Search Engine Optimization for Spanish Expat Websites

Owning websites that are regional, in other words the subject is a part of the world outside of the USA, makes search engine optimization quite challenging. Mostly because the best and most authoritative sites in our area are often in the native language of the region.

Take promoting English language sites authored in Spain by expats, some of us just want to help other would be expats, others see being an Internet entrepreneur as a great way to earn a decent income and work their own hours. Either way, there aren't all that many great sites that would help with SEO or traffic.

Getting backlinks from a local (Spanish) language website might work for search engine optimization but it often does nothing for traffic, and can actually hurt your site if the bounce rate is high or if people searching for your site using foreign keywords skip your site in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

I know from experience that a Spaniard who searches for a Spanish town or village, or perhaps a local monument that I've written about using the Spanish name instead of the English name is most often not going to speak English or has no interest in reading an English page, and they're going to bounce quickly.

Regional based websites therefore need to be promoted correctly to avoid attracting the wrong sort of visitor. Search engine optimization if you'll permit me to say it is about more than just high search rankings, it is also about getting relevant traffic that converts.

For me, my site visitors need to be the sort of people who actually want the information I'm writing about, this is why I no longer participate in Entrecard clicks or other traffic generating programs, instead I focus on getting traffic that sees my sites as being thoroughly useful to their enquiry.

Conversions can be measured in a number of ways, you could for example have CPC advertising on your site, or affiliate programs, or maybe you're just looking for traffic so that you appear more attractive to local advertisers. Regardless, promoting your site in the correct places is going to make the difference.

I think webmasters need to take a good long look at their content and expertise before deciding how to promote their site. I have a friend who owns a small tourist business taking photographs of local nature and events. Sadly his website is not ranking, and therefore not getting traffic because he spends all his time in photography forums, which is the kind of traffic that doesn't convert.

In addition, his webdesigner added a bunch of links on his links page to other sites that the designer owns or is promoting, and those site all link to his as well. What benefit does my friend get? None. On the other hand I have another friend who is very focused on promoting her regional site and hangs out in expat help forums, and is consequently ranking very well for her expat property site.

Do you see the difference, be where your customer is, or get links from sites that will provide the traffic you need. Instead of promoting your site where your peers hangout, promote it where your customer hangs out. Your search engine optimization will be a lot more effective.