Having an international online presence is crucial for businesses looking to expand globally. A key component of successful international SEO is building high-quality backlinks from foreign websites. Here's why international link building should be a priority.
Targeting Foreign Audiences
Building links on international websites allows you to tap into foreign audiences more effectively. Getting links from country-specific sites signals to local search engines that your content deserves to rank for relevant queries in that country. Whether you translate your content or create locally-optimised pages, links help associate your brand with terms and topics popular in each market.
International Ranking Boost
High-quality foreign links can significantly improve your site's ability to rank in other countries. Just as links from .edu and .gov sites carry more weight in the US, getting links from reputable country-specific domains (e.g. .de, .cn) lends credibility in those regions. This gives a ranking boost when local users search for related keywords.
Increasing Brand Visibility
Links allow search engines to crawl new sites and pages, expanding the visibility of your brand. When you build links on international platforms, it exposes your business to new markets and forges connections with foreign publishers. This gets your website and content in front of more global audiences.
Driving Referral Traffic
Links are opportunities to generate referral traffic, and international links drive targeted foreign traffic. When a user clicks your link on a foreign site, they will land on your site or content and become exposed to your brand, products, and services. This is an excellent way to increase visibility and acquire customers from other countries.
Where to Get International Links
- International business directories - Submit your website to relevant directories in each target country. This provides a local trust signal.
- Local discussion forums - Participate in foreign forums and communities to build engagement and natural links.
- International blogs/media sites - Pitch guest posts to or build relationships with foreign bloggers and publishers.
- Social media - Build an international social media presence and participate in foreign LinkedIn/Facebook groups to get social links.
- Q&A sites - Answer questions on international Q&A platforms like Quora to build a presence and links.
- Sponsorships - Sponsor relevant events, conferences, or competitions in target countries to build awareness and links.
Finding Reputable Linking Opportunities
Focus on building links from reputable, popular sites with good domain authority in your target countries. Avoid low-quality directories, paid links, or spammy networks. Tools like Ahrefs, Majestic, and Moz can help identify sites' trust and authority.
Working with an agency that offers a link building international service is important, as they will do this for you.
Translating/Localising Content
Translate snippets of content into the local language when guest posting abroad. For important markets like Latin America or China, consider fully localising core website content as well. This strengthens your international relevance and link building efforts.
International link building is a smart long-term investment for businesses looking to tap into new markets abroad. By making foreign link building part of your broader international SEO plan, you can boost global visibility and recognition.
