A national SEO strategy is a comprehensive plan designed to improve the visibility and ranking of your website on major search engines specific to certain countries. A good national SEO strategy will include measures such as keyword research for local search terms, on-page optimization, and link building.
It should also take into consideration the standard SEO strategies such as the following:
- Adding relevant keywords to your titles, descriptions, and content
- Internally linking your pages
- Improving your user experience by ensuring the website is optimized for all devices, loads super fast, and is easy to navigate
- Making sure all your pages include well-written content that covers the topic extensively. You’ve probably heard this many times before, but content is king in SEO
- Lastly, building links! Building links is essential for improving a website’s ranking in Google and other major search engines. The more links you have from authoritative websites, the higher the ranking you’re likely to achieve
How to Create a National SEO Strategy
1. Use a Country Code Domain Extension
There are a few reasons why you might want to use a country code domain extension for your business website. For example, if you’re based in the UK, using .uk as your website’s domain may be more appropriate than using .com, as it provides a more localized and precise online presence for your website. It also makes it clear to search engines and website visitors where the business is based.
Ultimately, it’s important to choose the domain extension that best suits your business and target audience. Since domains are usually quite cheap, you can own both the .com and the country code extension, however, use the latter as the primary website address.
2. Build Backlinks from Local Businesses
Local SEO is an important part of any national SEO strategy. There are many ways to build backlinks from local businesses, but one of the simplest and most effective methods is to target websites with country code domain extensions.
By targeting a country’s specific domain extensions, you can ensure that your website is being seen as the most authoritative source for information about that country. Additionally, by building links from local businesses, you will increase your website’s visibility and credibility in those local markets.
3. Translate the Website to the Local Language
You can also make your website easier to use and understand by translating it into local languages.
For example, if you operate a dental practice in California, you may want to consider providing your website content in English as well as Spanish, given the number of Spanish speakers. This will give users the option to find information about your practice in their preferred language.
Furthermore, by providing visitors with the ability to select their preferred language, you can ensure that they have the best possible experience when visiting your website. That will increase your average “time on page” and reduce your “bounce rate”, both of which are important SEO factors.
4. Create Localized Versions of your Website
If your business operates in numerous countries, another fantastic national SEO strategy is creating a dedicated website for each location.
For example, if you operate a dental practice in Canada and UK, you may want to create a version of your website that is specifically designed for Canadian visitors and a separate one for UK visitors. Similarly, if you are a business based in Japan, you may want to create a Japanese version of your website.
By doing this, you will not only make your website more accessible to specific target markets, but you will also reduce the amount of translated content on your site.
5. Get a GMB Page for your Business Locations
Getting a Google My Business page is a great way to increase your online presence in your target county. GMB pages often get listed above the other results in local searches. They also make your business appear on Google Maps.
Whether you have a single business location or multiple locations, you should have a GMB page for each location. You can do that by following these steps:
- Create a Google My Business account
- Click on Pages in the left-hand menu
- Select the location for which you want to create a GMB page
- Under Settings, click on Add New Page and enter the URL for your new GMB page in the Site Address field.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page
6. Actively Collect Ratings and Reviews
A good national SEO strategy should include collecting ratings and reviews for each location’s GMB page, as this can provide valuable insights on how customers perceive the location. Google often ranks GMB pages based on the number of positive ratings and reviews they have.
Reviews are also a fantastic source of feedback. By understanding what customers like and don’t like about a given location, businesses can improve their customer service and overall marketing efforts.
Frequency Asked Questions on National SEO
How Much Does It Cost To Develop a National SEO Strategy?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the costs associated with developing a national SEO strategy will vary depending on the size and scope of your project.
However, some common expenses include keyword research (if you’re using paid tools), on-page optimization services, link building costs, content creation, etc.
Is There Any Way To Cut Costs When Implementing A National SEO Strategy?
Yes! Many businesses choose to implement their own optimization efforts rather than hiring third-party professionals. This allows them to optimize their website themselves without spending a lot of money, and it also gives them more control over the process since they know exactly what needs to be done.
Conclusion
Overall, a good national SEO strategy involves a lot of hard work and dedication but can be very rewarding in terms of increased traffic and revenue. If you’re interested in creating a successful national SEO strategy for your business, contact us today for more information.
