If you also want to attract international visitors with your website, it is smart to translate the website. This is not as easy as it may seem. You have to take several things into account to keep the site effective and user-friendly. There are several ways to translate a site. At the end of this post, you’ll know exactly which way suits you best.
Translate website texts for conversion
When a text is translated, you will not only have to take into account the language. It is of course important that the texts are translated in the right ways. However, it is not the intention to translate texts only literally. Part of the message can then be lost and of course you want to prevent this.
When you want to achieve more conversions, a good translation is very important. The text must not only be correct, but also convincing. With a new language you appeal to a completely new target group that does not yet know your website or company. This makes it extra important to present a good and convincing text. After all, you want to persuade these customers to take a certain action.
Translating website texts for search engines
Search engine optimization is very important for websites. By using certain keywords and titles in texts, your website will be easier to find. This ensures that more visitors will come to the site. The search engine optimization can be different for pages in different languages. It is therefore important to take this into account when translating a text.
In addition, the keywords must also be reflected in the text in a natural way. When the text is translated literally, this can sometimes go wrong. It is therefore important to take this into account. When a site is optimized for search engines, the site will be found better and also visited better.
Multilingual website or multiple domains
There are several possibilities to offer the translated content. First of all, it is possible to create a different website for each translation. With this you create, for example, an English website and a Dutch website. The annoying thing about this is that you have to create a whole new website and keep it up to date. This is not always very clear.
Secondly, it is possible to create a multilingual website. You can expand the website you already have with different languages. It is therefore not necessary to create a completely new site. All the languages you make available will then be visible on one website.
When you use WordPress, a multilingual website is very easy to create. You can install a special plugin for this. With the help of this plugin you can then add different translations of the site. There is also an option with this plugin where visitors to the site can easily switch languages. In this way, every visitor can select the language he wants.
Most popular translation sites
If you want to translate the website yourself, it is useful to have some help with this. Translating everything manually can be a lot of work. That is why it is useful to use translation sites. These sites can help you translate parts of your texts.
Vertalen via Google Translate
The most well-known translation site is Google Translate. You’ve probably used this site before when you wanted to translate a single word into another language. Nowadays, you can also use Google Translate to translate larger pieces of text.
A translation site is never perfect, especially when you want to translate entire sentences. An automatic translation site can sometimes have trouble with the grammar or the meaning of the sentence. You can use Google Translate as a basis, but make the necessary adjustments afterwards. When you use humor or imagery in your texts, it is especially smart to translate these sentences manually.
DeepL the alternative to Google Translate
In addition to Google Translate, DeepL is a very nice alternative. DeepL is mainly specialized in translating longer texts. Google Translate, on the other hand, is more often used for shorter texts or a few words.
At DeepL you can paste the text directly into the translation box. However, it is also possible to upload a Word file on the site. This will therefore be translated immediately. DeepL also offers a number of options for translation. For example, you can choose whether the text is formal or informal. The translation site will then take this into account when translating.
In order to make unlimited use of deepl’s translation site and advanced options, you will need to purchase a subscription. If you want to translate texts quickly and regularly, this is definitely recommended. The translations of DeepL are often more accurate than the translations of Google Translate.
In addition, DeepL has a good data security policy. The texts that you upload on the site will therefore never be saved. You are therefore guaranteed that your texts will be handled safely.
With DeepL, the same applies: translation sites are never 100% correct. So always check the texts yourself before you place them on your website.
Professional website translation by SEO translators
If you want good translations guaranteed, it is best to hire SEO translators. You can then be sure that the texts will be translated correctly and without errors. SEO translators also provide translated texts with optimization for search engines and conversions. The texts are not only translated literally, but attention is also paid to the persuasiveness and presentation of the texts. So if you really want to have your website translated in a professional way, it is best to engage SEO translators.
