X-default

There is a lot involved in international SEO; the website must also be properly set up on a technical level. Part of this is the hreflang tags on the website (these tags indicate the different languages of the website). Part of these hreflang tags is the x-default. In this article, I explain what an x-default is and what I use it for.

What is x-default?

X-default is an option you have when determining visitors to a Web site. It is part of the hreflang attribute. With x-default, you determine which version of a website visitors will see when that visitor has not set a language.

For many international websites, this is the English version (because many visitors will also speak English).

The operation of x-default

Offering products over the Internet is possible worldwide. As a company in the Netherlands, it is quite possible to also sell your products to customers living outside the Netherlands. You do this by translating the website into other languages.

When the website is translated into other languages, it is important to have a backup for those people who do not have a language set in their browser (or when the website does not support the visitor’s language). This is the x-default.

The impact of x-default on SEO

Adding x-default and the hreflang tag in general may have a positive impact on the SEO of a website or page. Especially for larger, international websites, it makes Google understand the website faster (which is always important).

My advice

For any international website, adding hreflang tags in conjunction with an x-default is important. If you don’t do this, you are dropping stitches in terms of SEO.

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Ralf van Veen

SEO Specialist

With 11 years of experience, I improve the organic findability of businesses.