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Best Practices for Implementing
Hreflang Tags in SEO

Optimizing for international audiences becomes crucial for SEO success as businesses grow globally. One of the most important technical SEO elements for international websites is the hreflang tag. In this article, we'll explore hreflang tags, their importance in SEO, how to implement them, and best practices for getting the most out of them.

  1. What Is the Hreflang Tag in HTML?

The hreflang tag is an HTML attribute used to tell search engines the language and geographical targeting of a webpage. This tag helps Google and other search engines understand which version of a webpage to show users based on their language preferences and location.

For example, if your website is available in both English and French, you can use hreflangs to specify which version should appear for users in English-speaking countries and which one for French-speaking users.

2. Is Hreflang Good for SEO?

Although hreflang tags are not a direct ranking factor, they can indirectly influence a site's SEO. For instance, if hreflang tags are missing or implemented incorrectly, search engines might interpret two alternative language versions as duplicate content, which can harm the SEO and ranking of those pages.

On the other hand, what are the benefits of hreflang? When hreflang is implemented correctly, users are served the most relevant search results, enhancing their experience. This can lead to longer time spent on the site and lower bounce rates, which positively affect your page's SEO and Google ranking.

3. How to Use Hreflang Tags: An Implementation Guide

Implementing hreflang tags can seem daunting, but you can avoid common pitfalls with a step-by-step approach. The fundamental steps for href lang implementation are as follows:

1. Identify your pages' language and regional variations – Determine which language and region each page is targeting (e.g., en-us for English users in the US, fr-fr for French users in France).

2. Add the hreflang attribute in the HTML head section – The hreflang tag should be placed in the <head> of your webpage like this:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="xx-XX" href="URL" />

Here’s how the hreflang tag works:

  • <link>: Opens the link element and establishes a relationship between the current page and the specified URL.
  • rel="alternate": Indicates to search engines that an alternative version of the current document exists.
  • hreflang="xx-XX": Specifies the language (xx) and, if relevant, the region (XX) for which the following URL should be shown. Languages are formatted using ISO 639-1, and countries use ISO 3166-1 Alpha 2 format.
  • href="URL": Defines the URL of the alternative version of the current document.
  • />: Closes the link element.

For example, if you have a Spanish page and you want to link to the English version, you would use the following code:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="http://www.example.com/" />

   Other examples of a hreflang:

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

3. Use self-referencing href lang tags – To avoid ambiguity, every page should have a self-referencing hreflang tag.

4. Implement hreflang tags in sitemap – Instead of using HTML hreflang tags, you can also add them directly to your XML sitemap. This is especially useful for large websites.

5. Validate your implementation – Tools like Google Search Console or dedicated hreflang checkers can help verify that your hreflang tags are set up correctly.
Hreflang can be included in a link element within the head section of the HTML code. However, if the file isn't saved in HTML format (e.g., in a PDF), you have two alternative options:

  • Specify in the HTTP response header: Use the following format in the header:

Link: <http://www.example.com/>; rel="alternate"; hreflang="en".

  • Specify in the XML Sitemap: This method is ideal for large websites with multiple language versions, as it reduces the complexity of implementing hreflang annotations. In this case, add the xhtml:link element to each URL in the sitemap:

<xhtml:link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="http://www.example.com/" />.

The choice between these alternatives depends on the size and structure of your website.

4. When Should You Implement Hreflang?

Google recommends using href lang in the following situations:

  • When pages are fully translated into different languages, such as having versions in English, Spanish, and French.

  • When most of the page is in one language, but some parts, like the navigation bar or footer, are translated into different languages. This is especially relevant for pages with user-generated content, like forums.

  • When multiple pages are in the same language but with regional variations, such as different currencies or spelling, hreflang is crucial. For example, you have two English versions: one for the US and one for the UK. In this case, hreflang is crucial to avoid search engines flagging the pages as duplicate content.

  • When specific pages are translated or should only be accessible in certain languages or countries, while other users are directed to the default version of the page.

