International SEO Agency since 2013 International SEO agency: position your business across multiple markets and languages
Quality SMI specializes in international SEO, with active projects across the US, Latin America, and other markets, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. We are a Google Partner with over 10 years in the market and a track record built with Brazilian companies expanding abroad and foreign companies establishing a digital presence in Brazil.
What is international SEO?
International SEO is the practice of optimizing a company's digital presence so it appears in search results in other countries, in other languages, for other audiences. It involves decisions about domain architecture (subdirectory, subdomain, or separate country-level domain), the technical implementation of hreflang to signal to Google which version of the site serves each language and region, the production of native content in the target language, and building authority on local sources in each market. An international SEO agency is responsible for executing this process in an integrated way, from strategy to technical implementation.
Why international SEO takes more than just translating the site
Translating a site into English or Spanish is the simplest step of an international SEO strategy. What actually drives results is what comes before and after: choosing the right architecture so domain authority isn't diluted, implementing hreflang flawlessly so Google doesn't index the wrong version for each market, keyword research in the target language and cultural context, and link building from local sources in the destination market. Companies that come to Quality SMI with already-translated sites often have accumulated technical issues: a technical diagnosis before any new action is the mandatory first step in our process.
International SEO for Brazilian companies that export
For Brazilian companies that want to sell or position themselves in other markets, the strategy begins by defining the priority country and language, followed by a diagnosis of the current domain architecture and keyword competitiveness in the destination market. Most of the projects we handle in this profile use a single global domain with a subdirectory per language, the structure recommended by Google to preserve authority and make it easier for LLMs to recognize the brand as an entity.
International local SEO: positioning by region
There are cases where the goal isn't to rank nationally in another country, but in specific regions where the company operates. A manufacturer of industrial solutions serving distributors in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru may need positioning by city or state, with localized keywords and content adapted to the technical vocabulary of each region. This model, which we call international local SEO, requires the same technical rigor as classic international SEO with an added layer of geographic granularity.
Foreign companies that want to operate in Brazil
The reverse dynamic also exists. Companies from other countries that want to build a digital presence in the Brazilian market need an agency that understands the specifics of SEO in Brazil: Portuguese search vocabulary, local user behavior, segment competitiveness, and domain authority in the Brazilian context. Quality SMI has already served clients in this profile, including a project for an industrial machinery company that needed to structure its entire digital presence in Portuguese for the Brazilian market.
Why hire a specialized agency for international SEO?
International SEO done without specialization creates a specific kind of problem: the work looks correct on the surface, the site is in English, has hreflang, has content, but results don't come. Google doesn't distribute traffic from the target market because some technical element is wrong, or because the content was translated without adapting to local search behavior, or because domain authority is fragmented across URL versions that compete with each other. Fixing these mistakes later costs more than avoiding them from the start. An agency with a real track record in international SEO recognizes these patterns before executing any action.
Domain architecture: the decision that defines everything
The choice between subdirectory (/en/, /es/), subdomain (en.site.com), or separate domain (.com vs .com.br) doesn't have a one-size-fits-all answer. Google recommends a subdirectory with a global domain for most cases: it preserves accumulated authority, makes it easier for LLMs to recognize the brand as an entity, and simplifies technical management. Exceptions exist, and each decision is made after analyzing the scenario.
Hreflang: the most common technical mistake in international projects
Hreflang is the attribute that tells Google which version of a page serves each language-country combination. When it's wrong, Google may serve the Portuguese version to users in the US or index duplicate pages. We audit the existing configuration before any new work and fix inconsistencies left behind by previous projects.
Native content, not translated
There's a meaningful difference between content translated into English and content produced in English for an American or European audience. Keyword research in English or Spanish is not a translation of research done in Portuguese: search behavior, technical vocabulary, and the intent behind each query vary by market.
