How do you set up a URL scheme when targeting different countries with different languages?
In this article, we’re detailing the existing solutions to set up URLs at the international level, if the content is available in several languages or in several countries/regions.
Google published documentation on this topic, mainly based on the criteria for languages and countries’ recognition by the engine. So, let's see the other criteria to take into account when making a choice.
Solution #1: multiple domain names
It is the clearest solution in SEO for the engine to understand. This consists of using extensions for countries, and directories for languages. For example:
My website for France in FR: mywebsite.fr
My website for Canada in FR: mywebsite.ca/fr
My website for Canada in EN: mywebsite.ca/en
With this method we can clearly indicate to Google the country and the language.
However, it also has some drawbacks:
Domain names’ availability
Maintenance cost and significant infrastructure required
Netlinking: it will be necessary to work separately on each domain’s authority, which represents more work than in the case of a single domain
Therefore, this option seems rather suitable if the international subsidiaries are independent because it allows them to be more flexible.
Solution #2: subdomain and directory
It is also possible to manage countries via subdomains:
My website for France in FR (main language and country): mywebsite.com
My website for Canada in FR: ca.mywebsite.com/fr
My website for Canada in EN: ca.mywebsite.com/en
It’s a good solution as it is easily implemented, while allowing easily separated websites.
On the Netlinking side: the domain can benefit from the backlinks acquired. However, it’s less simple for the robot because the URL alone is not enough to determine the country and the language (see the hreflang tags below).
Solution 3: all in directory
Use directories to indicate both country and language.
My website for France in FR (main language and country): mywebsite.com/fr
My website for Canada in FR: mywebsite.com/ca-fr
My website for Canada in EN: mywebsite.com/ca-en
This solution is easy to implement and inexpensive in terms of maintenance. The domain's netlinking is also reinforced.
However, it makes the websites’ separation, and Google's understanding of languages and countries more complex (see hreflang tags below).
This solution seems to be the most suitable if the international subsidiaries are not separated, and only one technical team is in charge of everything.
Hreflang tag
Whatever option you choose, in all cases you must set up the hreflang tags in all the website’s pages in order to clearly indicate to Google each page’s other versions:
It’s even more important if we choose solutions 2 or 3 above which do not allow us to "naturally" specify to Google the languages and the countries.
Then, check on the old Search Console that they’ve been taken into account correctly:
Have you found your answer?