Multilingual websites can be a game changer for many businesses, with average conversion rates on websites in multiple languages increasing by 70%. However, you need to ensure the right user is seeing your website in the right language. This is where hreflang tags come in.
Hreflang is an attribute in HTML that specifies the language and location of a webpage.
For example, if you have two versions of a website, one of which is in English and the other in French, it may look like this in England:
But this in France:
This is made possible by hreflang tags.
Essentially, the tag tells the search engine which version of a page should be shown to a user based on their language settings or geographical location.
72.4% of consumers are more likely to buy a product when the information is in their own language and 65% of users prefer content in their native language, even if the quality is poor. Making sure your visitors are presented with the right content is essential for providing a good user experience.
Not only does this affect a visitor's opinion of your brand, but can also diminish your SEO efforts.
Duplicate content can harm your overall SEO performance, so it’s important to avoid this where possible. Hreflang tags are a great way to prevent duplicate content issues, as they provide the search engine with clarity over the fact that a page is meant for different audiences based on language or location. This means search engines can rank each version of your page appropriately.
Hreflang tags are implemented in the HTML code of a webpage, typically within the <head> section.
A hreflang tag will look something like this:
<link rel= “alternate” href=”https://www.example.com/en-uk/” hreflang=”en-uk”/>
There are three methods for adding a hreflang tag to your site: through HTML, uploading a sitemap, or using HTTP headers. That being said, adding a hreflang tag typically requires some experience in web development.
You can opt for whichever method works best for your website. No matter which you choose, make sure you are adhering to all of Google’s guidelines when implementing a hreflang tag.
Hreflang tags are essential if you serve customers across multiple languages or locations. By using this simple tag, you can ensure the search engine is delivering the most relevant content to your users. This will also mean that you’re providing the best possible experience for your visitors.
Hreflang tags are relatively simple to use but if you’re unsure, or simply want more guidance on matters of technical SEO, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
