If you are focused on readers in your native country, then you might want to expand your site to accommodate those who read your blog in another language. To translate a WordPress site to multiple languages means to be open to new readers. Every once in a while, I get redirected to a site that has exotic symbols, or so I think. It is a site that may be in Japanese but I wished it was translated because I’m sure I could dig up some useful info.
If you are a WordPress website owner you should start to think globally, or at least allow your site to be global. In order to to do so, you will need knowledge or coding or be able to install a plugin. Personally, the ease and time saving, I chose the latter.
There are many free translation plugins available for WordPress that will convert your site into other languages. For the purpose of this SEO Translate. It is a free plugin using Microsoft’s Translator API and convert your site into 30 languages without messing with any code!
I’ve used this plugin on one of my sites called Basketball Drills Online.
Do you see the bar at the top of the homepage? That’s the plugin doing its job.
Steps to Install & Configure Plugin
- Go to Plugins->Add New and search for “SEO Translate.”
- Install & activate your plugin as you would with any other plugin
- Go to Settings->SEO Translate
- Click on the languages you want your users to be able to convert to.
- Check off where you want to display the languages
- Sign up for a new Microsoft AppID
- Enter the ID # and hit save
When you go back to your site you will see the plugin working. You or your readers will now be able to translate your site to a language of their choice (of course if it’s available to them).
Below is a screenshot when I clicked on the Japanese flag, the site automatically translated for my Japanese users.
Alternatives to SEO Translate plugin
The example I showed you can be achieved in a similar way using other translation plugins. Below are alternative translation plugins that is free to install on your WordPress as a plugin.
- Google Ajax Translation
- Global Translator
- Polylang
- Genesis Translations (for Genesis powered WordPress sites)
Hi,
You mentioned on a blog post somewehre about the Genesis framework. I’d be interested to hear any further thoughts on it. Is it a good investment? Does it help with SEO? And so on.
Ken
Hi Ken,
I like the Genesis framework alot. From a framework standpoint, I’ve only uploaded a child theme and tweaked the design a bit. All in all I think it’s a solid framework with great adaptability.
That’s an interesting solution for providing your WordPress site to users in multiple languages. I like the fact that you can use Microsoft’s API for free and not have to subscribe to some premium service.