The right structure for your markets.
Subdirectory, subdomain or separate domain is the first and most consequential decision in international SEO, and there is no single right answer. We choose for your situation and wire the geotargeting signals so search engines serve each market the right pages.
International site structure is the decision about where each market's content lives, on a subdirectory, a subdomain or a separate country domain, and the geotargeting signals that tell search engines which market each page is for. It is the foundation everything else in international SEO sits on: get it wrong and hreflang, localisation and authority all fight the structure. We weigh the trade-offs for your resources, brand and markets rather than applying a rule.
International site structure, in full.
The structure decision shapes everything that follows in international SEO. A subdirectory usually shares your domain's authority; a separate domain builds it fresh; a subdomain sits somewhere between. Each suits different resources, brands and ambitions.
We make the call deliberately, weighing the trade-offs for your situation rather than defaulting to a rule, then wire the geotargeting so search engines know exactly which market each page serves.
International site structure, broken down.
Structure choice and trade-offs
Subdirectory, subdomain or country domain weighed for your resources, brand and markets, with the reasoning shown rather than a rule applied.
Authority consolidation
A deliberate decision about whether markets share domain authority or build it separately, because the structure sets it either way.
Geotargeting signals
URL structure, Search Console settings and hreflang aligned, so intent to serve a market is consistent everywhere it is expressed.
Explore →Localisation-ready
A structure that supports adapting content per market, not just translating it, so each market can be served properly.
Explore →The way we run International site structure.
Assess the markets
Understand the markets you want, your resources and your brand constraints.
Choose and justify the structure
Recommend subdirectory, subdomain or domain with the trade-offs stated plainly.
Wire the signals
Align URL structure, geotargeting and hreflang so each market is served cleanly.
How we approach International site structure.
Choose structure for your situation
Subdirectory, subdomain or ccTLD each have real trade-offs in authority, cost and flexibility. We choose for your resources and markets, and explain why.
Consolidate or separate authority deliberately
The structure decides whether markets share domain authority or build it separately. We make that a deliberate choice, not an accident of setup.
Wire the geotargeting signals
Search Console country settings, URL structure and hreflang are aligned, so each page's target market is unambiguous.
Plan for growth
The structure is chosen so adding markets later is straightforward, rather than a rebuild every time you expand.
What International site structure puts on your desk.
A decision explained, not a rule applied
There is no universally right international structure; the honest answer depends on your resources, brand and markets. We weigh the trade-offs for your situation and explain them, so you can argue with the reasoning rather than trust a default.
Trade-offs made explicit
We state the real costs of each option, so the choice is yours to understand rather than ours to impose.
Built to scale
The structure is chosen so adding markets later does not mean rebuilding.
Signals aligned
Geotargeting, URL structure and hreflang are made consistent, so each market is served unambiguously.
International site structure: common questions.
Subdirectory, subdomain or separate domain, which is best?
It depends. Subdirectories usually inherit your domain's authority and are cheaper to run; separate country domains build authority fresh but signal local commitment strongly; subdomains sit between. We choose for your resources, brand and markets.
What is geotargeting?
Geotargeting is the set of signals, URL structure, Search Console country settings and hreflang, that tell search engines which country or language a page is meant for, so the right version reaches the right audience.
Will changing structure hurt my rankings?
It can if handled carelessly, because it is effectively a migration. We plan the URL mapping and redirects so authority is preserved through the change.
How does this relate to hreflang and localisation?
Structure decides where each market lives; hreflang tells search engines which language and country each page targets; localisation adapts the content. Structure is the foundation the other two sit on.