5. Canonical vs.Hreflang: What’s the Difference?

Many people confuse hreflang and canonical tags, but they serve different purposes. The difference between canonical and hreflang lies in their specific SEO functions.

While hreflang tags indicate language and region variations, canonical tags signal the primary version of a page to avoid duplicate content issues. Sometimes, you may need to use both tags, especially when dealing with localized page versions.

For example:

<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/original-page" />

Href lang tags, on the other hand, are designed for international SEO. They specify the language and region of a webpage, helping search engines serve the correct version to users based on their language settings or geographic location. For example:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="https://example.com/us" />
Missing Hreflang Tag Rerport by Ahrefs

6. What is the Difference Between Href and Hreflang?

The difference between href and hreflang lies in their purpose and functionality in HTML.

  • Href (Hypertext Reference) is an attribute used in an anchor (<a>) or link (<link>) tag to define the target URL. It tells the browser where to navigate when a user clicks on a hyperlink or which resource to fetch. For example:

<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>

  • Hreflang is an attribute that specifies the language and, optionally, the geographical region of the target page. It helps search engines understand which language version of a webpage to show users based on their language preferences and location. It's beneficial for websites with multiple language versions of the same content. For example:

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="https://example.com/us" />

In summary, href defines a link's destination, while hreflang provides additional language and regional context, aiding in search engine optimization (SEO) for multilingual websites.

7. Common Mistakes in Hreflang Implementation

While hreflang tags are powerful, incorrect implementation can cause problems. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

  • Incorrect language or region codes – Always use ISO language and region codes to ensure accuracy (e.g., “en-us” for US English, not “us-en”).

  • Missing reciprocal hreflang tags—If you set a hreflang tag on one version of a page, the alternative page must also have a hreflang tag pointing back.

  • Mixing up canonical and hreflang tags – It's essential to understand the difference between canonical and hreflang tags. Canonical tags tell search engines which version of a page is the primary one, while hreflang tags help determine which language version to show.
Semrush Report on Incorrect Hreflang Links

8. Key Rules for Using Hreflang: SEO and Best Practices

  • Self-referencing links: Each page with alternate links must also link to itself. For example, a Spanish page should include a link to its Spanish version in the HTML code.

  • Reciprocal linking: Each language version must link back to the referring page. For example, if the French page links to the English page, the English page must link back to the French version. Without this reciprocity, Google may ignore or misinterpret the hreflang annotation.

  • Correct language and country codes: Ensure that language and country codes are accurately specified according to the ISO standard. While using only the language code is acceptable, specifying only the country code is invalid. Capitalization of country codes is optional.

  • Using the x-default attribute: If your website offers alternative versions of pages for certain languages or countries, but others should be directed to a standard version, use the hreflang="x-default" attribute to specify the default page.

  • Use hreflang in Sitemaps for Large Sites: For large websites with multiple language versions, it's often easier to implement hreflang annotations in the XML sitemap instead of using HTML tags on every page. This approach reduces complexity and ensures consistency.

  • Avoid Conflicting Canonical and Hreflang Tags: Ensure that canonical and hreflang tags align. A page with a canonical URL should have hreflang tags that point to alternative language versions, and the canonical tag should always reference the default or preferred version of the page.

  • Validate with Tools: Regularly check hreflang implementations with tools such as Google Search Console or dedicated hreflang validators to identify errors or inconsistencies.
When creating international versions of your content, it's crucial to provide a seamless user experience and ensure that all site pages are accessible in other language versions. For instance, if your product catalog is available in German, equivalent versions should be provided in English and other supported languages.

Another important aspect is regularly monitoring all site language versions' functionality. It's common to encounter cases where the English version is fully operational while other language versions have broken or inaccessible pages, leading to 404 errors and other response codes. This can negatively impact user experience and harm the site's reputation.

To prevent such issues, tools like Atomseo Broken Link Checker are recommended. These tools help quickly identify and resolve broken links, ensuring the smooth operation of all language versions of your website.
Check your website now!

9. Relevant Links