Have you ever used a website that is in a different language and your internet browser automatically asks you if you want to change to your language? 

It’s clever right? And very helpful… try reading directions from the airport to a hotel for your upcoming trip to Barcelona, in Spanish. 

Estoy perdido! I’m lost!

*thanks Google Translate!* 

Now think about the people who use your website. OR, the people you would like to use your website. Do they all speak the same language? 

Have you thought about providing translations for your audience to access the great content you are creating and sharing?

If your content isn’t properly tagged, it won’t be accessible for people reading in different languages – or accessing it from different countries. You could be missing out on new users. 

The name for this correct tagging is language tagging. It helps search engines to know what language your website content is in. 

Hreflang tags 

Hreflang tags are a type of language tag that sits in the header of your website’s code. They help you to show search engines like Google the links between webpages that are in different languages. 

Back to our holiday in Barcelona – if you are searching for directions in English on a hotel website - a website using a hreflang tag ending with “en” (for English) is going to help you out much more than a result that shares the instructions in Spanish. 

A hreflang tag is really useful if you have a global audience (or want to attract one) to make their user experience the best it can possibly be. AND it increases your international SEO. Winner! 

Do I need hreflang? 

Using hfreflang tags = better user experience for your website audience. 

If someone in Spain searches for your website - you want to show them your site in Spanish, not English. Increasing the likelihood that they will read your content. Leading to higher conversion rates – meaning they are more likely to click on something. And, BINGO you’re reaching the right audience. 

How does hreflang tagging work? 

Each country, and each language spoken, has an individual hreflang tag: 

USA “en-us”

Germany “de-de”

England “en-en” 

If your website has been properly tagged using hreflang tags, when someone searches for your website homepage in Spanish, or from a Spanish-language browser, they'll receive the Spanish version of your homepage. 

The point of hreflang tags is to give customers who speak different languages, or who live in different regions of the world, the right content for them. And… hreflang tags keep Google happy too! Search engines will give international users the version of your webpage in their own language on their results page. 

This is just the beginning, and you’ve probably got questions. If any of them are like these: 

• How do I know if I need hreflang tabs on my website? 

• Where do I add hreflang? 

• How to write hreflang? 

Wild SEO Agency can help… 

Get in touch to find out how we can help you make your website the most effective and easy to use for your global audience.