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Published Jun 15, 2024⦁10 min read
Next.js Multilingual SEO Checklist 2024

Next.js Multilingual SEO Checklist 2024

Optimizing your Next.js application for multilingual SEO is crucial for reaching global audiences and improving search visibility. This comprehensive checklist covers essential aspects like locale setup, content localization, URL structure, sitemaps, structured data, performance, testing, monitoring, and deployment.

Key Points:

  • Specify supported languages and default locale in next.config.js

  • Choose between sub-path or domain routing for language-based URLs

  • Translate all content, including metadata, into target languages

  • Implement hreflang tags and canonical URLs for each language version

  • Optimize URL structure with locale-specific paths

  • Generate separate sitemaps and structured data for each locale

  • Leverage static site generation (SSG) and code splitting for performance

  • Monitor performance metrics and user behavior across locales

  • Set up automated tests and SEO monitoring tools

  • Automate deployment and maintenance processes for all languages

Following these best practices ensures consistent user experiences, accurate content delivery, and better search rankings across all supported languages.

Quick Comparison:

Aspect Best Practice
Content Localization Translate all content, including metadata, into target languages
Technical SEO Implement hreflang tags, canonical URLs, and locale-specific URLs
URL Structure Use locale-specific paths (e.g., /en/about, /fr/about)
Sitemaps and Structured Data Generate separate sitemaps and structured data for each locale
Performance Leverage SSG, code splitting, and media optimization
Testing and Monitoring Set up automated tests, SEO monitoring, and user behavior analysis
Deployment and Maintenance Automate deployment and maintenance processes for all languages

Stay updated on the latest multilingual SEO trends, techniques, and best practices by following industry resources, attending webinars, and participating in relevant conferences and communities.

Setup

Supported Languages

To enable multilingual support in your Next.js application, you need to specify the languages your app supports and the default language in the next.config.js file:

module.exports = {
  i18n: {
    // List of languages your app supports
    locales: ['en', 'fr', 'es', 'de', 'it'],

    // Default language to use when no language is specified
    defaultLocale: 'en'
  }
}

This configuration tells Next.js which languages your app supports and which language to use as the default. The locales array should include all the language codes (e.g., 'en', 'fr', 'es') you want to support.

Language-Based Routing

Next.js provides two routing strategies for handling multilingual content:

  1. Sub-path Routing: With this approach, the language is included in the URL path. For example, the French version of /about would be /fr/about. This is the recommended approach for most cases.

To enable sub-path routing, add the following configuration to your next.config.js file:

module.exports = {
  i18n: {
    locales: ['en', 'fr', 'es'],
    defaultLocale: 'en'
  }
}
  1. Domain Routing: This strategy uses separate domains or subdomains for each language. For example, example.com for English, example.fr for French, and example.es for Spanish.

To configure domain routing, add the domains property to the i18n object in next.config.js:

module.exports = {
  i18n: {
    locales: ['en', 'fr', 'es'],
    defaultLocale: 'en',
    domains: [
      {
        domain: 'example.com',
        defaultLocale: 'en'
      },
      {
        domain: 'example.fr',
        defaultLocale: 'fr'
      },
      {
        domain: 'example.es',
        defaultLocale: 'es'
      }
    ]
  }
}

With the setup complete, Next.js will automatically handle routing based on the specified languages and the chosen routing strategy.

Content Optimization

Content Translation

Translate all content, including page titles, descriptions, metadata, and body text, into the desired languages. Maintain a consistent tone and style across languages. Consider using professional translation services or native speakers to ensure accurate translations that resonate with each target audience.

Language Tags

Use hreflang tags to specify the language and regional variants of your content. These tags help search engines understand which languages and regions your content targets, improving SEO and user experience.

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://example.com/es/" />

Language Switcher

Implement a language switcher that allows visitors to easily change the content's language. This can be a dropdown menu, a set of flags, or any other intuitive interface element. Ensure the selected language persists throughout the user's session, and the language switcher is prominently displayed on all pages.

Media Localization

Optimize images, videos, and other media for different languages and regions. This may involve providing localized alt text, captions, or subtitles. Consider cultural nuances and ensure your media content is appropriate and relevant for each target audience.

