If you’re planning to expand your business internationally, it is important to have an SEO localization strategy in place. Entering new markets requires more than simply translating your website content. To be able to connect with your new audience, you must adjust all your information to fit the culture and customs of the market you’re entering. This is where SEO localization can be of great help.

What is SEO localization?

SEO localization is the optimization of your website pages for different geographical areas and languages in order to improve organic search visibility. It includes the optimization of target keywords, website content, URLs, meta tags, meta descriptions and image alt text.

Localization is more than a simple translation because it takes into account the culture, habits and preferences of the local audience. It also takes into account local elements such as relevant imagery, design, preferred currency and even linguistic nuances such as local idioms.

How does SEO localization help improve brand awareness?

By implementing SEO localization, you can make your website more relevant and appealing to your new audience. An effective SEO localization strategy will help you improve brand awareness in the following ways:

Increase Organic Visibility

With 60% of consumers preferring websites written in their native language, using the right local keywords and optimized content can improve your organic visibility and overall user engagement on the website and reduce bounce rate.

Competitive Edge

With only 5% of websites being multilingual, implementing SEO localization is a smart way to stay ahead of the competition. By catering to the culture and language of your local audience, you can rank better than your competitors who have not localized their web content. It’s also more likely that other websites with high authority in the region will link to you, increasing the credibility and value of your content.

Increases Engagement

When your website is localized, it can better engage visitors. Your audience gets a sense of familiarity and trust when they realize that a company knows their preferences and culture. This sense of trust leads to a better customer experience and higher customer loyalty.

Easier Market Penetration

By adapting content to the language and culture of the target audience, your business improves its chances of organic penetration. Without a localized SEO strategy, you will likely need to invest significantly in paid advertising to achieve the same brand exposure.

Higher Conversion Rate

Localization can have a significant impact on the conversion rate of a website. The statistics are very clear: 76% of consumers prefer to buy in their native language, while 92% of consumers want to buy from online stores that display their local currency.

The Bottom Line

SEO localization is all about providing your new audiences with a personalized and culturally relevant experience in their native language. If you’re looking to improve your brand presence and tap into new markets, localizing your SEO is a great investment that will open up a range of growth opportunities.