Worldwide and Europe hreflang implementation.

[Netleaf.ca]

Hi Moz !

We're having quite a discussion here and I'd like to have some inputs. Let me explain the situation and what we plan to do so far.

One of our client has two separate markets : World and Europe. Both pages versions will be mostly the same, except for the fact that they will have their own products. So basically, we'd want to show only the European EN version to Europe and the standard EN version to the rest of the world, same goes for FR and ES. As far as IT, DE, CS and SK, they will only be present within the european version. Since we cannot target all Europe with a single hreflang tag, we might have to do it for every single european countries.

Regarding this subject, SMX Munich recently had quite an interesting session about this topic with a confirmation coming from John Mueller saying that we can target a single URL more than once with different hreflang tags. You can read more here : http://www.rebelytics.com/multiple-hreflang-tags-one-url/

So having all this in mind, here's the implementation we plan to do :

www.example.com/en/

Self canonical

www.example.com/fr/ - hreflang = fr

www.example.com/es/ - hreflang = es

www.example.eu/it/ - hreflang = it

www.example.eu/de/ - hreflang = de

www.example.eu/cs/ - hreflang = cs

www.example.eu/sk/ - hreflang = sk

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = be-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = ch-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = cz-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = de-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = es-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = fr-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = uk-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = gr-fr

www.example.eu/fr/ - hreflang = hr-fr

etc… . This will be done for all european countries (FR, EN and ES).

www.example.com/en/ - x-default

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks!

[gfiorelli1]

In general that kind of implementation is correct.

I do something similar for a client, who has a similar problem but more on the logistic side (different warehouse depending on the continent).

Said that, considering that some products are only for the European market, I don't see useful to use an hreflang like the "de", which would target all the German speaking users no matter from the where they are... I mean, if they are in the USA, I believe that they are not allowed to buy products that are meant only for the EU geography even if they are German or Austrian.

Regarding IP redirection, it's not an alternative... moreover, it's not an alternative obliging people to be sticked to one country/website because that it not allowed by legislation now.

For instance, if someone from the USA want to see the EU site, he should be allowed to do it (this is also valid - obviously for Googlebot, as it is a user at the end).

What you can do is working on the basket process, and there using the IP recognition for allowing or not a bought depending from the country someone is trying to buy a product or not.

Doing so, you will also avoid the frequent dumping issue (e.g.: European buying in the USA because it is cheaper).

[Netleaf.ca]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the in depth answer. The only problem remaining here is about the products related to Europe only - and this is why we came up with the .eu solution. Since we need to show a few products to Europe only, we can't use a single gTLD (.com).

Theoretically we could achieve this with geo IP targeting, but this option means that if someone from France is within the US and searching a specific product appearing only to Europe, he would not be able to see it - and we don't want that to happen.

The dev company working for this client made it clear that they can't and don't want to produce multiple directories for each countries (website.com/fr-fr/, website.com/fr-en/, website.com/de-en/, website.com/de-fr/, etc.). Same goes for subdomains (ca.website.com, fr.website.com, etc.).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of using two gTLDs (.com and .eu), but I don't see how we could resolve the European products problem without this option. I'm also worried about the sitemap, using two gTLDs.  If you have an other solution in mind, it'd be more than welcome.

[BlueprintMarketing]

I would put them all on one domain I would not worry about people and your caring about the EU tag on the domain .com's are far more common over there then .eu

I would put it all under one Domain I would not break it up over to Domains using sub folders just target the rest of the world with English but you're basically making that all to your alternate ask for default which is the one  design for if there is no proper language to fit the browser language.

Yes you absolutely can target   The same URL with multiple tags. In your case because you're going to have so many hreflang tags I would recommend implementing them through the site map it tends to be faster although you'll need a tool like DeepCrawl or Screaming Frog Prod or to make sure that they're all right.

http://www.aleydasolis.com/en/international-seo-tools/hreflang-tags-generator/

you don't need to add a  sub folder to the alternative xt tag.

Obviously you can use/DE for Germany and then use the German language/DE – DE and so forth until you target each country with the specific language that you want to target them with. It seems like you're not interested in selling outside do yo selling outside the Europe  as each piece of content I'm sure you know this will have to be written by somebody that is native to the country that you are targeting.

I really think it's just as important do you have the correct content is well is the correct tags. But most of the time people do not use the subfolder for their ex you could theoretically do it if you were not going to use English at all

http://www.acronym.com/bebrilliant/seo/hreflang-sitemaps-free-tool/

I would use a single domain or I would use depending on your resources and what you can put into this a separate TLD neither one of those teal these offer any benefit for Ranking  what I'm saying is.edu.com or not as powerful is .CO.UK in the United Kingdom or .de in Germany.

My thoughts would be it would save you a lot of time not to have to use to generic Domains for just the sake of aesthetics. When they have no added trust I honestly feel in Europe people do not think don't you is something more trustworthy than.com though this is only one person's opinion mine.

Make sure that if you're splitting up your domains you do not try to run them as one domain. With the tags as shown.

[Netleaf.ca]

Hi Thomas,

Any updates on your thoughts ?

[BlueprintMarketing]

I think I have a good answer for you give me about four hours.