How you go about doing regional seo

[IM Dude]

How do you go about doing keyword research in German and Korean language?
What steps you follow, when you know nothing about those languages.

 

[PBNLegends]

Great question! When working with unfamiliar languages like German or Korean, I usually start with translating seed keywords using tools like Google Translate or DeepL, then run them through local versions of keyword tools like Ahrefs or Semrush (with language filters). Also, analyzing local competitors' sites in those languages can reveal a lot of valuable keyword ideas — even if you don’t understand the language. I focus more on volume, trends, and keyword difficulty rather than exact phrasing.

 

[ProBuilders]

You begin with finding the biggest websites in your niche. Find the keywords they are ranking for using ahrefs or semrush.

Then you take these keywords and run them through a translator to get an idea of what they mean, so you can build your own site pages and Silos and categorise them.

The other way round with taking English keywords and then translating to Germany or Korean, can be counter productive, as literal translation may not always work perfectly.

 

[seo crazy]

I use Google Translate to understand the words. Then I check keywords in tools like Ahrefs or Semrush using German or Korean settings. I also look at local websites to see what they rank for. It takes time, but it works.

 

[Bernard992]

Define your goals: Be clear about the goals of your keyword campaign (SEO, advertising, market research, etc.).
Define your audience: Who are the language users? Germans, Koreans, or second language users?
Field of activity: I will research keywords in a certain field (limited to specific industries such as technology, healthcare, fashion, etc.).

 

[Rebel Phantom]

I use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush with the target language set, check local competitors, and use google translate to understand the basics.

 

[ProxySight]

Honestly, it’s a weird mix of logic and guesswork when you're flying blind on the language.
First, I use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, set the target country and language. Then I plug in English seed keywords and look at what’s ranking locally. Sometimes you get lucky and the SERPs give away patterns.

 

[Steptoe]

How do you go about doing keyword research in German and Korean language?
What steps you follow, when you know nothing about those languages.

I still find spyfu to be my preferred keyword research app. They cover a number of different languages for keyword research, though not Korean unfortunately.

 

[iAuthority]

I also came across these difficulties earlier, but the internet has an answer for everything. I just relied on Google Translate for translation, but it's not accurate some times.

So, where I found tools like DeepL (German), Papago (Korean), and Youdao (Chinese) for translation, you can later shortlist the potential keywords your clients are missing out on using any SEO tools.

 

[IM Dude]

Thanks guys for multiple ways to approach this.

 

[reviewconnect]

For me, the best tool to start with in a foreign language I don’t understand is Google Ads Keyword Tool, as it is less rigid in finding keywords compared to other tools. From there, I use SEMrush.

 

[Davis485]

If I don’t know the language, I use tools like Google Translate and ChatGPT to understand keywords.
Then I check local competitors and see what keywords they rank for using tools like Ahrefs or Semrush.
I also ask native speakers or use forums to make sure the words make sense. It's slow at first, but it works.