Global and Local SEO which will work for me better?
Do you still believe having a website all alone can support your business? Absolutely not, if you want to reach the right audience, then you need to make your website SEO optimized properly by adapting the right SEO strategy, and that’s where global and local SEO play an important role.
Meanwhile, not all the SEO strategies are based on your business goal, audience reach, market focus; you have to decide whether global SEO or local SEO is the better fit for you.
1. Understand What is Global SEO
Global SEO solely focus on reaching the global audience, which means that by optimizing global SEO, you can reach an international audience from various countries. If your business sells a product that is suitable for other countries, then global SEO would be the right choice. For example: If your head office is in USA but you sell your products in Eurpore and Asian countries then in this case
Tips:
- Research country-specific keywords using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google Keyword Planner.
- Use hreflang tags to indicate language and regional targeting.
- Website content must be human-written with the help of a local language expert for the respective countries.
- Auto translation is not a good practice for translation. It might change the context of the sentences.
- Create content that appeals to global audiences with cultural relevance.
Case Study:
One of our clients, who is running an e-commerce clothing brand, wishes to expand their business globally, but they faced poor international visibility because they used generic content, a lack of hreflang tags, and no localization for different regions. When they approached us to solve this, we conducted country-specific keyword research with the help of Ahrefs and Semrush.
Then we used hreflang tags for language targeting, and we created localized content using region-based keywords and famous fashion terms. We also optimized meta titles and descriptions and redirected Google Ads to improve category landing pages.
Additionally, we optimized their website speed and mobile performance to ensure international users can use their website without any trouble, and we added currency converters and localized sizing charts, and we integrated region-specific visuals and messaging to connect with local audiences.
We also improved their internal linking between regional pages to enhance navigation and authority flow and set up geotargeting in Google Search Console for better regional visibility.
2. Understand Local SEO
Local SEO mainly focuses on regional, or specifically on area-related, city searches. It was a better choice for businesses like cafes, restaurants, salons, or services that rely mainly on local customers.
Local SEO make your business to appear on near me searches in Google, which helps you to gain more local audience for your business.
Tips:
- Create and optimize your Google Business Profile
- Keep your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) consistent across all directories.
- Encourage your happy customers to leave positive reviews on Google.
- Add local keywords like “Best salon in Pune”.
Case Study:
One of our clients, who is running a dental clinic in Bangalore, has an optimised website, but they have failed to attract local people. They ranked for general dental keywords, but not for searches like “dentist near me” or “best dental clinic in Bangalore.”
When they approached us, we implemented a strong Local SEO strategy to improve their local presence. First, we optimized and verified their Google Business Profile with proper business categories, service listings, treatment details, working hours, images, and contact information. We also ensured their Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) were consistent across all major online directories such as Practo, Justdial, and Sulekha to build credibility and trust with Google.
We conducted local keyword research and optimized their service pages using terms like “dentist in Bangalore,” “best dental clinic in Bangalore,” and “root canal specialist near me.”
To improve engagement, we created content tailored to local audiences, covering popular dental concerns in Bangalore and highlighting their advanced treatment options.
Additionally, we encouraged their happy patients to leave genuine positive reviews, which significantly improved their search rankings and reputation.
We also implemented local schema markup and improved their mobile page speed to ensure prospective patients could easily access the website while searching on the go. Within just two months, the dental clinic started ranking in the top results for high-intent local searches. They experienced a 58% growth in organic calls from Google Maps and a 40% increase in appointment bookings.
3. Do Keyword Research Based on Business Type
If you want to reach the right audience, then you need to use the right keywords. Whether you focus on local or global SEO, you must be aware of what customers actually search, think from the customer’s viewpoint, and don’t just assume it. think about their needs, problems, and goals, then match your keywords to their intentions.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to discover high-performing keywords.
Tips:
- For global SEO, you can use Semrush and Ahrefs to identify global trends
- For Local SEO, use Google Search Suggest and Google Maps Autocomplete to find “near me” keywords.·
- Combine short-tail and long-tail keywords for balanced results.
Case Study:
One of our clients, who is running a travel agency, offers both domestic and international holiday packages, even though their official website seems attractive and has detailed itinerary pages, but they faced difficulties in getting the right audience, They mainly ranked for broad search terms like “travel agency” or “tourist places,” but not for specific high-intent searches such as “Europe tour packages from Mumbai” or “Maldives tour package near me.” As a result, they received a lot of irrelevant traffic and very few quality leads.
When they approached us to solve this, we began with keyword research based on their target audience. We identified strong international keywords for their global customers, such as “budget trip to Dubai,” “Singapore family tour packages from India,” and “international group tours from Mumbai.” At the same time, we focused on local intent search terms including “travel agency in Mumbai,” “best holiday packages near me,” and “weekend getaways from Mumbai.”
To increase their targeted visibility, we optimized their landing pages by using these newly discovered keyword opportunities, created localized itineraries, and added structured data markup to enhance search appearance. We also included updated meta titles, descriptions, and internal linking to improve SEO signals. Additionally, we used insights from Google Maps Autocomplete and user search behaviour to structure content around trending travel destinations.
