Geotargeting and International SEO Capabilities in Bing Webmaster

Geotargeting and International SEO Capabilities in Bing Webmaster Tools

Bing Webmaster Tools have historically provided features to support geotargeting and international SEO, although some capabilities have evolved over time.

Historical Geotargeting Features

• Geo-Targeting Feature: Bing once allowed webmasters to define a country audience for their entire website or specific sections using the geo-targeting feature. This could be done at the domain, subdomain, or subfolder level, providing flexibility for multinational sites without needing separate verification for each section.
• Flexibility and Convenience: Unlike some other platforms, Bing allowed geo-targeting without requiring separate verification for each subdomain or subfolder, making it convenient for managing complex international sites.

Current State of Geotargeting

• Removal of Geo-Targeting Feature: Bing has removed the geo-targeting feature from its new version of Webmaster Tools. Instead, webmasters are advised to use meta data in HTML or HTTP headers to communicate geo-related information to Bing.
• Alternative Methods: While the specific geo-targeting feature is no longer available, using meta tags and HTTP headers can help signal geographic preferences to search engines like Bing.

International SEO Strategies

• Language and Geo Targeting: For international SEO, it's crucial to manage both language and geographic targeting effectively. Tools like hreflang tags can help specify language and regional preferences, but they should be used cautiously to avoid limiting site visibility.
• Bing Webmaster Tools for SEO: Despite the removal of geo-targeting, Bing Webmaster Tools remain valuable for SEO professionals. They offer insights into indexing, keyword performance, and crawl diagnostics, which can be particularly useful for optimizing sites for Bing's unique algorithms.

Best Practices for International SEO with Bing

• Use Meta Data and HTTP Headers: Utilize meta tags and HTTP headers to convey geographic information to Bing.
• Leverage hreflang Tags: Implement hreflang tags to specify language and regional preferences, ensuring they align with your target audience.
• Monitor Performance with Bing Webmaster Tools: Use Bing Webmaster Tools to track site performance, identify opportunities, and optimize for Bing's user base.

By combining these strategies, you can effectively manage your international SEO efforts for Bing, even without the dedicated geo-targeting feature.