What Is Better Google: Wrong Hreflang Or No Hreflang?

Apr 27, 2018 - 7:34 am 0 by

Google Wrong Seo

Image credit to Shutterstock

We know hreflang is pretty complex and in many cases, you don't necessarily need it but if you do it right, it can be great for Google in understanding your multilingual and multiregional web site.

But what is better to do? Is it better to try to do hreflang correctly and then get it wrong (by accident) or do no hreflang at all, so you don't have a shot of getting it wrong?

John Mueller of Google responded to that question on Reddit and he said it depends on how you do it wrong.

If you just mess up the syntax, then it is like Google doesn't see the hreflang at all and it is the same thing as not doing hreflang. So if some of the pages do it correctly and some don't, in that fashion, then it is probably best to do it wrong some of the time.

But if the hreflang is between the wrong pages then it is probably best not to implement it at all. Like you tell Google the English page A page is really a Spanish page A page but it is not.

Here is how John answered it:

If hreflang isn't valid (non-indexed pages linked, invalid language codes) then it's ignored & the same as not having it at all (this is on a per-hreflang-link basis, so if some are ok, they'll work). If the hreflang is between the wrong pages (eg the English "Fish" page is connected to the Spanish "Chicken" page), then that would probably be worse than not having hreflang set up at all.

Forum discussion at Reddit.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: March 28, 2025

Mar 28, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Core Update Done, Will Site Recover, AI Mode Expands, Google Ads PMax Search Terms & More

Mar 28, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Maps

Google Local Knowledge Panel With Promotion Clipable Coupons

Mar 28, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google Maps

Google AI Overviews Itinerary, Lens Tour Guide, Maps Screenshot & Track Prices

Mar 28, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google Ads

Google Tests Contactless Label In Place Of Curbside Pickup

Mar 28, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google Ads

Google Ads WhatsApp Conversation Goals Get Diagnostics & More

Mar 28, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Hijacks Speedtest.net With Their Own Speed Test Widget