What are the hreflang related errors that can occur when running site audits on a Webflow site using Weglot for multilingual functionality?
When running site audits on a Webflow site with Weglot for multilingual functionality, there are several hreflang-related errors that can occur. Here are some common ones:
1. Missing hreflang tags: One of the common errors is missing hreflang tags or incomplete implementation of hreflang tags. Hreflang tags are used to indicate the language and regional targeting of different versions of a webpage. If these tags are missing or not implemented correctly, search engines may not understand the alternate language versions of your site, leading to lower visibility in different language-specific searches.
2. Incorrect hreflang values: Another error that can occur is providing incorrect values for hreflang attributes. The hreflang attribute should use ISO language codes and/or country codes to specify the language and region targeting. If the values are incorrect or inconsistent, it can confuse search engines and affect the visibility of your multilingual content.
3. Self-referencing hreflang tags: A common mistake is to include self-referencing hreflang tags, where you include a hreflang tag that points back to the current page. This can occur when implementing hreflang tags dynamically or using templates. Self-referencing hreflang tags are redundant and can cause confusion to search engines, impacting your SEO efforts.
4. Missing or mismatched language versions: Sometimes, hreflang errors occur when the multilingual content is not properly set up or when the language versions are missing or not consistent across different pages. This can be due to improper configuration or issues with the Weglot setup within Webflow. It's essential to ensure that all the language versions have corresponding hreflang tags and are accessible and properly linked to each other.
5. Hreflang conflicts: Hreflang conflicts can occur when there are conflicting hreflang tags across different pages or when they are not set up correctly within URL structures. This can lead to search engines not interpreting the intended language targeting accurately and may cause issues with the visibility and ranking of your multilingual content.
To avoid these hreflang-related errors, it's crucial to carefully implement and test the hreflang tags across all language versions of your Webflow site. Double-checking the language values, ensuring the correct usage of ISO language codes and/or country codes, and regularly auditing your site's multilingual functionality can help in identifying and fixing any hreflang errors. Additionally, staying up to date with Weglot's documentation and best practices can also help in avoiding these issues.