# International SEO

Category: [International SEO](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/international-seo/) › [Country & language targeting](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/international-seo/country-language-targeting/) · Also known as: multilingual SEO

**International SEO** is the optimization of a website for users in several countries or languages. The goal is that search engines show each audience the right language or country version.

## What does international SEO include?

Google distinguishes multilingual sites (more than one language) from multi-regional sites (targeting users in different countries, possibly in the same language). A site can be both.

A central decision is the URL structure. Google describes country-specific domains (ccTLDs), subdomains, subdirectories and URL parameters, and does not recommend parameters because versions are hard to separate. A ccTLD signals the target country most clearly but needs more infrastructure; subdirectories are easier to set up.

The versions are linked with hreflang, set in HTML, HTTP headers or an XML sitemap. According to Google, it detects a page's language from the visible content and not from code-level information such as the `lang` attribute or the URL.

Localization matters as well. Translated pages should reflect search terms, currencies and units of the target market instead of only swapping the wording.

## Example

A retailer runs example.com/de/ for Germany, example.com/de-at/ for Austria and example.com/fr/ for France. Each page lists all variants in hreflang, including itself.

## Common mistakes

- Automatic redirects by IP address or browser language (see ip-weiterleitung)
- Missing return links between versions

*Diagram: hreflang cluster with return links.* Four language versions of one page. Each lists all versions, including itself. de-AT does not list en, so Google ignores the one-way link from en to de-AT.

## Related terms

- [hreflang](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/hreflang/index.md)
- [Multilingual website](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/multilingual-website/index.md)
- [Multiregional website](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/multiregional-website/index.md)
- [ccTLD](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/cctld/index.md)
- [Geo-targeting](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/geo-targeting/index.md)

## More on the searchVIU blog

- [hreflang tags implementation guide – How to implement hreflang](https://www.searchviu.com/en/hreflang-implementation-guide/)
- [Migrating from ccTLDs to a gTLD – The WHY, the HOW, and the WTF](https://www.searchviu.com/en/cctlds-to-gtld/)

## Sources

- [Managing multi-regional and multilingual sites – Google Search Central](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/specialty/international/managing-multi-regional-sites)
- [Localized versions of your pages – Google Search Central](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/specialty/international/localized-versions)
- [What is international SEO? – Yoast (secondary)](https://yoast.com/what-is-international-seo/)
- [International SEO – Phrase (secondary)](https://phrase.com/blog/posts/international-seo/)

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Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/international-seo/