How to Fix Incorrect Hreflang Links in SEMrush Audit [Step-by-Step Guide] 2024

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How to Fix Incorrect Hreflang Links

Hreflang tags are essential for optimizing your site’s SEO for different languages and regions. Incorrect implementation can lead to issues with search engines understanding and indexing your pages correctly. Here’s a comprehensive guide to resolving hreflang link issues.

What Are Hreflang Tags?

Hreflang tags are HTML attributes used to inform search engines about the linguistic and regional targeting of your web pages. They help search engines serve the correct page to users based on their language and location. Here’s a breakdown of common hreflang scenarios:

Different Countries: If you have separate pages for users in different countries (e.g., US and UK), hreflang tags indicate the regional variant of each page.
Different Languages: For multilingual sites targeting the same country (e.g., Spanish vs. English in the US), hreflang tags help differentiate between language versions.
Different Currencies: Pages tailored for users with different currencies (e.g., USD vs. EUR) benefit from hreflang tags to provide the appropriate content.

Why Proper Hreflang Implementation Matters

Unlike automatic translation tools like Google Translate, hreflang tags are used when you have distinct pages or sites specifically tailored to different audiences. Proper implementation ensures:

Correct Page Serving: Search engines deliver the appropriate page version to users based on their language and location.
Avoiding Duplicate Content: Hreflang tags help search engines recognize that similar content is meant for different audiences, preventing penalties for duplicate content.

Common Hreflang Issues and How to Fix Them

Missing Hreflang Tags: Ensure all pages with regional or language variants include hreflang tags pointing to each alternative version. For example, if you have an English page for the US and a Spanish page for Mexico, each should reference the other.
Incorrect Hreflang Tags: Verify that each hreflang tag correctly matches the language and region. Mistakes in language codes or regional codes can cause incorrect page serving.
Invalid Tag Formats: Use the correct format for hreflang tags. They should be placed in the <head> section of your HTML, like this:

4. Self-Referencing Tags: Each page should include a hreflang tag referencing itself. This confirms to search engines that the page is meant for the specified language and region.

Steps to Implement Correct Hreflang Tags

Audit Your Hreflang Tags: Use SEO tools like SEMrush or Screaming Frog to identify incorrect or missing hreflang tags.
Correct and Add Tags:
- Access your website’s HTML or CMS settings.
- Ensure each page has hreflang tags for all its language and regional variants.
- Verify that each tag is accurate and correctly formatted.
Test Your Implementation: Use tools like Google Search Console’s International Targeting report to check if hreflang tags are working correctly.
Seek Professional Help: If you’re unsure about implementing hreflang tags or if you’re experiencing persistent issues, consider consulting an SEO expert. Studies suggest that up to 80% of hreflang tags are incorrectly implemented, which can negatively impact your SEO.

By ensuring that your hreflang tags are correctly implemented, you help search engines understand and serve the right content to your diverse audience, enhancing user experience and improving your site’s global SEO performance.