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Problem:
The client installed WPML on a site with content originally in Russian and wants to switch the default language to English. They previously used Polylang for translations and are concerned about the implications of changing the default language, especially regarding SEO.

Solution:
For migrating from Polylang to WPML, use the Migrate Polylang to WPML plugin and follow the instructions here: https://wpml.org/documentation/related-projects/migrate-polylang-wpml/. Keep the same default language during the migration process and switch to English afterward.

If you decide to switch your site's default language, WPML can assist with any issues. However, be aware of potential SEO implications, which include indexing and crawling, URL structure, backlink profile, keyword strategy, local SEO impact, user experience, hreflang tags, search engine preferences, and legal and compliance issues. WPML handles hreflang tags, and you can learn more about multilingual SEO here: https://wpml.org/documentation/how-to-set-up-multilingual-seo-on-your-website/ and here: https://wpml.org/tutorials/2021/03/5-common-multilingual-seo-mistakes-to-avoid/.

If this solution doesn't look relevant, please open a new support ticket in our forum: https://wpml.org/forums/forum/english-support/.