Creating a multilingual website may seem daunting at first, for both developers and users. From technical setup and site management to ensuring search engine optimization (SEO), numerous questions and misconceptions often arise. However, once you understand the process, it becomes much easier to execute.
Having recently turned several of my own websites multilingual, I’ve explored various tools and techniques. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to build a multilingual website with ease and clarity.
But before diving into the detailed steps, let’s start with the basics.
What Is a Multilingual Website?
A multilingual website delivers the same content in multiple languages, allowing you to connect with a global audience. Based on a visitor’s region or browser language settings, the site can either auto-detect and display the appropriate language or let users manually select their preferred one.
In simple terms, a multilingual website is also known as a multi-language website.
For example, if your site supports English, Hindi, Spanish, and Japanese, it might automatically show English to users in the U.S. and Japanese to users in Japan. Still, visitors can switch to any available language as needed.
Implementing SEO for a multilingual website ensures that each language version ranks well in local search results, providing better visibility and reach across different regions.
6 Steps to Creating a Multilingual Website
To develop a successful multilingual website, you’ll need to follow a series of well-planned steps. These steps ensure that the website functions efficiently for global audiences and is optimized for search engines.
Select Your Languages
The first step is to determine which languages you want your website to support. This decision depends on multiple factors, such as your business goals, budget, available resources, and target audience location.
Instead of merely choosing the most spoken languages, it’s wise to analyze which regions bring in the most traffic. Use your analytics data to identify top-performing countries and languages. Additionally, consider running small test campaigns to gather insights on which regions could be worth targeting through translated content.
The number of languages you decide on should align with:
- Your specific business needs
- Your current resource capacity
- Your available budget
Keep in mind, translating into several languages increases complexity. It also requires additional manpower for writing, support, and content management. Therefore, starting with a few core languages and gradually scaling is often the best approach.
Automatic translation tools may seem convenient but are often inaccurate. For professional results, human translators are essential.
Choose a Domain Strategy
After deciding which languages to offer, the next step is choosing how to structure the URLs for each language version of your website. There are three main strategies:
Top-Level Domains (TLDs)
This method uses separate domain names for different countries or languages. For example:
- example.in for India
- example.ca for Canada
- example.de for Germany
While this strategy helps with localized SEO and domain authority, it also requires managing multiple sites, which can increase the workload significantly. Hence, it’s only recommended if you have the budget and resources to handle multiple domains effectively.
Subdomains
A subdomain works as an extension of your primary domain and can be used to serve different languages. For instance:
- en.example.com
- de.example.com
- fr.example.com
Subdomains are easy to maintain and allow you to keep all content under one domain. Moreover, they are search-engine friendly and benefit from the primary domain’s authority.
Sub-directories
This structure organizes languages into sub-folders within the main domain. For example:
- example.com/en
- example.com/es
- example.com/fr
Many major websites use this method as it is both SEO-friendly and simple to manage. However, sub-directories don’t allow geo-specific hosting the way TLDs or subdomains might.
In conclusion, every approach has advantages and disadvantages. Choose the structure based on your business goals, technical skills, and available resources.
Choose the Right CMS Platform
Your content management system (CMS) plays a pivotal role in handling multilingual content. While there are several CMS platforms available, using an open-source CMS gives you full control over your website, including layout, functionality, and content localization.
Opt for a CMS that allows you to install plugins or add-ons specifically designed for multilingual capabilities. Some platforms offer built-in multilingual features, while others rely on third-party plugins.
Look for the following when selecting a CMS:
- Community support
- Multilingual plugin compatibility
- Flexibility in design and layout
- Easy content duplication and translation options
Once your CMS is in place, consider designing a new logo or adjusting the site design to appeal to your international audience.
How to Make a Multilingual Website Using a CMS
If you already have a website, transforming it into a multilingual platform is easier than starting from scratch. By installing the appropriate plugin or extension, you can add multilingual functionality to your site.
After installation:
- Set up the languages you want to support.
- Configure display options for language switching.
- Begin translating your content section by section.
Good multilingual plugins let you translate everything from menus and widgets to blog categories and metadata.
In addition to your main plugin, you can explore alternatives that may better suit your specific CMS and website goals.
Translate Your Content
Translating your content is not just about converting words—it’s about conveying the same tone, intent, and clarity in another language. That’s why machine translation tools often fall short.
Instead, hire experienced translators to handle your content professionally. You can find freelance translators on job platforms and assign them content that needs to be translated accurately and appropriately.
