Local SEO for B&B - Attracting International Customer
-
Hi Guys,
Hope the MOZ expert community will be able to help me
What would be the best way to manage the SEO for a Bed and Breakfast ?
As the B&B is in a touristic place in France attracting lots of German, American and British tourists, the website will be in French, translated in English and German. It will be set up under a .fr extension and using wordpress multisite for each languages, so it will look like this:
- French: www.mydomain.fr
- English: en.mydomain.fr
- German: de.mydomain.fr
They'll roughly have the same content for the business part, but they'll have different articles on their respective blogs.
Now my questions are:
- If I sign up to Google my business (http://www.google.com/business/)
- Would I be able to translate all my business descriptions, separate the reviews per language, use google+ for different language?
- If not, then should I sign up for the French version of "google my business" and then open 2 separate G+ pages for the English and German version ?
- Can I open 3 different "google my business" account for each language but with the same google account, same telephone number and same business address ?
- Should I actually "translate" my business name and create 3 separate website so I can open a "Google my business" for each, but then they'll still have the same address and phone number ?
Basically, I want to find the best solution for people around the world to see the content in their own language (reviews, blog post...) and also show up on map listings for google.com /.co.uk / .fr / .de etc...
- Other social media:
- Facebook: should I have one page and target the English language for each post in English, etc... Or should I have 3 facebook page in each language ?
- Should I have 3 pinterest accounts, or should I create 3 boards for each language so I can describe each pictures in proper language
- Miscellaneous
Don't hesitate to give me any other important tips that I should think about before launching ! After being an employee for many years, I want to rock my own business
Cheers
-
LELOinc
This is why I love Moz. We are all learning. Trust me with the recent whatever rollout about Local by Google I spent the last two days trying to wrap my hands around that impact and asking others in this community what they thought. Multiple brains is often better than mine.
When Miriam used the term Map out that brought me to something I find helpful when dealing with a complex project: draw it out. We have marker glass (4) in our conference room and two walls that are all glass. You can do some serious drawing and writing there. With something complex, I find it easier if I begin with a visual. Take the components and break them down, then look for relationships that may bring synergy or at least assistance or load leveling. See if that helps you get a good picture before you move forward. This is one of those issues where it will not hurt you to spend some time aiming before shooting.
All the best, thanks for your kind words,
Robert
-
Hi Miriam,
Thanks for your smart answer, it helps a lot.
I knew about facebook global page, but this option is only available for big spenders.... hopefully it will become accessible for everyone in the future. My plan is as right now to use the same facebook page with description in French... and then post in different languages targeting each post according to language. It will look messy when people look at my facebook page, but now a very small percentage of people see it (I'll get signups with the facebook like box), but at least once they liked the page, they'll see their own language only. I wish there was the same option for G+
Do you have a link that explain the twitter multi-language ? I could actually use twitter to "live chat" with people wanting to ask question before buying rooms.
Cheers
-
Hi Robert,
Thanks very much for spending your valuable time in helping me, I really appreciate it.
I did a lot of research already before posting and I figured as much that Google business wasn't the best to handle multiple language. I was hoping to find the next best solution with Moz community and I got just that, so thanks very much.
In my few years working in internet marketing and trying to understand google, I realized it was impossible to have "work around" Google... meaning that soon enough the work around won't be working properly as Google will have to change something. What I'm trying to do now is to create strategies that take in consideration what is the best user experience and how Google will find a way to get there at some points. Basically, what I'm saying is that right now, it's impossible to have multiple languages on my local listing... but tomorrow it will be possible. So no need of creating assets outside Google because they'll become obsolete.
Thanks again for your help, once I've chosen the name of my B&B, I'll open the blog and get ready for opening in June 2015.
Cheers
-
Hi Lel!
You've received some very thoughtful answers from the community. I've never actually had a client with this specific business model, but what I do know is that in local search, it's all about address. If you've got 1 physical address, that is going to equal 1 Google+ Local page. Yes, you are quite right about Google's guidelines regarding you having to pick 1 language and then letting them show it to users in other languages. After all, if I'm searching for a hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, I don't have to search for it in Swedish. Google knows what I'm after and shows me hotels in that city, regardless of me being located in the U.S.
Regarding Facebook, this was ringing a bell for me, in regards to your business model:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/17/facebook-global-pages/
I know Twitter offers multi-language targeting, but I not aware of Pinterest's policy on this nor can I find it, unfortunately. I remember an announcement about them supporting Spanish, but cannot find anything about their policies. Anybody else have access to guidelines on this?
