International SEO for brands selling in more than one country
The right URL structure, correct hreflang and content written for how each market actually searches, so the right version of your site shows up in each country.
International SEO: what it covers
Selling abroad raises search questions that a single-country site never faces. Should each market get its own domain, a subfolder or a subdomain? Which version should Google show to a shopper in Canada when you have English pages for the US and the UK? How do you stop the Australian page competing with the American one when the copy is almost the same? Get these answers wrong and Google may show the wrong currency, the wrong language or no page at all.
We plan and implement international SEO for Shopify stores using Shopify Markets, and for other platforms using subfolders, subdomains or country domains. The work covers hreflang annotations with x-default, translated and localized URLs, keyword research for each market, and content that reflects local terms, spelling and buying habits. Our team works remotely from India with brands in many regions, so we are used to planning across time zones and we hold calls in your business hours wherever you are based.
- Domain, subfolder or subdomain plan
- Hreflang with x-default, tested
- Shopify Markets setup review
- Keyword research per country and language
- Localized titles, copy and URLs
- Search Console reporting by country
What International SEO has to get right
Hreflang errors
Hreflang only works when every page in a set lists all its alternates, including itself, and each alternate links back. Missing return tags, wrong codes such as en-UK instead of en-GB, and alternates that point to redirected URLs are common. When this breaks, Google may ignore the annotations completely.
Automatic redirects by location
Redirecting visitors to a country version based on their IP address can stop Googlebot, which mostly crawls from the United States, from ever seeing other versions. A banner that suggests the local site and lets people choose is safer for search and less frustrating for travelers and expats.
Translation is not localization
A direct translation of English keywords often misses how people in another market actually search. Product names, sizing terms, spelling and even the categories shoppers use differ between countries that share a language. Research for each market prevents pages built around words nobody types.
Our International SEO services
URL structure planning
We compare country domains, subfolders and subdomains against your budget, team and platform, then plan the structure and the redirects needed to get there.
Hreflang implementation
Correct language and region codes, x-default for the fallback page, and crawl checks so every alternate returns a 200 status and links back.
Shopify Markets SEO
We review market subfolders, translated handles, currency and language settings, and check the hreflang tags Shopify outputs for each market.
Market keyword research
Separate keyword research for each country or language, using local search data rather than translated English terms.
Localized content
Titles, descriptions and collection copy written for local spelling, units, sizes and buying terms rather than translated word for word.
Per-market reporting
Search Console and GA4 data filtered by country and subfolder, so you can see how each market performs on its own terms.
How we work
SEO Audit & Research
We analyse your website, competitors and keyword landscape.
Strategy Development
We create a structured SEO roadmap aligned with your business goals.
Optimisation Implementation
We implement technical fixes and on-page improvements.
Content & Authority Growth
We strengthen visibility through strategic content planning and appropriate authority-building activities.
Monitoring & Reporting
We track rankings, traffic and performance metrics regularly.
Related SEO services
Frequently asked questions
Should I use subfolders or separate country domains?
Subfolders suit most brands, because every market shares the authority of one domain and they are easier to manage. Country domains such as .de or .co.uk send a strong local signal but need separate link building and upkeep. The right choice depends on your markets, budget and how independently each country operates.
Does Shopify handle hreflang automatically?
Yes, Shopify adds hreflang tags when you set up markets with their own domains or subfolders through Shopify Markets. Problems still appear, for example from themes that add their own tags, untranslated content or markets configured inconsistently. We check the output and fix whatever conflicts.
Do I need different content for countries that share a language?
Usually you need light changes rather than new content. Prices, currency, spelling, sizing, delivery details and some product terms should match each market. Hreflang tells Google which version to show, so near-identical pages for the US and UK are fine as long as they are tagged correctly.
Which markets can you help with?
We work with brands selling across North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. For each new market we start with demand research, so you can see whether it is worth building pages before you commit. For non-English markets we recommend native-speaker review of translated pages.