Salin dan Bagikan

Cara Optimasi International SEO untuk Website Multi-Bahasa

International SEO adalah strategi untuk website yang target multiple countries atau languages. Proper implementation ensures right content reaches right users.

International SEO Basics

When You Need International SEO

Signs you need it:
- Traffic dari multiple countries
- Products/services globally
- Content in multiple languages
- Regional pricing/offerings

URL Structure Options

Options:
1. ccTLD: example.co.uk, example.de
2. Subdomain: uk.example.com
3. Subdirectory: example.com/uk/
4. Parameters: example.com?country=uk

Each has pros/cons.

URL Structure Comparison

Country Code TLD (ccTLD)

Pros:
- Strong geo signal
- Clear targeting
- User trust

Cons:
- Multiple domains to manage
- SEO authority split
- Higher cost

Subdomains

Pros:
- Easy to separate content
- Can host in different locations
- Flexible management

Cons:
- Some authority split
- More complex setup
- Separate GSC properties

Subdirectories

Pros:
- Single domain authority
- Easy to manage
- One GSC property

Cons:
- Weaker geo signal
- All on same server
- Can get complex

Hreflang Implementation

What is Hreflang

Purpose:
- Tell Google language/region
- Avoid duplicate content
- Serve right version to users

Hreflang Format

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="https://example.com/en-us/page/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-gb" href="https://example.com/en-gb/page/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/page/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/page/" />

Language vs Region

Codes:
- "en" = English (any region)
- "en-us" = English (US)
- "en-gb" = English (UK)
- "de-at" = German (Austria)

Language + optional region.

X-Default Tag

<!-- Default for unmatched users -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/" />

Implementation Methods

3 ways:
1. HTML <head> tags
2. HTTP headers (PDFs)
3. XML sitemap

Pick one, be consistent.

Sitemap Implementation

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9"
        xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
  <url>
    <loc>https://example.com/en/page/</loc>
    <xhtml:link rel="alternate" hreflang="en"
                href="https://example.com/en/page/"/>
    <xhtml:link rel="alternate" hreflang="de"
                href="https://example.com/de/page/"/>
    <xhtml:link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default"
                href="https://example.com/page/"/>
  </url>
</urlset>

Common Hreflang Mistakes

Missing Return Tags

Error:
Page A → Page B (hreflang)
Page B ✗ Page A (missing)

Both pages MUST reference each other.

Wrong Language Codes

Wrong: hreflang="english"
Right: hreflang="en"

Use ISO 639-1 codes.

Self-Referencing

Must include self:
Page A hreflang must include Page A

Every page references itself + alternates.

Geo-Targeting in GSC

Set Target Country

Steps:
1. GSC > Settings
2. International Targeting
3. Select country
4. Save

For generic TLDs only (.com, .org).

When to Use

Use if:
- Single country target
- Generic TLD
- Clear focus

Don't use if:
- Multiple countries
- Already using ccTLD

Content Localization

Translation vs Localization

Translation:
- Same content, different language
- Word-for-word conversion

Localization:
- Adapted for culture
- Local examples
- Local currency/units
- Local references

Localization Elements

Adapt:
- Currency (USD, EUR, GBP)
- Units (metric vs imperial)
- Date formats
- Phone numbers
- Addresses
- Cultural references

Avoid Machine Translation Only

Issues:
- Awkward phrasing
- Cultural mistakes
- SEO keyword miss
- User experience

Use human review always.

Keyword Research Per Region

Regional Differences

Same language, different keywords:
- US: "apartment"
- UK: "flat"
- US: "vacation"
- UK: "holiday"

Research Per Market

Steps:
1. Set Google to target country
2. Use local keyword tools
3. Check local competitors
4. Verify search volumes

Technical Implementation

Server Location

Consideration:
- CDN recommended
- Server location = minor signal
- Speed matters more

CDN Setup

Benefits:
- Content served locally
- Faster loading
- Better UX globally

IP Detection

Use for:
- Suggest language switch
- Don't auto-redirect
- Let users choose

Duplicate Content Handling

International = Not Duplicate

If properly marked:
- Hreflang prevents issues
- Same content OK
- Different language/region

Google understands.

Same Language, Different Regions

US vs UK English:
- Minor differences OK
- Hreflang helps
- Consider consolidating

Mobile Considerations

Mobile-First Per Region

Check:
- Mobile internet usage
- Local device types
- Connection speeds
- Local UX patterns

Local Link Building

Per-Market Strategy

Each region needs:
- Local backlinks
- Local directories
- Local PR
- Local influencers

Quality Over Quantity

Focus:
- Relevant local sites
- Same language
- Geographic relevance

International SEO Checklist

Setup:
☐ Choose URL structure
☐ Implement hreflang
☐ Set GSC targeting
☐ Create local sitemaps

Content:
☐ Localize (not just translate)
☐ Regional keyword research
☐ Local date/currency formats
☐ Cultural adaptation

Technical:
☐ CDN implementation
☐ Language selector
☐ No auto-redirects
☐ Return tag verification

Ongoing:
☐ Monitor per-region traffic
☐ Local link building
☐ Update content locally
☐ Track rankings per country

Kesimpulan

International SEO requires careful planning dengan proper hreflang implementation. Choose URL structure yang suits your needs, localize content properly, dan build local authority per region. Test hreflang implementation regularly dengan GSC International Targeting report.