Taking your e-commerce or service business abroad can be the biggest step you ever take. It might be what truly kickstarts your business – or it could go terribly wrong. That’s why SEO Map now exists, a service for those who are starting to explore.
You’ve realized that you need to move beyond Sweden’s borders to grow, but you’re not sure exactly how or where. SEOkartan.se can give you a helping hand, or at least an idea of where to begin. If you bring your SEO along in the right way, it can lay the foundation for rapid expansion.
SEO is the backbone of every international venture – or at least it should be
If you’ve done your SEO well at home, and launch in a new market the right way, it can mean quick wins. The image above shows the growth of Amazon.se. They’ve certainly taken a hit in Google’s latest Core Update, but it’s still a rocket from 0 to 100, even if it drops back to 60. A brand-new site could never see that kind of growth – it’s because Google understands this is Amazon and not some Swedish copy. They’ve implemented language tags and done several other things right, and suddenly they’re a key player in Swedish search results as well. In this way, you can generate revenue even without other marketing efforts.
SEO is crucial for your international expansion, and of course you should aim for a country where the likelihood of SEO return is as good as possible. That’s why we created the SEO Map.
Choose the right market
The SEO Map gives an idea of how big the SEO potential is per country, broken down into a number of segments. In each segment, in each country, you get a value that represents market size relative to search result competition. The segments are, of course, broad – for example Technology & IT, which covers everything from mobile phones and DSLRs to web hosting and SEO services. Competition can vary widely within the segment, but for comparing countries with each other, it’s a good starting point. Once you’ve come further along, we recommend a deeper analysis of your site, your segment, and your chosen markets. Naturally, we’re happy to help with that – just fill in the form in the right-hand column and we’ll get back to you.
Test the map and compare your potential markets – maybe you’ll get new ideas, or perhaps you’ll throw out old ones. Maybe the Nordics aren’t what you should aim for after all – maybe it’s Germany, France, or Estonia?
Magnus Bråth
Consultant & Adviser
Magnus is one of the world's most prominent search marketing specialists and primarily works with management and strategy at his agency Brath AB.