A Complete Guide for Multilingual SEO in 2024

Time flies, doesn’t it? As we find ourselves already in 2024, it’s a time to reflect on the past and appreciate how we’ve collectively experienced a significant reset across all industries. We want to live this year in style, preparing the most up-to-date guide to multilingual SEO to start shaping your 2024.

Assuming this is not the first blog you have read from us, or you know the SEO 101, we will move on. But wait! If this is actually your first post, fear not: You can start by reading our previous article on what SEO is and how to create a winning strategy. All said then, let us chase the future together.

Why Do You Need a Multilingual SEO Strategy?

To gain more visibility, reputation, more customers, and bigger ROI. End of story. Well, almost. Put it this way, it sounds very easy to achieve, but the reality is a bit more complex. Obtaining authority from Google—or any other search engine—is a process that requires patience, time and, above all, analysis and review.

We should keep in mind that, like any multilingual marketing strategy, it is not a static, one-time task. Trends change, people change, and the SEO-game rules change, requiring you to review whether your content is still relevant.

That said, we should amend our initial answer: To succeed in strategic web positioning, which allows prospects from all over the world to find you, you need to first pass through master Google’s assessment. It will decide if your site is reputable and your brand is trustworthy.

#OptimationalTip: Developing a multilingual marketing strategy requires time, know-how, and a defined end-to-end strategy. Consider relying on a multilingual SEO expert to streamline your time—and avoid headaches.

Multilingual SEO for Meta Descriptions

Have you still not included meta descriptions for all your pages? Then it is time to do so. Writing clear and straightforward meta descriptions will entice users to click through, for which you will also need to apply your multilingual SEO strategy. In other words, include keywords that are currently trending—and relate to the content of your page—and match the local search intent of the country you are targeting.

Organise with Topic Clusters or Create Content Hubs

Grouping topics in a coherent way not only gives a more organised overview of your website, but also shows great empathy towards your prospects. What do we mean by this? You prepare a central pillar page on a broad topic and attach related pages that address relevant subtopics—to understand the central topic in a more holistic way. Therein lies the empathy: With the help of a multilingual SEO company or expert, you can set up these clusters that will act as maps for your prospects to navigate through, saving them time—and mental effort.

Determine Keyword Search Intent

Keywords are like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs marking the way… or sort of. They are clues to what a user is looking for. It may be to simply search for information, buy a product, compare services, seek opinions, etc. And the goal of any multilingual SEO company should be to adapt the content according to that search intent. 

But… If only everything were like when people type “buy flight tickets to Rome” or “what is multilingual SEO.” Truth is, just as our mental processes are vast and different, so is how we conduct our searches, and the better your content matches that search intent, the better it will rank.

#OptimationalTip: Search intent is not always obvious. Try searching for the phrase “blue jeans,” and you will end up finding books from a Spanish writer, a video conferencing software, an item of clothing to buy, a Lana del Rey song, and so much more. See? We do not want to be repetitive, but that is why you should get help from a multilingual SEO expert.

Recycle Your Old Content

Content is becoming obsolete increasingly fast due to the internet and globalisation. But do not panic: This does not mean that your old efforts have been in vain. As mentioned before, it is vital to review your content metrics periodically. Your multilingual SEO calls for it and, from the perspective of the glass half full, it is a great way to give your work a rebuttal. Yes, instead of writing everything from scratch, it is like injecting botox into the wrinkles of your blogs. If your multilingual marketing strategy had a say in the matter, it would certainly thank you.

Link Building to the Next Level

Two important points here:

• Internal links: This will allow you to guide your prospects to other pages on your site they probably do not know—and that can be of great value. Remember, the focus should always be customer-centric and only in this way will you be able to increase brand trust, reputation with Google, and engagement with your customers.
• External links: This requires a special focus on any multilingual SEO strategy. Help your customers find ways to amplify the information on reputable sites. Also, check the external links in your old content: They must link to pages that still exist, with updated information, and (this is crucial) relevant to the country you are targeting.

In short: Links are our friends. We love them. More on how to create an efficient link-building strategy here.

Recap: Multilingual SEO is a Big “YES”

As you can see, navigating the landscape of multilingual SEO in 2024 demands a comprehensive understanding of evolving search engine algorithms, user behaviour, and cultural nuances across diverse linguistic markets. Sounds scary? Don’t worry, we are now looking forward to 2024 from a more active stance: We will be prepared from the first minute.

Ready for another year of exciting growth? And SEO, lots of SEO to get to the top.
In case you are still wondering where to start or how to go on, contact us today.