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If you want to expand your business globally, it is crucial to translate your Magento website store into different languages.
As a popular e-commerce platform, Magento provides businesses with the tools to create and manage their online stores, but for those looking to expand their reach further, translating their store into different languages is key. By offering a multilingual e-commerce store, businesses can deliver a better customer experience, attract new customers, and improve their SEO ranking in several languages.
In this article, we will provide a basic guide to translate your Magento website store, including why it matters, what elements should be included, and the best ways to go about it.
1. Why does Magento website translation matter?
In today’s global marketplace, having a multilingual e-commerce store can be a game-changer for businesses. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, translating your Magento website store can deliver a better customer experience, boost traffic and revenue, and improve your SEO ranking in several languages.
- Deliver a better customer experience: One of the main reasons why Magento website translation matters is because it allows businesses to deliver a better customer experience. Customers are more likely to shop at a store that speaks their language, and providing a seamless and consistent customer experience across all aspects of your store can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Translate your Magento website store to help boost traffic and revenue: Translating your Magento website store can also boost traffic and revenue by attracting customers who may not have otherwise found your website. By offering your store in multiple languages, you can tap into new markets and reach a wider audience. This can help increase your customer base and ultimately lead to higher revenue.
- Translate your Magento website store to help improve SEO ranking in several languages: Translating your Magento website store can improve your SEO ranking in several languages. When customers search for products or services in their native language, they are more likely to click on websites that appear in their search results. By translating your website content into different languages, you can improve your visibility in search engines and increase the likelihood of attracting new customers.
2. What content should be included in a Magento store translation?
Translating your Magento website store requires a comprehensive approach to ensure that all elements are accurately translated and localized for your target audience. Let’s take a closer look at the key elements that should be included in a Magento website translation.
- Home page: Your home page is often the first point of contact with customers, and it is essential to make a good first impression. Your home page should be welcoming and informative, with clear messaging and calls to action. Make sure to translate your Magento website store’s home page, including the header, footer, and any banners or promotional messages. You may also want to consider translating any testimonials, social media links, or other relevant content.
- Product pages: Your product pages are where customers make their purchasing decisions, and it is crucial to provide accurate and detailed information in the language they understand. Make sure to translate all product descriptions, features, specifications, and reviews. You should also consider translating any product images or videos, as well as any related products or accessories.
- Category pages: Your category pages help customers navigate your website and find the products they’re looking for. Make sure to translate your Magento website store’s category names and descriptions, as well as any filtering options or sorting criteria. You may also want to consider translating any category-related images or videos, as well as any promotional messages or special offers.
- Shopping cart: The shopping cart is where customers review and modify their orders before making a purchase. Make sure to translate all the cart-related messages, including the cart page, the checkout button, and any discount or promotional codes. You should also consider translating any shipping or tax information, as well as any payment options or security messages.
- Checkout: The checkout process is where customers provide their personal and payment information. It is essential to translate all the fields, labels, and messages to ensure a smooth and secure checkout experience. Make sure to translate all the relevant pages, including the login and registration pages, as well as any confirmation messages or error alerts.
- Customer account pages: Your customer account pages are where customers can manage their orders, shipping addresses, and payment information. Make sure to translate your Magento website store’s fields. You should also consider translating any order-related messages or tracking information, as well as any customer support or FAQ pages.
By translating these key elements, you can ensure that your Magento website store provides a consistent and engaging experience for customers in all languages. Remember to take into account any cultural or regional differences, and work with professional software translation service providers who are native speakers of your target languages.
3. Best ways to translate your Magento eCommerce website
In this section, we will explore the best ways to translate your Magento eCommerce website to effectively reach a global audience and expand your business worldwide:
#1. Plan ahead
Planning is the foundation of a successful Magento website translation project. It helps you save time and money while ensuring a high-quality output. Rushing into translation without proper planning may result in costly mistakes and inconsistent translations. Therefore, taking time to plan ahead is crucial.
The plan should outline the scope of your project, the number of languages to be translated, the expected volume of work, and the expected turnaround time. For example, the plan should specify which content needs localization, the level of translation required, and whether desktop publishing services are necessary. It is also important to determine the number of languages to be translated and whether to translate all target languages at once or test the water with one or two languages.
The volume of work is another important consideration. The use of Translation Memory (TM) in Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools can save time and money, as repeated content requires less effort to handle than new content. When estimating the volume of work, consider the number of new words and duplicate words. If you already have a TM, your costs will be even lower.
The expected turnaround time is dependent on factors such as the translator’s capacity, the number of translators involved, and the project’s scope. You should determine the translator’s daily word output and the total number of words that a team of translators can handle within a day. For consistency, it is recommended that no more than three translators and one editor work on a project with highly-related content such as websites, user guides, and contracts.
It is also essential to consider your budget. If the quotation from your translation partner exceeds your initial budget, consider cutting down on the number of words that need translating or negotiating for a discount. A well-planned Magento website translation project will ensure that you deliver high-quality localized content while staying within your budget.
