English SEO for an Israeli business is not just a translation of the site, but optimization for a different market. It involves researching what English-speaking audiences search for, writing content based on that research, and using tags to tell Google which version fits which audience. According to Ahrefs, there are about 200 monthly searches in Israel for English SEO and 150 for International SEO, both with a difficulty level of 0 (October 2026). This page is part of the full SEO service at SGO.
- About 200 monthly searches for English SEO and 150 for International SEO, with a difficulty level of 0 according to Ahrefs.
- SEO for an additional market starts with keyword research for that market, not website translation.
- According to Google, page language is identified based on visible content.
- Three ways to build: a separate domain, a subdomain, or a folder like /en/.
- Hreflang tags must be reciprocal across all versions.
Table of contents
What is the search volume for English and international SEO?
According to Ahrefs for Israel, in October 2026, monthly searches for SEO in the USA are about 250, English SEO are 200, International SEO are 150, and SEO abroad are 90. All four have a difficulty level of 0. This shows Israeli business owners search for the service in Hebrew, even when their target market is outside Israel.
Who is searching for the service
Three types of businesses usually look for English SEO: Israeli companies selling products or services abroad, businesses in Israel serving English speakers like immigrants and tourists, and tech companies with clients primarily in the US and Europe. Each has a different target market, requiring different keyword research and site structure. A business serving English speakers within Israel will check Israeli search data, while one selling abroad will check the target country's data.
What we see in SGO's Search Console
The SGO website has had a full English version since early October 2026. Within its first weeks, Search Console already showed English queries like best seo agency in israel and app development in israel. These are not translations of Hebrew phrases, but the actual wording chosen by the English-speaking audience. This is the difference between translation and optimizing for a new market.
Why translating your site isn't enough
Translation moves the same words into another language, but the audience in the second market does not necessarily search for those same words. A keyword that drives leads in Hebrew might be meaningless in English, and vice versa. Therefore, every market gets its own keyword research, and every page is written according to what the audience there is actually looking for.
Market-specific keyword research
In tools like Ahrefs, you select the audience's country and check search volume and difficulty there. The same service might have relatively low competition in Israel but be highly competitive in the US or UK. A business targeting English speakers within Israel, such as expats or foreign companies, should check data for Israel rather than the United States.
How Google identifies language
According to Google documentation for multilingual sites, Google identifies the page language from its visible content. A page with mixed text, half Hebrew and half English, makes identification difficult. Each version should be written entirely in its own language, including headings, menus, and buttons.
Separate domain, subdomain, or folder?
According to Google's documentation for multi-regional sites, there are three accepted ways to structure a site for multiple languages or countries. Each has pros and cons, and the choice depends on business size and the number of markets.
| Structure | Example | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country-specific domains | example.co.uk | A clear signal to Google and users about the target country | Separate site to maintain, authority is built from scratch |
| Subdomain | en.example.co.il | Simple technical separation | Part of the authority does not transfer from the main site |
| Subfolder | example.co.il/en/ | Benefits from existing domain authority, single maintenance point | A weaker signal for a specific country |
What works for most Israeli businesses
For a business adding one or two languages, a folder like /en/ on the same domain is usually the simplest choice: the new site version benefits from the authority the domain has already built, and there is no need to maintain two separate sites. This is how the SGO website is structured. A separate domain for each country is primarily suitable for businesses with full local operations in every country.
What should lead-generating English content include?
English content that drives leads is written in the target audience's natural language, answers their specific questions, and provides relevant local details: prices in their currency, business hours in their time zone, and their preferred contact methods.
English editing
Machine translation is a reasonable starting point for technical content, but service and sales pages require editing by a native-level English copywriter. Awkward phrasing damages reader trust before they even reach the form, and a reader who does not trust the page will not leave their details.
Local details for each market
A US audience expects prices in dollars and international phone numbers, while a UK audience expects British spelling. According to Google's documentation for multi-regional sites, local addresses, phone numbers, and currencies on the page are signals that help Google understand which market the page targets. They also show the reader the business is local to them.
Backlinks and mentions in the same language
Backlinks from Hebrew Israeli sites strengthen the entire domain, but in English-speaking markets, special weight is given to links and mentions from websites in the same language and niche. Therefore, a plan for an additional market includes off-site work: professional directories in the target market, collaborations, and content other sites will want to quote.
How do you signal language versions to Google?
This markup is called hreflang. According to Google documentation on localized versions, each version of a page specifies its own language code and those of other versions; you can also add a country code. The markup must be reciprocal: if the Hebrew version points to the English one, the English version must point back to the Hebrew one and to itself.
Default version
The x-default value defines which version to show when a user's language does not match any specific version. On an Israeli site with Hebrew and English, the default is usually the Hebrew version or a language selection page.
Common tagging errors
- One version points to the other, but the second does not point back.
- Country code instead of language code, for example, il instead of he.
- Redirecting to a page that returns an error or has moved to a different address.
What to measure in international and English SEO?
Measure each market separately. In Search Console, filter by country and language subfolder to check impressions, rankings, and clicks for each version. Averaging all markets together masks what is happening in each one.
Bing too
In English-speaking markets, Bing is a search engine worth tracking. Bing Webmaster Tools is free, shows the searches where the site appears, and allows you to submit new URLs for indexing. At SGO, we submit every new page on the day it is published.
Pricing
SEO in an additional market is essentially working on a second site: research, writing, tagging, and link building in the new language. At SGO, SEO packages start at ₪2,500 per month; find full details in our SEO pricing guide. Businesses without a site yet can start with website design.
SGO is a website design and SEO agency based in Netanya, working with businesses nationwide. The SGO website itself has a full English version in the /en/ subfolder, with hreflang tags between versions.
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English SEO: Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between English SEO and site translation?
Do you need a separate domain for an English website?
What is hreflang and why is it important?
How many people search for SEO in English in Israel?
Can an Israeli website rank in the US?
How long does it take to see results with English SEO?
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