I created this website 1 month ago and my SEO is starting to pick up, but the visitors I’m getting are coming from other countries but the UK which is very weird, I’ve had previous website and never had problems except with this website, does anyone know how I can get google to show my website and products that are ranking on google to UK mainly, in the last 30 days my store only has 12 visitors from the UK and 700+ visitors from other countries
Topic summary
A website owner is receiving 700+ visitors from various countries but only 12 from the UK in the past 30 days, despite wanting to target UK customers primarily. The site is one month old with improving SEO.
Key Technical Issues Identified:
- HTML language attribute currently shows “en” instead of “en-GB”
- Hreflang tags are already implemented but may need verification
- Google Search Console’s International Targeting setting may not be configured for UK
Recommended Solutions:
- Change the
<html lang>attribute to “en-GB” in the theme.liquid file - Set target country to UK in Google Search Console under International Targeting
- Localize content with UK-specific keywords, terminology, and GBP currency
- Build backlinks from UK-based websites and local directories
- Consider using a .co.uk domain or UK-based hosting
- Geo-target advertising and email campaigns specifically to UK demographics
Current Status: The discussion remains open with troubleshooting in progress. The user confirmed their current language code is set to “en” rather than the UK-specific “en-GB” code.
what’s your website lang attribute is set to in html, do you have any international SEO done on your website?
Overall it is okay to have traffic from other countries, unless you specify your website is more for UK, in html attribute add lang=“en-GB”, this will help to hint google
Also additionally you might need to use hreflang tags.
Hello, thank you for the reply, I’m using the hreflag tags already, do you know where I can find the html attribute?
Hi @Designersimply I think the best solution to this would be to consciously target more of your ads, e-mails, and most especially SEO towards UK based areas over other parts. With the right steps, the orders and visits from the UK should step up significantly.
Hi @Designersimply ,
It can be a bit confusing when your traffic isn’t matching your target region. Here are some ideas to help you steer more UK-based sessions:
### 1. Check Your HTML Language Attribute- Set to UK: Make sure your website’s tag has the proper language attribute. It should be set like this: . This small detail helps Google understand that your content is tailored for a UK audience.
### 2. Verify Your hreflang Tags- Correct Implementation: Double-check that your hreflang tags are correctly set up. They should indicate that your pages are meant for UK users. If you’re already using them, that’s great—but sometimes even a minor error can confuse search engines.
### 3. Use Google Search Console’s International Targeting- Target Country Setting: In Google Search Console, there’s an option under “International Targeting” where you can set your target country to the UK. This tells Google to prioritize your site for UK searchers.
### 4. Localize Your Content and Keywords- UK-Specific Terms: Review your product titles, meta descriptions, and page content to see if you can naturally include UK-specific language. This might be as simple as referencing local areas, using UK spellings, or mentioning familiar local events.
### 5. Consider Local Backlinks and Citations- Local Signals: Gaining backlinks from UK-based websites and getting listed in local directories can also boost your credibility as a UK-focused site.
### 6. Fine-Tune Your Marketing Channels- Targeted Ads & Emails: As some have suggested, ensure your advertising and email campaigns are specifically targeting UK demographics. Even small tweaks in geo-targeting settings can make a big difference over time.
### Bonus Tip: SEOPro for Local Optimization
If you’re looking for a more automated way to ensure your on-page SEO is perfectly tuned for your target market, tools like SEOPro can help. It not only optimizes meta tags, descriptions, and content for SEO but can also help you spot local keyword opportunities and bulk-update areas that might need a UK-specific tweak.
Hope this helps you narrow down your audience!
Let me know if you have any more questions or need further details.
- Lily!
in theme.liquid file, tag, what is the lang attribute for it?
It says
It is the langugae code of your store, when you check in dev tools, or code source in browsers, what’s the value?
When I checked it said
html, class-js" lanes en style-"–chatty-app-displays block;*>
It sounds like your site may not be properly geo-targeted, which is why you’re seeing traffic from other countries. First, check your Google Search Console settings and ensure you’re targeting the UK under International Targeting. Also, double-check that your content is clearly tailored to a UK audience, use local terms, GBP currency, and make sure your meta tags (like title tags and descriptions) include location-specific keywords. You might also want to add a UK-based sitemap and ensure your site’s localization is clear to Google. If you’re using a global shipping setup, Google may see your site as international, so make sure any settings related to shipping or location are set to reflect your UK focus. Finally, consider building UK-specific backlinks and engaging in local UK social media channels to boost your local ranking
first of all, make sure your google search console settings have the target country set to the uk. this helps google understand your preferred audience.
another thing to look at is your domain and hosting location. if you’re using a generic tld like .com, consider a .co.uk domain or hosting closer to the uk.
also, check your seo strategy, especially keywords and backlinks. if your content or backlinks are from global sources, google may rank you in those regions.
lastly, running uk-based ads or local citations on directories can help google associate your site more with the uk audience.