Google Webmaster showing error for [hreflang='x-default']
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Hi There!
Using [hreflang='x-default'] tag to target language specific countries on our site but Google Webmaster showing errors even implementation made as per Google guideline but one thing is not clear and we are not sure, this is the reason behind it.
Error is showing up only on those pages where 'Google Parameters' are used. For example : https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting?grank=open
'grank=' is defined as a 'Google Parameters' and on the above page 'hreflang' tags are :
Also, on page https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting [without Google Parameters] same above 'hreflang' tags are taken.
But, There is no error on second page URL where no 'Google Parameters' in URL. Therefore, error showing on first URL where 'Google Parameters' are taken.
Is this the issue or not? suggest how to remove?
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Rajiv
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Hi
Not sure what you mean with Google Parameters - but normally the hreflang should be reciprocal:
(https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/189077?hl=en)- Missing confirmation links: If page A links to page B, page B must link back to page A. If this is not the case for all pages that use hreflang annotations, those annotations may be ignored or not interpreted correctly
In your case page https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting?grank=open is linking to https://fr.sitegeek.com/a2hosting - but https://fr.sitegeek.com/a2hosting is not linking back to https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting?grank=open but to https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting.
You could try to add a canonical url to https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting?grank=open pointing to https://www.sitegeek.com/a2hosting and combine the canonical with the hreflang. Normally this should be possible according to Google - but I couldn't find an example of an implementation.
Try the canonical & test it here: http://flang.dejanseo.com.au/
Hope this helps,
Dirk
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