What is Hreflang Tag?
Hreflang tag is a code which specifies web page language and it is a technical solution for all website that has one or more page languages version. In 2011, Google had introduced hreflang tag that allows you to proof search engine that your website had a connection between web pages in alternate languages. The website owner would like search engine points it to their visitors with the specific language page version.
Example: If you are living in United State and your web pages are writing in English and ranking in English (hreflang='en-us'), but you got French version (hreflang='fr-fr') and visitors from France then you would like Google showing in French Page in their search result, the hreflang tag is a best solution for you.
Does Hreflang Tag Provide you any benefit?
The most webmaster always thinks every benefit are SEOs, of course, I think that the benefit from hreflang tag is SEO result if they completely understand about it and place in a right position. What is SEO? Every version pages that you have customized for the visitors language and location, the search engine will point them to your visitors search result so the search result will help you to get ranking.
Where Can You Place the Hreflang Tag?
I suggest you to use it to place in your sitemap if you prefer it, and the Sitemap Generator Tool could help you to do it. And the another way you can place it on the head section next to the meta title or meta tags of your website or blog. If you are using Wordpress custom management system (CMS) you already have few WordPress SEO plugin such all in one SEO and Yoast SEO.
How can I get the Hreflang Tag Code?
You can copy these few below language hreflang tag code and add your site URL instead of URL HERE, but you prefer to create for other languages you can use Hreflang Tag Generator Tool to generate for multi options.
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="en-gb" />
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="en-us" />
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="fr-fr" />
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="es-es" />
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="de-de" />
- eng => English
- us => United State
- es => Spainish
- de => German
Set Up for Default Targeting
You can use a special attribute x-default if you do not want to set up for specifical target and your web page does not have multiple languages.
<link rel="alternate" href="URL HERE" hreflang="x-default" />
Conclusion
Finally, the hreflang tag is suitable to set up for your website and lets it works for you within many things which acknowledged by Google Webmaster Tool. The above tutorial will help you understand what the hreflang tag is. Use it now to targeting your website languages and user location makes your visitor more experiences.