Local link building: authority in the right market
Backlinks from Brazilian sources carry little weight for ranking in the US. Building authority for international markets requires publications on local sources from the destination country, with topical relevance to the client's segment. For enterprise clients, this work connects directly with the digital PR strategy and with GEO.
How Quality SMI executes international SEO: a 7-step methodology
We developed our international SEO methodology through real projects across multiple markets. Each step has a defined deliverable, timeframe, and KPI.
Architecture and market diagnosis
Audit of the current domain structure, mapping of existing technical issues (hreflang, canonicals, duplicates between languages), and analysis of keyword competitiveness in the target market. This is the foundation that defines everything else.
Domain architecture definition
Based on the diagnosis and the client's objectives, we define the correct structure: subdirectory with a global domain, subdomain, or separate country-level domain. The recommendation factors in current authority, available resources, and long-term goals.
Keyword research by market
Research conducted in the language and context of the target market, not translated from Portuguese. We map search volume, intent, competitiveness, and long-tail opportunities by country or region, depending on the project's objective.
Complete technical implementation
Configuration and audit of hreflang, canonicals, sitemaps per language, robots.txt, and structured data with language and location markup. We handle both strategy and implementation, without outsourcing the technical side.
Native content production
Content produced natively in the target language, with local keyword research, cultural adaptation, and formatting that matches the market's search patterns. We don't translate existing content as the main step.
International link building
Building authority on sources in the target market with topical relevance to the client's segment. For enterprise clients, this integrates with the digital PR and GEO strategy.
Monitoring and reporting by market
Tracking of positions, traffic, and conversions segmented by country and language. Monthly reporting with progress by market, ongoing technical analysis, and next steps. The strategy evolves with the data.
What's included in Quality SMI's international SEO service
Our service is end-to-end. None of the items listed are billed separately.
Each project is custom-built after a real diagnosis. We don't work with generic packages.
Real international SEO projects by Quality SMI
A track record built across multiple markets, languages, and expansion models.
LUXURY RENTAL - USA Dream Auto Rental
Company with operations in Miami and Orlando without an English-language digital presence. The strategy adopted two distinct domains: the .com.br for Brazilian tourists and executives and the .com for international users searching in English. Each domain had its own keyword research, native content, and link building from sources in the corresponding market.
INDUSTRY - LATIN AMERICA Solutions for electrical and hydraulic installations
Brazilian company supplying technical solutions with operations across multiple LATAM countries. The project worked international local SEO by region, with keywords localized by country and city. Spanish content adapted to the technical vocabulary of each market and authority building on local sources.
INDUSTRY - ENTERING BRAZIL Chinese industry of equipment and engineering for cement plants
Industrial machinery company with operations in other countries that needed to build a digital presence from scratch for the Brazilian market in Portuguese. Scope included site architecture, technical content production in Portuguese, complete on-page SEO, and structured data. Proof that international SEO works in both directions.
What our clients say
My deep gratitude for the quality of SMI's work. Matheus came to our office in Miami for a meeting to present his work, and it has been a success ever since. We receive multiple inquiries every day from different countries. I recommend this company without reservations.
Henrique Ruiz — Quality SMI Client
A very trustworthy company, I only have to thank them for the work and the partnership. I highly recommend it! Mr. Matheus Silveira always provides top-tier support and service whenever needed. 1000/10 for Quality SMI.
Anderson Lopes Rangel — Quality SMI Client
Quality SMI is amazing at client service! They have a highly qualified team that solves everything quickly and personally. The service is always friendly and efficient, and the work is of the highest quality.
Walter Ferlotti — Quality SMI Client
I had an excellent experience with the company! From the first contact, the service was very professional and attentive. They demonstrated great knowledge in marketing and understood exactly what we needed.
Gustavo Piantoni — Quality SMI Client
Quality SMI in the media
Quality SMI has been featured in major national outlets, reinforcing its authority in SEO and digital marketing.
An agency with a real track record in international SEO, or one that has never done a project like this?
