Are you considering hiring an international SEO consultant? Maybe to improve your business’s online presence and reach a wider audience globally? Before you decide, it’s crucial to understand what factors you should consider.
There are so many SEO specialists out there, so it can be overwhelming to choose one. In this article, we will explore the key qualities and expertise you should look for in an international SEO consultant.
So, let’s dive in.
International SEO consultants help businesses expand into new markets by optimizing their websites for search engines. Their main job is to come up with plans for improving the SEO of the websites.
This includes making sure that the hreflang attribute is used correctly. This attribute tells search engines like Google what language is used on a page.
Also, they update Google Search Console to include the new locations that are being targeted.
Once all of the technical details have been taken care of, an international SEO consultant helps the website grow in more countries and languages.
International and local SEO are two distinct forms of search engine optimization. Local SEO focuses on a particular region, whereas international SEO concentrates on increasing a website’s visibility on a global scale.
Local SEO is better suited for businesses operating in smaller markets. It involves using precise keywords and tailored content for a specific audience in a restricted geographic area. Brands utilize contact details, addresses, and services to attract their desired target audience to the website.
For example, consider a dental clinic that operates solely in Edina, Minnesota. Targeting customers within that city is their primary focus to attract more people to their website and ultimately grow their business. In such cases, implementing local SEO becomes crucial for their success.
International SEO is employed by brands that operate across borders. Whether it’s cities, countries, or even continents. Nowadays, large websites that offer products and services globally invest significant resources in developing effective international SEO strategies for their websites.
International SEO demands relevant and appealing content for a diverse global audience. It should provide services for different categories of customers who access the website using particular keywords. Therefore, compared to local SEO, international SEO demands more time and effort.
Here are some examples of businesses that would benefit from international SEO.
Any business that has a global reach or wants to expand into new markets can benefit from international SEO. By optimizing the website for search engines in different countries, businesses can improve visibility and reach a wider audience. It can lead to increased website traffic, sales, and revenue.
An international SEO consultant enhances your website’s visibility and encourages visitors to stay. Ultimately leading to conversions.
Here are some of the services a typical international SEO consultant offers:
Some consultants provide training sessions or webinars to educate your employees on SEO basics. Since effective collaboration between both parties is essential for implementing SEO strategies.
It is a fundamental role of any SEO consultant. An international SEO consultant performs comprehensive keyword research and strategically incorporates them into your website’s pages and content.
Consultants typically conduct thorough site analyses, also called SEO audits. They do this at the beginning of the project and keep an eye on it throughout its duration. The report highlights any issues, improvements, and other areas that require attention.
An international SEO consultant will conduct backlink analysis through a link-building audit. This process involves reviewing all the links pointing to your website and generating a report highlighting any suspicious links they recommend removing (if possible) or disavowing (if removal is not feasible).
In order to convert the cold visitors to your website into leads and sales, an international SEO expert specializes in conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies. They utilize a unique technique to optimize conversions by analyzing user behavior and improving your website.
Now, we’ve come to the exciting part where you will learn what you need to look out for when hiring an international SEO consultant.
Anyone can start an SEO agency overnight and claim to be an expert. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they have the knowledge and expertise required.
SEO is made up of many different parts that work together to make up the whole plan. It takes many years of experience to know what works and what doesn’t.
It is important to find an international SEO consultant with a lot of knowledge and proven experience and results in ranking a website internationally.
The SEO world changes quickly, and someone who works in SEO needs to keep up with these changes. So, when looking for an SEO expert for your website, it’s important to ask how long they’ve been working in the field. During initial discussions, it is also essential to inquire about their qualifications, and success rate in international SEO. And ask how they stay updated with the ever-evolving market trends across various countries and regions.
In addition to their experience, a proven track record is also something you should look for. It’s easy to talk about international SEO confidently, but a proven track record can gain the trust of potential clients.
When selecting an international SEO consultant, looking for a track record of delivering positive outcomes for businesses like yours is crucial. This is the most reliable way to assess whether they’re the right fit for your website.
Experienced SEO experts are willing to share their previous work records and successes as proof of their expertise. They can also show how their optimizations have contributed to the overall success of their clients in ranking internationally.
You can verify their claims by checking review sites and examining feedback from their previous clients. A trustworthy international SEO consultant has reviews from clients on their own websites and is not afraid of sharing use cases.
To achieve a successful SEO strategy, an SEO expert must understand the three types of SEO:
They should know how each type works and what actions are necessary to improve them.It’s essential to address all three elements in the most suitable way according to your site and the different country’s specific requirements.
It’s important to determine whether the expert prioritizes conversions or more organic traffic to your website. They should focus on turning website visitors into customers, not achieving high search engine rankings.
The goal shouldn’t just be to be on the first page of search engine results or get many visitors. What counts is valuable and relevant traffic that leads to conversions and leads.
It helps to have a consultant who can think outside the box and develop strategies tailored to your business’s specific needs. Standard and templated SEO strategies can work, but they may not be the best fit for every business, especially when you want to rank internationally.
An important part of being a good SEO expert is working well with the client’s team. Clear communication must be communicated for the proposed SEO strategy to be implemented.
It’s important not to hire an expert who can’t communicate well or moves based on their preferences without thinking about the bigger picture.
An international SEO consultant should also be able to work well with different kinds of people and show that they can get things done quickly and well.
A valuable skill in SEO is putting conversions first and getting the search engine rankings you want. Any SEO method you use should try to reach these goals and go even further.
The SEO expert should deeply understand how people act online in different countries. And know what will bring people to your website. Also, they should know what users are looking for and understand the psychology behind search engine marketing.
The best SEO consultant has a growth mindset and a strong desire to try new things, learn more, and grow their knowledge.
People with a “know-it-all” attitude should be avoided when looking for an SEO expert. Instead, choose SEO experts who have a “growth mindset.” This means they always try to improve their skills, learn new things, and find new strategies, tactics, and tools.
Typically, SEO professionals utilize a variety of SEO tools to achieve desired outcomes for your website. These tools serve different purposes and functionalities.
It is important for your SEO expert to possess knowledge about these tools. It includes their functionalities and costs. And understand how to effectively utilize them to optimize your website.
Here are some essential SEO tools that your International SEO Consultant must have:
SEO professionals are required to collaborate with various departments within a business, such as IT, marketing, customer service, analytics, and sales.
The SEO professional you choose should be open to collaborating with all members of your organization. And they should be capable of adapting their communication style to align with your company’s preferred approach.
Here are some key benefits of investing in the launch of international versions of your website:
There are a lot of people claiming they are international SEO consultants. But real experts are hard to find. It may take a lot of time and work to figure out who the truly skilled experts are. But it’s worth a lot to invest in hiring an international SEO consultant who can deliver results and help your business grow.
There is no single factor that can guarantee the success of a consultant in their job. However, by considering a few essential qualities and assessing candidates as a whole, you increase the likelihood of making the correct hiring decision.
