How Using Expert SEO Translators Can Boost Your Business

Nowadays, 73% of internet users are non-English speakers, and over half of Google searches occur in languages other than English. You could be missing out on significant revenue if you use the services from regular translation agencies but don't hire an expert SEO translators.

SEO translation is a vital tool in marketing your services to foreign customers. SEO translators make sure that your translated website is not only accurate but also able to rank on foreign markets' search pages.

If you want to increase your business' visibility in foreign markets, SEO translation should be part of your strategy. Read on to find out what expert SEO translators can do for your business.

What is an SEO Translator?

An SEO translator is a language specialist who employs SEO-optimisation techniques as they translate. They make sure that the target text is accurate while also including relevant keywords and other on-page optimizations.

Traditional Translator vs. SEO Translator

SEO-trained translators don’t directly translate keywords. They will instead choose an equivalent, relevant keyword that ranks in the target market’s SERPs. 

Take this example of a French kitchen company, who are using an SEO-optimised website in English to attract UK consumers:

One of their source language keywords is ‘cuisine linéaire’, which can be translated as ‘straight kitchen’.

This is accurate, and might be what a traditional translator would leave in the text.

However, an SEO translator will carry out keyword research to see if there’s alternative translation which ranks higher on SERPs in the foreign market.

In this instance, ‘one wall kitchen' was a higher-searched term.

Using ‘one wall kitchen’ will make the English website more likely to show up on UK search engines as it targets a high-ranking search term.

An SEO translator will also take into account other SEO best practices as they translate, such as strategic placement of keywords, alt-texts for images, and use of clear language.

Take a UK company selling bathroom taps, for another example. They might use "how to replace a tap" on their webpage to attract customers. But in the US, people say "faucet" instead of "tap." This is where the difference between a traditional translator and an SEO translator becomes clear.

A traditional translator focuses on accurately changing text from one language to another. But with effective SEO translation, it's not just about direct translation. It's about making sure the right words are used for people searching online in different places. If the translated words don't match what people in another country search for, then the website won't show up as well in search engines like Google.

However, when translating website content, it's not enough to do keyword research and just place it all over the translated text. Unlike traditional translation, SEO translation involves translating with specific SEO software, which I will tell you about later.

SEO Translation vs. SEO Localization

What's the difference between SEO translation and SEO localization? While similar, they serve different yet complementary roles in international digital marketing. 

Specialist SEO Translation

SEO translation is the process where a translation company translates content from one language into another, making sure the translated content is optimized for search engines. This service goes beyond basic translation by incorporating keywords relevant to the target market. When a business uses SEO translation services, it means they're not just translating words. They're also adapting their SEO titles and descriptions to resonate with the search habits of the new audience. However, SEO translation alone may not fully capture the cultural nuances or specific market needs.

Benefits of SEO Localization

Localization is the process that takes translation a step further. While SEO translation focuses on accurately converting and optimizing text, SEO localization involves a deeper level of cultural adaptation. This includes not only translation and keyword optimization but also the adaptation of content to reflect local customs, values, and buying behaviors. It's an addition to SEO translation, and it ensures that the content resonates with local audiences on a cultural level. SEO localization might involve changing examples, idioms, and images to be more relevant to the local market, in addition to optimizing for local search engine trends.

Who Needs SEO Translators? Benefits of Multilingual SEO

Well-implemented SEO localisation can transform your business' digital presence. Below are some ways SEO translation can benefit your business:

1. Enhanced Brand Awareness and Global Reach

Translating your website into various languages significantly expands your brand's reach and visibility.

2. Boost in Traffic and Return on Investment (ROI)

Websites optimized for several languages often outperform monolingual sites in terms of ROI.

3. Increased Leads and Conversion Rates

Higher brand visibility increases your potential for lead generation and conversions.

4. Reduced Bounce Rates and Longer Visitor Engagement

SEO-translated content encourages longer stays on your site, enhancing overall SEO performance.

5. Cost Savings on Paid Search Campaigns

High-ranking, SEO-translated content is like free advertising on search engine results pages (SERPs).

