[Resolved] WPML and SEO - huge problem after installing WPML
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: After installing WPML and adding two additional languages, the client's website became unsearchable on Google, except when selecting 'show English results'. The client was concerned about the site not appearing in Google search results and inquired about the necessary configurations in WPML to ensure proper indexing. Solution: We recommended the client to install a dedicated SEO plugin, such as Yoast SEO or Rankmath SEO, to manage multilingual SEO effectively. This setup allows the translation of meta information for each page, post, or archive, which is crucial for SEO in multiple languages. We provided documentation on how to integrate WPML with these SEO plugins for optimal results. You can read more about this integration here: WPML SEO documentation.
Please note that the solution provided might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket.
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Background of the issue:
I published the site hidden link with the default language as Croatian. Initially, the site was visible on Google after manually submitting pages to Google Search Console. After installing WPML and adding two additional languages, the site became unsearchable on Google.
Please, check additional explanation in the recorded video: hidden link
Symptoms:
The site is not visible on Google search results except when clicking on 'show English results'.
Questions:
Why is the site not appearing in Google search results after installing WPML?
How can I resolve the issue of the site not being visible on Google?
Is there a specific configuration needed in WPML to ensure the site is indexed correctly?
I didn´t say the Site is using the SEO plugin. Probably you misunderstand my previous message or video. I said - I tried also with Slim SEO, but it didn´t work.
I don´t wish to use any SEO plugin, because there is no real need in this case. Except, if you wish to say the WPML multilanguage can´t work without the SEO plugins. Do you wish to say this or if I misunderstand you?
If WPML CAN work without SEO plugins, please check what is wrong with WPML that prevents the Site from appearing on Google after we installed WPML.
That´s just not true. Please, search Google by term "Outdoor bags and backpacks". One of the results you will get (on the first page) is this URL: hidden link
This is the Site I made with WP and WPML - no Rank Math or Yoast installed.
I have other examples, and I can post here if you wish.
I am asking again - do you wish to say WPML can´t work normally without SEO plugins?
Because I have several Sites where I can prove that´s just not true.
The only thing I wish is someone to check what´s going on on the Site I mentioned in my first message.
Andreas, if you can´t do that, please transfer the ticket to someone else who can, and who knows how to do that.
I just realized (that happened in the meantime because it was not the case at the time I wrote the ticket) - that the Site finally started to appear on Google. So, it seems we just needed some time (a long time in this case) after we changed the Site with WPML "upgrade".
So, I am closing the ticket.
P.S. And, as we can see in this case (like in others I mentioned) - the luck of Rank Math or Yoast is not the problem. Those plugins will help in some other areas, but certainly, they are not needed to ensure the Site appears on Google.
It seems the situation mentioned above was just temporary. After some time, yesterday and today, I realized there is no Croatian version of the Site on Google, again. The situation is the same as I described in the video.
Please see what could be done in WPML settings to solve this problem permanently.
Also, if the official WPML statement is - WML needs to be installed with Rank Math or Yoast SEO, to be able to work without the problems, please let me know.
You will need to use Yoast SEO or Rankmath SEO in combination with WPML SEO to be able to have multilingual SEO with WordPress.
This means, you need to translate the SEO meta information to make it available in second languages and we do support for this taks the plugins Yoast SEO and Rankmath.
Also, please take note that I working almost 6 years on WPML Support and you can count on that my provided information is correct. If you have any doubts about it, please feel free to open a new support ticket and ask another supporter.
I think we don´t understand each other. I don´t wish multilingual SEO. I just need the default language to be visible on Google. The default language is Croatian. The Croatian language WAS visible in a few days after we published the Site, and after we installed WPML, we lost the Croatian language from Google.
If you wish to say - we need to install an SEO plugin (one of them you mentioned), to be able to see the default language on Google, on the Site which uses WPML, then I will install it.
Please, confirm the above statement.
P.S. Also, I can send you a few site URLs which I also built, with WP and WPML, which don´t use Yoast or Rank Math (or any other SEO plugin), and where the default language is normally visible on Google without the problems.
I made a search, and I get Croatian results for the website. It even is translated already into English and German. See screenshot.
Go to Google and enter:
site:hidden link
Please provide me some examples that do not work as expected.
I would like to request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to the site to investigate the issue further.
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Video: hidden link
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I don´t agree with you. Because, when we had just Croatian Site, without WPML, everything was fine. The Site was visible on Google if you search by "Dental Art Kuštelega".
You said, there are many Sites with "DentalArt" - yes, you are right, but just one of them "Dental Art Kuštelega". Think about that. I mean, it´s very logical.
I don´t wish to repeat myself - I already wrote everything above and also showed you the details in the video, but I am starting to believe you also don´t understand what exactly happened when we installed WPML - I mean, why we lost out default language from Google (in case someone search by Site name "Dental Art Kuštelega").
Ok, I just installed Rank Math, together with the WPML SEO, and will configure them, and hope everything will be fine (after some time).
I repeat again - This is the first time I have had to install RankMath on the WPML Site, to be able to see (maybe - because we will see that in the future) the default language on Google (you still didn´t explain why I didn´t have to do that on other Sites, so that point to conclusion - you also don´t understand what´s going on in this case).
