Multi Language Websites
Your content in more languages
A multilingual website refers to a site that uses more than one language. Multilingual websites can exist in different forms. A site might offer language selection and then present the content in only a single language at a time. A multilingual site might also mix multiple languages within the same page, either because the audience is likely to be multilingual, or because there might be a need for embedded foreign text. International websites typically navigate users through country/region selections plus language, and multilingual sites tend to just involve language selection.
There are many languages being spoken and written on a daily basis. Even though English is a popular international language, there are over 6,900 other languages around the world.
Why you may benefit from having a translated website
Results of studies show that internet use in the traditional strong holds of the USA, Germany, the UK and Sweden is flat lining. On the other hand countries such as France, Hong Kong, Italy and Japan are seeing substantial growth in internet usage. Acquiring users in markets that are currently in their growth stages may lead to a loyal user base that will pay dividends for online companies in the future.
A multilingual website is one of the most cost effective ways of marketing your company, capturing new users, building relationships with new clients and giving your brand an international outlook. For non-English speaking users looking for your product or service, you automatically capture their attention. A multilingual website demonstrates you think, work and deal internationally.
Who will translate your content
Even if you’re fluent in the language you want to translate your site to, it might be better to hire someone to do the job for you. Fast, professional and affordable translation services can be found online – for example www.icanlocalize.com
Multilingual Website Development
If you do not have the resources, and you still want users to be able to see content in other languages, you can go for Google Translate. This will add a multi-language switcher for users to select a language, and the content will be translated using Google Translate. The downside of this approach is that the quality of translations will not be very good.
It goes without saying that manually translating your content is a much better approach. This allows you to maintain quality throughout your website. You can translate the content yourself or hire professionals to do that. You do not need to setup a multi-site or have separate WordPress installs for each language. You will be able to easily translate your WordPress posts, pages, tags, categories, and themes into as many languages as you like.
Get in touch today to discuss converting your website to one that communicates with your customers in whichever language you require. Costs vary depending on the size and functionality required. i4websitedesign can provide a complete service from consultancy and translations, through to website launch and ongoing marketing.