Content Type Localization Approach
Text Translate page titles, descriptions, metadata, and body text into target languages.
Images Provide localized alt text and captions.
Videos Add subtitles or voiceovers in target languages.
Audio Offer audio translations or voiceovers.

URL Structure

Optimize your website's URL structure for better multilingual SEO and user experience.

Locale-Specific URLs

Use URLs with language codes to make it clear which language version users are accessing:

  • https://example.com/en/about (English)

  • https://example.com/fr/about (French)

  • https://example.com/es/about (Spanish)

This approach helps search engines identify and index the appropriate language version of each page, improving visibility in relevant search results.

Canonical URLs

Specify the canonical URL for each language version to avoid duplicate content issues:

<!-- English version -->
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/en/about" />

<!-- French version -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/about" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/en/about" />

The rel="canonical" tag tells search engines which version is the primary or preferred version.

URL Redirects

Set up redirects for legacy URLs or locales. If you've used a different URL structure before or are migrating from an older website, configure redirects to seamlessly direct users and search engines to the new, localized URLs.

URL Handling

Ensure consistent handling of trailing slashes and case sensitivity to avoid duplicate content issues.

Next.js provides built-in support for handling these URL variations through configuration options in the next.config.js file:

module.exports = {
  trailingSlash: true, // or false
  i18n: {
    locales: ['en', 'fr', 'es'],
    defaultLocale: 'en',
  },
}
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Sitemaps and Structured Data

Multilingual Sitemaps

Generate separate sitemaps for each language your website supports. This allows search engines to efficiently crawl and index the appropriate language versions of your content. Use the next-sitemap library or a custom script to automatically generate sitemaps during the build process.

Structured Data

Add structured data (Schema.org) markup for each language to provide search engines with additional context about your content. This can improve visibility in rich results and enhance the user experience.

Here's an example React component that adds structured data with the current language:

// components/LocaleStructuredData.jsx
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';

const LocaleStructuredData = ({ data }) => {
  const { locale } = useRouter();

  return (
    <script
      type="application/ld+json"
      dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{
        __html: JSON.stringify({
          ...data,
          inLanguage: locale,
        }),
      }}
    />
  );
};

export default LocaleStructuredData;

Data Validation

Validate your structured data using Google's Structured Data Testing Tool. This tool identifies errors or warnings, allowing you to fix issues before deployment.

Performance

Static Generation

Next.js allows you to pre-render pages during the build process, resulting in faster load times. For multilingual sites, use static site generation (SSG) to create locale-specific pages upfront. You can also utilize incremental static regeneration (ISR) to update content on a per-page basis without rebuilding the entire site.

// pages/[locale]/blog/[slug].jsx
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';

export const getStaticProps = async ({ params, locale }) => {
  // Fetch blog post data based on locale and slug
  const post = await fetchPost(params.slug, locale);

  return {
    props: {
      post,
    },
    revalidate: 60, // Re-generate page every 60 seconds
  };
};

Code Splitting

Implement code splitting and lazy loading to reduce the initial JavaScript bundle size and improve performance. This is especially important for multilingual sites, where locale-specific resources (translations, fonts, etc.) can increase the bundle size. Use dynamic imports to load these resources on-demand, reducing the initial load time.

// components/LocalizedContent.jsx
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';
import dynamic from 'next/dynamic';

const LocalizedContent = () => {
  const { locale } = useRouter();

  // Lazy load translations based on locale
  const Translations = dynamic(() =>
    import(`../translations/${locale}.json`).then((mod) => mod.default)
  );

  return <Translations />;
};

Media Optimization

Optimize images and other media assets for different devices and network conditions. Next.js provides built-in image optimization and automatic responsive image generation. Additionally, consider using techniques like lazy loading and progressive rendering to improve the perceived performance of media-heavy pages.

// components/LocalizedImage.jsx
import Image from 'next/image';
import { useRouter } from 'next/router';

const LocalizedImage = ({ src, alt }) => {
  const { locale } = useRouter();

  // Construct locale-specific image path
  const localizedSrc = `/images/${locale}/${src}`;

  return <Image src={localizedSrc} alt={alt} />;
};

Performance Metrics

Monitor and improve performance metrics (e.g., Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)) for each locale. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest, and Lighthouse to measure and analyze these metrics. Implement performance optimizations based on the insights gathered from these tools to ensure a smooth user experience across all locales.

