Multilingual (hreflang) audit
We check whether your site's language and regional versions are set up correctly: hreflang markup, language and region codes, return links and x-default, localization completeness, conflicts with canonical and version duplicates — and build a prioritized plan. Honestly — an audit finds multilingual errors, but it does not guarantee the right version in the right country by itself: hreflang is a hint to the search engine, not a command, and it works differently in Google and Yandex.
Multilingual (hreflang) audit — overview
A multilingual (hreflang) audit is a one-time check of whether your site's language and regional versions are correctly built for search engines: the correctness of hreflang markup (in HTML, HTTP headers or sitemap), language and region codes (e.g. ru, en, en-GB), the presence of return (reciprocal) links between versions and x-default, the absence of conflicts with canonical, localization completeness (whether there is untranslated or mixed content left), duplicate and conflicting versions, and the correctness of geo settings. The goal is to remove the errors that make the search engine show the wrong version or get confused, and to give a prioritized plan. Honestly about the main point: this is diagnosis, not implementation and not a guarantee that the right version will show in the right country or that rankings will grow. It is important to understand: hreflang is a hint to the search engine, not a hard command; Google takes it into account but may ignore it, and Yandex does not use hreflang in the usual way — for it, regional settings (webmaster, geo) matter more. So "we guarantee the right version in every country" cannot be promised. And honestly: technical markup does not replace localization itself — if the content is poorly translated or the versions for different countries are essentially the same, hreflang will not fix that. It is a snapshot in time: the site and search engine rules change. Access is needed: to the code/CMS or at least the ability to see the markup and sitemap; without access — an external check of what is served. What you get: a report with hreflang and localization errors by priority and a plan; implementing the fixes is separate developer work. If you have one language and one region, we will honestly say you do not need this service. Picture this: instead of "foreigners are shown the Russian version" you learn that hreflang has no return links and no x-default, and half the English pages point canonical to the Russian one — so the search engine merges them. The base price starts from 12,000 ₽; it depends on the number of languages and regions.
Problems we solve
- Several languages or regions, but the wrong version shows in search.
- You are not sure hreflang is set up correctly.
- Language versions compete with each other or get "merged".
- Before entering a new region you want to set everything up correctly.
What's included in the Multilingual (hreflang) audit service
- hreflang markup: implementation method, syntax, language and region codes
- Return (reciprocal) links between versions and x-default
- hreflang conflicts with canonical and between versions
- Localization completeness: untranslated or mixed content
- Duplicate and conflicting language/regional versions
- Geo settings and Yandex specifics (regionality) versus Google
- A map of correct version correspondences
- A prioritized report with errors and a plan
What you get
- Clear understanding of why the wrong version shows and where the errors are
- Priorities: what to fix first
- Recommendations on hreflang and localization (implementation is separate)
- Understanding the difference between Google's and Yandex's approach to regions
How the work goes: steps
- We clarify the languages, regions and version structure and collect access (code/CMS/sitemap)
- We check hreflang, canonical, localization and geo settings
- We prepare a prioritized report with a plan and review it with you
Why PDV Expert
- Fixed price and timeline — no surprises on the invoice.
- Report and recommendations in plain language — clear without a technical background.
- In touch at every step and answering questions about the result.
FAQ
After the audit, will the right version show in every country?
It cannot be guaranteed. hreflang is a hint, not a command: Google takes it into account but may ignore it, and Yandex uses its own regional settings. The audit removes errors and increases the chances of correct display, but the final decision is up to the search engine.
Will hreflang raise rankings in other countries?
Not by itself. It helps show the right language version and remove conflicts between them, but rankings depend on localization quality, links, content and competition in the region. We cannot promise "+rankings abroad".
Is technical markup enough without translation?
No. hreflang tells the search engine which version is for which language and region, but it does not do localization. If the content is poorly translated or the versions are identical, the markup does not compensate for it — proper localization is needed.
About the provider
The «Multilingual (hreflang) audit» service is provided by PDV Expert — a team specialising in «Diagnostics & monitoring». We work under contract and deliver a written report with recommendations.