Will SEO agencies help me rank internationally?

Yes – a knowledgeable SEO agency can absolutely help your site rank internationally. Global SEO is about more than just translating content; it’s a multi-pronged strategy involving technical setup, language targeting, and local market understanding. 

With the right approach, you can expand your reach to new countries and languages, dramatically increasing your traffic and customer base.

What Is International SEO?

International SEO means optimizing your site to be found in multiple countries and languages. This involves two key aspects: geotargeting and language targeting.

Geotargeting

This tells search engines which country a page is for. Agencies might use country-code domains (like example.de for Germany) or subfolders (example.com/de/ for German content). We usually prefer subfolders on the same domain because you transfer domain authority, but sometimes separate domains or subdomains make sense. A skilled SEO agency will help choose the right structure for your goals. They’ll also set up geotargeting in Google Search Console if needed, to reinforce where each site version should rank.

Language targeting (hreflang)

These HTML tags or sitemap entries signal which language-version of a page to serve to a user. For example, you’d tag your French pages with hreflang="fr" so Google shows them to users in France (or French speakers). Getting hreflang right is crucial. 

We’ve seen clients accidentally mix up tags and end up competing with themselves. A pro agency audits and fixes these tags so users see the correct language version automatically.

Different regions may also favor different search engines (Google dominates most of the world, but Yandex or Baidu matter in Russia and China). 

An agency experienced internationally will tailor strategies (like local link-building or compliance) for each market.

Localizing Your Content

Language is often the biggest barrier. Only about a quarter of internet users speak English, meaning 75% of the global audience uses other languages. Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese and others make up over half of all web users. To tap those markets, you need localized content, not just English pages.

Localization goes beyond word-for-word translation. It means adapting your content for local culture, phrasing, and search behavior. 

For example, one travel app client of ours had pages on “best ski destinations.” We translated those into French and German and inserted local ski resort names popular in those countries. This simple move doubled their traffic from France and Germany in just months.

Translating keywords is key too. 

A search term competitive in English may face much less competition in another language. A good agency will do local keyword research. 

For instance, if your product is a “budget smartphone,” the exact phrase “smartphone pas cher” in French might have lower competition and still good volume. Targeting that translated term can get you ranking quickly in French search.

Remember: people prefer native language content.

 Studies suggest around two-thirds of users only buy from a site in their own language. If your competitors are only in English, optimizing for local languages gives you a huge advantage. 

An SEO agency should identify the top non-English languages for your business (Spanish? Portuguese? Arabic?) and create high-quality translations of your core pages and blog content. Even starting with one or two languages can unlock major new traffic.

Technical SEO for Global Markets

Behind the scenes, proper technical setup is vital. Here are some main tasks an agency will handle:

• Hreflang Tags: As mentioned, these tags must be correctly implemented on each language page. A mistake in hreflang can cause Google to ignore your localized pages or serve the wrong language. SEO pros will audit and fix your hreflang, whether in HTML or your XML sitemap.
  
  
• URL Structure: We discussed subfolders vs subdomains vs country-code domains. If you use subfolders (mydomain.com/es/), Google can pass your domain authority to the Spanish content. In one client example, we used example.com/fr/ for French; Google readily ranked those pages because it saw the main .com’s strength, too.
  
  
• Localization of Metadata: Titles, descriptions, and headers need translation and localization as well. If you simply reuse English metadata on French pages, you miss the SEO boat. We ensure every language has unique, optimized metadata for its audience (e.g. using appropriate French keyword phrasing).
  
  
• Server and Hosting: Some agencies advise hosting in the target country for speed, or setting geotargeting in Search Console. This can help with loading times and local trust. We often use CDNs or local servers if speed is an issue for a new market.
  
  
• Content Quality: Avoid mixing languages on one page and keep navigation clear. Each language version should look like a proper site (with language switcher links, etc.). For example, Netflix does this well: they have netflix.com/ca-en/ and netflix.com/ca-fr/ with properly linked hreflang tags. A professional SEO agency will guide you to this best practice.

Building Local Relevance

Ranking internationally isn’t just on-page work. It often requires local links and outreach. An international-savvy agency will help you connect with local media, blogs, or partners in each market. Earning a backlink from a reputable French or German site signals to Google that your brand is legitimate there.

They’ll also consider local SEO factors: setting up country-specific Google Business listings, getting reviews in local languages, and ensuring your business information (like address and currency) is consistent on local platforms. All these build trust with search engines and users.

At Embarque, our team includes native speakers and international strategists. We’ve managed content teams in French, Spanish, and German to craft content that feels locally written. 

This cultural polish matters. A French visitor won’t get the same value from a machine translation of an English blog; they want content for them. We partner with local writers when needed to make sure everything reads naturally and addresses local concerns.

Results of Going Global

When international SEO is done right, the rewards are huge. Clients we’ve helped now rank on page one in multiple countries. One client expanded their market reach in Europe without extra ad spend just by adding German and French versions of key articles – traffic from those countries jumped accordingly. Another client watched their overseas sessions double year-over-year after a multilingual SEO push.

It’s like unlocking entire new countries of potential customers. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes – a capable SEO agency can help you rank internationally, but only with a proper global SEO strategy. It’s not just flipping a switch; it involves technical setup (domains, hreflang), tailored content (translations and local context), and local marketing efforts. 

The payoff is huge: you gain visibility in whole new markets. We often say international SEO is like opening new sales channels. One client of ours doubled their international traffic in under a year by localizing content, and another saw sales leads rise from unexpected countries.

If you’re expanding beyond your home market, hire an SEO partner experienced with international SEO best practices. They’ll guide you through each step so your site ranks in multiple countries and languages. Done right, your organic traffic (and leads) will soar worldwide, opening doors to customers you never knew were searching for you.