I very much agree with what Robert has said about your business model likely requiring the development of a very clear strategy based on the internal resources at your disposal plus the guidelines of the various platforms. Overall, this will probably look something like:
-
A single page where Local is involved
-
Targeting where social is involved, if possible
-
Multi-language website/blog/content outreach
But planning out the details is going to take lots of thought!
-
-
LELOnic
I want to be sure you are getting what you need from the forum; call it the caregiver in me. I understand the dilemma you face quite well and, unfortunately, there is not an easy answer here. The reason is that Google has never really supported multiple languages within G+ very well. Here is a quote from one of the smartest people on the planet re Google and Local,Places,plus, MM, etc. Mike Blumenthal: "Google has never fully supported multi-lingual listings in Places very well." This is from Nov. but those of us who have been at it a while remember when G had Local, which became Places, that begat Plus, then etc.
The reason this is difficult is that to truly answer your query it actually takes pages of writing. I am going to try to give you a synopsis that will allow you to carry out enough research to allow you to "learn" your way. When I am taking on something like multi lingual, multi country sites, I go very slowly and very methodically; I suggest you do the same here.
First go to Mike's blog and read this article on how to use MapMaker to assist your G+ with what you are trying to achieve. You will also see a download link for a PDF that was created by Dan Austin to use as a cheat sheet of sorts. I need you to read this next sentence from Mike who really knows this stuff very carefully five times: "As a side note, MapMaker is not for the faint of heart and is very quirky and often bug ridden. Caveat Emptor." Did you read it five times? If not go back as it is very important.
You need to understand that I own and manage a robust agency and I work at this daily. I have an expert on staff that I go to with my questions who lives on forums and blogs like Mike Blumenthals, Linda Buquet, and on the MOZ there is Miriam Ellis who is brilliant as well, etc. There are times we have to sit down and literally draw a picture of what will be done to be sure we get it right...and even then we can make mistakes.
You might want to go to the expense of learning Local SEO from Linda as she is a wonderful person who will also help anyone when they ask. I have paid to have our team members learn from her and my only complaint is I think she vastly undervalues herself, her knowledge, and her product that she delivers. She could probably charge 600 to $1K an hour to big companies. So. There is a ton to learn but there is also a lot of help as you go.
You can try to use the MM info by Mike that I have given you the link to and it is still fairly fresh info. Hopefully, I have provided the resources that will allow you to work things out. Then, remember, you can answer questions here as well. When you have worked through this you will have valuable knowledge. Share it.
Best
Robert
-
Hi Guys,
Anyone else has useful insight for me ?
-
Thanks for your answer.
Yes I think one facebook page is best.
But then it also means that my reviews will be mixed in languages then. Hopefully Facebook is good enough to change reviews according to your language.
Cheers
-
Thanks Robert for taking the time to answer.
-
If I understand properly on G+, I'll be able to target people only after they have added me ? Once they added me, I check their profile and see what language they post, then I add them to the proper circle. correct ?
-
It also means then that once they see my G+ page, all languages will be mixed ? Not very enticing to circle me if people think they are on the wrong language?
-
Also it means that having one Google + page means that I have one "Google my business" account. So if someone from the US search for a B&B in my city, I won't show up on the local map ? Or if I show up the description will be an automatic translation from my French description ?
-
It also means that I'll have only one youtube account, which is smart, but can I force subtitles according to their youtube language ?
Those questions are for whomever, @RobertFisher you don't need to spend more time helping me, I already appreciate the time you spent helping me already.
Cheers
-
-
In using Google+ you will set up a circle for each of your French, English, and German version/language. One G+, three circles. Then, if you start getting visitors from China, Lebanon, etc. you add a circle and rock and roll.
Don't go to trouble of three sites IMO. use the subdomains as you have set them up and manage in WMT.
On Facebook and Pinterest, I would check their specific requirements. Obviously others have the issue. I have no international clients on Pinterest so I have never experienced it.
Best
-
I'm not sure about the google business but with regards to the social media you probably only want one facebook page as Facebook typically doesn't let you have more than one with a single phone number.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
English pages given preference over local language
We recently launched a new design of our website and for SEO purposes we decided to have our website both in English and in Dutch. However, when I look at the rankings in MOZ for many of our keywords, it seems the English pages are being preferred over the Dutch ones. That never used to be the case when we had our website in the old design. It mainly is for pages that have an English keyword attached to them, but even then the Dutch page would just rank. I'm trying to figure out why English pages are being preferred now and whether that could actually damage our rankings, as search engines would prefer copy in the local language. An example is this page: https://www.bluebillywig.com/nl/html5-video-player/ for the keywords "HTML5 player" and "HTML5 video player".
