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Translating websites and SEO

by kithara
8 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Am trying to figure out how should i go about with my new website...

So my site is directed regionally and on my native language ..but i cant decide what to do..

1) Just make it in English ? (search engine results state that more searches are made in English in my region)

2) Make it in my native language (possibly loose large amount of search engine traffic)

3)Translate them into 2 sites English and native ?

4)Use a word press plugin to translate it ?


Which will you say its my best bet to better optimize and become seo friendly ?
#seo #translating #websites
  • Profile picture of the author frenchsquared
    have you looked at google translate. It can store the users setting so when they see your site is will be in there language.

    you best bet would be to look at your intended traffic. For me in Colorado sure English makes since, but.... there is a large Spanish community and a lot less Spanish sites. Often a Spanish site will get more traffic then the English site just because of lack of competition for search results.

    use Google key word tool to try and see if you can determine the amount of saturation for your terms. More searches is not always the way to go. Its about easy words.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    You can have the same content in 2 (or more) languages... you can even make the site remember their preferred language - just do NOT ever make machine translations (like google or any other 'automatic' translation machine).

    Machine translations suck and nobody wants to read them! Either have your content professionally translated or you'll scare away your visitors!
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    • Profile picture of the author waitstate
      Istvan is absolutely right. Machine translation (google, babelfish etc) just isn't there yet and what looks like a courteous gesture will just piss people off.

      Get the content right in one language and then sub-contract the translation out is the best way (or if you're multilingual and can do it yourself to a high standard, do that).

      The bonus is that you will get more traffic because you're getting 2 (or more) complete sets of keywords indexed; which of course will score higher on regional searches.

      Wordpress + qTranslate + eShop is working well for me at the moment...I have a site up at | Kristian Kiel so you can see them in action (NOTE: Not all shop plugins are happy with multilanguage)
      (NOTE2: The qTranslate is (I believe) the best around -and it's free!- but it does have one flaw...when there's a wordpress update, you have to wait for qTranslate to release a matching plugin before you update wordpress. otherwise the qTranslate plugin turns itself off; which is inconvenient to say the least!)
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  • Profile picture of the author kithara
    i will speak with my theme provider at solostream and see what can be done in terms of pure translations.. i also think that Google translate might scare of visitors.. but its an option i was considering.. because i hate splitting my SEO campaign into 2 therefor loosing half of my power.. or require double the effort to rank well ..it might be just too much work and not that much of traffic returned ..

    For this project am not relying that much on existing keyword traffic rather that my off line promotion campaign

    Any successful examples i might look to get ideas are welcomed

    I would not be so much using translations for articles but rather for translating the actual navigation within the site,categorys and such .. if that says anything ..
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    • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
      Originally Posted by kithara View Post

      I would not be so much using translations for articles but rather for translating the actual navigation within the site,categorys and such .. if that says anything ..
      That's built-in WP; just need to download the respective language package:
      WordPress in Your Language « WordPress Codex

      If a theme is using the standard WP navigation, it will be translated with the package. Additionally, many themes and plugins are prepared for translation and/or have their own language packages.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vibes
    not a fan of Google translate
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  • Profile picture of the author kithara
    yes its a word press site.. the theme it self is based on best selling magazine themes.its called WP-CLEAR
    how would i go about doing that ?
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Paid (aka premium) themes should provide their own support - since it is a paid product!

    how would i go about doing that ?
    Doing what?

    Also, be aware that we are NOT discussing here any SEO aspect of whatever you want to do. Personally, I hate when people's thinking is deteriorated by 'seo-worries' and they forget common sense:

    If you have a bilingual audience - you create a site that will serve THEIR need and you should accommodate their needs: navigation, content, everything should be based on that. Nothing else.

    People first. Search engines distant second. This is my approach but you are free to do whatever you want...
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