#2. Prepare and import content for translation
Most translation partners charge based on the number of words they translate, so reducing the word count can help you save on costs and time. Here are some tips to help you optimize your source content for economical, translation-friendly results:
• Use shorter, simpler words and sentences. Paraphrase longer sentences to reduce wordiness.
• Remove idioms, jargon, metaphors, or expressions that may not be familiar in other cultures.
• Leave enough blank space to accommodate the expansion of translated content, while still maintaining the original format.
• Avoid text in graphics. Text in graphics is tricky to translate and can increase costs and turnaround time. If possible, use written words instead of images. If images are necessary, provide editable source files (such as .pts or .indd) to help streamline the process.
Images can also cause issues during translation. Inappropriate images for the target culture may need to be replaced, which can be time-consuming. If you cannot replace images with written words, work with your translation partner to ensure they have appropriate images for the target culture.
#3. Write a guideline for translators
The success of a translation project depends not only on the translators and agencies but also on your company’s preparation. Mistakes in the translation process, such as typing errors or inaccurate word choices, can be avoided with proper guidance. A guideline for translators is essential to ensure a high-quality translation and save time.
Here is the instruction for translators:
Style Guide
A common style guide should cover:
- Punctuation and spelling (e.g. comma after “and” or not, British English or American English spelling, etc.)
- Date and time formats (e.g. dd/mm/yyyy or mm/dd/yyyy or yyyy/mm/dd)
- Numbers, percentages, and currency (e.g. metric system or imperial system)
- Acronyms and abbreviations
- User interface (e.g. monolingual source, monolingual target, or bilingual)
- Writing tone and styles
Terminology, Glossary, and Do-not-translate List
A list of frequently used terms and their translations is crucial to ensure consistency and accuracy throughout the project. Provide your translators with a glossary of how you want these terms to be translated. Also, create a list of words that should not be translated, such as product names, people names, technologies, addresses, or website domains.
References
Your translators need to understand your brand’s voice to achieve a consistent tone and writing style. Provide references or examples of previous documents or existing translations to give them a clear view of what languages to use.
Other requirements
- CAT Tools: Most freelance translators and translation agencies use CAT Tools to reduce turnaround time and increase overall translation quality. Specify which CAT Tool you want your translators to use, such as Trados, MemoQ, Memsource, or others.
- Design and layouts: Mention the final file formats and layouts.
Connecting all your translation management technologies, such as the content management system (CMS), API, and CAT environment, can guarantee a smooth workflow and decrease the time for transferring individual files between you and your translation partner.
#4. Translation and review
Once you have prepared your source content and written clear instructions for your translators, it is time to translate your Magento website store. This is where the actual work begins, and it is crucial to have a translation partner who can meet your requirements.
The Magento website translation process may involve these steps:
- Translation: The translation partners translate your Magento website store into the target language, following your instructions and style guide. They use CAT tools, machine translation, or human translation, depending on your preferences and budget.
- Editing: Once the translation is completed, the editor checks the translation for accuracy, grammar, and style. They compare the target text with the source text to ensure that the meaning is conveyed accurately.
- Proofreading: The proofreader reviews the translated content for typos, formatting errors, and other small mistakes that may have been missed during the editing phase.
- Quality Assurance: Quality assurance is an important step in the translation process that ensures the final product is accurate, consistent, and meets your requirements. This may include additional checks such as a final review by a project manager or a client review.
It is essential to communicate with your translation provider regularly during the translation process to ensure that they understand your requirements and deliver high-quality work. You should also ask for progress updates and clarify any questions or issues that arise during the translation process.
#5. Publish and test your Magento website translation
Once you have received the final translation from your translation partner, it is time to publish it and test it thoroughly. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth publishing process and to make sure that your translation is error-free and high-quality:
- Double-check the translation: Before publishing the translation, make sure to double-check it for accuracy and consistency. Check for any typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting errors.
- Test the translation: Test the translation to ensure that it works well with your website or product. Check if the translated text fits properly in the layout and if any buttons or links are working properly. Test the translated content on different devices, browsers, and screen sizes to ensure that it is displayed correctly.
- Have a native speaker review the translation: While your translation partner might have delivered high-quality translations, it is always a good idea to have a native speaker review the translation. A native speaker can help you spot any cultural nuances or language differences that might have been missed during the translation process.
- Update your website or product: Once you have tested and reviewed the translation, it is time to publish it. Update your website or product with the new translation and ensure that it is properly integrated with the rest of your content.
- Monitor the performance: Keep an eye on the performance of the translated content. Check if the translated content is resonating with your target audience and if it is driving the desired results.
- Collect feedback: Encourage your users to provide feedback on the translated content. This can help you identify any areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
4. Wrap up
The task to translate your Magento website store is a complex process that requires careful planning, execution, and review to ensure high-quality and accurate results. To achieve success in your translation project, you need to prepare well, select the right provider for website translation services, establish clear communication, and follow a strict preparation and implementation process.
By following the above-mentioned steps, you can ensure that your translation project runs smoothly and delivers the desired results.
