Hreflang for multilingual and multi-country sites

Hreflang tags tell search engines which language or country each version of a page is for, so a Hindi speaker sees the Hindi page and a UK visitor sees the UK page.

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-in" href="https://pepploweb.com/en-in/">
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="hi-in" href="https://pepploweb.com/hi-in/">
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://pepploweb.com/">

Rules

• Every version lists all versions, including itself.
• Links must be two-way: if A points to B, B points to A.
• Use correct codes: language (ISO 639-1), optionally country (ISO 3166-1).
• Add x-default for visitors who match none.

Generate tags with the hreflang tag generator and check a page with the hreflang checker. Also set the lang attribute on each page (language attribute checker).

Where to put hreflang

• In the HTML <head> of each page (most common).
• In HTTP headers for non-HTML files such as PDFs.
• In the XML sitemap, which is easier for large sites.

Use one method consistently.

Common mistakes

• Missing return links: page A lists page B, but B does not list A.
• Wrong codes, such as en-uk instead of en-gb.
• Pointing hreflang to redirected or noindex pages.
• Translating only the menu while the main content stays in one language.

Content, not just tags

Hreflang helps search engines choose between versions; it does not make a page relevant in another language. Translate properly, adapt prices and contact details, and write for local readers.