If you think going multilingual is just for the elite, think again. The idea that adding multiple languages to your website is an insurmountable mountain is a myth. In reality, with the right tools and a structured approach, making your site accessible to an international audience is not as difficult as you might think. Wix Multilingual is here to prove that opening up your site to several languages can be both simple and effective, enabling you to reach a wider audience and meet the needs of a diverse clientele.
On the program:
Understand the benefits of multilingualism for your business: We will explore why multilingualism is essential in a globalized context and how it can transform your online presence.
Discover the powerful features of Wix Multilingual: A step-by-step guide to enabling and configuring multilingualism on your Wix site, making the process accessible to everyone.
Setting up an effective multilingual strategy: Practical tips for successful implementation, from content management to multilingual SEO.
Toolbox: Resources and tips for success: A selection of essential tools and resources to help you create and manage your multilingual site.
So, are you ready to break down language barriers and conquer new markets? Let's get started!
In this article, we'll explore together the importance of multilingualism, how to implement this functionality on your Wix site, and provide you with a complete toolbox to facilitate this process.
Part 1: Why go multilingual?
In an increasingly connected and globalized world, multilingualism is becoming not just an asset, but a necessity for companies wishing to extend their international reach. Here's a detailed look at why it's crucial to take the step towards a multilingual website.
The importance of multilingualism for companies today
Communicate with a wider audience : More than half the world's population browses the Internet in a language other than English. Offering your website and content in several languages gives you access to a much wider audience, increasing your opportunities for growth.
Developing new markets : Multilingualism is the key to penetrating new markets, allowing you to effectively prospect new customers and partners around the world.
Improving brand image : A multilingual site projects an image of professionalism and openness, essential for enhancing your reputation with international customers and partners.
Enhancing competitiveness : In a globalized business environment, the ability to operate in several languages confers an undeniable competitive advantage.
Key figures and statistics on Internet use in different languages
53% of internet users do so in a language other than English.
The Mandarin Chinese is the top language used on the internet, followed closely by Spanish, Arabic, and Hindi.
The market for multilingual e-commerce is booming, with forecasts reaching $10 trillionby 2025.
Benefits of a multilingual website for companies and organizations
Increased traffic : Offering your site in several languages can quadruple traffic from abroad.
Improved SEO : Search engines favor multilingual sites, improving your visibility and ranking in search results.
Sales increase : Companies with a multilingual site see their sales increase by 17% on average.
Better customer satisfaction : Offering content in users' native language increases their satisfaction and propensity to buy your products or services.
Embracing multilingualism is strategic for any company aiming for international expansion. A multilingual website is a powerful lever for reaching a global audience, exploring new markets and solidifying your brand worldwide.
Part 2: Creating a multilingual website with Wix Multilingual: Step-by-step guide
Adopting a multilingual website with Wix is a strategic move to expand your audience and strengthen your international presence. Here's a detailed guide to help you implement this feature effectively.
A. Choose your site's languages
Defining your objectives and target audience : Before choosing languages, clarify your international expansion objectives and identify the audience you want to reach. This will help you determine which languages are most relevant to your business.
Identify the most relevant languages for your market : Analyze your existing traffic and perform market research to identify the languages spoken by your target audience. This will enable you to prioritize which languages to add first.
Managing translations : Wix offers both manual and automatic translation options. You can choose to translate your content yourself, use Wix's automatic translation tool, or hire professionals for optimum quality.
B. Translate your site content
Manually translate content or use a machine translation service : manual translation guarantees better quality and finer cultural adaptation. However, for rapid implementation, machine translation can be an effective temporary solution.
Wix built-in tool : Wix offers an automatic translation service that lets you buy words and quickly translate your content. While convenient, this option often requires proofreading by a professional to correct any errors and ensure that translations are natural and accurate.
