Hey there! If you‘re looking to expand your WordPress site‘s reach by translating it into multiple languages, you‘ve come to the right place. With WordPress now powering over 43% of all websites and internet usage growing worldwide, creating a multilingual site is a smart move.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to translate your WordPress site like a pro. No coding skills required!
Why Make Your WordPress Site Multilingual?
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s talk about why you should consider making your WordPress site multilingual:
Reach a wider global audience: Only 25.9% of internet users worldwide are English speakers. By translating your site, you can tap into massive markets like China, Spain, and the Arabic-speaking world.
Boost your international SEO: Multilingual sites tend to rank better in local search results. Google reports a 19% traffic increase for websites that add a new language.
Improve user experience: 75% of global customers prefer to buy products in their native language. Meeting this expectation can lead to higher engagement, more conversions and repeat business.
Gain a competitive edge: In one survey, 65% of multinational enterprises reported that localization was critical for increasing revenue. Don‘t let competitors get the upper hand!
What You Need to Translate Your WordPress Site
To get started translating your WordPress site, you‘ll need:
A WordPress site (obviously!) with a domain name and hosting plan. We recommend managed WordPress hosts like WP Engine or Flywheel for optimal performance and multilingual support.
A WordPress multilingual plugin. In the next section, we‘ll compare the top three options.
That‘s it! You don‘t need to be a polyglot or a coding whiz to create a fully translated WordPress site.
Top WordPress Translation Plugins Compared
While WordPress doesn‘t have multilingual functionality built-in, these powerful plugins make it easy to translate your entire site:
1. TranslatePress
TranslatePress is a beginner-friendly WordPress translation plugin known for its intuitive visual interface. You can translate everything on your site by simply clicking and editing any element on the front-end.
Key features:
- Visual front-end editing (no coding required)
- Support for manual and machine translation (Google Translate, DeepL)
- Translates all content types (posts, pages, metadata, plugins, themes)
- SEO-friendly with dedicated URLs for each language
- Integrates with WooCommerce, ACF, Elementor and more
Pricing: Free version available. Premium starts at €79/year for one site.
2. WPML
WPML (WordPress Multilingual) is a popular premium solution packed with advanced translation management features. It‘s a top choice for businesses, enterprises and high-traffic sites.
Key features:
- Professional translation management workflow
- Support for 40+ languages out-of-the-box
- Built-in translation services (optional)
- Robust integrations (WooCommerce, Yoast, Gravity Forms, etc.)
- Advanced language analytics and reports
Pricing: Starts at $29 for blogs/small sites. Multilingual CMS plans from $79 per site.
3. Polylang
Polylang is a free, lightweight multilingual plugin for WordPress. It offers a simple, no-frills interface for translating posts, pages, menus, and more.
Key features:
- Translation for custom post types and taxonomies
- Language switcher widget, menu item, and block
- Customizable language names, slugs, and locales
- RTL language support
- Multisite compatible
- WooCommerce and Yoast SEO integration
Pricing: Free, with premium add-ons starting at €99/year.
So which WordPress translation plugin should you choose? Here are some general guidelines:
- For beginners: TranslatePress (most user-friendly)
- For advanced translation management: WPML (most powerful)
- For simple, free setup: Polylang (best no-cost option)
Of course, the right choice will depend on your specific needs and budget. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different options to find the best fit.
How to Set Up Your WordPress Translation Plugin
Now that you‘ve picked your plugin, it‘s time to set things up! While each plugin has its own unique interface, most follow a similar basic workflow:
- Install and activate the plugin from your WordPress dashboard
- Configure the plugin settings (default language, languages to add, etc.)
- Choose your translation method (machine, manual, and/or professional human translation)
- Add translations for your content (posts, pages, menus, theme, plugins, etc.)
- Set up and customize language switcher
For step-by-step setup tutorials, check out the detailed documentation for your chosen plugin:
Let‘s walk through a basic example using TranslatePress.
Basic Setup with TranslatePress
Install the free TranslatePress plugin and activate your license key (if using premium)
Go to Settings -> TranslatePress to configure basic options:
Choose your default language and select the languages to make your site available in. TranslatePress supports over 200 languages.
