My site is 3,5 years old and it was english only 6 months ago when I launched 5 new languages.

Since then have publish more than 200 pages on each of these new versions, but I mention that we don't have much traffic to them. Still, 85% of my traffic goes to English version even if we invest too much efforts into other languages.

- What can we do to improve other language versions?
- How can we optimize for local google versions?
- Do we need to host each version to separate server located in these countries?
- Anything else?

You can optimize them for geographical locations. Title, meta description, page content all could be optimized.

For offline optimization, you could list them in local online business directories. Google map, I am not sure if they do international, could work great for that.

Originally Posted by igorsa

- How can we optimize for local google versions?

Wikipedia uses subdomains. I don't know for sure that Google assumes language at the host level, but it makes sense that they might.

But if I make subdomain for each language, I'll split a traffic of www version. Isn't it?

Now, there's lovely. I didn't think you were Welsh

But if I make subdomain for each language, I'll split a traffic of www version

If the subs are in one language, and the www is english language why does that matter.
People will link to the one that suits them eg: In THEIR native language.