We have worked with clients across multiple industries, B2B and B2C segments, running ads for lead generation and e-commerce. We have seen and done it all.
Here are some of our highlights:
#1 We dramatically increased sales and presence within Japan for Reima, a top outdoor apparel brand from Finland, by a combining e-commerce and SEO. The SEO package included localizing and optimizing existing content, as well as creating new, custom content to drive traffic and increase organic reach in the Japanese market.
#2 We achieved a 17.8% increase in organic traffic within the first month which was also a record compared to the entire previous year for Housing Japan, a leading real estate agency helping foreign high net worth individuals and investors rent, buy, sell, and manage high-end properties in the Japanese market.
#3 We worked closely with an executive search firm based in Tokyo on a performance-focused SEO strategy leading to +70.9% increase in user registrations when comparing the first and final quarter of our partnership.
Our Custom-Designed Processes Are How We Get You Sales
3/2/1 Analysis
Achieving success for our clients always starts with curiosity, and one of the ways this comes out in our team is to never stop learning. We do a deep dive each month to uncover key learnings, anomalies and trends in data that we can use to attain top results. We then share these findings with you in our 3/2/1 format with full transparency every month in Japanese or English.
Our monthly 3/2/1 report includes:
Performance Highlights: We conduct a thorough analysis of various aspects, pinpointing successful strategies driving positive outcomes. Whether it’s increased traffic, higher rankings, or enhanced user engagement, we break down the specifics.
Anomalies: Our advanced analytical framework actively detects anomalies in the data. Whether it’s an unexpected surge in traffic or a sudden dip in rankings, we investigate these anomalies to understand the underlying factors and adjust strategies accordingly.
Insights and Learning: Through in-depth analysis, we extract valuable insights from the data. This includes understanding user behavior, identifying content preferences, and staying abreast of algorithm changes. These insights guide us in refining strategies to stay in sync with the ever-evolving search engine landscape.
Discoveries: We go beyond the numbers. Our team compiles impactful data, offering actionable tips and spotlighting successful marketing techniques. Whether it’s a content strategy that resonates or specific optimizations that yield results, we share these discoveries for you to replicate and achieve similar positive outcomes in your digital endeavors.
Triple Track
The HB Triple Track is a KPI and metric-monitoring framework for diligently monitoring performance of channels. By understanding the different layers, we can determine “stages” and maturity of our strategy along with whether we are employing the right techniques or need to adapt further to the brand’s needs.
Success Metric: Big picture KPIs for the relationship – Need to hit this to provide conclusive value to the Brand. While not a key indicator, or a directly affectable aspect of the channel commissioned of this project, a success metric is defined as the “big picture” determiner of a project’s success. Something HB pledges to diligently consider and to actively make decisions from. In some scenarios, hitting this might require CRO or other similar scopes
Core KPIs: Directly impacted KPIs for the platform. Upon hit, indicate performance on the scope commissioned. These are the true KPIs and standard evaluation metric for performance. Hitting the targets at this level indicates that the channel itself is successful.
Signals: These are KPIs for momentum. These indicate we’re on the right track and making meaningful progress towards the Core KPIs above.
Keyword research formula
We built a custom, keyword reduction tool to help narrow down the most valuable keywords for each client. Our proprietary Keyword Research formula to help us efficiently and accurately narrow down a list of target keywords to drill down only the highest potential keywords with the highest SEO ROI potential. This allows for improved tracking, and a better baseline for strategy and thus allows us to be more accurate with our tracking and targeting, a win that we then pass on to you.
Our bespoke keyword research formula takes into consideration:
Seed Keyword Brainstorming: identifying broad keywords that represent your niche or industry and what the target audience might be searching for
Search Volume & Competition Analysis: using keyword research tools to determine the search volume and analyze the competition level for these keywords.
Keyword Filtering: prioritizing keywords with a good balance of search volume and lower competition.
Keyword Intent Matching: considering the user’s intent behind the search (informational vs transactional) and ensuring that we are targeting different keywords that target different stages of the buyer’s journey
Long-Tail Keyword Exploration: targeting longer, more specific keywords
Are Your Conversion Rates Struggling Too?
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Actionable insights straight from our data
Here are a couple of quick discoveries we’ve pulled from the data of our latest projects. Why? To help you make the changes you need to gain traction in the Japanese market! As an agency, we are always digging deeper and searching for those little yet significant tweaks that will push our clients to the next level of success. If you need a partner to help you identify and implement changes like these on a monthly basis, let us know!
Not sure about SEO in Japan yet?
What is SEO and do I really need it?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your online content to improve your visibility on search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing. This process allows your website to be more relevant, user friendly, and generally useful, all wrapped up under the ultimate goal of attracting more organic traffic. Organic traffic is one of the most lucrative audiences out there, but as with any lucrative audience, reaching them is competitive. A well implemented, robust SEO strategy is necessary to be in the playing field, and our SEO services can help get you there.
Companies that use SEO in Japan and across the globe already enjoy a powerful and direct sales channel to their customers via search engine results. Building effective SEO isn’t an overnight success story, but with diligent research, continuous measurement, and strategic adjustments, we can establish a high-quality SEO strategy that delivers long-lasting value.
Why Choose Our SEO Services?
ELEVATING SEO STRATEGIES THROUGH ADAPTATION AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS
At Humble Bunny, we redefine SEO by constantly innovating and adapting. While competitors often stop at the initial campaign, we’re committed to discovering cutting-edge techniques and testing strategies to bring out the top results for every client. Our dynamic approach ensures SEO campaigns are always evolving to match the changing landscape of trends and new algorithms, boosting search rankings and providing long-term results.
PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH WITH IMMEDIATE RETURNS
Unlike many SEO packages, we focus on enduring value over quick yet temporary wins. Our strategies don’t just drive immediate results; they lay the foundation for sustained growth. Through continuous testing of targeting and messaging, we gain profound insights into how the Japanese market reacts to your specific business. Building this wealth of information becomes a strategic asset applicable not only for SEO, but that can be repurposed across a diverse range of channels even during brief pauses in SEO campaigns. At Humble Bunny, it’s not just about quick wins; it’s about lasting value and success from your SEO investments!
Why SEO in Japan is different
LANGUAGE
The first reason may be obvious, but it can be one of the most difficult to overcome without native Japanese speakers on your team. Basic wording and use of language in Japanese is very different from English. Sentence structures, nuance of words, and common expressions are unique to the market, which is why direct translations of websites often miss the mark. Therefore, your current keyword lists may be slightly off track when converted to Japanese.
On top of potentially introducing errors in your translations, not properly localizing your content can also mean you are missing out on valuable keywords coming from Japanese slang and colloquialisms. Having a native speaker check all Japanese content is a must to make sure you are set up for top results.
CULTURE
Various underlying aspects of Japanese culture heavily influence the way your users perceive and understand the content of your website. Visual style preferred by Japanese audiences is also often very different than Western audiences (to see more about web design for a Japanese audience, check out our article!). Therefore, your SEO strategy must communicate through a Japanese perspective.
Ready to get the results you want?
Our team is here to understand your unique goals and outline a tailored SEO strategy that best suits your business. Initiating SEO services with us is a breeze—simply contact us to schedule a meeting, we’ll discuss your goals and timelines, then we’ll create a customized proposal that meets your requirements and with our recommendations.
When it comes to SEO, there can be a lot of smoke and mirrors that companies hide behind. This can be difficult to identify, especially if you’re not an expert in the field. So at Humble Bunny, we make sure you understand each step of our proposal, why it’s needed, and how we’re going to do it. Let us be your expert and your partner all in one. Greater visibility and increased organic traffic could start today, so get in touch with us and let’s make it happen!
Ultimately, a comprehensive strategy that combines cultural understanding, localized content creation, and technical optimization is key to achieving SEO success in Japan.
To excel in SEO in Japan, it’s essential to conduct thorough keyword research in Japanese, considering not only direct translations but also culturally relevant terms and phrases. Crafting high-quality, localized content that resonates with the target audience is also paramount, to provide value and address specific search intents.
Additioanlly, optimizing technical aspects such as meta tags, URLs, and site structure for Japanese search engines is crucial for visibility, and building a strong backlink profile through partnerships with reputable Japanese websites and leveraging social media platforms popular in Japan can also enhance SEO efforts.
What search engines are used the most in Japan?
In Japan, as of February 2024, Google dominates the search engine market with a significant market share of 77.9%. Following Google, Yahoo! holds a notable share of 12.86%, making it the second most used search engine in the country. Other search engines like bing, Baidu, DuckDuckGo, and YANDEX RU collectively hold smaller shares of the market, with percentages ranging from 0.32% to 7.96%. While Google remains the primary choice for most users in Japan, Yahoo! also commands a substantial user base, indicating diversity in search engine preferences among Japanese internet users.
What are common SEO marketing mistakes to avoid in Japan?
Make sure to avoid these 7 common SEO marketing mistakes:
1. Neglecting to tailor content to the Japanese audience, leading to lack of relevance and engagement.
2. Relying solely on translations instead of creating original Japanese content.
3. Failing to conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant Japanese keywords.
4. Overlooking Japanese search intent, resulting in misalignment of content with user needs.
5. Acquiring low-quality backlinks from irrelevant or spammy sources.
6. Neglecting to optimize metadata and technical aspects for Japanese keywords.
7. Not continuously monitoring and analyzing SEO performance for improvement.
What are the best tips for doing SEO marketing in Japan?
By embracing following tips and refining your approach over time, you can navigate the complexities of Japanese SEO and establish a strong online presence in the Japanese market.
1. Understand Google’s Criteria: Google evaluates websites based on content quality, relevance to search queries, and user experience. Align your SEO efforts with these criteria to improve visibility. 2. Create Audience-Centric Content: Craft high-quality content tailored to Japanese audiences, addressing their interests and needs. Identify and improve thin content to enhance your site’s overall quality. 3. Match Content with Search Intent: Adapt your content to align with Japanese search intent, considering cultural nuances and audience preferences. 4. Target Relevant Japanese Keywords: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant Japanese keywords, avoiding direct translation from English. 5. Cater to Local Aesthetic Preferences: Design your website with Japanese aesthetic preferences in mind, featuring visually appealing and informative content. 6. Optimize On-Page Elements: Pay attention to on-page elements such as title tags, URLs, image alt text, and internal links, ensuring they are optimized for Japanese SEO. 7. Enhance Off-Page SEO: Implement off-page strategies like press releases, guest blogging, and social media promotion to boost your site’s authority and backlink profile. 8. Improve User Experience: Prioritize mobile-friendliness and site speed to enhance the overall user experience, catering to the growing number of Japanese smartphone users. 9. Invest in Long-Term Strategies: Develop a comprehensive SEO strategy that integrates long-term initiatives, such as regular content creation, keyword research, and cross-channel optimization.
