Making Your Website Multilingual
According to CSA Research, 60% of global internet users will ONLY buy when information is available in their native language.
That preference extends beyond product descriptions. If pricing, terms and conditions, delivery information, or support options are unclear, prospective customers may hesitate—or leave your site altogether.
Your website is often their first interaction with your organization. Do you make it easy for prospects to understand your offer and its relevance to them?
Choosing the right translation approach
AI-only translation can be useful for certain types of content, particularly when speed, scale, or a general understanding of the text matters more than accuracy.
However, legal, medical, scientific, technical, educational, manufacturing and contractual materials often call for professional linguists with subject-matter expertise. The most effective solution combines appropriate technology with qualified human review.
Our AI and human translation comparison explains the available options and where each works best.
Three Ways to make a website multilingual
The right approach depends on your audience, priorities, timeline, and budget.
- Complete website — This may include product and service pages, videos, downloadable documents, blog posts, customer reviews, and other supporting content.
- Abridged: The most important pages — A focused translation might cover the homepage, contact page, and key product or service pages. This provides international visitors with the essential information while additional content can be added over time.
- Summary: A concise multilingual overview — A short landing page or downloadable PDF can introduce your organization, products, or services in a new market. This practical approach tests interest and reaches many more language groups cost-effectively.
This is how we present our own capabilities for Latin America in Spanish and Portuguese as well as in French for Europe or Africa.
Audio and Video content
International audiences may also need access to podcasts, webinars, training videos, audiobooks, presentations, and promotions.
This can involve subtitles, voiceovers, dubbing, transcription, or a combination of services. Our provided recommendations will depend on the platform, budget, accessibility requirements, and viewing experience you want to provide.
When international prospects contact you
If prospects, customers or suppliers write in another language, we will translate their message for you—and your reply back into their language.
Your conversation can continue clearly and professionally without having to communicate in a language in which you may be less comfortable.
When you need a live conversation
For immediate conversations with customers, suppliers, agents or employees, over-the-phone interpreting accesses vetted interpreters in over 200 languages.
The service is available 24/7, with interpreters typically connected within 60 seconds. There is no subscription or charge when the service is not used; you pay only for the low-cost minutes you need. And all calls are confidential.
Translation: Only part of the process
Effective international websites are not just putting the original words in another language. They may also require adapting:
- Images, colors, and cultural references
- Currency and payment methods
- Dates, numbers, and measurement formats
- Terminology, tone, and industry-specific language
- Culturally revised appeals, benefits, and calls to action.
This process—localization—helps content feel natural and relevant to its intended audience.
The same principle applies when communicating with multilingual communities within the United States … including Latino, Filipino, Chinese, and other language groups.
Localized websites will not replace a strong product or service. They can, however, remove barriers between you and your prospects.
BLOOPERS
The first rule for precision translations is NOT to rely solely on AI or amateurs. When you do, mistakes can happen … such as these English signs, at home and abroad:
Garlic Jim’s restaurant: “Now Open Try Our Gluten Free New Owner
Czech tourist agency: “Take our horse-driven city tours. We guarantee no miscarriages.”
China sign: “Please don’t touch yourself. Let us help you to try out.”
PLEASE CONTACT US
For a free consultation to discuss your own website options, or to enroll in usage-only, low-cost Over-the-Phone Interpreting, please call or email us.