What are the best URL structures for a multilingual multisite setup

Use Language-Specific Subdirectories or Subdomains

Incorporate the targeted language in the URL to clearly indicate which language version the page represents. For example:

- Subdirectories: `www.example.com/fr/` for French or `www.example.com/es/` for Spanish
- Subdomains: `fr.example.com` or `es.example.com`

Keep URL Hierarchy Consistent Across Languages

Ensure the subdirectory or subdomain structure remains the same across languages. This allows users to easily switch between language versions without confusion.

Include Language Targeting Parameters

Add language targeting parameters like hreflang tags to specify the language and country targeting for search engines. This enhances visibility and indexing of multilingual content.

Optimize for User Experience

Use short, descriptive, and user-friendly URLs. Avoid excessive parameters. Meaningful URLs improve UX and make pages easier to remember and share.

Hreflang Implementation Examples

Implement hreflang tags on each page to indicate language and regional variations. For example:

html
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/fr/" hreflang="fr-FR" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/fr-CA/" hreflang="fr-CA" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en/" hreflang="en-US" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en-GB/" hreflang="en-GB" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/" hreflang="x-default" />

This ensures accurate indexing and targeting for all language variations, including a default page.

Localize Content and Metadata

Translate and localize content, titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for each language. Avoid relying solely on machine translation. Maintain consistent terminology and formatting across the network.

By implementing these best practices for URL structure, hreflang tags, and localized content, you can effectively manage a multilingual WordPress Multisite setup. This improves user experience, search engine indexing, and overall SEO performance across different languages and regions.