Local SEO | | Billywig0 -
How to go about SEO when the content on all the pages is in a regional language (with its own script which is non-roman) but majority of searches are in the same language but roman script?
For example, the entire content is in an Indian language called Gujarati and the script is also Gujarati. However, when I did a keyword research, I found that majority of the searches are in Gujarati langugage by roman script e.g. "gujarati sahitya" meaning Gujarati literature. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Local SEO | | Tumul0 -
International Versus Local Backlinks?
I'm running a dentist's website and I've been wondering if there is any additional benefit to achieving local backlinks from other medical sites versus larger international ones? For example, if I had a blog article that I wanted another site to link to, would you choose the local medical website within the same city or the international one that has more viewers?
Local SEO | | Undergrnd0 -
Community Discussion: Miriam's 2017 Local SEO Predictions ... And Yours?
I want to start this thread by thanking everyone in our community who has started and contributed to great threads this past year. You guys are an inspiration! I want to offer up a few predictions for the Local SEO industry in 2017 and ask you to contribute your own: Attribution will be big in 2017. Google will roll out a more thorough set of attributes in the GMB dashboard as we move forward through the new year. We'll see further rollout out of paid packs in service industries in which Google can play the middle man role. Free-packs won't be gone by the end of the year, but there will be fewer of them. Even SMB local businesses will have to start to tackle the ramifications of voice search. Local SEO will continue to merge with traditional, offline marketing. Local business websites will still matter, but Google will continue to do all it can to keep users within layers of its own local product, and some people will find this maze a bit bewildering. Reviews will finally be recognized as an integral facet of citations, rather than as something separate from them. Now, please, look into your own crystal ball and share your predictions with the community. What are your predictions for Local SEO in 2017? I'd love to know. And, while I'm at it, please let me wish each of you a busy and profitable new year in our exciting industry!
Local SEO | | MiriamEllis4 -
Local SEO Mastermind Group?
Howdy Folks - I run a small (but growing!) SEO agency in Tennessee. I serve, primarily, local service businesses with Organic SEO and website development. I'm a completely self taught SEO and had an average client rank last year of just over position 2. I have long been dedicated to running my own SEO experiments to try to stay on top of what is working. With the constant changes to SEO, and the growing agency, I find I don't have the time to run all of the SEO experiments that I'd like to ensure that our packages are still giving the best value to our clients. I'm looking to see if 1 - 4 individuals, also running local SEO agencies, would like to form a sort of "mastermind group". Share ideas, successes and failures on a level that wouldn't be practical in a forum setting. I'm happy to share what has been working for my clients and would welcome a fresh set of eyes to see what we're missing. **Discussions like: ** Link Acquisition Scaling Staff, Content Creation and Systems Scaling Social Media Outreach Local Outreach Successes - Email Templates White/Black Hat SEO Techniques If you think it would be a good fit. Please PM me or comment. Thanks!
Local SEO | | CRO_first1 -
Local Search - Google Mobile Results (Web&App)
Hi, I have a client with multiple locations. One of the locations manager is searching for branded and non-branded keywords on his mobile phone and not able to locate the business (within the parking lot of the location). Our ranking reports via a local search platform and manual checks indicate the location is actually ranking well. and we're seeing progress in GA. Has anyone deal with something like this before? This is a location that recently opened to the public. The concern is around mobile web and app results. I'm looking for some guidance around how to approach the situation. I'm sorry I cannot provide more details on the client.
Local SEO | | burnseo0 -
Defining a niche for my SEO company
Hello, I realize that in order to get business in SEO, you really need to specialize. The most experience I have is with the nuts and bolts of small business E-commerce and and many types of small business web design. I've run several online stores for about 9 years and I've been doing small business web design (and a bit of development) since 2001. I've had several other SEO clients over the years. I'm in Boise, Idaho at this site What would be a profitable approach? I'm thinking I could mainly build and market small online stores for locals. Maybe something like 'Ecommerce Web Design and SEO in Boise, Idaho' for a home page title. Or I could learn Local, but I have less experience with that. Or I could try to get national clients in an even smaller niche. I'm trying to find a good approach. I only charge $75/hour and I give generous quotes when appropriate, so an 'affordable' approach would be good Thanks, Bob
Local SEO | | BobGW0 -
Does this tactic fall into the Local SEO best practice?
Hi Mozzers, I have a client who serves the entire San Francisco bay area but has only one physical location. He asked me if he should get different addresses by renting out offices in different cities so he could use that for a better localization of his business. Thanks for letting me know!
Local SEO | | Ideas-Money-Art0