International SEO requires skills that most agencies lack, regardless of size or service portfolio: diagnosis of multilingual architecture, flawless technical implementation of hreflang, native keyword research in other languages, and link building on sources in the target markets. When these elements are executed by teams without a real track record in international projects, technical errors quietly accumulate and results don't materialize. At Quality SMI, international SEO has been part of the agency's history since 2020, with CEO Matheus Silveira as a specialist in the field.
Quality SMI Frequently asked questions about international SEO
What is international SEO and when does my company need it?
International SEO is the optimization of a company's digital presence so it appears in search results in other countries, in other languages. Your company needs international SEO when it has or wants to have clients outside Brazil, when it exports products or services, when it operates in Spanish- or English-speaking countries, or when it wants to capture demand from users searching in another language. The ideal timing is before creating pages in other languages, so the architecture is set correctly from the start. Fixing architecture after content is published is more laborious and more expensive.
What is the best domain structure for international SEO?
As a general rule, the structure recommended by Google and adopted by Quality SMI is a single global domain with subdirectories per language or country: site.com/en/, site.com/es/, site.com/pt-br/. This structure preserves accumulated domain authority and makes it easier for LLMs to recognize the brand as an entity. Exceptions exist: when the audiences in each country have very different search behaviors and commercial objectives, separate domains may be the right choice. For Dream Auto Rental, for example, we work with .com.br and .com for specific segmentation reasons. Each architecture decision is made after analyzing the client's scenario.
What is hreflang and why does it matter?
Hreflang is an HTML attribute that tells Google which version of a page should be served for each language-country combination. Without correct hreflang, Google may show the Portuguese version to American users, index the versions as duplicates, or distribute authority incorrectly across URLs. It is one of the most common technical mistakes in international SEO projects and one of those that most impacts ranking in the target market. Quality SMI handles both the strategy and the technical implementation of hreflang in international projects.
How long does it take to see results with international SEO?
International SEO usually takes a bit longer than domestic SEO to generate results because it involves an additional step of architecture diagnosis and correction before content production. The first ranking indicators in international markets typically appear between 90 and 150 days after technical implementation and the publication of native content. Markets with lower competitiveness, like industrial niches in Latin American countries, tend to show results faster than highly contested English-language markets.
Does Quality SMI produce content in English and Spanish?
Yes. We produce content natively in both languages, with keyword research done in the language and cultural context of the target market. We don't translate existing Portuguese content as the main step in the process. Keyword research in English or Spanish is conducted independently because search behavior varies by market and the best opportunities are rarely a direct translation of Portuguese keywords.
My company is foreign and wants to enter Brazil. Can Quality SMI help?
Yes. We have already served foreign companies that needed to build a digital presence in the Brazilian market in Portuguese. The service includes site architecture, keyword research in the Google Brazil context, technical content production in Portuguese aligned with local market search patterns, and complete on-page SEO. A Brazilian agency specialized in SEO delivers this work with a quality that an agency from the client's country of origin rarely matches.
Does international SEO work for industrial and B2B companies?
Yes, and often with exponential results. Industrial companies in technical segments face less competition in international searches than consumer businesses, have specialized vocabulary that favors long-tail keywords, and decision-makers who actively research before any commercial contact. A manufacturer of industrial equipment that ranks for the right technical terms in English or Spanish reaches buyers already in the middle of the decision process. The sales cycle is long, but the quality of leads generated via organic tends to be high.
How much does Quality SMI's international SEO service cost?
The investment varies depending on the number of markets and languages in the project, the competitiveness of keywords in the target country, the current domain authority, and the scope of content required. Projects with multiple countries have a larger scope than those focused on a single market. Each proposal is built after a real diagnosis of the site and competitiveness analysis by market. We don't work with generic packages because what works to position a company in the US is not the same as what works to position one in Latin American countries.
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Our team analyzes your current domain architecture, maps opportunities in the target markets, and presents a tailored proposal. Every diagnosis is free. Every proposal is built with real data.
