Without hreflang, your own language versions compete with each other.
Hreflang is a flag that tells search engines which language version of a page belongs to which language or region. Without that flag, Google could show the wrong version or treat the versions as duplicates, weakening each other's positions instead of complementing each other.
IN COMMON LANGUAGE
How it works
Each language version refers to itself and to all other versions. These references must be reciprocal: if the Dutch page points to the English page, the English page must point back.
In addition, x-default indicates which version applies to visitors who do not fall into any language group.
WHY IT MATTERS
Where things go wrong
One-sided references are ignored: then the entire marker does nothing. That is the most common mistake.
The second is to refer to a translation that does not exist. Then you send Google to a page that is not there; That language is better than simply leaving it out.
- Reciprocal referencing — is unilaterally ignored.
- Also referring to oneself — each version names itself.
- Set x-default — for the other visitors.
- No non-existent versions — better to omit than to invent.
- Consistent with your canonical — conflicting signals cost indexation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More about hreflang
Do I need this for one language?
No. Hreflang is only for multiple language or region versions of the same content.
What if I only translate part of it?
Only mark the pages that really have an equivalent. Referring to a translation that does not exist is more damaging than no highlighting.
Do you check this?
Yes, our audit script checks on every build that each language reference exists and is reciprocal. That's exactly the kind of mistake you would otherwise only notice months later.
CONTINUE READING
Of course, continue reading about this subject.
Multilingual good arranged?
We check whether your language versions reinforce each other instead of competing.