Tools integrated into the Chrome browser : Tools like DeepL offer high-quality machine translations directly in your browser. DeepL is particularly renowned for its ability to handle linguistic nuances and produce translations that appear natural and faithful to the original text. It can be a useful complement for translating specific passages or for making a first draft translation.
Tips to guarantee a quality translation : make sure translations are done by native speakers and check them for accuracy. Use a tone and style appropriate to each culture.
Adapting content for each language and culture : Beyond literal translation, adapt your content to resonate with each target culture. This includes customizing images, examples, and cultural references.
With Wix Multilingual, you have the option of translating a large number of features, although some are not yet supported. Please refer to the table below to find out which features of the Multilingual Editor and Dashboard can be translated and which cannot.
For more information on translatable content, please see the table below: https://support.wix.com/fr/article/wix-multilingual-contenu-traduisible
C. Configure your site's multilingual settings
Define default language and language selection options : Choose a default language for your site and set up a clear and accessible language selection menu to allow users to easily change languages.
Manage URLs and SEO for each language : Wix allows you to manage specific URLs for each language, which is essential for multilingual SEO. Make sure each language version of your site has a clean, logical URL structure.
Optimize your site for multilingual search engines : Use hreflang tags to indicate to search engines the linguistic and geographical correspondence of your pages. Also optimize metadata for each language.
D. Manage and optimize your multilingual website
Update content and translations in real time : keep your site up to date in all languages. When you make changes to the original content, be sure to update the translated versions as well.
Monitor the performance of your website in different languages : Use tools like Google Analytics to track the performance of each language version of your site. This will help you identify areas for improvement.
Analyze data and statistics to refine your multilingual strategy : Regularly evaluate traffic data, user behavior, and conversion rates for each language. Use these insights to refine your multilingual strategy and optimize the user experience.
Part 3: Toolbox for your multilingual site
Setting up a multilingual website requires access to a range of tools and resources to ensure quality translation, optimize multilingual SEO, and draw inspiration from successful models and examples. Here is a selection of resources to help you every step of the way.
A. Content translation resources
Professional translation services :
ProTranslate : a translation service offering a wide variety of languages and specializations.
Acolad : renowned for its professional translation services tailored to various industries.
Lionbridge : Lionbridge offerss global translation and localization services to reach your international audience. Machine translation tools :
Google Translate : Google Translate remains one of the most popular tools for quick and easy translations.
DeepL Translate : DeepL is renowned for the quality and accuracy of its machine translations.
Microsoft Translator : Microsoft Translator is a robust solution for machine translations integrated with several Microsoft products. Plateformes de traduction collaborative :
Memsource : A translation management solution that facilitates collaboration between translators.
XTM Cloud : Translation management platform offering advanced features for translation teams.
Wordbee : Wordbee is a collaborative translation and localization solution, ideal for complex projects.
B. Tools for multilingual SEO
Guides and tutorials on multilingual SEO :
Ahrefs : Ahrefs' guide to multilingual SEO offers practical advice on optimizing your presence in multiple languages.
SEMrush : SEMrush offers a blog dedicated to multilingual SEOe, with tips and strategies to improve your SEO. Outils d'analyse de mots clés pour différentes langues :
Google Keyword Planner : Google Keyword Planner is an essential tool for keyword research in different languages.
SEMrush and Ahrefs also offer advanced function for keyword analysis and multilingual SEO.SEO extensions for multilingual websites :
Rank Math : Rank Math is an SEO extension that supports multilingual sites and offers advanced features to optimize your SEO.
SEOPress : SEOPress is another popular extension for improving the SEO of your WordPress site, including in multiple languages.
C. Wix multilingual website templates and examples
For inspiration and guidance in designing your own multilingual site, explore examples of successful sites using Wix. A notable example are the sites of consulting firms Scale In Tech and Capital Conseils or the Laboratoire Prolens, which illustrate how a multilingual site can be both elegant and functional.
Sources
Internet World Stats: https://www.internetworldstats.com/languages.htm
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