Were you thinking of going global with your Webflow website? 

So here we are to help you - With a Webflow multilingual website that speaks different languages, making your awesome content accessible to a wider audience.

This blog will help you get a brief on how to do that! 

What does a Multilingual Website mean?

A multilingual website is simply a website that offers its content in more than one language. This allows visitors from different countries and regions to access and understand the information presented.

Benefits of a Multilingual Webflow Website

For websites aiming to expand their reach internationally, multilingual webflow websites offer a wealth of benefits. Let's explore how optimizing your website for multiple languages can significantly enhance your online presence.

Reach New Customers

• Go global! Open your website to visitors worldwide.
• New languages, new audiences - boost website traffic.
• Untapped markets - expand your reach with multilingual content.

Improved User Experience

• No language barrier! Welcome visitors in their native tongue.
• User-friendly navigation - keep visitors engaged and happy.
• Increased comfort - create a positive experience for all.

SEO Boost

• Speak search engine's language - rank higher internationally.
• Multilingual content - improve search relevance for global users.
• More visitors, higher ranking - attract a wider audience.

Stand Out From The Crowd

• Multilingual = Innovative & Global Thinking
• Make a strong impression on potential customers.
• Rise above the competition in a crowded online space.

Also, Know: Best Webflow Apps And Integrations

How to Make a Webflow Multilingual Website on Webflow?

Let's look into all the options on how to make a Webflow multilingual website that will help you increase your business.

Option 1: Webflow Localization

This option is great for those who want a streamlined experience within Webflow multilingual websites. Here's what you need to know:

Setting Up Your Languages:

• Webflow Localization lets you choose the languages you want to offer.
• It even offers machine webflow translation as a starting point, which can be a real-time-saver.

Steps of Setting Up Your Languages

1. In your Webflow project settings, navigate to the "Localization" tab.
2. Select the "Languages" option.
3. Choose the primary language of your website and any additional languages you want to support.
4. Webflow Localization will create duplicate pages for each language.
   

Translation and Content Management 

• You can either use the AI translations or upload your translations for each language.

• Webflow gives you the option of switching the language as per your choice. We can change it on the top left bar then you can see all your content in one place, making it easy to manage different versions.
  

Adding a Language Switcher

• This lets visitors choose their preferred language with a simple click. Webflow offers different language switcher styles to match your website's design.
• Webflow has no built-in language switcher, but you can create a custom one using interactions.
• The switcher should allow users to choose their preferred language and redirect them to the corresponding version of your website.

Benefits

• Easy to set up and use within Webflow.
• AI translations can be a helpful starting point.
• Offers localized URLs (web addresses) which can be good for SEO 
  

Things to Consider

• This is a paid service, so there are monthly fees involved.  
• AI translation isn't always perfect, so you might need to review and edit the translations.

Option 2: Third-Party Integration

If you're looking for more advanced features or a wider range of languages, consider using a third-party service like Weglot. For this blog, we've chosen Weglot as our solution to showcase its capabilities in creating a website for a better experience. Here's how it works:

Setting Up Your Languages in Weglot

• Create a Weglot account: Head over to Weglot's website and sign up for an account.
• Add your domain name: In your Weglot dashboard, add your main website domain (e.g., [invalid URL removed]).
• Define your original language: Specify the primary language your website content is currently in.
• Choose additional languages: Select the languages you want to offer on your website.

Translation and Content Management:

• Weglot offers two options for translation:

         1) Automatic translation (using machine translation): Weglot can handle initial translations automatically, but you might need to review and edit them for accuracy.

         2) Manual translation: You can translate the content yourself or hire professional translators.

• Weglot provides a user-friendly interface for managing translations. You can see all your website content organized by page and element, making it easy to translate specific sections.
  

Integrating Weglot with Webflow:

• Weglot provides a Javascript snippet that you'll need to add to your Webflow project.
• In your Webflow Designer, go to the "Settings" panel of your project.
• Navigate to "Custom Code" and then "Head Code."
• Paste the Javascript snippet provided by Weglot into the head code section.

Adding a Language Switcher to Your Website:

• Weglot offers a language switcher widget that you can customize and add to your Webflow website.
• The widget allows visitors to easily switch between different language versions of your site.
• You can customize the look and feel of the language switcher to match your website's design.
  

Benefits:

• A wider range of languages is supported compared to Webflow Localization.
• Option to connect with professional translators for high-quality translations.
• Offers features like automatic language detection based on visitor location.

Things to Consider:

• This is also a paid service with different plans depending on your needs.
• Requires setting up an account with another service besides Webflow.

Option 3: Manual Approach - Do it Yourself!

There are two main parts to building a webflow multilingual website on Webflow manually:

1. Setting Up Your Languages and Content: This involves creating separate versions of your website content for each language.
2. Adding a Language Switcher: This allows visitors to switch between languages on your website easily and this requires JavaScript coding.

