International SEO is becoming increasingly significant in today’s diverse online experience. From international e-commerce shipping options and global campaigning to political updates and staying connected to family and loved ones overseas, International SEO connects audiences and improves the quality of user experience. Incorporating international elements within your technical SEO and UX strategy efforts expands your audiences, adds value to diverse user regions, and enhances overall on-page optimization. Webflow’s addition of localization within the Webflow Designer is a testament to the growing importance of international SEO for organic reach.

Importance of International SEO

Business globalization is becoming increasingly more common, with 2022 accumulating $928.5 billion in U.S. services exports. International SEO is an essential strategy for businesses reaching significant numbers of target audiences from other areas of the world. Incorporating metalanguage, URL parameters, subfolders, ccTLDs, and gTLDs are pieces of the multi-continental puzzle. With these implementations, users worldwide can access and interpret content, perhaps even converting on your product or service pages. International SEO facilitates global commerce, informs audiences of global news, enhances international user experience, and promotes a healthy SERP ecosystem.

Within International SEO, several tactic-level components are important to note:

• Localization signals
• Multilingual targeting
• Hreflang tags
• URL structures
• Locale-specific relevant content
• Unique UX Strategies for relevant user experiences

Relationship Between Localization and Multilingual SEO

Localization and Multilingual SEO are two different tier levels for International SEO.

Localization is the broad-encompassing practice of optimizing a website for multiple languages and locales. Localization considers cultural, linguistic, and regional differences in addition to content translation.

Multilingual SEO sits within localization, niching down to the on-page optimization of a website for multiple languages and regions. Multilingual optimization involves optimizing content, metadata, and other on-page elements for unique target regions and languages. Keyword research is conducted for each language to ensure translation accuracy. Localization takes this optimization one step further to ensure that translated content is culturally relevant. It may involve adapting images, videos, and other multimedia elements to resonate with local customs and preferences.

Webflow’s Localization Capabilities

With this International optimization hierarchy in mind, Webflow set out to create a native localizing development experience. With the release of Webflow’s localization product, Webflow developers can now customize websites for visitors across multiple languages across three unique pillars:

• Designing and building
• Content and translation
• Publishing and delivery

This transformative localization product provides an end-to-end solution for Webflow SEO experts and Webflow agencies worldwide. Let’s take a look at the details of what users can expect with these updates!

Designing and Building

Arguably, the most pivotal aspect of Webflow’s localization experience revolves around the seamless integration of design and content translation within Webflow Designer.

When it comes to designing and building with localized content in Webflow, here's a glimpse of what you can expect to achieve for each locale at launch:

1. Preview and Locale Switching in the Designer:
2. As you build and incorporate multiple locales, developers can seamlessly switch between them within the Webflow Designer.
3. This functionality enables previews for your site's appearance for each local.
4. Content Localization:
5. While transitioning between locales, directly translate static pages and Webflow CMS content.
6. Customized Images and Alt Text:
7. Tailor images on a per-locale basis.
8. This customization feature ensures a localized and culturally relevant visual experience. Alt text customization further enhances unique usability.
9. Element Visibility Customization:
10. Beyond text and images, you have the flexibility to control the visibility of specific elements for each locale.
11. This allows you to highlight or promote distinct content on a page based on the visitor's geographical region, effectively catering to diverse audiences.
12. Style Customization:
13. Fine-tune styles on a per-locale basis.
14. This means you can adjust variations in headline lengths, fonts, and other stylistic elements to meet the specific requirements of each region.

Webflow Designer enables developers and UI Designers to seamlessly blend design and content localization, ensuring that your website resonates with audiences worldwide and provides a tailored experience for each locale.

Content and Translation

When it comes to translating your content for different locales, Webflow implemented a highly flexible approach that prioritizes choice and adaptability. This allows Webflow agencies to cater to customers at various stages of their localization journey.

Marketers and developers now have several ways to translate content:

1. Direct Translation in the Designer:
2. Optimize with granular control and the ability to make edits after the initial translation.
3. Directly translate content in the Designer for both static elements and Webflow CMS content.
4. Flexible API Solutions:
5. Webflow is enhancing existing APIs and introducing new solutions for seamless integration, enabling programmatic connections from your Webflow site to external systems.
6. Customize static content, CMS content, images, and more effortlessly.
7. Machine-Powered Translation:
8. Webflow is developing automatic translation options to simplify your initial localization efforts.
9. Partner Translation Apps:
10. Establish direct integrations with translation management systems right from the launch.

No matter where you're starting from or what your localization requirements may be, Webflow’s efforts offer flexibility and choice to ensure a smooth and effective localization process for your content.

Publishing and Delivery

Lastly, when it comes to publishing localized websites and managing the visitor experience, Webflow offers new precision and control levels that surpass other third-party workarounds.

Here are some of the robust controls and features Webflow agencies have in their arsenal when it comes to publishing:

1. Toggle Locale Publishing On and Off:
2. While building, you can decide whether your various locales go live upon site publication. Custom publish settings allow you to work on your new locales as drafts before launching them to the public.
3. Customize URLs and Subdirectories:
4. Optimize your site's SEO performance with URL structure customization for localized pages.
5. Customize your locale slug (e.g., "/es/" or "/sp/" for "español") and serve localized pages within subdirectories (e.g., website.com/es/...).
6. Localize SEO Titles and Descriptions:
7. Optimize meta titles and descriptions for each locale, ensuring your content resonates effectively with regional search audiences.
8. Sitemap with hreflang:
9. Webflow automatically incorporates hreflang tags into your auto-generated sitemap. Sitemap optimization ensures search engines understand the relationships between your unique localized pages, improving search visibility.
10. Fully Customizable Locale Switcher Element:
11. This new element allows Webflow developers to display and customize a language switcher. Now, visitors can choose their preferred language while navigating your site, enhancing user experience.
12. Seamless Integration with Publishing and Staging:
13. New workflows seamlessly integrate with your existing and future website publishing processes.

Webflow's powerful new controls and features for publishing your localized website ensure a smooth and tailored experience for your visitors to simplify the complexities of managing multilingual and multicultural web content.

Rise to the Standard with International SEO Experts

This update transforms how our Webflow Agency develops sites, from conceptualization to launch. Powerful native elements now enhance and optimize your site for International audiences, driving conversions and improving user experiences. Stay tuned for more Webflow conference updates and digital marketing news with Red Shark Digital.