Translating websites allows you to reach a larger audience of foreign language customers. However, it is worth carrying out such a translation at a high level, so that the potential recipient of our services is not discouraged by the poor quality of the website. Find out how to translate a website into another language and which solutions to use.
How do you translate a page and why is it worth taking the time to do so?
Before going into how to translate a website, it is important to explain why this is so important in the world of e-commerce and traditional business. First and foremost, it helps your business grow - it allows you to reach an international community and attract new customers. Besides, it is not only abroad that Internet users speak foreign languages. Poland is home to around nine national minorities, and people from other parts of the world are constantly arriving. So it is worth making a nod in their direction as well and translating the content on your website.
What languages is it worth translating your website content into? This already depends on which foreign language customers you want to reach. English will be key, as it is the lingua franca of modern times. The rest depends on your company's marketing goals. The second most popular language online is Chinese. However, if your services are only aimed at Europeans, then bet on Spanish, French or German. 
How to translate a page - using the translators built into the browser
The first, and easiest, way to translate a page is to use the translators built into the browser. The most popular of these is Google Translator, which can be attached as a plug-in to a website. However, such automatic page translation has its advantages and disadvantages. Of the advantages, one can certainly mention the lack of investment costs - this function is completely free and is fully sufficient to provide basic needs, such as simple translation of information on the website. Such a solution is good for a start-up. Unfortunately, machines do not always make flawless and understandable translations, they also overlook the cultural aspect and sometimes distort the syntax of sentences.
How do I add a translation to a page? For the Google Chrome browser, simply click on the settings, which are located under the three dots on the right-hand side of the website. Then go to the 'Languages' tab and turn on the 'Suggest page translations in foreign languages' option.
Why translate a website with the help of professional translators?
You don't have to stop at web extensions, especially if you want to create a professional business card for your company. Machine translation is far from ideal, besides it also ignores the cultural context. A professional web translator will take a holistic approach to a website, meaning that he or she will translate the content based on the needs of a foreign audience. This is known as localisation, which is a multifaceted translation that also takes into account the cultural aspect, the UX of the site, the graphic design and typography. It also checks it in terms of SEO. Not only is the text on the page translated, but also its source code. The final version goes through proofreading by a native speaker. 
When using professional services, you can also count on text transcreation, which takes into account, among other things, creative writing. In general terms, this is as follows: the translator reads the source text and then creates a new text based on it. The tone and intention of the words are preserved. In this way, the text is likely to evoke the same emotions in a foreign-language audience as it does in a native speaker. This is extremely important in the context of marketing websites with persuasive content. As you can guess, such translation is expensive and is considered an investment for the future. A page with a poor quality translation can undermine the competence and skills of the company in question - if the translation is done unprofessionally, perhaps the whole company is acting that way.
Translating a website using translation tools - is it a good idea?
The final answer to the question of how to translate web pages is translation tools. This is an intermediate option between automatic and professional translation. It involves checking the quality of the completed translation using CAT (Computer Aided Translation) type tools. They are considered more advanced than Google Translator. These programmes support the translator's work, thoroughly check linguistic and stylistic correctness, and are compatible with many file formats. So, if you don't want to spend too much money on translation services, but at the same time your goal is to build a translation base, bet on CAT programmes.
You already know how to include page translation in your browser, which is the most basic option. You can also opt to use translation companies that are experienced in this area, which will benefit your business greatly.
Choose InPost Subscriptions for businesses and send parcels at a fixed price.
Take one minute to leave your contact details and start sending parcels from as low as 11.89 PLN*.
- One contract for courier and Paczkomat shipments
- Free courier pickups
- Express delivery
- Price guarantee for the duration of the contract
- Fuel surcharge included
- Dedicated post-sale support
* Net price per Paczkomat shipment in the Subscription 600 plan.
Czytaj również
