Developing a website in multiple languages can be perplexing for both developers and users. Numerous questions and misunderstandings often arise when starting to turn your website multilingual, covering everything from technical aspects to search engine optimization (SEO) and site administration.
What is a Multilingual Website?
A multilingual website provides identical content in various languages.
It can automatically direct users to a specific language based on their region or browser preferences, or users have the option to select their language manually.
A multilingual website is the same as a multi-language website.
For instance, abcd.com is a multilingual site offering content in four languages: English, Hindi, Japanese, and Spanish.
If a visitor from the USA accesses abcd.com, the site will present content in English tailored to their location. Conversely, if a user from Japan visits abcd.com (or the same page as the visitor from the US), they will be automatically provided with content in Japanese.
However, if the Japanese user prefers to view the website in English, Hindi, or Spanish, they can select that option manually.
Creating a Multilingual Website with WordPress
To create a new multilingual site or convert your WordPress site into a multilingual one, you can utilize a plugin such as Polylang. You may also choose from our WordPress hosting plans options, which offer one-click installation and integrated security.
There is a free plan available, as well as a paid plan with additional features. A free account should be sufficient to begin with, and you have the option to upgrade to a paid plan later if needed.
If you use this plugin, you just need to:
- Install this plugin on your website
- Configure it according to your requirements
- Add the languages from the plugin to make your website multilingual
That’s it!
It will provide your website with the capability to support multiple languages. You can convert all elements, from menus and widgets to categories and tags, into different languages.
Here are some other plugins in case you don’t want or like to use Polylang:
- WPML
- Multisite Language switcher
- GTranslate
- qTranslate
- MultilingualPress
You can create a multilingual website using a customized setup. It’s possible to set up a multisite WordPress installation or convert your current site into a multisite one.
Utilizing a plugin such as Polylang is the simplest way to develop a website in multiple languages.
Advantages of a multilingual website
Having a multilingual website for your business offers numerous benefits. Below are several of those advantages:
Enter new and global markets
A website that supports multiple languages enables you to establish an international presence by expanding your website’s audience. It provides access to new markets where you can discover improved opportunities and face reduced competition.
SEO
One benefit of maintaining a multilingual website is the boost it can give to SEO. Since a majority of online content is in English, this market is highly competitive, making it challenging to achieve high rankings on Google.
Translating your content can assist you in improving your rankings due to reduced competition in other languages.
Consequently, this leads to an increase in your website’s traffic and visibility.
User experience
Delivering content in the local language inherently enhances the user experience. An improved user experience consistently contributes to increased conversions, longer time spent on the site, and a lower bounce rate.
Trust and credibility
In marketing, communicating in the language of your customers is crucial. Individuals typically feel more at ease when using their native languages. Therefore, engaging with them in their own language can enhance trust and credibility.
Developing a multilingual website might appear daunting at first. However, by adhering to the guidelines in this article, you can increase your likelihood of success with your multilingual site.
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