What does Google say about SEO? /

Official statement

Displaying a button that allows users to click and view an automatically translated version is acceptable to Google, as the translation occurs at the user's request and is not indexed directly.
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

💬 EN 📅 18/12/2021 ✂ 27 statements
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📅
Official statement from (4 years ago)
TL;DR

Google accepts translations via a client-side button as they are not indexed. The implication? It allows flexibility without a direct impact on SEO. The translated versions are not considered for indexing.

What you need to understand

Why does Google accept this type of translation?

The reason is straightforward: the translation occurs only at the user's request. This means that the generated content does not clutter the main index of your site.

Google prefers that translated versions are not in its index, to avoid duplications and uncontrolled deviations of content.

  • Opportunity to offer translations without direct SEO impact.
  • Avoid potential duplicate content issues.

What is the impact on user experience?

Adding a client-side translation button can enhance your site's accessibility for international audiences. This allows users to navigate in their preferred language without penalizing the site's structure.

In terms of SEO, this makes your site more user-friendly without altering your indexing by Google.

  • Potential improvement in user experience.

SEO Expert opinion

Does this statement reflect current practices?

Yes, this confirms an observable trend at Google that focuses more on enhancing overall user experience than on purely technical SEO aspects.

Is this a miracle solution for multilingual sites?

No, client-side translation does not replace a well-planned multilingual content strategy. [To be verified] in targeted markets, as the SEO implications may vary slightly depending on specific content and audience.

Caution: Don't think this solves all SEO issues related to multiple languages.

Practical impact and recommendations

What should you actually do?

Integrate a translation button if your audience is international but you cannot immediately create dedicated translated content.

However, be cautious: ensure that this does not complicate UX or slow down site performance.

  • Ensure that the implementation is invisible to the crawler.
  • Check that the translations do not overload the server code.

What errors should you avoid?

Do not replace a traditional multilingual SEO strategy with this method. It is a complement, not a substitute.

To maximize the effectiveness of the multilingual SEO strategy, it is often wise to collaborate with SEO experts who can tailor these techniques to your specific market and needs.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Les traductions côté client impactent-elles l'indexation ?
Non, car elles ne sont pas indexées.
Peut-on utiliser ce type de bouton sur n'importe quel site ?
Oui, mais avec prudence pour ne pas perturber l'expérience utilisateur.
Ce bouton peut-il remplacer une stratégie de contenu multilingue ?
Non, c'est une solution temporaire, mais pas une stratégie permanente.
🏷 Related Topics
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure Local Search International SEO

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