By Shad Super in Questions —

What Are the Most Common Issues With Hreflang Implementations in Multinational Websites, and How Can Google Search Console Be Used to Diagnose and Fix Them?

Summary

Effective hreflang implementation on multinational websites is crucial for directing users to the correct language and regional versions of a webpage. Common issues include incorrect language codes, inconsistent annotations, and missing backward links. Google Search Console can help diagnose these problems by providing insights into hreflang tag errors and offering guidance on how to correct them.

Common hreflang Implementation Issues

Incorrect Language Codes

One of the most common errors is using incorrect or non-standardized language codes. It's important to adhere to the IANA language subtag registry for proper language codes [Moz, 2023].

Inconsistent Annotations

All hreflang annotations must be consistent across different pages. Each page should link back to itself and to all other language versions. Inconsistencies can confuse search engines and result in incorrect indexing [Google Developers, 2023].

Each hreflang tag should have a corresponding reciprocal link. If page A references page B, then page B must reference page A. Missing backward links are a common oversight in hreflang implementation [Ahrefs, 2023].

Incorrect Implementation of X-Default

The x-default attribute is used to specify a default page when no language or region matches are found. Incorrect use of x-default can lead to misdirection of traffic [Search Engine Journal, 2023].

Using Google Search Console to Diagnose and Fix hreflang Issues

Inspect hreflang Errors

Google Search Console provides a direct insight into hreflang issues under the "International Targeting" section. It lists errors like missing return tags and incorrect language codes [Google Support, 2023].

Check URL Health

Use the URL inspection tool to verify the current indexing status of each version of the webpage. This can help confirm that hreflang directives are being recognized and applied correctly [Webmasters Help, 2023].

Ensure that each hreflang tag has a reciprocal link by manually checking each language version or using automated tools. This step is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the hreflang setup [SISTRIX, 2023].

Examples and Best Practices

Correct hreflang Setup Example

For an English page targeting the UK and a French page targeting France, the setup should look like this:

<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en-gb/" hreflang="en-gb" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/fr-fr/" hreflang="fr-fr" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/" hreflang="x-default" />

Follow Industry Standards

Adopting industry standards and guidelines for hreflang implementation helps ensure search engines correctly interpret and display your site's localized content [Google Support, 2023].

Conclusion

Proper hreflang implementation is essential for directing users to the intended language and region-specific content on multinational websites. By using tools like Google Search Console, webmasters can diagnose common issues and maintain optimal hreflang configurations to improve user experience and search engine performance.

References