3. NAP Consistency: Keeping your business Name, Address, and Phone number consistent across all listings.
4. Reviews and Ratings: Local SEO will manage your reviews and ratings thus ensuring that your credibility stays tip-top.
5. Localized Content: Creating content targeted specifically to the local audience.

When to Choose Local SEO?

So, do you own a shop, or do you want people to know and trust your local establishments, like even school, for that matter? In that case, choose local SEO to serve customers face-to-face or within a specific area. Think cafes, salons, repair services, or local boutiques. It’s all about getting people through your physical doors!

Benefits of Local SEO

You know why your local establishment needs a local SEO? Check out these key advantages, and you will understand why:

1. More visibility: Local SEO helps your business show up higher in searches near you, bringing more visitors to your website and boosting sales.

2. Better brand awareness: When people see your business in local search results, they get to know your brand and what you offer.

3. Stronger customer loyalty: You are more likely to have customers come back to you because you have gained their trust.

What is International SEO?

International SEO, on the other hand, is your go-to strategy if your business aims to reach customers globally. It’s important if your business wants customers from different countries. When you grow globally, you have to deal with things like different languages, cultures, and how search engines work in each place and that’s where international SEO comes into practice.

Key Features of International SEO

Here’s an international SEO checklist, which makes it what it is:

1. Multilingual Websites: With international SEO, you will have content in various languages to attract more customers to your website.

2. Hreflang Tags: These nifty tags tell Google which language you’re using for specific audiences.

3. Global Keyword Research: Finding out what terms international audiences use to find products or services like yours.

4. International Link Building: Creating relationships with global influencers and websites.

When to Choose International SEO?

Go for international SEO when your business has or wants a customer base beyond your home country. Ideal if you sell products online globally, provide worldwide services, or plan to expand abroad.

Benefits of International SEO

Below are a few benefits of international SEO that you can consider for your brand:

1. Reach other markets: You can reach out to other markets via International SEO as it targets specific countries and regions with customized content based on the location’s unique user preferences.

2. Increase global awareness: You want your target customer to be able to find you and international SEO can help you increase global awareness by improving your international search engine rankings.

3. Increase international sales: Want to expand your business globally? Then you must implement international SEO as it will enable you expand internationally and target different global markets.

Difference Between Local and International SEO

Now that we are very clear about what local and global SEO are, here are some stark differences between the two that set them apart:

• Target audience: When it comes to target audience, international SEO is aimed at people all over the world, while your local SEO focuses on people in a specific area.

• Keywords: International SEO uses words that appeal to a wide audience, and local SEO picks keywords that match a particular location.

• Content: Content-wise, international SEO usually has more general info, but local SEO content talks about things specific to the local area.

• Backlinks: For backlinks, international SEO gets links from sites with a global reach, while local SEO gets links from local websites that nearby customers visit.

Which SEO Strategy Does Your Business Need?

Choosing between local and international SEO depends entirely on your business goals and your target audience. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Where are my customers?
2. Do I offer products or services locally, internationally, or both?
3. What are my expansion plans?

If your customers primarily come from your immediate vicinity or your services are region-specific, or you aim to increase footfalls to your physical store, local SEO is the way to go. But, if your audience spans continents, speaks multiple languages, or you plan global expansion, International SEO is your game.

Can You Combine Local and Global SEO?

Can you combine local and global SEO? Absolutely, and it can actually be a smart move! By now you are very well aware that your global SEO helps you reach a wide international audience, while local SEO zeroes in on people in specific cities or regions. So if you combine both, you get the best of both worlds. On one side you are attracting customers worldwide and on the other, you are also connecting with local buyers. For example, you can create broad content that appeals internationally, but also make location-specific pages or optimize your Google Business Profile for local searches. 

Winding Up

International SEO vs. Asian SEO or International SEO vs local SEO doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s just about knowing your audience and your business goals. So, ask yourself: Is your business the friendly neighborhood hero or an adventurous globe-trotter? Once you know that, your SEO choice becomes crystal clear!

To learn more about local vs international SEO, consult with GTECH Information Technology, a local seo agency in Dubai, where our qualified team of marketers will guide you through the fundamental concepts and implement the best tailor-made digital marketing and search engine optimization services that enhance your brand.