Within just three months, the travel agency started ranking on the top page for major high-intent keywords. They achieved a 70% boost in domestic inquiries, a 55% rise in international package bookings, and their customer conversions improved.
4. Optimize Your Website for the Target Region
Website optimization plays an important role in your SEO visibility. Ensure that your website is fast and mobile-friendly, and properly structured for your audience’s location.
A slow or poorly designed website can make your visitors leave even before they explore your site completely. Google suggests to its users websites that provide a smooth browsing experience across all devices.
Tips:
- Ensure that your website takes 3 seconds to load
- Enable fast-loading servers or CDN for global reach.
- Add schema markup for local businesses to help Google understand your location.
Case Study:
One of our clients, who is running a real estate business, offered premium residential apartments, but they struggled to appear in searches targeting homebuyers within the specific region.
When they asked us to solve this issue, we found out that their website took too long to load on mobile, floor plan PDFs were heavy, and they used generic content that didn’t mention specific project locations. Because of this, they were missing valuable rankings for high-intent searches like “3BHK flats in Chennai “ or “luxury apartments near Mount Road.”
We optimized their website for both speed and local relevance. We compressed their property images without losing their quality, we enabled a CDN to improve loading time across India, and restructured their site with proper landing pages for each project location. We included important neighbourhood details such as nearby schools, hospitals, and metro stations, which improved local keyword relevance.
Additionally, we integrated local business schema markup and made the website fully mobile-friendly since most homebuyers browse on phones.
Within just two months, their website started ranking in the top results for key local queries. They saw a 75% increase in organic inquiries, a 40% boost in virtual tour requests, and significantly higher engagement from users located in their target neighbourhoods.
5. Create Region-Specific Content
People who live in London don’t think the same way as those who live in Bangalore, so you should create content based on region, culture and current trends in that specific area.
Tailor promotions, offers, and product descriptions to match regional preferences and trends.
Localized content helps your business appear in search results that matter most and builds trust with potential customers.
Creating content through“local language” helps you increase engagement, clicks, and ultimately conversions.
Tips:
- Create localized blogs targeting city names or regional issues.
- For Global SEO, focus on international blogs covering industry-wide topics.
Case Study:
One of our clients, who is running an online learning platform, offered a wide range of courses, but they struggled to engage students effectively. The main issue was that their content was general and didn’t address the specific needs, interests, or learning goals of different student groups. As a result, they were not attracting high-intent learners who were looking for targeted educational resources.
We helped them create region- and audience-specific content by developing course landing pages, blog posts, and resource guides tailored to different learner segments. For example, we produced blogs addressing exam preparation strategies, career guidance tips, and subject-specific tutorials aligned with the needs of students at various stages. We also added testimonials and success stories from students to make the content relatable and trustworthy.
Within three months, the platform saw a 55% increase in organic traffic, a 40% rise in course sign-ups, and higher engagement on blog and resource pages.
6. Track Performance and Adapt
SEO is not a one-time process. With the help of Google Analytics, you can track your website’s performance based on the analytics results improve your SEO strategy. Track keyword rankings to ensure you are reaching the right audience at the right time.
Monitor user behaviour like bounce rate, time on page, and conversions to understand what works best.
Tips:
- Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track performance.
- For local results, check Google Business Insights regularly.
Case Study:
One of our clients, running a precision manufacturing company that produces industrial machinery components, suddenly noticed a drop in qualified inquiries and website engagement. Although they had optimized their website earlier, they were unaware of how users were interacting with their pages. They relied on guesswork instead of data when updating content, which resulted in low conversions and minimal visibility for high-intent keywords such as “CNC machining services in India” or “custom metal fabrication near me.”
When they approached us, we began by integrating Google Analytics and Google Search Console to understand where improvements were needed. We found that most users were dropping off from product detail pages because the load speed was slow and the technical specifications were not highlighted clearly. Also, a large portion of traffic was coming from regions they did not serve, wasting valuable SEO efforts.
Based on insights, we optimized their website structure by showcasing manufacturing capabilities more prominently, improving product page layouts, and adding clear CTAs for quote requests. We also updated metadata with industry-specific keywords and implemented schema markup to improve visibility for product-related searches. Additionally, we monitored Google Business Profile analytics to increase local enquiries from nearby industrial hubs.
Within three months, their organic conversions increased by 50%, bounce rate dropped by 35%, and they secured top rankings for high-intent manufacturing keywords.
Conclusion
By understanding the difference between Global SEO and Local SEO, you can choose the strategy that fits your business goals best.
If your focus is on international markets, Global SEO will help you reach audiences worldwide.
If you want to dominate your local area, Local SEO will attract nearby customers ready to buy.
Just like YouTube SEO, the secret lies in consistent optimization, valuable content, and smart targeting.
Whether you choose Global, Local, or a mix of both, focus on continuous monitoring, relevant keywords, and audience engagement, and you’ll see a steady increase in traffic, leads, and conversions.
