Paid and Organic Search Marketing

Google: Subdomain or Subfolder for Multi-Language

Within Google Search Console, there are several options for handling querystring parameters. One of the options on these is making a language indicator.

To date, I always thought that this would be the best means of providing multilanguage support to a website so that Google could distinguish which pages were developed for what language. It appears I’m wrong, though, after our SEO analyst, Nikhil Raj, found this little side note in a recent Google video on parameters.

The best practice is to place languages in subdirectory or subfolder rather than parameter to help search engines more easily understand site structure.

At 11:35 in the video below, Maile Ohye makes the recommendation (not a requirement).

With that in mind, if you have a WordPress site, check out WPML – a comprehensive Multi-language WordPress integration with the following features:

  1. Multilingual content
  2. Comments translation
  3. Standard translation controls
  4. Automatic ID adjust
  5. Browser language detection
  6. Translation management
  7. Theme and plugins localization
  8. CMS navigation
  9. Sticky links

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Douglas Karr

Douglas Karr is a fractional Chief Marketing Officer specializing in SaaS and AI companies, where he helps scale marketing operations, drive demand generation, and implement AI-powered strategies. He is the founder and publisher of Martech Zone, a leading publication in marketing technology, and a trusted advisor to startups and enterprises alike. With a track record spanning more than $5 billion in MarTech acquisitions and investments, Douglas has led go-to-market strategy, brand positioning, and digital transformation initiatives for companies ranging from early-stage startups to global tech leaders like Dell, GoDaddy, Salesforce, Oracle, and Adobe. A published author of Corporate Blogging for Dummies and contributor to The Better Business Book, Douglas is also a recognized speaker, curriculum developer, and Forbes contributor. A U.S. Navy veteran, he combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution to help organizations achieve measurable growth.
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