If you’ve landed on this page, then there are 90% chances that you are aware of the importance of having a multilingual website.
If not, then here’s an interesting stat. for you!
“According to Statista more than 73% of user’s shopping online prefer to purchase products from website’s that provides information such as product description and reviews in their native language.”
These stats. further affirm the significance of having a multi-language website. A bilingual
website does not just help in expanding business’s reach to international audiences, but it reduces the overall bounce rate as more visitors understand your product or service offerings. They eventually end up purchasing the product from you rather than switching to your competitor’s website.
Now that you are aware of the importance of having a multilingual website the next step is to select the best possible approach for multilingual website design. You can either opt for a CMS like WordPress or Wix, or you can hire a web development company in Dubai to build your custom multi-language website.
What is a Multilingual Website?
As the name implies, a multilingual website is merely any website that consists of content in more than one language. A simple example of a multi-language website could be a website of Saudi business with Arabic and English version of its website.
Why Should you Create a Multilingual Website for your business?
There are many reasons why you should go forward with having a lot of languages on your
website. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
A bilingual website can:
- Expand your reach to an audience worldwide by reaching for people who aren't native
speakers. - Improves your website’s engagement, traffic, and revenue.
- Improve user experience by making them feel welcomed.
- Rank your website with better SEO ranks.
- Shows that your business values cultures and diversity of people.
These are just a few reasons from a huge list that work in favor of your business when you
decide to turn your website into a bilingual one.
How to Create a Multilingual Website?
There are multiple steps that are involved in building a multilingual website. You must start by translating the content of your website, adapt the visual imagery, devise and integrate SEO best practices for all the targeted languages etc. All of this can often become overwhelming, which is why businesses often opt for hiring a web design company in Dubai for multilingual website development.
But if you are versatile and adept in web development and design skills, then this guide is for you.
Building Multi-Language Website with Website Builders
We are going to guide you through various website builders and how you can create a website of your dreams that will reach people around the globe.
Wix:
- Visit Wix’s official website
- Sign in to your Wix account and go to the Editor.
- Go to the “Settings” menu and select “Multilingual”
- Choose the languages you want to add to your site.
- Translate your content or use Wix’s built-in translation services.
- Change all the other settings according to your company’s requirements
- Customize the language switcher button.
- Publish your site.
WordPress (using plugins like WPML):
- Visit the official WordPress website
- Install and activate the WPML plugin from the WordPress repository.
- Go to the WPML settings and choose your default language and additional languages for
multilingual website development. - Translate your pages, posts, and other content using the WPML translation editor.
- Customize language switcher options.
- Save your changes and publish your website.
Squarespace:
- Visit the office website of Squarespace.
- Log in or create an account for your Squarespace account and open your website.
- Go to the “Settings” menu and then go to “Language & Region”.
- Add your desired languages and choose your primary language.
- Translate your content manually.
- Customize language switcher options if available.
- Save your changes and publish your site.
Shopify:
- Visit Shopify
- Log in or create an account for your Shopify admin panel.
- Visit the “Online Store” section and then “Themes”.
- Choose a theme that supports multiple languages or install a language translation app
from the Shopify App Store (you have to search for language translation in the App
Store). - Set up your additional languages and translate your content.
- Customize the language switcher if necessary.
- Save your changes and publish your online store.
Weebly:
- Visit Weebly and sign in or create an account on the website
- Access your Weebly account and open the website editor.
- Click on the "Settings" tab and select "Languages."
- Add the languages you want on your multi-language website.
- Translate your content manually or use third-party translation services.
- Customize the language switch.
- Save your changes and publish your website.
These top 5 website builders can help you with multilingual web design and development like a pro. These builders are the best solutions if you want your website to stand out in the crowd. You can choose one of these builders and then build a website you envision for your company.
Remember, your website is like a mirror for your company, so design it to show the values and message of your business.
Importance Factors to Consider While Building a Multilingual Website
We know that multilingual website development is our goal, but that goal won't be complete until you optimize your website ultimately. Only after a complete optimization will your website be complete and ready to ROCK!
This could be done either through using multiple tools such as Yoast and Rank Math, or you can either hire a SEO agency in Dubai to help optimize your website for better search engine visibility.
So, now that you have either hired a professional web design agency or used a website builder for your website, there are a few other things that your website should have apart from being multilingual.
- Domain Name: Choose a domain name that is ideal for your company, and relevant to
your brand, and easy to spell. It should mirror the foundation of your company. - Template: Pick a template that goes with your brand's aesthetics and functionality.
Consider factors like layout, color scheme, font styles, and user-friendly interface across
all devices (mobiles, laptops, tablets, PCs, etc. - Customize: Customize every single thing on your bilingual website. We literally mean
everything –from branding to content and from CTAs to easy navigation, everything
should be according to the product and services you are offering (and not to mention
everything should be bilingual). - Security: Implement security measures like SSL certificates to encrypt data and protect
user privacy. Also, keep software and plugins current to prevent vulnerabilities and
cyber-attacks.
Final Words
Although building a multilingual website might sound simple, but it is certainly not everyone’s piece of cake. However, there are certain ways to build a multi-language website as highlighted in the article above. You can either opt for reliable CMS or hire a full-service digital marketing agency for designing and developing your multilingual website.
When done right, a multilingual website expands your business’s reach, credibility, and open new revenue streams. But a slight misjudgment might lead to disastrous results, in terms of your businesses reputation and earnings. This, is why selecting the right CMS or partnering with a reliable and professional website development company, which specializes in multilingual website development is crucial.
FAQs:
How to make a multilingual website?
To create a multilingual website, hire a web design agency and instruct them regarding all the things you want your website to have. From theme to content and from layout to interface -you can get your website customized according to your brand needs.
How do I create a multi-language website?
Following are some essential steps to follow when building a multi-language website.
- Choose a website builder with multilingual support, such as Wix, WordPress, or Shopify.
- Check the language settings, add desired languages, and then translate content.
- Finally, customize the language switcher to make it bilingual.
Which website builder is best for multi-language?
Choosing the best website builder for multi-language support depends on your website needs you should consider things like ease of use, multilingual features, customization options, and compatibility when choosing a builder.
How do you structure a multilingual website?
Structuring a multilingual website means organizing content logically for each language to
ensure a fantastic user experience. Use subdomains, subdirectories, or language-specific pages to separate content. Don’t forget to give your website a test run before publishing it.
