Hreflang Tag
What is a Hreflang Label? SEO Solution for Multilingual and Multi-Zone Sites
Hreflang labelis an HTML feature used to tell search engines which language and region version of a web page should be shown to users. This tag is especially useful for websites that have content in multiple languages or target different countries. Showing content with the wrong language or region can negatively impact the user experience and reduce site traffic.
By correctly applying Hreflang tags, search engines will find similar content on your site duplicate content You help prevent it from being perceived. At the same time, you enable users to see the most relevant version of your site based on their language or location. This is a critical SEO practice for businesses operating globally or for multilingual publications.
Importance of Hreflang Label:
- Prevents Duplicate Content Issue: When there are versions of the same content in different languages or optimized for different countries, search engines may perceive it as duplicate content. Hreflang explains that this situation is not a mistake, it is deliberately created to serve different audiences.
- Improves User Experience: When users see content in search engines that are appropriate for their language and region, they are more likely to interact with the site and generate conversions. Encountering incorrect language or irrelevant content can increase the bounce rate.
- Enables Accurate Targeting: Search engines offer the most convenient version of your site thanks to hreflang tags, taking into account the user's language preference and geographical location. This is the key to success in international SEO strategies.
- Improves SEO Performance: Delivering the right content to the relevant audience can indirectly improve your site's ranking and visibility because search engines place great importance on user experience.
How to Apply Hreflang
Hreflang tags are usually on every page <head> indicated in the section or on the sitemap (sitemap). One for each language/region combination link The tag is used, and these tags indicate alternate versions of that page. In addition, x-default The tag is used to indicate which page will be shown by default when there is no language or region match.
Example:
A company's website, which has both English and German versions, uses hreflang to:
HTML
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/" />
This piece of code gives search engines the following information:
https://example.com/en/The page is intended for English-speaking users.https://example.com/de/The page is intended for German-speaking users.https://example.com/if it is the default page and is shown when no language/region above matches.
Proper hreflang implementation can be complicated and requires careful planning, but it is the foundation of a successful SEO strategy for international websites.
