International SEO

Successful with international search engine optimization

Want to rank high in search results internationally? When your website is at the top, potential customers in a variety of countries tend to click on your website first. But a strong international SEO strategy is not easy to develop. Search behavior and online habits vary greatly from country to country.

For example, a Spaniard searches on different terms than a Greek. Each country has its own culture, to which forms of address and topics of content must be tailored. Understanding these local differences is the key to increasing your visibility and reaching new audiences.

At Economy, we know from experience how complex international SEO is and how to approach it successfully. We work with a unique strategy per country, implemented by native specialists. Curious about our approach? Then read on quickly.

The benefits of international search engine optimization

Investing in international SEO ensures that your website or webshop becomes optimally findable for foreign visitors and gives you immediate results. The result? You increase the online visibility of your company in different countries and attract targeted traffic. After all, these visitors do not just land on your website; they have a specific goal and are interested in your product or service.

We help you optimize your website to match the language, preferences and manners of the local target audience. This ensures an optimal user experience and higher conversion. Together with us, you will fully utilize the benefits of international SEO:

• An increase in your market share in different countries;
• International competitive advantage and new growth opportunities;
• Less dependence on one market.

Investing in international SEO offers your business new opportunities not previously within reach!

Our approach: how do our SEO specialists get started?

Before you can be successful abroad, you need to get to know your target audience. This is a lot more complex with international SEO than with a single-country strategy, as SEO in the Netherlands. After all, each market has its own characteristics and search behavior.

That's why our specialists work with the following approach to ensure your international success:

• Keyword analysis: We always start with a thorough analysis of the keywords your foreign target audience is searching for.
• On-page optimization: With the right keywords, our native copywriters get to work. They optimize the content on your own website and write compelling SEO copy.
• Technical SEO: Our experts ensure that the technical foundation of your website is perfect, from the URLs and meta descriptions to proper indexing of your pages.
• Link building: To increase your authority and online findability, we create strong backlinks to your website.
• Website migration: You may need to move your website to a new international domain name. We provide practical tips to do this yourself or take over the whole process for you!

You will be guided in this by a dedicated SEO specialist who will help you set up, be ready for all your questions and optimize performance. We keep you informed of progress on a monthly basis with reports in accessible language. Together we will achieve higher positions in search results and a sustainable increase in organic traffic for your business!

On-page optimization

Creating and optimizing an international website is more than just translating your Dutch website. It requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that your website is user-friendly and attracts the right target audience. We call this on-page optimization: are texts understandable and attractive to your international target audience? Do they contain search terms that you want to be found on? Are the words correctly translated? In short: is your website user-friendly? On-page optimization ensures that your website obtains a higher position in Google's search results. An important step in booking your International online marketing success!

We do this by considering multi-regional and multilingual SEO:

• Multi-regional SEO: Targets countries that speak the same language, but where there are language differences (for example, English in America and the United Kingdom).
• Multilingual SEO: Here we convert your website into multiple languages (such as French, German and English).

Creating multilingual SEO content

The next step is to write new, catchy SEO content. Although you can translate existing texts verbatim, it is often more effective to create new content that perfectly matches the local market. User-friendliness is key here. Visitors are immediately turned off by texts that have clearly been generated by a translation machine or AI. Our native copywriters ensure that your texts are convincing in every language and have the right tone of voice. In this way, you fit in perfectly with the local culture.

Proper translation of keywords is also important. We always do a keyword analysis on the most common keywords in each specific language so that your website is found on the right terms.

International link building

A keyword analysis is the foundation of any successful international SEO strategy. But the real magic happens at International link building. We make sure your website is not only found, but also becomes an authority abroad.

How exactly does that work? Based on our keyword research, we write high-quality content in any language. We then place this content on partner websites. We carefully select these websites from our extensive international network of more than 1,100,000 opportunities. This is how we build a rock-solid backlink profile for your website.

The result? Google rewards you with a higher position in search results. So you attract not only more visitors, but more importantly the right ones: potential customers who are ready to take action.

Technical SEO for international websites

In addition to text and language, the structure and layout of your website are important for international success. Technical SEO revolves around the question: how do we ensure the best user experience and show Google which target group your website is intended for?

We explain three key aspects we address for you:

1. Hreflang tag

It is important to tell Google what language your website is written in. We take care of this with the Hreflang tag. Imagine: an English visitor accidentally gets to see the Dutch page. Chances are he will click away immediately. We prevent this by setting the correct Hreflang tags so that every visitor always sees the page in the correct language.

A big advantage is that translated pages are not seen as duplicate content by Google. This is crucial to the SEO value of your website. While this can be a lot of work manually, we can automate this process with a Content Management System or a Hreflang sitemap.

2. Domain structures for international websites

The structure of your website helps search engines and users find your content easily. But if you want to grow internationally, that structure becomes a lot more complex. Choosing the right one is important for your SEO success abroad. We list the most effective domain structures for you and explain the pros and cons.

• Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs): This is the most recognizable structure, such as .nl and .de. The advantage is that your website will appear locally reliable, attracting targeted traffic. The downside is that it takes much more time and effort to maintain multiple domains.
• Subdomains: Here you use one generic extension, with a subdomain for each country (for example, nl.jouwdomein.com). The main disadvantage is that Google does not see subdomains as one, so the link value is hardly passed on to your main domain.
• Directories or subdirectories: This structure uses one main domain with directories by country (for example, www.jouwdomein.com/nl). This is the most effective option for your SEO because the link value of the directories is passed on to your main domain. It is also the easiest of the three options to implement and maintain. The only drawback, however, is that your website must already have a lot of international traffic, otherwise this option is less effective.

3. Currency and payment systems

A perfect user experience is only complete when your customers can pay in their own currency and through their familiar payment system. Visitors can thus instantly see the price in their own currency. And the ability to pay with different payment systems directly contributes to a higher conversion rate. We make sure your website is fully adapted to the local market, from language to checkout.

Which international domain structure suits your business?

Theory aside, the most important question is: Which structure best suits your situation? The answer is not simple, but depends on the available content, budget and ambitions of your business. We briefly list the options:

• Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs): This structure requires the largest investment in time and budget, but it can also produce the best results. If you want to target different countries and gain local trust, this is a rock-solid strategy.
• Folders or subdirectories: This is the most chosen and effective option. The directory structure is relatively easy to implement and benefits from the authority of your main domain. A major drawback is that if you have very little international traffic, you will not rank well in search results. If you have ambitions to grow internationally, this is probably not the most effective website structure.
• Subdomains: Should the ccTLD structure not be feasible for any reason, the subdomain structure can be considered. However, keep in mind that by doing so, you are less likely to boost the SEO value of your main domain.

Together with you, we determine which approach best suits your specific situation and goals.

Economy's international reach

With an international network of over 1,100,000 placement opportunities and over 20 years of experience, we guarantee quality SEO results abroad. Our expertise and approach have already successfully helped many clients with international ambitions.

Some of our results:

For Vacansoleil significantly increased our organic market share in France.
The international visitor base of Xmasdeco Increased by 2000% through the use of SEA and SEO.
Trampoline shop Achieved and maintains the #1 position on the keyword "trampoline" in Germany.
Also for European lens provider Vision Direct we achieved impressive results.

Our online specialists will help you

Our specialists are ready to get to work on your international challenge and achieve SEO success abroad with you. Curious about what we can do for your business? Contact us today contact at by emailing [ email protected] or calling 015-7503656. Our specialists will be happy to assist you. We also offer several free scans!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

International SEO is the way to achieve your global ambitions. But how exactly does it work? And how does it differ from multilingual SEO, what are the expected costs and benefits for your business? Below we answer frequently asked questions so you know exactly what to expect.

What is the difference between international SEO and multilingual SEO?

International SEO goes far beyond simply translating your website. It is the strategy to put your brand on the map abroad. We focus not only on language, but also on local search habits, culture and technical details, such as the right domain structure. Multilingual SEO is just one part of it; it makes sure your content is linguistically correct, but doesn't take into account the deeper, local nuances essential for success.

Why is international SEO important?

International SEO opens the door to growth for your business. By optimizing your website for local search behavior, you attract exactly the visitors who are looking for your product or service. This leads to more leads, higher conversion and a strong position abroad. This way, you become less dependent on your home market and build a sustainable competitive advantage. In short, it's the most effective way to realize your global ambitions.

Is international SEO still important in the AI era?

Yes, international SEO is more important than ever. The rise of AI is changing the online playing field, but the basics of SEO remain indispensable. AI models get their answers from quality, optimized websites. So those who invest in content authority, technical perfection and a strong link profile increase their chances of remaining visible in both traditional and AI search results.

In addition, the focus is increasingly shifting to user search intent. Where the focus used to be on keywords, it is now about providing a complete, relevant and compelling answer. And this is precisely where international SEO is irreplaceable: it is about understanding local, cultural and linguistic nuances that only a specialist can fathom. In short: AI is not a replacement, but a powerful tool. Those who adapt their international SEO strategy accordingly create a robust and future-proof online profile.

How does your unique country-by-country strategy work?

Our approach is based on deep, local insight. We always start with a keyword analysis to understand the specific needs of your target audience. Then our native specialists translate this knowledge into a unique strategy that perfectly fits the local culture. We work on the technology of your website, creating relevant content, and building a local backlink profile. This combination ensures a strong increase in search results and an increase in your organic traffic.

How much does international SEO cost?

The cost of international SEO depends entirely on your specific situation and ambitions. Factors such as the number of countries, the size of your website and the state of your current SEO foundation come into play. We believe in complete transparency and customization. That is why we always start with a no-obligation analysis of your situation. On that basis, you will receive a clear proposal, tailored to your goals and budget. So you know exactly where you stand.