Alternative Markup Challenge. Can anyone help?

[HelloAlba]

I have a challenge around alternative markup. We currently operate a single domain with geo-targeted folders and alternative markup implemented. We are now now looking to expand this out to non-English content.

Current Implementation;

• All generic English language content hosted on the main domain, with x5 English language content variations (locales) available under a folder structure (.com/en-us/ etc.).
• Alternative markup is in place for all locales within the HTML, implemented automatically by developers via the CMS.
• Locale folders geo-targeted via GWT and Bing WT.

Planned Launch;

• Introduction of 5 new non-English locale folders (e.g. /de-de/ etc.), targeted to their respective country and language.
• Content language will be mixed, with around 1/10 of pages translated and the other 9/10 of pages (business listings) having their body content remain in English, with headers / footers translated.
• Locale folders will be geo-targeted via GWT and Bing WT.
• Folder and markup usage TBC.

Options;

• Folders;

• Implement folder structure /de/, attempting to indicate country but not language (issue; usually a single identifier indicates language, not country?).

• Implement /de-de/ folder structure to match the English locales and maintain correct country targeting (issue; some content is not in language).

• Alternative markup;

• Do not make use of markup at all.

• Implement CMS based automated markup on all English and non-English content throughout the locale (e.g. /de-de/), but exclude English language versions (e.g. /en-gb/).

• Attempt manually implementing markup to bridge the English and non-English locales, potentially creating future issues with new content going live and content being removed. A heavy risk.

Current approach is webmaster tools targeting, a /de-de/ folder structure and automated implementation of markup. This means English language URLs will have markup and non-English language URLs will have markup, but they will not match up (e.g. English pages will never have markup for non-English language content).

If you minds haven't melted, what's your thoughts?

Any help is much appreciated.

[gfiorelli1]

When you talk about mark up, what do you mean? Hreflang or other kind of mark-up?

Please, be specific on this, because - depending from your clarification, the answer can be one or another.

p.s.: naming the subfolders /de/ or /de-de/ does not have such an impact in geo-targeting, so I would not stress myself too much of details like that one.

[gfiorelli1]

Hi!

Did you solve the issue you asked about in your question, so to consider this Q&A closed?

Or you are still wondering about an answer?

In this last case, please, give us more details answering to the clarifications I asked you one month ago :).

Ciao