What is the best way, from an SEO perspective, to make a website available in both English and Dutch using Webflow?
TL;DR
- Create subdirectories for each language version, such as
/en/and/nl/, for better SEO. - Set the primary language as default and implement hreflang tags to guide search engines.
- Translate all content professionally and add a noticeable language switcher for easy navigation.
Creating a multilingual website in Webflow is achievable with a focus on SEO by following structured steps. Here's a guide on how to set up your site effectively in both English and Dutch.
1. Use of Subdirectories
- Create subdirectories for each language version on your Webflow site, such as
/en/for English and/nl/for Dutch. - This approach is generally preferred over subdomains for SEO because it consolidates authority to a single domain.
2. Set Up Language Fallback
- Ensure your domain is set to the primary language and falls back to default language pages when no language is specified.
3. Use hreflang Tags
- Implement hreflang tags in the custom code section of your Webflow site’s settings to direct search engines to the correct language version of each page.
- This helps Google understand the language and geographical targeting of your pages.
4. Translate Content
- Translate all text content for each language version accurately. This includes page titles, meta descriptions, and alt texts for images.
- Avoid machine translation; use a professional service to ensure quality.
5. Implement Language Switcher
- Add a language switcher on your site to allow easy navigation between the English and Dutch versions.
- Ensure the switcher is noticeable and functional on all pages.
Summary
Set up a multilingual structure using subdirectories and implement hreflang tags for SEO optimization. Translate content professionally and ensure easy navigation with a language switcher. This strategy will make your Webflow site accessible and SEO-friendly in both English and Dutch.
