Introduction

Imagine you’re a small owner and want to have a strong sales pipeline. What should you do first? Build a multilingual website that speaks to everyone!

A multi-language website is nothing short of an ace for any business that wants to scale globally and attract sales. Not only does it get the message across in native languages, but also helps customers feel valued and understood, which in turn, unlocks a new level of personalization and drives higher conversion rates.

We’re living in a time when globalization has reached an acme. Without a global presence, a business isn’t seen as competitive or successful. Thus, having a multilingual site isn’t an “if,” but a “when.” And if you’re using WordPress, we’ll explain how to make your site multilingual in just five minutes using WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin), giving you a considerable upper-hand in the market.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a content management system (CMS)—the simplest yet the most powerful at the moment. Let’s understand it from a layman’s as well as a professional’s standpoint.

The shorter, easier definition

WordPress, as a CMS, makes website content management easier, faster, and more efficient. It lets you customize how your site looks, feels, and interacts with your audience. As one of the most popular ways to get a website or a blog up and running, it currently powers more than 38% of the web (over 835 million websites).

More technical definition

WordPress is a free, open-source CMS built with PHP and MySQL, backed by the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. It offers customization and extensibility through plugins and themes, supports custom post types, taxonomies, and metadata, and integrates with external applications via RESTful APIs. 

Licensed under GPLv2, it allows free use and modification. With its modular design and customizable hooks, WordPress is ideal for both simple and complex websites, offering scalability, version control, and collaborative content management.

What is WPML in WordPress?

WordPress Multilingual Plugin, also known as WPML, is a powerful WordPress plugin that easily turns your website into a multilingual platform. With the WPML plugin, developers can translate every part of a website—from pages, posts, menus, and theme texts—into any language of their choice, empowering businesses to compete globally.

WPML offers flexible translation options, including automatic translations via WPML AI, Google, DeepL, and Microsoft. It also lets you control the translation workflow, so you can manage how and what gets translated. With support for over 65 languages, WPML comes at the top as the most versatile plugin, making it an ideal choice for both corporate websites and personal blogs. 

Key Features of WPML Plugin

1. Comprehensive Translation: WPML transforms a website holistically. The plugin helps translate pages, posts, taxonomies, menus, and even theme texts into multiple languages, ensuring the website caters to a global audience.

2. Compatibility: WPML’s compatible with hundreds of themes or plugins that adheres to WordPress API standards, making it adaptable to various site configurations.

3. Dependable Support: WPML offers dedicated support to assist you in delivering impeccable multilingual websites promptly.

4. Flexible Translation Methods: WPML provides multiple translation options, including automatic translations with AI tools like WPML AI, Google, DeepL, and Microsoft, allowing for a faster and more efficient translation process.

5. E-Commerce Integration: WPML integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, enabling businesses to create multilingual online stores with support for multiple languages and currencies, expanding their global reach.

How Much Does WPML WordPress Plugin Cost?

WPML is priced with varying budgetary needs in mind. The pricing options are flexible, making it suitable for startups, agencies, SMEs, and Fortune 500 companies alike. Refer to the table below to understand how much WPML costs.

How to Set Up the WPML WordPress Plugin?

Setting up WPML is straightforward. Take note of the following steps to get WPML started.

1. Installation: Ensure your site meets WPML’s minimum requirements and install the core plugin along with any necessary add-ons.​
2. Configuration: Use the setup wizard to select your site’s languages and choose translation methods.​
3. Translation: Begin translating your site’s content and structure, including headers, footers, and sidebars, to ensure a cohesive multilingual experience.​

For a detailed walkthrough, refer to WPML’s Getting Started Guide. ​By integrating WPML into your WordPress site, you can effectively reach and engage a global audience.

If you face any blockers or find the whole process overwhelming, the easiest way to go around it is by hiring a WordPress website development company and seeking professional help from those who know the drill.

Building a Multilingual Website With WordPress and WPML: A Step-by-Step Guide

By default, WordPress allows websites in only one language. For years, developers have built a local website by cloning the main one and directing users to the localized version.

Steps to Create a Localized Version of a Main Website

1. Duplicate and Set Up the New Site: Use the “Copy Site” feature or activate the same theme on a new site. Register a new domain or subdomain (e.g., my-website.com and fr.my-website.com).
2. Set Language and Translate Content: Set the appropriate language for each site and translate the content manually, using tools like Google Translate or ChatGPT.
3. Enable Language Switching: Add links to each site’s menu to allow visitors to easily switch between languages.

However, things have turned 360-degrees when dedicated multilingual plugins entered the chat. By using plugins like WPML, users can create multilingual websites on the go. Since you’ve already set up WPML in your WordPress dashboard, here’s a concise 5-step guide to help you proceed:

1. Configure WPML Languages
   • Navigate to the WPML settings in your WordPress dashboard.​
   • Select the languages you want to support on your site. WPML allows you to choose multiple languages and set a default language.​
   • Decide how users will switch between languages—options include language switcher widgets or menu items.​
2. Translate Website Content
   • For each page or post, use the WPML translation editor to add translations.​
   • Ensure that all essential content, including titles, body text, and excerpts, are accurately translated.​
3. Translate Menus and Widgets
   • Go to the WPML > WP Menus Sync section to synchronize and translate your navigation menus.​
   • For widgets, use the WPML String Translation module to translate widget titles and content, ensuring consistency across languages.​
4. Translate Theme and Plugin Strings
   • Access the WPML > Theme and Plugins Localization section.​hostinger.com+2hostgator.com+2elementor.com+2
   • Scan your theme and plugins for translatable strings.​
   • Use the String Translation module to provide translations for these strings, ensuring that all interface elements are localized.​
5. Test and Optimize Your Multilingual WebSite
   • Thoroughly review each language version of your site to ensure all content displays correctly.​
   • Check that language switchers function properly and that navigation is seamless across different languages.​
   • Optimize SEO settings for each language to improve search engine visibility in different regions.​

By following these steps, you can effectively build and manage a multilingual WordPress website using WPML.

Factors to Keep in Mind

The WPML plugin does make it all easier. However, keeping a few considerations in mind can help you avoid common pitfalls and unlock lasting results.

1. Proper Language Setup & SEO Optimization: Configure languages correctly, set SEO-friendly URL structures, and enable hreflang tags to prevent duplicate content issues and improve multilingual search engine indexing.
2. Theme & Plugin Compatibility: Ensure your theme and plugins are WPML-compatible to avoid conflicts, ensuring smooth translations for custom post types, widgets, and shortcodes without functionality issues.
3. Translation Management & Workflow: Use WPML’s Translation Management to assign tasks efficiently, choosing between manual translation, automatic translation, or hiring professional translators for accuracy and consistency.
4. Performance & Site Speed: WPML can impact site speed due to additional database queries, so use caching, a CDN, and optimize database settings for improved performance.
5. Regular Updates & Support: Keep WPML, WordPress, and plugins updated, ensure backups before updates, and rely on WPML support to resolve compatibility or functionality issues promptly.

Translate Your WordPress Content With Professional Help

For many years, WordPress developers either used Google Translate or built a second site for businesses looking to branch out across multiple geographies. The rise of multilingual plugins like WPML threw a lifeline to WordPress development companies, simplifying the whole process and significantly reducing the turnaround time.

However, WPML does require some learning. If you’re a business, have expansion plans in the offing, and need a multilingual website, Reeshatech, a top WordPress development company, can help. With years of experience in WordPress development, familiarity with best practices and practical strategies, and a team that understands the CMS inside out, we’re perfectly equipped to solve your business challenges and build a site that engages your audience, no matter where they are.

Come explore our WordPress expertise today!

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