International SEO & hreflang

In one line

International SEO targets audiences in multiple countries or languages; hreflang tags tell search engines which language/region version of a page to show, preventing duplicate-content confusion.

How to do it

  • Choose a URL structure: subdirectories (site.com/fr/), subdomains (fr.site.com), or ccTLDs (site.fr)
  • Add hreflang tags linking every language/region variant, including a self-reference and an x-default
  • Translate and localise content properly (not just machine-translate)
  • Set the right currency, units, and local relevance per market
  • Keep hreflang and canonical tags consistent, and validate them

Why it matters

Without hreflang, Google may show the wrong-language page or treat translations as duplicates. Done right, each market sees the correct version, and you rank in each country's results instead of competing with yourself.

Frequently asked

What does hreflang do?

It signals the language and region a page targets, so search engines serve the correct version to each user and don't treat variants as duplicates.

Subdirectory, subdomain or ccTLD?

Subdirectories (site.com/fr/) are simplest and consolidate authority; ccTLDs (site.fr) send the strongest local signal but split authority. Choose based on resources and market focus.

Put this into practice

Grade your site against our 250-point AEO/GEO checklist and see exactly what to fix, free, no signup.

Run a free audit Free tools

Related

What is a canonical URL?
The “master copy” you nominate when duplicate URLs exist.
What is keyword cannibalization?
When your own pages compete for the same term, and how to consolidate.