Performance Metric Description
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) Measures the time it takes for the largest content element to render on the screen.
First Input Delay (FID) Measures the time it takes for the browser to respond to user interactions, such as clicks or taps.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) Measures the amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur during page load.

Testing and Monitoring

Regularly testing and monitoring your multilingual setup is vital for ensuring optimal performance and SEO across all locales in your Next.js application.

Automated Tests

Set up automated tests to validate the multilingual content and functionality, including:

  • Routing and URL structure for each locale

  • Content rendering and translation accuracy

  • Language switcher and locale persistence

  • Hreflang tags and canonical URLs

  • Sitemaps and structured data

Use tools like Jest, Cypress, or Playwright to run these tests as part of your CI/CD pipeline.

SEO Monitoring

Utilize SEO monitoring tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs to track your multilingual website's performance across search engines and regions. Monitor:

Metric Description
Keyword rankings Visibility in search results
Crawl errors Issues with indexing
Backlink profile Referring domains
Click-through rates (CTR) User engagement
Average position Ranking in search results

Regularly analyze this data to identify areas for improvement and optimize your multilingual SEO strategy.

User Behavior Analysis

Analyze user behavior and engagement metrics for each locale using tools like Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics. Track:

1. Page views and session duration

Indicates user interest and engagement.

2. Bounce rates and exit rates

Identifies potential issues with content or user experience.

3. Conversion rates and revenue

Measures the effectiveness of your multilingual strategy in driving desired actions.

4. User flows and navigation patterns

Reveals how users interact with your content across locales.

Use these insights to enhance the user experience and optimize your multilingual content strategy.

Content Updates

Regularly review and update your multilingual content and metadata to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with the latest SEO best practices:

  • Update translations and localized content

  • Refresh meta titles, descriptions, and keywords

  • Optimize images and media for different locales

  • Maintain accurate hreflang tags and sitemaps

Establish a content governance process to streamline these updates and ensure consistency across all locales.

Deployment and Maintenance

CI/CD Pipeline

Set up a continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. This automates the build, testing, and deployment processes for your multilingual application. Any changes to your codebase, including translations and locale configurations, will be thoroughly tested and deployed consistently across all environments.

Automated Deployment

Automate the deployment process for all supported languages. This ensures that updates and changes are rolled out simultaneously across all language versions of your application. Integrate your CI/CD pipeline with deployment tools like Vercel, Netlify, or AWS Amplify for automatic deployments based on Git commits or other triggers.

Versioning

Implement a versioning system, such as Git, to track changes to your codebase, translations, and locale configurations. This allows you to:

Benefit Description
Track Changes Monitor and review changes to translations and locale configurations
Rollback Revert to a previous stable version if issues arise
Collaboration Enable multiple team members to work on translations and configurations simultaneously

Framework Updates

Regularly update your Next.js framework and related dependencies. This ensures compatibility with the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches. Subscribe to release notes and update notifications to stay informed about new versions and plan your upgrade strategy accordingly.

Maintaining a streamlined deployment and maintenance process is essential for delivering a consistent, high-quality multilingual experience to your users. It minimizes downtime and ensures the long-term scalability and maintainability of your Next.js application.

Conclusion

Key Points

  • Optimizing Next.js applications for multiple languages is crucial for reaching global audiences and improving search visibility.

  • This checklist covers essential aspects like locale setup, content localization, URL structure, sitemaps, structured data, performance, testing, monitoring, and deployment.

  • Following these best practices ensures consistent user experiences, accurate content delivery, and better search rankings across all supported languages.

Call to Action

Use this comprehensive checklist to optimize your Next.js multilingual applications for superior SEO performance. Regularly review and implement the recommended practices to provide a seamless, localized experience to users worldwide.

Resources

Resource Description
Next.js Internationalization Documentation Official Next.js documentation on internationalization and routing
Google Search Central: Multilingual Websites Google's guidelines for multilingual websites
W3C Internationalization Guidelines W3C standards and best practices for internationalization
Multilingual SEO Webinars and Conferences Webinars and conferences on multilingual SEO

Stay updated on the latest multilingual SEO trends, techniques, and best practices by following industry resources, attending webinars, and participating in relevant conferences and communities.

LocalizationSEOURL Structure

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