Quick Reference
Element Code: HR-004
Issue: Multi-language site lacks hreflang implementation
Impact: Search engines cannot identify language relationships
Fix: Implement hreflang annotations for all language versions
Detection: Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, manual review
What Is This Issue?
If your site has multiple language versions but no hreflang, search engines cannot identify which version to show users in different regions. Users may see the wrong language version in search results.
Why This Matters for Your Website
Without hreflang, search engines guess which version to show. This often results in wrong-language results and potential duplicate content issues.
How to Fix This Issue
- Add hreflang tags: In head, HTTP headers, or sitemap
- Include all versions: Every language variation
- Add self-reference: Each page should reference itself
- Add x-default: For fallback behavior
Tools for Detection
- Screaming Frog: Identifies pages missing hreflang
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
Your multi-language site has no hreflang tags. Add hreflang annotations to tell search engines about your different language versions so users see the right one.
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