Local SEO vs. International SEO and the differences between them

Search engine optimisation, or SEO as it's more commonly referred to, is the strategy of using algorithms, keywords and other content, to improve a website’s position on search engine result pages. SEO is an important consideration for any business.

There are two main types of SEO that you need to understand in order to get your SEO marketing strategy right. Let's take a more detailed look at these two types of SEO so that you can create the best strategy for your business.

What is local SEO?

Local search engine optimisation is SEO that targets specific geographical locations, as opposed to the entire globe. A local SEO marketing strategy is best for businesses that might only have a few locations or service areas. In this case, they want to target their online presence to locals who are actively searching for something related to their business. 

If you've ever searched for a type of local business on Google, you may notice that Google often returns a list of the top three most relevant search results. These 'local listings' are where businesses aim to appear. Local listing SEO is determined by the keywords, language and other attributes of your website, that then help Google understand your location. It's important to make sure your location is clearly listed on your website and Google My Business page.

What is international SEO?

International SEO is primarily used by large businesses who operate in multiple locations around the globe. It's also helpful for businesses who offer worldwide shipping, as even though they may not be based in the same country as a consumer, they can still ship to them.

For this type of SEO marketing strategy, keywords are very important as the competition is much larger than local SEO. For international SEO, the content on your website needs to be easily read, understood and visually appealing to a variety of different demographics. You also need to consider that your text may be auto-translated or that Google isn't always the default search engine in a country, which may affect rankings.

Whether your website is aiming for local or global SEO, Pivotal can help you build the right strategy for your business. Contact us today!