Today’s article is a good walk-through for those looking to create a single site, multiple language website. However, creating a multi-language site can be complex or simple, depending on a variety of factors. Today’s post assumes that you know where your traffic comes from, and that you have the need for multiple languages. Once you’ve read, take the time to look through our international SEO articles before leaping into this, or any other language set up. Make sure you know what fits your business, your website, and your visitors.
Regards, Level343 Editors
I can safely say that websites are one of the biggest ways of sharing information and reaching out to people all around the globe. Whether it is for business or entertainment purposes, shopping, traveling, or anything else, websites represent a window into the world.
Still, one of the major issues to consider is that not all people speak the same language. Furthermore, not all people even speak English. There are even those who understand English, but prefer to use only their native language.
With that in mind, it is crucial to be able to serve customers from all major nations. That is why I have decided to talk about the best way to create a multi-language site and help you connect with a substantial amount of people!
6 Tips to Create a Multi-language Site
If you ever asked yourself what is the best way to create a multi-language site, you should know that there are a couple of ways to do it. More importantly, there isn’t just one strategy that you can use.
Instead, you should combine a couple of different approaches, and slowly work your way towards a multi-language site that will increase your customer’s satisfaction. Here are a few tips you can use.
Be consistent with your layout
Implementing different languages should not be an incentive to be creative and assign a different layout to every language. No matter where your users are coming from, if they switch to their language, they should see the exact same design and logo. Your brand is the connection with your customers, so make sure they all have the same level of quality.
By using the same layout for every version of your website, you are providing consistency. You can’t really stop people from viewing other versions of your pages.
The easiest way to accomplish similar layouts is to use simple WordPress templates. They have all the features, and their themes are usually well made.
Use the best language plugins
If your website is built on a platform like WordPress, you can easily set up multi-language options with the help of useful plugins. While there are a lot of options to choose from, but we’ve found WPML to be the best for single site, multi-language WordPress setups.
It’s powerful and has useful features, but keep in mind that the translations should be done by humans. NOT by the plugins themselves.
“Choose your region” option
If you truly wish to build an interactive website and provide an amazing experience for your customers, setting up the “Choose your region” option is a great way to do it. When a visitor comes to your homepage, he or she is prompted with an option to pick their home country. This is useful in many ways.
First of all, you are saving your customers from wondering if there is an option to pick a language they like. Second, they will not have to look for the language switcher. Third, it reduces the number of reloads, which in return enables a better flow of content. Your visitors can relax and enjoy the experience.
Put the language switcher in a visible place
If you decide to go with a language switcher instead of the “Choose your region” section, do not experiment too much. Put the button on a visible spot. Furthermore, make sure that the spot is the same on every page. That adds to the consistency of the website.
The aesthetic aspect
Even though efficiency always comes first, you cannot overlook the importance of the visual aspect. Making all features of your website visually appealing to the visitor’s eye should be one of your top priorities.
When it comes to language switchers, there are a couple of options you can choose from. One of the ways you can go about it is to simply put the name of the country. Also, you can set an icon of the flag. If you decide to go with the flag, make sure to put a description for every country. Not all people know which flag belongs to which country.
You can also create a dropdown or picklist menu with all the language options. The goal is to discover what approach fits best with the layout, so it doesn’t stand out from the general look.
Always pay attention to grammar
Making your website more effective is the primary goal. Nevertheless, no matter what you do to impress your visitors, if your grammar is not impeccable, it can destroy your reputation. This is especially important when translating a website into a foreign language. If you fail to do it properly, it will send the wrong picture to your potential customers. It will look as if you didn’t care enough to check the grammar.
I hope that these tips helped you understand the importance of giving different language options to your customers. I encourage you to continue doing everything to raise the level of service and amaze your visitors. Good luck!
Author Bio
Brian Johnson
Brian is an experienced developer and graphic designer with over 10 years of experience. He has a vast knowledge of user experience and website building strategies. Brian’s passion for helping people is priceless, and he selflessly offers everything he knows.
In his spare time, Brian works as a freelance blogger. If you are looking for a way to make your business more productive and profitable, his articles will give you the help you need.