Hreflang day

What is a HREFLANG day?

The HREFLANG tag is a code that allows you to show URLs on your website in different languages. Content about cooking in Spanish, for example, can be overlooked by Google without notification that the Search Engine tells you that the content still matches the cooking, even though the language is in Spanish and not English. A HREFLANG tag serves as a mediator that breaks the language barrier so that Google can accurately rank the website in its results list.

Why is a HREFLANG code important?

Here's what Google does when it crawls a website:

Specifies that the URL a Ranking worth;
Searches for the HREFLANG attributes of the URL;
Represents a list for the searcher that most closely matches the keywords.

You can't expect to rank on the first page for searches of a particular language without a HREFLANG tag if you've written multiple pages in different languages, otherwise Google will have a much harder time understanding the differences. A HREFLANG code is also essential if your site focuses on multiple regions that speak the same language. Remember that the Search Engine by Google aims to weed out useless websites that lack specific targeting. A HREFLANG code conveys that your website should be assigned to a specific destination.

How to use the HREFLANG tag?

Implementing a HREFLANG code is relatively simple for the professional. For the HTML format, you would place the header link element on each page.

An HREFLANG tag can also be integrated into HTTP headers. Add "hreflang='Your destination'" at the end of a link to better direct Google's crawlers and understand the goal of your website.

Conclusion

A HREFLANG tag is essential for websites that appeal to many languages and cultures. The code ensures that Google ranks your website in a way that is appropriate for your products and services on the Internet. While it is true that the process of creating HREFLANG code is tedious, the result shows positive effects. Understanding the meaning and purpose of HREFLANG tags is the first step to making your Ranking and share your content with the world.

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FAQ

What is a hreflang tag?

An hreflang tag is an HTML attribute used on web pages to tell search engines that there are versions of the page available in other languages or regions. The hreflang tag is a helpful SEO tool that helps ensure that the right versions of the page are sent to the right users.

Why do I need a hreflang tag?

Websites designed for multiple regions and languages can be recognized by search engines, but without an hreflang tag, search engines can't determine which page to send to which users. With an hreflang tag, you can tell search engines which language and region you want to target. This allows the search engine to rank your site correctly and return appropriate results.

What is the difference between the hreflang tag and the canonical function?

The hreflang tag is specifically designed to tell search engines that there are versions of your website in different languages and regions, while the Canonical function is used to select the main document of a website.

Where is the hreflang tag used?

The hreflang tag is used in the HTML head tags of your website. It is an attribute that must be used on every page to ensure that search engines find the tag and send the correct versions of the page to the correct users.

Can I use multiple hreflang tags on one page?

Yes, you can. If you have multiple versions of your website in different languages and regions, then you need to use multiple hreflang tags on each page to make sure search engines find them all.

What information do I need to include in my hreflang tag?

In your hreflang tag you need to specify the language, the region (if any) and the URL of the page you want to link to.

How can I check if my hreflang tags are working properly?

There are several tools that can help you check the functioning of your hreflang tags. One of them is Google Search Console. There you can check your tags and see if they are working properly.

Can I specify a default page in my hreflang tag?

Yes, you can. If you want to set up a default page, then you can specify an hreflang tag with the value "x-default". This will give users who are not in one of your specified regions and languages the default page.

Can I also specify my hreflang tag in an XML sitemap?

Yes, you can also specify your hreflang tag in an XML sitemap. This is a good way to inform search engines that there are versions of your website in different languages and regions.

Can my hreflang tags also be specified in the robots.txt file?

No, you can't. The robots.txt file is used by search engines only to determine which pages to crawl and index. A hreflang tag cannot be specified in a robots.txt file. It must be included in the HTML head tags of the page.

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Niels Stuck

Niels Stuck has 10 years of SEO experience and is the founder of the SEO agency "WOLF OF SEO". He gained practical experience by building 20+ affiliate sites alongside his marketing studies. Finally, he wrote his bachelor thesis about the influence of SEO on Google rankings, traffic and sales development in the form of a case study. Today, he specializes in e-commerce SEO and helps more than 80 companies build a sustainable organic revenue channel through SEO. Niels advises startups, established brands and corporations in search engine optimization of their online stores and primarily focuses on data-based content strategies and link building. He shares his knowledge about SEO and online marketing in this blog, as a speaker at conferences, in podcasts and as a guest author for OMT, Forbes, Starting Up and many more platforms.

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