Developing a multilingual website
A website in multiple languages will serve up content in as many languages as you can oversee, enabling your organization to reach a multilingual audience on its own terms. If your companyβs communications ambition stretches in this direction, you will need to invest in multilingual website development. Donβt worry. Firstly, this is not as hard as it used to be. Yes, there are several steps you need to follow, but in the past decade tools have diversified and fine-tuned the process. Flow can help you execute an effective plan that leaves nothing to chance language-wise, so you wonβt be a translation laughing stock anywhere in the world.
Here are some key steps and considerations to effectively develop a multilingual website, starting with the big picture.
How to have your multilingual website set up right
First, figure out which languages and regions you need to target based on your current and future audience base. Decide which content on your multilingual website needs to be translated and to what extent. Will you be providing a full translation of everything you post, or summarized and localized versions depending on importance or local service provision?
Next you should choose a Content Management System (CMS) that supports multilingual capabilities. Top picks would be:
- WordPress (with plugins like WPML or Polylang)
- Drupal (has built-in multilingual features)
- Magento (for e-commerce, supports multiple stores in different languages)
To simplify the translation process, help by writing with language structure in mind. This means you should use subdomains for the languages you are planning to offer. Clear and user-friendly URLs for each language are helpful when navigating your content.
Make sure you have an easy to view language switch, so that users can toggle between languages. It is best for your multilingual website if this is prominently located and easy to access.
Translation management
You should consider using professional translators who are native in their output language in order to avoid sounding off in your usersβ native tongue. A reliable translation service can ensure content accuracy as well as cultural relevance. Consider tools such as Translation Management Systems (TMS) to streamline the process.
Localization refers to adapting your content to cultural nuances and user preferences. This means not just textual translation, but also adjusting images, colors, currencies, and date formats.
Contact us for professional multilingual website solutions
At Flow, we have experience of establishing multilingual websites that includes optimizing your content for search engines across language zones. This means using tags to indicate language and regional targeting. Do some research into the best keywords to use for each language and optimize your multilingual website accordingly. Have a checklist to ensure each language version of your website is indexed in the right way by local search engines for each language.
It goes without saying, but developing your multilingual website is not a static task. We c an help ensure your site stays up to date language-wise. Terminology and content is bound to change with the times, and your multilingual website has to meet the challenge, in multiple. You should not forget that tech is a fast-moving sector and your offerings are subject to definitions that are as malleable as the sands.
Why Choose Us?
Weβve helped many companies go global, and our internationalization services are designed to take the guesswork out of your expansion. We donβt just translate β we transform your business into a brand that speaks the language of success in any market.
Experience
We have been supported companies going global since 2007.
Cultural Expertise
Our team consists of experts from around the globe, ensuring your business feels local no matter where you are.
Holistic Approach
We combine design, development, SEO, and market research for an all-round internationalization approach.
Scalability
Whether youβre entering one new market or many, our solutions are built to scale as your global footprint grows.
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Internationalization services
- Multilingual Website Development
- Localized User Experience (UX) Design
- Global SEO and Digital Marketing
- Content Translation and Localization
- Regulatory Compliance and Market Research
