Same URL names in one domain

[RaquelSaiz]

Hi All,

I have 9 different subdirectories for languages in the same domain example:

www.example.com/page.html

www.example.com/uk/page-uk.html

www.example.com/es/page-es.html

we are implementing hreflang tags for the languages.  I know it is better to translate URLs, but we won't for now, because all the NON-ASCII characters.  But we are thinking to get rid of the dashes on the languages URL: -uk or -es, so it will be:

www.example.com/page.html

www.example.com/uk/page.html

www.example.com/es/page.hrml

would this be a problem? to have same page names even if they are in different subdirectories?

would we need to add canonical tags, at least for the main domain URLs? www.example.com/page.html

Thank you,

Rachel

[Keszi]

This is a technical question, that they need to tackle from database side. It can be implemented, but it needs a few extra development hours, depending on the complexity of your website architecture/cms used/etc.. Anyways, you are changing the URL, so don't forget about the best practices for them. Good luck!

[RaquelSaiz]

Yes, thank you so much for your answer. I am paying an agency to do the hreflang and  they said that if we translate them, it would make more difficult to set the hreflang as there'd would be no like-for-like URL and could create more problems than it is worth.

I didn't like the idea of having the same page names, all in English. I understand they will be in different sub-folders, I guess with canonical tags is ok.

[GastonRiera]

Hi Raquel,

im commenting just to add other really useful resources about hreflang. Internationalization is a big deal and should be analyzed seriously.

Hreflang generator - Aleyda Solis International SEO - Moz Learning Center The Guide to International Website Expansion: Hreflang, ccTLDs, & More! - Moz Blog The International SEO Checklist - Moz Blog

Best luck.
Hope it helps.
GR

[Keszi]

Hi Rachel,

Like I have mentioned in the previous question, the best case would be to translate them (especially if you are creating a group of redirects now), but if it won't be implemented, then regardless check for the followings after implementation:

• each page should have a canonical on itself (they are unique and serve a specific audience)
• each page should have the hreflang implementation (to tell crawlers specifically which target audience does it serve).

Btw.: A "must read" article, when we are talking about hreflangs: https://moz.com/blog/hreflang-behaviour-insights from Dave Sottimano.