Customize your language switcher settings (style, placement, etc.)
Advanced settings like SEO options, automatic translation, and translator accounts are available with premium versions.
Translating Your Content
Once the plugin is configured, you‘re ready to start translating! TranslatePress lets you translate any content directly from the front-end of your site. Simply navigate to the page you want to translate and click the "Translate Page" button to launch the visual translation editor:
In the translation editor, you can click on any text element to translate it into the selected language. TranslatePress will automatically save your translations and display them to visitors based on their language preferences.
Repeat this process for all your key pages. Don‘t forget to translate essential elements like menus, tags, metadata and SEO fields.
With a few hours of work, you‘ll have a fully translated WordPress site ready to welcome the world!
Best Practices for Managing Your Multilingual WordPress Site
Creating a multilingual site is an ongoing process. Here are some tips to keep your translated content shipshape:
- Establish a consistent schedule for adding new translations as you publish fresh content
- Use a multilingual XML sitemap to tell search engines about your site‘s translated versions
- If using machine translation, always have a human review for accuracy and clarity before publishing
- Consider investing in professional translation for high-impact pages like your homepage, product descriptions, and legal policies
- Regularly audit your multilingual setup to ensure there are no untranslated strings or funky formatting issues
- Make sure all customer support channels (chatbots, contact forms, etc.) are optimized for multilingual communication
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to create a multilingual WordPress site?
The cost of creating a multilingual WordPress site depends on several factors:
- Your hosting plan
- The translation plugins you use (free vs. premium)
- Whether you use machine, manual, or professional translation services
- The number of languages you add
- The amount of content you need to be translated
Assuming you already have an existing WordPress site, you can get started with a multilingual setup for free using plugins like TranslatePress or Polylang.
However, for a professional business site, it‘s worth budgeting for premium translation tools and/or human translation services. Depending on the size of your site and language needs, this could range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year.
Can I use machine translation for my WordPress site?
Yes, you can use machine translation services like Google Translate or DeepL to automatically translate your WordPress site. Some multilingual plugins (like TranslatePress) even have built-in support for automatic machine translation.
However, machine translation is rarely perfect and can lead to embarrassing or misleading errors, especially for complex or technical content. It‘s always best to have a human review machine-translated content before publishing.
If accuracy is a top priority or you‘re working with sensitive subject matter, it‘s worth investing in professional human translation services.
How can I make my multilingual WordPress site SEO-friendly?
To optimize your multilingual WordPress site for search engines, follow these SEO best practices:
- Use a separate URL for each language version of a page (e.g., mysite.com/en/, mysite.com/es/)
- Implement hreflang tags to tell search engines about your site‘s language variations
- Translate all on-page SEO elements like titles, headings, image alt text, and meta descriptions
- Avoid automatically redirecting users based on their language or location
- Submit a multilingual XML sitemap to search engines
- Translate your URL slugs and keep them short and descriptive
- Use a language switcher that search engines can easily detect (avoid JavaScript or cookies)
- Ensure your site‘s loading speed is optimized, as search engines prioritize fast-loading sites
By implementing these multilingual SEO techniques, you‘ll help search engines properly index and rank your translated content, leading to more organic traffic from global searches.
How do I get professional translations for my WordPress site?
If you don‘t have in-house translators, there are several ways to get professional translations for your WordPress site:
- Hire freelance translators through marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.com
- Use a professional translation agency like Gengo, Translated.com, or One Hour Translation
- Use a managed translation service like WPML‘s Translation Management or TranslatePress‘s Autotranslate add-on
- Recruit volunteer translators from your user base or language communities
When choosing a translation provider, be sure to vet their language expertise, subject knowledge, and experience with WordPress localization.
Wrapping Up
Congratulations! You now have all the knowledge you need to create a stunning multilingual WordPress site. By investing in translation, you‘re opening up your site to a massive global audience and giving your brand a competitive edge.
Remember, the key to a successful multilingual site is regular maintenance and a focus on user experience. Keep your translations accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible, and your international visitors will thank you!
If you have any other questions about translating your WordPress site, feel free to ask us in the comments. We‘re always here to help.
Happy translating!
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