Here's a breakdown of the steps for each:

I. Setting Up Your Languages and Content

• Choose Your Language Structure: Decide how you'll differentiate languages. Popular options include sub-folders.
• Duplicate Your Pages: In Webflow, duplicate your main website pages for each additional language and make a separate folder for each language such as en/fr, etc.
• Translate Content: Manually translate all text content within the duplicated pages, including headings, body text, buttons and you might want to update some style as well. Some languages have larger content length.
• Use Symbols and Flags (Optional): Consider using symbols or flags to represent each language on your pages visually. 

• Leverage Webflow CMS: If you're using Webflow CMS, create separate collections for each language to manage translated content efficiently.

II. Adding a Language Switcher

• Design the Switcher: Create a button or drop down menu that users can click to switch languages.
• Link Switcher Options: For each language option, link it to the corresponding website version (sub-folder based on your chosen structure).You need to do custom JavaScript code to build the switcher.
• Consider User Experience: Place the language switcher in a prominent location, like the header or footer, for easy access.

While the manual approach offers more control,the maintenance with different pages of language is difficult. It takes more time to update simple content and images. These services often provide features like automatic translation with human review recommended) and simplified language-switching implementation.

SEO for Multilingual Websites

Multilingual SEO is crucial for websites aiming to reach a global audience. Here's a breakdown of its key strategies for implementation:

To maximize the SEO potential of your multilingual website and reach a global audience, consider these key strategies:

Key Strategies for Multilingual SEO

• Market Research & Keyword Targeting: Identify your target markets and conduct thorough keyword research in those languages to understand what users are searching for.
• URL Structure: Choose a clear URL structure that incorporates language or region indicators. This helps search engines understand which content variant is meant for a specific audience.

These are the Examples of URL Structure:

1. https://www.thecssagency.com/webflow-development-agency
2. https://www.thecssagency.com/blog/best-website-builder-for-small-business
3. https://www.thecssagency.com/blog/custom-webflow-templates 
   
   

• Hreflang Tags: Implement hreflang tags in your website's code. These tags signal to search engines the relationship between your various language versions, avoiding duplicate content issues.eg: <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.thecssagency.com/" hreflang="en-in" />, and if you want to generate the hreflang tag click here.
  

• High-Quality Translation & Optimization: Ensure your website content is accurately translated while maintaining SEO best practices. This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, and headers for the target language and keywords.
• Language Targeting: Avoid using a single page with mixed languages. Provide a consistent user experience by offering dedicated pages for each language.
• Localize Your Content: Go beyond just translation. Adapt your content to resonate with the cultural nuances and search habits of your target audience. This might involve using relevant examples, local references, and preferred units (e.g., metric vs imperial).

By following these strategies, you have better SEO visibility and you can rank your language pages easily and reach new audiences, and improve your global brand presence.

Conclusion 

Your Webflow website can speak to the world! This blog gives you insights into the benefits of multilingual websites, including reaching new audiences, boosting SEO, and enhancing user experience. It also offers a glimpse into the steps involved in creating a multilingual Webflow site, empowering you to take your website global.

Webflow localization empowers you to create and manage multilingual websites with ease. Its visual interface lets you translate content directly within the editor, and features like automatic language switching ensure a smooth user experience for your global audience. So, break down language barriers and reach new heights with your Multilingual Webflow website!

Also, Read: What are the advanced techniques to optimize mobile responsiveness?

FAQs

1. What are the different options for creating a multilingual website in Webflow?

There are three main options:

• Webflow Localization (paid): This built-in Webflow feature allows you to set up different languages, manage translations (machine or manual), and create localized URLs.
• Third-party Integration (e.g., Weglot): These services offer wider language support, automatic translation options, and features like language detection. They integrate with Webflow through custom code.
• Manual Approach: This involves duplicating your pages for each language, translating content manually, and creating a custom language switcher.

2. What are the benefits of using Webflow Localization?

Webflow Localization streamlines your multilingual website creation.  Manage everything within Webflow's user-friendly interface, from content to different language versions. Get a jumpstart with machine translation, then customize for accuracy. Webflow even handles SEO by generating localized URLs for each language, boosting your global search ranking.

3. What are the drawbacks of using Webflow Localization?

Webflow Localization offers convenience, but there are trade-offs. Monthly fees apply, and while machine translation gets you started, you might need revisions for accuracy. Additionally, Webflow's language support is more limited compared to some third-party services.

4. When should I consider using a third-party integration like Weglot?

Consider a third-party solution like Weglot if Webflow's built-in features don't meet your specific needs. This might be the case if you require highly advanced language management, a wider range of languages, or a more streamlined workflow for handling complex multilingual content.

5. Is it difficult to create a multilingual website manually in Webflow?

For simple websites with few languages, it's manageable. However, it requires manual translation, content duplication, and building a custom language switcher. Third-party solutions often offer a more streamlined approach with additional features.