As years fly by, high quality backlinks remain one of the strongest SEO ranking factors.
What about links from sites in other languages? Do they have the same value as links within your own country?
Let’s break it down.
Link building cheat sheet
What is Multilingual Link Building?
Multilingual link building, akin to traditional link building, involves obtaining backlinks from other websites to improve your own site’s search engine ranking.
The main distinction is that these backlinks come from websites in various languages, not just your native one.
This process usually entails email outreach, where you connect with website owners in diverse linguistic regions to secure these links.
The objective of multilingual link building is to enhance your website’s ranking by directing link equity from these international sites, while also introducing your content to new audiences across different linguistic boundaries.
Link equity, often referred to as PageRank, is a metric used by search engines to assess the quality and significance of a webpage based on the quantity and quality of its inbound links.
The concept was created by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, in the late 1990s. They discovered that analyzing the links pointing to a webpage could determine its authority and relevance, thereby improving search result accuracy.
PageRank assigns a numerical value to each webpage, with higher scores indicating greater importance and authority in search engine rankings.
This principle remains a core part of Google’s algorithm, making a robust and quality backlink profile more critical than ever.
So, what constitutes a quality link?
A good link originates from a website or webpage that is topically relevant to the content of the linked page.
Like Backlinko’s mention of our tool on their list of the best link building service software.
This principle also applies to multilingual links.
The authority of the linking site is another crucial factor and is measured by domain authority, page authority, traffic, anchor text, etc.
Links from high-authority websites carry more weight in search engine algorithms.
The value of a link can also be affected by the presence of other links on the page.
More links = less link juice for each individual backlink.
To sum it up, a good link is one that:
- Is relevant
- Comes from an authoritative website
- Comes from a page that does not have many other links
Does Language Matter?
Yes, language does matter when it comes to link building.
Ideally, you want to have links from the same languages as yours.
Like Hubspot’s Mexican domain linking to Gaia Design – a local agency.
When users click on a link and land on a page in their native language (or one they understand), they can properly interact with it.
But, for example, if an otherwise fully-English website links to an article in Portuguese, most of the users won’t be able to read it.
Because the link is irrelevant, it may lose its international SEO value.
An alternative to that is to run a multilingual website
That said, it’s also perfectly fine to have product placements in other languages.
In fact, incorporating multilingual links can be a valuable part of your overall link building strategy.
Utilizing methods such as listicles, competitor mentions, and product alternatives in different languages can effectively broaden your reach and expose your content to new, diverse audiences that are actively searching for a product/service like yours.
Such types of backlinks are the most important – because they don’t just bring traffic – they bring leads, regardless of the target language.
3 Multilingual Link Building Strategies
The first link building technique involves reaching out to websites that have recently mentioned your competitors.
By doing so, you can ask these sites to include a link to your content, effectively sharing the spotlight.
Let’s walk through the process step by step, using Respona’s built-in template to make everything smooth and efficient.
First, log into your Respona account and head over to the Templates section. Find the “Competitor Mentions” template.
Next, you’ll fill out some basic details.
Enter the name of your product and your website’s URL in the first two fields.
Next, type in the name of a competing product and its website URL. For this example, we’ll pretend we’re using “Ahrefs” as a competitor.
Next, input some keywords. Think of 3-5 relevant keywords related to both your product and your competitor.
If you need ideas, Respona’s AI keyword suggestions are there to spark some creativity, giving you up to 20 additional keyword ideas to broaden your search.
Last but not least, enter some details on what sets you apart from your competitors, and offer a solid incentive for your prospect to collaborate – such as an indirect link back.
When all fields are filled out, hit “Use this Template”.
Now, you’re looking at the first step of the campaign flow, which is reviewing and editing your email sequence. Even though the template comes pre-set and pretty good to go, adding your personal touch can add some oomph.
First, run a spam check to make sure your email is free of any spammy words. Next, add an unsubscribe link.
This step isn’t just about complying with GDPR – it’s also a good way to reduce manual spam complaints.
