Going global

how to make your WordPress site multilingual

About me and the companyDat Hoang

● Community & Support of OnTheGoSystems

● Marketing Online

OnTheGoSystems

● WPML● Toolset plugins● ICanLocalize

Agenda● Multilingual website –

why it is worth investment

● What is a multilingual site and what it is NOT

● How to turn your WordPress site into a full multilingual site

● Tips and hints

Languages on the Internet

source: wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_used_on_the_Internet

The benefits of having a multilingual site

For the site owner● you reach more customers● you enhance your professional image● you increase the trust of your visitors● better search engine visibility

For the WP developer● you eliminate show

stoppers for projects with multilingual requirements

● you present a wider range of services

● after gaining some experience - you earn easy money

What is a multilingual site and what is not

side by side translation? gTranlator switcher?

Google's directives● Google tries to determine

the main language of each one of your pages

● Google ignores all code-level language info

● You can help by:

○ sticking to only one language per page

○ using the same language for all elements

● Help Google bots to get your site indexed● automated

translations will be ignored!

● cross-link page by page

● avoid automatic redirections

● provide valuable content

Source: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2010/03/working-with-multilingual-websites.html

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert the language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

Different possibilities● Multiple WP installs● WordPress MultiSite● Plugins

○ qTranslate○ WPML○ Multilingual Press ○ Stella○ xili-language

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

What to handle● select site languages● select language URL

format● select admin language

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

Tips and hints● cross-link all pages● custom lang switcher -

check ahead what your plugin allows for

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

What to translate● site title● pages and posts● categories, tags● images, menus● widgets● custom post types● custom fields● theme localization● theme options● sticky links ...

Making your WP site a multilingual site

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

Making your WP site a multilingual site

When you are done, your site will start living its own life● let your site be easy to

maintain by different users

● be predictable, think ahead about future enhancements

Steps1. choose your solution2. install and configure3. insert language

switcher4. translate your content5. keep updated

Different user roles, different needs

Site visitors● comfortable, please● I’d like to understand

everything

Content editors● quick and easy, please● don’t make me think

WP developers● how quickly?● which elements to

handle?

Google bots● will I recognize the

language?● translated by human?

Make it comfortable for non-technicals● can you copy from

original?● can you change your

admin language? ● can you translate

images?● how about the menu

synchronization?

Don’t let eCommerce surprise you● the number of WP

eCommerce shops is rapidly growing

● check ahead if your multilingual plugin supports eCommerce

Summing up● No SEO, no customers.

Don’t ignore Google directives.

● Identify all elements to be translated. Make sure your plugin can handle them all

● Remember there are different user needs. Simplify non-techies lives.

● Think ahead about the future enhancements

handle all the requirements with WPML

Big Thanks!Dat HoangCommunity & Support Vietnam E: dat.h@icanlocalize.comW: wpml.org | wp-types.com | icanlocalize.com

Hanoi, Jan 18, 2014