High-quality translation helps build trust with your audience and enhances user experience, both of which are crucial for success.
Optimize for Multilingual SEO
Creating a multilingual website is only half the battle. If your content isn’t visible to the right audience, your efforts may go to waste. That’s why multilingual SEO must be a top priority.
To begin with, perform keyword research in each target language. Keyword behavior varies across languages, so using tools for localized research is essential.
Additionally:
- Implement proper hreflang tags to help search engines understand which version of the page should be shown to which audience.
- Make sure your sitemap reflects your multilingual structure.
- Use SEO plugins or tools to help optimize URLs, meta descriptions, image alt texts, and tags in all supported languages.
Also, focus on acquiring backlinks from websites in the target language to boost your domain authority in those regions.
Add a Language Selection Menu to the Header
To enhance user accessibility, it’s essential to include a language switcher drop-down menu on every page of your website. This ensures that visitors can effortlessly switch to their preferred language while browsing, leading to a more inclusive user experience.
Ideally, this language selector should be placed either in the header or the footer of your site. By having this element visible across all pages, you empower users to control their browsing experience without confusion.
If your site is built with a content management system that supports plugins, you can usually add this functionality through the “Menus” settings. Additionally, the language selector can often be added to the sidebar or footer using widget tools.
Benefits of Having a Multilingual Website
There are several compelling reasons to create a multilingual website for your business. Let’s take a look at some of the most significant advantages:
Expand to New and Global Markets
First and foremost, offering content in multiple languages helps your brand reach new geographic locations and global audiences. This not only positions your business for international recognition but also introduces you to less saturated markets with potentially lower competition. As a result, the chances of discovering new growth opportunities increase dramatically.
Improved SEO Performance
Another key benefit lies in the realm of search engine optimization. Since a large portion of online content is in English, competition in that language can be fierce. Consequently, it becomes harder to achieve high rankings in search engine results.
By translating your content into other languages, you can tap into markets with less SEO competition. This strategy often leads to higher rankings in regional search results, which, in turn, boosts your website traffic and overall visibility.
Enhanced User Experience
Moreover, offering your website in a visitor’s native language naturally leads to a better user experience. People find it easier to navigate and understand content when it is presented in a familiar language. As a result, you’ll likely notice increased time on site, better conversion rates, and a lower bounce rate—all crucial metrics for website success.
Increased Trust and Credibility
Furthermore, effective communication plays a critical role in marketing. When you present your products or services in the native language of your audience, it creates a deeper connection. Visitors are more inclined to trust brands that speak their language. This emotional familiarity can significantly improve your brand’s credibility and customer loyalty.
Final Thoughts
Although the idea of creating a multilingual website may appear overwhelming initially, the process becomes manageable when broken into actionable steps. By implementing the guidance shared in this article, you’ll not only simplify the development process but also align your strategy with global best practices.
Remember, delivering high-quality translations, using the correct language tags, performing in-depth multilingual keyword research, and maintaining consistency across your content will all contribute to long-term success. While the journey may require time and effort, the payoff in terms of market expansion and brand growth is absolutely worth it.
With the right approach and persistence, your multilingual website can evolve into a powerful platform that helps you connect with audiences worldwide and grow your business globally.
FAQ’s
Do I really need a multilingual website if most of my audience speaks English?
Absolutely—if you want to grow globally. While English may cover a wide base, offering content in your audience’s native language can deepen trust, improve user experience, and unlock untapped regional markets. People feel more connected when they can browse and shop in a language they’re comfortable with.
What’s better: machine translation or human translation?
Human translation is the clear winner. Tools like Google Translate can help in a pinch, but they often miss context, tone, and cultural nuances. A professional translator ensures your message stays clear, accurate, and relatable across languages.
Will a multilingual website hurt or help my SEO?
It can significantly help—if done right. When you use proper hreflang tags, optimize content for each language, and build region-specific backlinks, your visibility improves in multiple search engines. Just be sure not to duplicate content or neglect localized keyword research.
How do I manage updates across different languages?
Use a CMS with solid multilingual support. Platforms like WordPress with plugins like WPML or Polylang make it easier to sync updates. You can also maintain a content schedule and work with translators to ensure all languages stay aligned and consistent.
What if I don’t have the budget for full translation services right away?
Start small and scale gradually. Focus on your top-performing pages and translate those first. You don’t need to go all-in from day one—prioritize based on traffic and business goals, then grow your multilingual content library over time.