To make each email unique, go ahead and add an AI icebreaker variable.
This little feature reads your prospects’ content and crafts personalizations for each opportunity, and, yes, it works in other languages too!
With your email sequence polished, it’s time to move to the next step.
Respona relies on Google advanced search operators to narrow down the results to blog posts that mention your competitors.
If you’re targeting a specific country, use the location and language filters to fine-tune your search even more.
Next, apply some SEO filters.
You can set parameters like domain authority, spam score, and page authority. If you have SEMrush or Ahrefs accounts, you can connect them for wider filtering options. Click “Continue” and move into the advanced settings.
Here, you’ll enable the simultaneous contact search, already configured to find the most relevant decision-makers at your target companies.
You can further customize it to include any additional instructions for your AI variables, so your outreach sounds just like you.
Plus, set your search to recurring, so Respona re-runs your searches at set intervals, continuously adding new opportunities to your campaign.
Finally, click “Run automation” to start the process!
Respona will search for link opportunities, their contact information, and personalize emails for each recipient in one smooth go.
You’ll see results appearing in real-time on your screen.
Once the search is complete, review your AI personalizations. Respona even finds the LinkedIn accounts for your prospects, adding an extra layer of reach.
We recommend sending a connection request on social media along with your email to boost your chances of a response.
When you’re satisfied with the personalizations, click on the “Launch” button. Double-check your campaign settings – name, sender email, schedule, priority, and verification options – before hitting “Verify opportunities.”
Post-launch, keep an eye on your responses. Respona’s shared inbox brings all your connected mailboxes into one unified interface, making it easy to track replies.
To maximize your link building ROI, consider pitching guest posts and establishing long-term content marketing partnerships instead of focusing solely on one-off collaborations.
Listicles
Listicles, or “Top X” articles, are prime real estate for link building and potential affiliate recruitment.
Many listicles aim to organically include affiliate links, making them open to adding new products or services to their lists.
To leverage this strategy, watch our 2-minute tutorial above.
This approach is particularly beneficial for affiliate recruitment, although placements on listicles often come at a cost or require a reciprocal link.
Product Alternatives
The product alternatives strategy involves targeting web pages that list alternatives to your competitors’ products.
These pages are designed to offer users multiple options, making them ideal for suggesting your product as an alternative.
This strategy is especially effective for international link building because linking to your product helps fulfill the user’s intent of finding alternatives.
Conduct searches using tools like Respona to find these pages and reach out to request inclusion.
If you need to create some copy in a language you don’t speak, translation tools can again be utilized to make it.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
So, multilingual link building – is it worth the effort?
Yes, if you’re going to aim for product placements rather than regular backlinks.
Need help getting featured on listicles and product alternatives pages?
Don’t hesitate to start your 14-day free trial with Respona to see how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is multilingual link building?
Multilingual link building involves acquiring backlinks from websites in different languages to bolster your website’s visibility in various language-specific search engines.
This technique helps expand your online presence across diverse linguistic markets, attracting a broader international audience.
How does multilingual link building impact SEO?
Multilingual link building enhances your SEO by improving your site’s authority and relevance in different language spheres, thereby boosting local search engine rankings.
It enables you to tap into new traffic sources and improve user experience for non-native speakers visiting your site.
What are the best strategies for multilingual link building?
Effective strategies include translating high-performing content into target languages, creating localized content for specific markets, engaging in guest blogging on local sites, getting local links and leveraging partnerships with local influencers.
These strategies help build relevant and high quality international links.
Should I focus on creating content in multiple languages for multilingual link building?
Yes, it is essential to create content in multiple languages to make your website accessible and engaging for international audiences.
High-quality localized content not only attracts local backlinks but also improves user engagement and search engine rankings in specific languages.
What tools can assist with multilingual link building?
Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Respona can help identify link building opportunities in different languages.
Additionally, translation tools like Google Translate or ChatGPT can help create multilingual content, while multilingual SEO tools can assist in optimizing your site for specific regional audiences.
