Multi-Language and Localization SEO Strategies Using Yoast

To implement effective multi-language and localization SEO strategies using Yoast, you need to combine Yoast SEO with a multilingual plugin like Polylang or TranslatePress to handle translations of SEO metadata and site content properly.

Key strategies include:

1. Use a Multilingual Plugin Compatible with Yoast SEO

   • Polylang or TranslatePress are popular choices that integrate well with Yoast SEO. Polylang allows you to translate all Yoast SEO-generated content, including SEO titles, meta descriptions, and social media tags, while TranslatePress supports translating SEO metadata and URL slugs seamlessly.

2. Translate All SEO Metadata

   • Ensure that SEO titles, meta descriptions, social media tags (Facebook, Twitter), image alt texts, and URL slugs are translated for each language version of your site. This helps search engines understand and index each language variant correctly.

3. Create and Submit Multilingual XML Sitemaps

   • Yoast SEO generates XML sitemaps, but for multilingual sites, you need to submit language-specific sitemaps to Google Search Console to ensure proper indexing of all language versions.

4. Configure Language Settings Properly

   • When setting up Polylang, select all needed languages, decide if media titles and alt-tags should be translatable, and define a default language for content without a language tag.

5. Local SEO Considerations

   • For businesses with physical locations, use Yoast Local SEO features to add location-specific information such as address, opening hours, and maps. Create unique pages for each location with localized content to improve local search rankings.

6. Optimize Contact and Location Pages

   • Include consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data matching your Google Business Profile, embed Google Maps, and add structured data (contactPage schema) on contact pages. For multiple locations, link each location’s page from the footer or navigation to enhance user experience and SEO.

By combining Yoast SEO with a multilingual plugin and following these localization best practices, you can effectively optimize your website for multiple languages and local search markets.