INTERNATIONAL LINKBUILDING BEST PRACTICES

I would appreciate any insights on this dilema when a brand has decided to global.

-Having 10 different domains, different domain name, adapted to 10 countries.
-All websites are on the same topic and similar target audience.
-All content is adapted to local interpretation not literal translation.
-All websites are targeting each specific country.
-All content is very similar except each websites blog that posts different content according to each countries audience interests.


Should I be using hreflang atribute to signal different languages and locations? or should I create reciprocal links between them?

Having several new domains with no authority, and an original site with good metrics, would international reciprocal links damage seo efforts?

SEO Benefits and disadvantages for each option?

Thanks in advance for your help.

hreflangs are for languages what rel=canonicals are for copied content references.

Technically Googles doesn't have a great ability to match translated content, but in case someone else, copied you translated content the hreflang could give you the advantage of the whole cluster reputation with Google. So I recommend you to use hreflangs for page that is exactly share among sites.