Madrid attracts residents and visitors who speak different languages. A website aimed at them needs care with language, location and privacy, and with the legal context. This guide covers the main points. It is general information, not legal advice, and we do not build websites or run search optimisation.
If you would like help deciding where a website fits in your marketing, a private marketing consultation gives you three to five written priorities.
Plan each language
Many professionals in Madrid write in Spanish and English. Doing both well takes effort.
- Write each version in its own language, rather than translating word by word.
- Have a native speaker check each one.
- Keep one language per page and make it easy to switch.
- Keep the facts identical across versions: availability, location, rates structure, boundaries.
- If you cannot maintain both, choose one and do it well.
Words people use differ between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking visitors. See finding the search terms your clients use.
Be honest about location
State whether you are based in Madrid, visit it or work elsewhere in the region. Use the names of areas only where you genuinely work. Remove tour dates once they end. Do not publish an address or details that compromise your privacy. Share arrangements after screening.
Protect privacy
- Use a work number and work email address.
- Remove metadata from photos.
- Check backgrounds for identifying details.
- Keep forms short and explain how you use the data.
- Data protection rules in the EU apply to information you collect about people. Collect only what you need, store it securely and delete it when you no longer need it.
Mind the local rules
Rules on advertising and on organising others’ work differ by country and, in Spain, can also vary by region and municipality. For an individual working independently, the position can differ from that of someone who profits from or organises others, which matters to agencies and salons. We cannot summarise Spanish law reliably here, and rules can change. Take advice from a qualified local professional, and read the current rules of each platform you use. For a general overview, see advertising within the law.
Practical habits that reduce risk:
- Describe experiences and arrangements in general terms.
- Do not list explicit acts.
- Keep records of what you published and when.
- Write down who approves the content, in the case of a house.
Keep the site consistent with your listings
Facts should match everywhere: your site, listings and social accounts. See what your website needs to support your marketing.
Plan for visitors and residents
Madrid has long-term residents, business visitors and tourists. They tend to search in different languages and with different expectations.
- Decide who the page is for, and write for them directly.
- Be clear about notice, duration and arrangements in both languages.
- Mention time zones when you announce availability to visitors from abroad.
- Keep your dates and details the same on your listings and social accounts.
Keep an eye on changes
Local rules, platform policies and your own plans change. Put a review in your calendar every few months, and update the page and your records when something changes. A short, accurate page is better than a long one that has fallen out of date.
Checklist
- Each language version is written natively and checked.
- Facts are identical across versions.
- Location and availability are accurate and current.
- Privacy information is clear and forms ask only what they need.
- Photos are cleaned of metadata and identifying details.
- I have asked a qualified local professional about the rules.
- Facts match my listings and social accounts.
Questions to ask yourself first
Before you plan anything specific to the city, check three things. Do you actually work or visit Madrid often enough to keep a page accurate? Can you maintain the languages you offer? And are you comfortable with the level of visibility that a page aimed at a capital city brings? If the answer to any of them is no, a smaller, simpler presence may serve you better.
Where to go from here
To talk through your plan, book a private consultation. Related reading: what your website needs to support your marketing and finding the search terms your clients use.