6. Competitive Advantage

By optimizing your website in various target languages, you can gain an edge over competitors who have yet to embrace localization.

If you're a translator, a copywriter, or a content creator, you may want to learn more about SEO for translators.

Mastering International SEO for Your Target Markets

Understanding the nuances of SEO elements is critical when optimizing the translation for global markets. Unlike machine translation, which often misses the mark in terms of context and accuracy, professional SEO translation services bring expertise that ensures your website's content is well-translated and optimized for search engines.

A key aspect of this process is adapting the multilingual SEO strategy to the specific market. This might mean altering the original content to include keywords that resonate with the target audience, a task that goes beyond the capabilities of basic translation tools. SEO experts work to optimize the content, making sure it aligns with the search patterns and preferences of each destination country.

Furthermore, the importance of readability and correctness in the text cannot be understated when translating content from one language to another. While an SEO plugin like Yoast or content optimization tools like Neuron Writer can help gauge how content performs in terms of search engine optimization, it's the human touch that makes the difference. Expert translators create content that is not only SEO-friendly but also engaging and accurate, enhancing the overall user experience.

Link building is another crucial aspect. For instance, a website targeting a specific country or language group benefits greatly from links to relevant and authoritative websites within that region. This approach improves the site's domain authority and search engine ranking.

Website localization, an integral part of SEO translation, involves more than just translating the content on your site. It's about adapting all elements - from currency and measurements to visual components - to create a more personalized and relevant user experience for the target audience.

Selecting the right phrases and keywords, crafting proper headlines, SEO titles and meta descriptions requires deep linguistic knowledge and an understanding of SEO tactics. This is where SEO translation services and SEO experts come into play, offering a comprehensive solution that covers both translation and optimization. So your site's content will not be only accurate and culturally relevant but also fine-tuned to perform well in search engines, making them indispensable in the world of international digital marketing.

Check how my website has been performing since I started implementing SEO tactics and optimizing my content:

But remember, SEO is a long-term strategy. It might take a few months to see significant changes in your metrics. 

Case Studies

For the first ten years of my business activity, I was invisible online. I blogged, but my blog posts generated only a flat line in Google Seach Console (an analytics tool for tracking your SEO efforts).

I didn't even know that I should have linked my websites to GSC. I had three websites before this one because I always thought (or graphic designers and website companies told me so) that there was something wrong with them, and I obviously needed a new one.

What made a difference for me?

I started learning about SEO optimization and practicing a lot on my content. In the picture above, you can notice how well one of my blog posts has performed since I optimized it earlier this year. This one blog post generated many leads who booked calls with me and bought my services.

Now, armed with this knowledge, I started offering these SEO services to other companies so they don't have to wait 10 years to see traffic and leads come into their pipeline.

One such company is a Polish construction company that targets a German market with its old building renovation services. I optimized their websites and blog for non-competitive keywords and linked their website to Google Search Console. Their website has been live only for a month, and around 2,000 people have already found it online.

Why Machine Translation Doesn't Work for Multilingual SEO

You might be tempted to use a translation plugin to translate your website, but it won't provide you with the same results as a human SEO translator.

As we’ve just explained, keywords can’t always be directly translated. Human SEO translators will use their knowledge of the target culture as well as keyword research to determine the best translation.

What’s more, machine translations are literal and often error-prone, impacting content quality and readability. Google’s Search Advocate advises against using automatic translation tools, as they produce low-quality results that can lead to search engine penalties.

For effective multilingual SEO, human translators should be used. They can consider cultural nuances and keyword relevance for your target market.

SEO Translators for Your Digital Marketing

SEO translators will ensure your website ranks highly in foreign SERPs whilst also accurately translating your content.

They will use their cultural and linguistic understanding of the target market alongside SEO expertise to produce texts that will perform well in search engines.

With SEO translation services, your multilingual content will reach international audiences and increase the visibility of your brand.

Langbay specializes in English-to-Polish SEO translation, tailoring your website to appeal to Polish customers.

Our SEO translators will enhance your business in Poland with optimized content that ensures your website effectively connects with Polish audiences.

*This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my coffee-drinking habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me supplied with caffeine. It’s a win for everyone, really.