HomeCasa International SEO plan: multilingual structure and hreflang tags
Choose the URL structure for several languages or countries, generate correct hreflang tags with x-default, avoid the usual mistakes and plan real content localization. Designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. It includes 5 customizable variables and you can copy it for free in one click.
Advanced · Text · Pending editorial review
Prompt
Act as an international SEO consultant with hands-on experience with multilingual and multi-country websites.
Context:
- Website and business: {{website}}
- Target languages and countries (and whether content changes by country: prices, shipping, legal): {{markets}}
- Current or preferred URL structure: {{structure}}
- Current situation (what exists, how it is translated, issues seen in Search Console): {{situation}}
- CMS and how translations are managed: {{cms}}
Deliverables:
1. A structure recommendation (subdirectories, subdomains or country domains) with pros and cons for this case, and when to target by language versus by language and country.
2. A version map: a table with every equivalent URL per language or country, its correct hreflang code (ISO 639-1 for language, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 for country) and the x-default version.
3. Hreflang implementation with code examples for the most suitable method (head tags, HTTP headers or XML sitemap), following the rules: reciprocal return links, absolute URLs, self-reference and only canonical, indexable URLs.
4. Common mistakes to check: invalid codes (for example "en-UK"), hreflang pointing to redirected or noindexed URLs, cross-language canonicals, automatic IP redirects that block crawlers.
5. Localization beyond translation: keywords per market, currency, units, legal details and local signals.
6. Launch and verification plan: what to check with a crawler and in Search Console, and in what order to publish.
Constraints:
- Do not assume search volumes per country; mark [FILL IN] where research is needed.
- Do not recommend unreviewed machine translation for key pages.
- If my markets do not justify separate country versions, say so and propose a simpler setup.
- Ask me for anything missing before recommending the structure.
Format: a short recommendation, the version table, code blocks and checklists.How to use it
List every market and state whether prices, shipping or legal details differ between countries: that decides whether you need country versions or language versions only. Roll out hreflang on a small group of pages first, validate it with a crawler and then expand.
Usage example
Website: natural skincare store · Markets: United States (en-US), United Kingdom (en-GB), Mexico (es-MX), international English as x-default · Structure: subdirectories · CMS: Shopify Markets.
Sample output
Recommendation
Subdirectories on one domain: they consolidate authority and Shopify Markets handles them well. Since prices and shipping differ by country, target by language and country for the US, UK and Mexico, and keep a language-only English version for the rest of the world.
Version map
| Market | URL | hreflang |
|---|---|---|
| United States | https://example.com/ | en-US |
| United Kingdom | https://example.com/en-gb/ | en-GB |
| Mexico | https://example.com/es-mx/ | es-MX |
| Rest of world | https://example.com/en/ | en |
| Default | https://example.com/en/ | x-default |
Implementation in the <head>
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-US" href="https://example.com/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-GB" href="https://example.com/en-gb/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es-MX" href="https://example.com/es-mx/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/en/" />Every version must carry the same full block, including a self-reference, and point only to canonical, indexable URLs.
Mistakes to check
- Using "en-UK": the valid code is en-GB.
- A canonical on /en-gb/ pointing to the US page, which cancels hreflang.
- Automatic IP redirects that stop Googlebot from seeing other versions.
- UK spelling and vocabulary: [FILL IN: keyword research per market]…
Key facts
- Category
- Marketing & SEO · Technical SEO
- Output type
- Text
- Level
- Advanced
- Designed for
- ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot
- Verified in
- Pending editorial verification
- Variables
- Website and business, Target languages and countries, URL structure, Current situation and CMS and translations
- Language
- English
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
- Nov 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is x-default for?
It tells search engines which page to show when no version matches the user’s language or country, usually a language selector or the international English version.
Does hreflang prevent duplicate content between countries?
It helps Google show the right version to each user and group equivalents, but it does not replace localization: near-identical versions may still be folded under one canonical.
What is this prompt for?
Choose the URL structure for several languages or countries, generate correct hreflang tags with x-default, avoid the usual mistakes and plan real content localization.
Which AI tools does it work with?
It is designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We have not verified it in these tools yet, so results may vary between them.
How do I customize the prompt?
Click “Customize” and fill in the variables (Website and business, Target languages and countries, URL structure, Current situation and CMS and translations). The text updates instantly and you can then copy it in one click. Values are stored only in your browser.
Do I need experience to use it?
It is advanced: it is meant for people with experience in the topic who can evaluate and adjust the result.
Is this prompt free?
Yes. Every HomeCasa Prompts prompt is free, with no sign-up or subscription. You can also use them in professional projects.
Can I trust the AI output?
Treat it as a high-quality draft: always check data, figures and important claims before publishing or making decisions.