It is no longer a matter of negotiation when it comes to whether to add multiple languages to your website or not. This is as a result of the fast growing interconnections among the people around the world via technology and the internet. The world have become so connected that people anywhere around the world can have access any type of products and information from any part of the world.
It is quite evident that these users of the internet have different local languages that serve as their local language or mother tongue. This brought the need for translation of the available information on the internet. No wonder many owners of website who are interested in reaching a vast majority of audience tend to ask how they can add multiple languages to their websites. The fact that you are on this page is an indicator that you are ready to take your website to an international level.
Therefore in this article, we would consider not just how you can add multiple languages to your website but also we would discuss as well as recommend translation solution that is more suitable for a multilingual website.
But first, let us answer this question:
Why should I add multiple languages to my website?
Although this is a personal question. Yet after reading this you will be able to answer the question yourself.
Your website is designed for people to get what they need from there. However, not all who visits your website understands or speaks the same language. You will be missing out a great deal of potential audience if your website remains in a singular language.
Also, if you are a business owner and the website is for business, you can expect a massive growth in numbers of visitors of your website. This will lead to more engagement and finally a possible conversion simply because people are more inclined to trust information they receive in the language of their heart than that that is available in a foreign tongue.
It may be very challenging trying to add multiple languages to your website. This is especially true if none of the employees in your organization or firm understands the languages you are targeting or if you are planning to use website translation solution, choosing the right one for yourself can be daunting. Regardless of any possible challenges, it is still very worth it for the purpose of translation.
In fact, more than ever before, it has become easier to add new languages to your website. Nowadays, we have different translation solution options available that can help translate your website. Let us now discuss what options are available for you to add multiple languages to your website or in other words having a multilingual website.
Using Google Translate
Google Translate is a kind of free website translation option provided by Google. It is one of the most famous if not most common translation solution out there because many assume that it is easy to add multiple languages to their websites with it.
If you want to add Google Translate to your website, you will first need to sign up for an account and you will need to copy and paste some codes to the HTML. On doing this, you will be able to choose different languages that you will want your website to be available in. with Google Translate, you have the option of selecting from some 90 different languages that is supported.
The reason many people turn to Google Translate for their translation solution is that they assume it is easy to set up and that it is cost effective. Also, you will not have to hire any form of professional service from human translators before you can translate the content of your website.
However, Google Translate did not come without its own challenges. The accuracy of what is been translated is far from the best. The reason being that Google Translate offers automatic machine translation without the help of a professional translator. The effect of this is that the machine cannot understand the feelings and the context of what is being translated. This may cause mistranslation or misrepresentation of the idea of the source language in the targeted language. Also, when it comes to websites that are technically oriented, Google Translate usually fails. Technical aspects such medical, technological, legal etc. related contents.
As if that is not enough, Google Translate lacks credibility when it comes to translating images and links. It cannot translate words inscribed on images that are available on the website. All these downside make Google Translate a less recommended translation solution for your brand.
Translating only the landing page
Some owners of websites have decided not to take their time to translate all of the pages of their website. Such ones have resorted to translating on the front or landing page of their website into the desired languages. This will make users of those language to feel welcome whenever they found themselves on the front page.
The cost of doing this is relatively low as you will be paying a professional translator only a few amount for the front page. Also, those who subscribe to this style would likely must have placed important information, products and services on the landing page so that the visitors will not have to wander around before getting what they need.
This system of adding multiple languages to your website has its own downside. It will be difficult for visitors to explore your site outside the landing page. Essential parts of the website such as checkout pages, contact pages, FAQ etc. will remain mystery to the website visitors. Hence, it is not recommended for individuals who are willing to take their brand to an international level.
Building a separate website for each language
Another method that some people uses in having multiple language website is by building separate websites for each of the targeted languages. However, this kind of translation solution can be very exhausting as more money, time and resources will be needed to effectively run each and every one of the websites. This is especially true when you know that you will have to be doing the same thing for each of the languages any time there is a new content or there is an update for the former one. Remember that if you are target about 30 different languages, then you will have to own 30 different websites running.
Therefore, as good as this option sounds, it is still not the best when you think about the serious work and commitment required on your part in order to be able to effectively run the different languages.
The right and the best translation solution – ConveyThis
The best form of translation solution that can allow you to add multiple language to your website should be the type that will minimize the downside of the above mentioned options. It should be able to take care of your translation such that you can add multiple languages from any part of the world without having to worry about whether it will give a best result or not. A very good example of translation solution that is simple to use, cost-effective and that many business owners now use is ConveyThis. ConveyThis is a translation solution that will translate all parts of your website, localize your website, and take your website to internationally accepted standard with you having to do little or nothing at all. You don’t need a prior knowledge of coding or programming to be able to add multiple languages to your website.
When you use ConveyThis in adding multiple languages to your website, you can expect a combination of machine and human translation, have access to a sophisticated Visual Editor where you can adjust the translated content to fit with your website designs and your expected results, and you can be well assured of an optimized multilingual SEO for your website.
If you want the best for your multilingual website, your best bet is using ConveyThis. With it you can automatically translate any website. It could be Wix, SquareSpace, Shopify, WordPress or any kind of website or online stores you can think of. It is very well compatible with them all. All you have to do is to install it on your website and make appropriate connections and that’s all.
So far, we have considered how you can add multiple languages to your website such as using Google Translate, translating the landing page or front page, and having separate website for separate languages. Also, we have also discussed, with recommendations, appropriate translation solution that is more suitable for a multilingual website. Remember that to thrive in this competitive world, you must do more than just have a website. Translating as well as localizing your website will make you go global and increase the potential numbers of the visitors of your website.
Start adding multiple languages to your website today by using fast, easy to use, and cost effective translation solution known as ConveyThis.