Bill Hunt, Author at HREFLang Builder

January 23, 2024

Hreflang Link Elements vs. Link Rel= Alternate

There seems to be some confusion over these two elements. I think it is caused by the SEO community co-opting the name of the original hreflang link element for a more straightforward explanation. We originally wrote about this issue in 2016 when working with the Adobe AEM team after our […]

September 13, 2023

Hreflang X-Default – How to Use X-Default Effectively

BY BILL HUNT Last Updated: September 5, 2023 The hreflang X-default option creates a lot of confusion on how and when to use it. This guide will explain its purpose and provide several scenarios for using it effectively. When used as developed, it can effectively reduce cross-market cannibalization. What is […]

June 27, 2023

Google Updates Ping and Lastmod

In a recent post by the Google Search Central team, they announced that at the end of the year, they would depreciate the ping command and also suggested websites do a better job of updating their lastmost element. What does this mean for hreflang and for Hreflang Builder? Depreciation of […]

June 27, 2023

The Challenge of Aspirational hreflang Settings

Companies launch market-specific websites to target a specific market and sometimes Google may not understand their full intentions. They localize and personalize the content to better engage with those local consumers. Typically this market customization includes language, currency, content, lead forms, and performance KPIs for traffic and conversions. All of […]

June 15, 2023

Hreflang and Market Website Misalignment

Multiple clients and prospects have asked when Google will get smart and present their business correctly. They often demand to speak to someone in charge to emphasize the problems Google is causing for their business. I asked them to explain the shortcomings, and it came down to Google not presenting […]

March 30, 2023

Shopify Hreflang Challenges

In the past week, we have had a few former Hreflang Builder subscribers reach out to ask if we can take a look at the hreflang tags that their agency had implemented for them. Their SEO agencies argued that Google preferred tags (not true), and as the Shopify system natively […]

February 23, 2023

Hreflang Rules & Guidelines

There are a few fundamental rules for implementing hreflang elements. When you have errors with hreflang, or it does not seem to work, ensure your hreflang is implemented correctly. In most cases, one of these rules has been violated or misunderstood, which causes the problem. Rule #1 – Hreflang Pairs […]

February 23, 2023

Hreflang Methods of Implementation

You can use three methods to deploy HREFLang elements for your site. Google’s hreflang documentation states the three methods are equivalent to each other, and websites should implement the most convenient method for your websites. This post presents an overview of each method and each technique’s pros and cons. Ultimately, […]