How to make a multi-language website: Best practices and examples

When a business is going global and entering international markets, content translation is an effective first step. International customers are more likely to engage with a translated and localized website, as it’s more familiar and easy to navigate in their native language. A company with a multilingual website can easily adapt and scale its content for new audiences, opening the door for limitless expansion.

This guide will explain how to make a multi-language website, cite examples of multilingual website design, and explore essential tools to build your multilingual web page successfully.

What is a multilingual website?

A multilingual website is a website that can be viewed in multiple languages. It lets people from different countries or regions choose their preferred language to read and interact with the content. For example, a website for a company that’s entering markets in several North American countries may have a dropdown menu where visitors can select English, Spanish, and French.

Here are some benefits of a multi-language website:

• Better search engine visibility (SEO): Translating a business website into different languages helps it appear in search results for those languages, driving global traffic to the site.
• Increased sales and conversions: By making products or services accessible in multiple languages, businesses can attract more customers and increase revenue.
• Competitive advantage: A multilingual website sets a business apart from competitors who only offer content in one language, especially in international markets.
• Adaptability to local markets: Businesses that adapt to a local market once gain knowledge and experience from this process. They can standardize this process and scale more efficiently for new markets.

Implementing a multilingual website does pose some challenges. Here are the main roadblocks to consider before you start:

• Localization: Every culture has different ways of phrasing terms or conveying ideas. A phrase that works in one language might sound strange or offensive in another, even when perfectly translated. Businesses should localize their content to fit each culture.
• Handling multiple currencies and regional differences: If a multilingual website sells products or services, the business must consider currency conversions, payment methods, and legal requirements that differ across countries.
• Cost of implementation: Hiring professional translation services to update your website infrastructure can be expensive, especially if you have large volumes of content that need translation.
• Technical complexity: A multilingual website requires extra features, such as language menu buttons and flexible UI to accommodate different text lengths. Implementation can be tricky and often requires professional expertise.

How to make a multi-language website in 4 steps

Now that you understand the benefits and challenges of building a multilingual website, you can begin developing your own. Here are the basic steps to translate and localize your site:

1. Choose the right website builder and plan your languages

Start by selecting a website builder that supports multiple languages, such as WordPress or Shopify. This will streamline the process when it’s time to localize your content. The service you choose will depend on what your business does and what markets you’re entering. For example, if you’re an e-commerce business, you’ll likely gravitate toward Shopify’s platform.

Before you localize, decide which languages you want to include. Think about the audiences you’re targeting and why. Some language options will allow your business to tap into several different markets and scale faster.

2. Translate your content with localization in mind

After deciding on your website builder and selecting the languages you’ll offer, you can begin translating your website content. Here’s what you need to translate to effectively localize your website:

• Text: Written content, including page descriptions, articles, blog posts, and product details.
• Images and graphics: Images that include text (e.g., banners, infographics, or marketing materials) should be translated. You might need to redesign these images or create new versions for each language to ensure consistency and clarity for all users.
• Multimedia content: Subtitles, captions, or even scripts for videos and podcasts should be available in target languages to make your media accessible.
• Navigation buttons: Menus, dropdowns, and action buttons need to be clear in each language so users can easily explore the site.

Translating a website requires an upfront investment of time and money. Choosing the right solution can make all the difference. There is no “right” way to approach this—it largely depends on your translation needs.

Here are a few options to consider for translating your website:

• Machine translation: Tools like Google Translate are quick and affordable for basic translation needs, but they lack the nuance required for a professional multilingual website. Professional solutions, like Smartling’s Machine Translation Hub, choose the best translation for your content from various MT engines while preserving your brand voice and maintaining quality.
• Professional translation: Professional translation services are best for nuanced content where specific language and tone matter (e.g., your homepage or high-visibility marketing copy). However, translating content this way typically takes longer and costs more.
• Machine translation post-editing (MTPE): MTPE is often performed by translation companies that employ skilled editors or first-language experts to review machine-translated content and improve its accuracy, flow, and tone. It combines the efficiency of machine translation with the accuracy of a professional translator.
• AI Translation: Although MTPE has become a common method of translation in recent years, AI-only solutions like Smartling’s AI Translation are now advanced enough to provide MTPE-quality at half the cost, twice as fast. Smartling’s AI Translation combines powerful MT engines with large language models (LLMs) to speed up the translation process with remarkable quality, all with a satisfaction guarantee. It’s ideal for businesses with high-volume translation needs.

3. Set up language-specific pages

After localizing your content, you can create separate versions of each page for every language, accessible via a language dropdown menu. For example, if you want to target the Canadian audience, you would need a website with English and French compatibility. Here is how the URLs would look:

• English: example.ca/en/about
• French: example.ca/fr/about

For each page, you also need to use hreflang tags in your website’s code. Hreflang tags tell search engines which language to show users in their search results, avoiding confusion and negative user experience.

4. Test and maintain for optimal user experience

After launching your multilingual website, review and maintain each version to provide a smooth and enjoyable user experience. This includes checking the headings, buttons, and other navigational features of your web page. Review the layout and design, as some languages may require more space for text, which could affect the design or placement of elements.

Once you’ve completed the check, develop a systematic method to periodically check for any issues and keep your site running smoothly. Consistent reviews and maintenance of your multilingual website will provide a positive experience for your global audience.

Multilingual website design examples

Numerous global brands have done an excellent job creating websites in multiple languages. The common factor is a simplified user experience that easily switches the website into different languages. Here are some examples to take inspiration from:

Expedia

Expedia, the online travel agency, is available in over 35 different languages. From their front page, you can easily switch between these languages using a dropdown language selection menu. It even offers language options depending on the region you select.

Amazon

Amazon uses different versions of its website for different countries, like amazon.de for Germany or amazon.co.jp for Japan. Each site is translated into the local language and customized with regional details like currency, payment methods, and shipping options. This makes shopping on Amazon feel natural for people in every region and ensures customers get the right experience wherever they live.

Apple

Apple delivers a consistent, user-friendly experience across over 130 countries with its multilingual website. The site automatically detects a user’s location and directs them to the appropriate regional version, offering localized pricing, product availability, and language options.

Implement your multilingual website with Smartling’s expertise

A multilingual website is essential for any business seeking to engage a global audience. Localized website content can connect a business with users across different languages, diversifying income and scaling operations.

Smartling offers various solutions to meet all your website translation needs, so your business can save time and stretch its budget. Smartling’s AI Translation solution provides fast, cost-effective results for high-volume, low-visibility content, like older blog posts or support articles. For highly visible content, such as homepages or product descriptions, Smartling’s AI-powered Human Translation solution combines the efficiency of AI with the polish of expert translators, ensuring content is both accurate and engaging. 

Curious to learn more about website translation solutions? You can learn the essentials with our guide, “How to Translate a Website Quickly and Effectively.” It covers the pros and cons of the three best translation methods and explains how to choose the right translation solution.