The same content is presented in many languages on a multilingual WordPress website. People can choose their favorite language through a dropdown menu, or it can automatically route them to a language appropriate to their location. A multilingual website can be made using a few different methods.
The first method enables you to manually translate all the information using translators into the languages of your choice. The second technique uses automatic translation providers to translate your existing content into other languages rather than building a multilingual website from scratch. Google Translate no longer accepts new accounts for website translation, nevertheless. The alternative choices are either not free or of inferior quality.
Naturally, manually translating your material is a much better strategy. This enables you to preserve quality across the board for your website. You have the option of doing the content translation yourself or hiring experts to accomplish it.
Launching Your WordPress Multilingual Site
You require the following tools to construct a multilingual WordPress website:
Domain names (This is your website address, such as wpbeginner.com, that users will type into the search field to access your site.)
Hosting for WordPress (The files for your website are kept here)
A multilingual WordPress plugin
Decide the languages you want to use.
After activating the plugin, go to Settings TranslatePress to set up the fundamentals.
Here, you can select the language in which your website is already available as well as the languages into which you want to translate its content.
Select a Translation Method for Your Content
You may decide whether or not to automatically translate your website or WooCommerce store using DeepL or Google Translate (available in the premium edition) using the Automatic Translation option.
You must create a Google Translate API key in order to connect to the service if you wish to install Google Translate.
Once you’ve done so, TranslatePress will translate your entire website automatically using machine translation. After that, you can always go back and edit those translations by hand.
Make Language Switcher Settings for Visitors
To allow your visitors to select their favourite language or languages, TranslatePress by default includes a floating front-end language changer.
The following alternatives are available in TranslatePress in addition to this floating option for adding a language switcher:
Menus (Appearance -> Menus), a specific menu;
A shortcode that you may insert anywhere on your website (including widgets for the sidebar or footer);
An immediate addition to your theme template files of a PHP function.
Begin translating your content
You’ve now finished the setup and are prepared to begin translating your WordPress website!
The benefit of TranslatePress is that you can translate every page on your website using a single visual interface.
Click the Translate Page button in the WordPress admin toolbar to open this interface for the page you wish to translate.
Important Pointers for WordPress Site Translation
You must seek for a few specific features in your preferred translation plugin if you want to reap the full rewards of a multilingual WordPress site.
Multilingual SEO
You can start ranking in Google for inquiries in new languages by translating your WordPress website into several languages. The best part is that you can accomplish this by just translating existing ideas into a different language without having to develop any new content.
When it comes to improving your WordPress site’s multilingual SEO, you’ll need to look for a plugin that offers the following features:
Indexable URL structure, usually a subdomain or subfolder;
Multilingual sitemap support;
Hreflang support;
Front-end Usability
9 out of 10 internet users claim they always visit a website in their native language when given the option, so translating your site will satisfy their needs and enhance the user experience.
Only if you make it simple for individuals to locate their chosen language can you actually make it happen.
You should at the very least be able to implement a language switcher for the front-end with the tool you choose. A lot of big websites, like Google, manage things this way. A few solutions even allow you to detect user language automatically and send visitors to the language they are most familiar with based on their IP address or browser settings.
Translation accuracy
Finding a program that makes it simple to translate all of your WordPress site’s moving pieces can be challenging. The text on your website is composed of text from the WordPress Gutenberg editor, text from your theme, and text from any plugins you may be using.
The problem is that when there’s dynamic material (gettext), a few text strings can get lost in the mix and not be translated. It goes without saying that having untranslated content available is bad. You should choose a tool that allows you to translate anything if you are serious about building a multilingual WordPress site.
The TranslatePress Plugin Meets Every Requirement
A WordPress translation plugin that offers both a free and paid version and has all the aforementioned functions is called TranslatePress.
You have the option to translate your website manually, automatically using DeepL and Google Translate, or both ways. In other words, you can start with automatic translation before going back and making human changes. All of the content from your theme and plugins can be translated because of the way TranslatePress manages translations. Additionally, it provides you with a multilingual SEO-friendly base, including multilingual sitemaps, indexable versions of your website in each language, and more.
The best part is that it enables you to translate your content using a visual interface that is similar to the WordPress Customizer, making it incredibly simple to manage all of your translations. If your website has been translated, you have the option of showing a language switcher as a floating button, a menu item, a shortcode, or as a widget.
Software localization
Software localization refers to the process of adjusting the software to a user’s culture and language, including metric systems, visual styles, and other design elements. To make the software appear and behave naturally to the target user, design and UX improvements must be made in addition to the translation.
Translation
Reworking text from one language into another while preserving the original message and communication is called translation. However, there are various approaches to translation, and they range in both form and purpose, just like anything else.
Internationalization
Although the terms “localization” and “internationalization” are sometimes used synonymously, they actually relate to two different processes. While localization is actually adapting software to a particular language or culture, internationalization entails designing software in a way that makes it possible to adapt it to a variety of languages and cultures.
Language Switcher
You can map alternate language urls for Post Types and Taxonomies using Language Switcher. You may also use it to filter archive pages based on language.
Language Packs
You can quickly change the language of your WordPress installation using core Language Packs. Before, only Locales with 100% translation were eligible for the Language Packs.
Content management
Everything involved in content planning, creation, distribution, and tracking is referred to as content management. The instruments that enable you to make it all happen are content management systems. Virtually anything you can think of online exists as digital content. Text, pictures, videos, and audio files are all included. It serves as the focal point of all content marketing initiatives. The creation, organisation, and publication of digital material is greatly simplified for enterprises of all sizes by content management. Keeping your material correct, current, and in line with the marketing objectives of your business is also a part of this.
The goal is to assist you in ensuring that your audience will find your digital material to be as valuable and helpful as possible. In addition to all of this, content management requires monitoring and evaluating performance.
Translation Management System
A sort of software called a “Translation Management System” is used to automate processes during the translation process in order to deliver high-quality content.
The majority of today’s translation management platforms are web-based, thus software installation is not necessary. Everything is carried out online.
Language support is also important.
Multilingual plugins
Since WordPress enables users to manage many languages simultaneously, it also provides full multilingual plugins that facilitate the website’s complete translation into other languages. WordPress users that want to expand their reach to international audiences and attract a broader consumer base have recently become quite popular using language translation plugins.
You can convert your complete website, including the text and layout, to RTL using a WordPress theme that supports the format. RTL (Right-to-Left) support is important. So is multilingual content synchronization.
User experience
Businesses with a strong focus on the user experience are competitive advantages. Businesses that are successful understand the demands of their customers and prioritise usability and business value. Neglecting these factors has a negative impact on the company’s goals and results in lost opportunities to convert users into customers. User experience will reveal the success of a website.
Language-specific fonts
Fonts with glyphs for as many characters as you anticipate utilizing on a page make for good multilingual fonts. Additionally, choosing one that supports the majority of them before switching to another font that does is an effective strategy if you are unable to find one that supports them all. If that font happens to be the system’s default, it’s even better because it eliminates the need to download another font file. Therefore, choosing language-specific fonts is significant.