Table of Contents
- Why Localisation Is Essential for Australian Brands
- How to Implement Localisation in Webflow
- Creating a Multilingual Website with Webflow
- Optimising SEO for Multilingual Content
- Best Practices for Multilingual Websites
- SEO Strategies for Multilingual Websites
- FAQs About Webflow Localisation
- Conclusion
- How We Can Assist with Webflow Localisation
When Maria launched her online skincare brand in Melbourne, she anticipated orders from Australian customers. However, she was surprised to see significant traffic from countries like Indonesia, the UAE, and Latin America.
These international visitors were requesting prices in their own currencies and content in their native languages.
Although her Webflow site was visually appealing, fast, and mobile-friendly, it only featured English content. This limitation became an issue, leading to high bounce rates as potential customers left the site without completing purchases.
Some visitors reached out via social media for information that was not available on the site, highlighting the need for content tailored to local audiences.
Maria realised she was losing potential customers, not due to her product or marketing but because her website did not accommodate their language needs, which negatively impacted customer engagement.
This situation is common for many online entrepreneurs lacking multilingual content. Let’s explore how to address this challenge effectively.
Why Localisation Is Essential for Australian Brands
While Maria’s business was thriving in Australia, she recognised that the real potential lay in reaching international markets. Simply translating her website wasn’t sufficient; she needed to ensure her site resonated culturally with each audience.
Global Reach Requires More Than Translation
Localisation involves adapting your website’s language, tone, and visuals to align with cultural norms, creating a sense of relevance for each audience. This approach makes visitors feel as if your site was designed specifically for them.
Building Trust Through Language
When content is presented in a visitor’s native language, they are likely to engage more deeply, fostering trust and increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Local SEO Enhances Visibility
Optimising your content for local search terms can improve your site’s visibility on regional search engines, attracting targeted traffic.
Avoiding Generic Translations
Poorly executed translations can alienate visitors. True localisation goes beyond mere translation and incorporates cultural nuances.
The Challenge: Efficiently Managing Multiple Languages
Maria sought a solution that would enable her to create and manage multilingual content without overwhelming her workload. This is where Webflow’s localisation tools prove invaluable, offering businesses the means to craft multilingual websites with ease.
How to Implement Localisation in Webflow
To effectively use Webflow’s localisation features, follow these steps:
Step 1: Know Your Audience
Identify the languages spoken by your target customers. Consider popular languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Italian, in addition to English. This lays the groundwork for your multilingual strategy.
Step 2: Set Up Your Webflow Project for Multilingual Content
Since Webflow lacks native multilingual support, careful project structuring is essential for a smooth multilingual experience.
Step 3: Create Language-Specific Pages
Organise your site so that each language has a dedicated section. For example, use URLs like:
- yoursite.com/en/ for English
- yoursite.com/es/ for Spanish
- yoursite.com/zh/ for Mandarin
This method keeps content organised and aids SEO, allowing search engines to recognise different language versions.
Step 4: Translate Your Content
With your pages set up, it’s time to translate the content:
- Duplicate Pages: Copy your original pages into their respective language folders.
- Replace Text: Update text elements with the translated content, ensuring cultural relevance.
- Localise CMS Content: If using Webflow’s CMS, duplicate and translate collection items.
- Update Media: Adjust images or videos to better fit the target audience.
- Navigation and Links: Create language-specific menus and ensure internal links point to the right pages.
- Optimise SEO Settings: Set meta titles and descriptions in the target language, including hreflang tags to assist search engines.
- Test Your Pages: Preview each version to ensure everything works smoothly before launch.
Step 5: Choose Your Localisation Approach
You have two main options for translating your Webflow site:
Option 1: Webflow’s Native Localisation
Webflow’s built-in localisation feature allows you to manage multiple languages directly within your project. This option includes:
- Manual translation of static and CMS content.
- Unique URLs for each language.
- A language switcher anywhere on your site.
- SEO support with hreflang tags.
Note that this feature is a paid add-on, beginning at $9/month per language.
Option 2: Third-Party Integrations
Consider third-party tools like Weglot for quick integration and automatic translation. Key features include:
- Automatic content detection and translation.
- Built-in SEO features and a default language switcher.
Pricing varies based on word count and language, with plans starting free for small sites.
Creating a Multilingual Website with Webflow
If your primary language site is set, it’s time to add additional languages. Webflow’s built-in localisation streamlines this process:
1. Add Secondary Localisation
Access your Webflow dashboard and navigate to the Localisation tab.
2. Enable Localisation
Activate the localisation option, which requires the paid add-on. This enables full multilingual capabilities.
3. Select Language for Localisation
Choose the secondary language for each page, ensuring that it aligns with your audience’s needs.
4. Enable Language Switcher
Allow users to switch languages seamlessly to access translated content.
5. Translate Content
Click to translate specific sections or entire pages easily.
Optimising SEO for Multilingual Content
Adjust SEO meta titles and descriptions to match the content’s language, using the translation feature to ensure accuracy.
Best Practices for Multilingual Websites
Creating a multilingual experience goes beyond translation. Here are some best practices:
1. Maintain a Clean Site Structure
Use consistent folder structures for language versions like /en/, /fr/, /ar/ for easier management and improved SEO.
2. Align Language with Culture
Tailor your messaging and visuals to the cultural context of each audience.
3. Utilise Webflow’s Native Tools
Start with Webflow’s built-in tools for managing translations efficiently.
4. Implement a Clear Language Switcher
Place the language switcher in an easily accessible location.
5. Optimise for Local SEO
Craft unique titles and descriptions for each language version, incorporating local keywords.
6. Thoroughly Test Each Version
Check functionality across devices and ensure layout integrity, particularly for right-to-left languages.
7. Use CMS for Dynamic Content
Duplicate CMS items for scalability as your site grows.
SEO Strategies for Multilingual Websites
To ensure each language version ranks well, implement the following strategies:
Hreflang Tags
Use hreflang tags to guide search engines in delivering the correct version based on user location and language settings.
Localised Keywords
Conduct region-specific keyword research to optimise content for local search behaviour.
Sitemaps
Manage separate sitemaps for each language version to enhance crawlability and indexation.
FAQs About Webflow Localisation
Is Webflow Localisation Free?
Webflow provides a trial but requires a paid add-on for managing multiple languages on a live site.
How Does Webflow Handle Multilingual SEO?
Webflow automates hreflang tags, URL structures, and allows manual control over meta data for each language.
Can I Host My Webflow Site Elsewhere with Localisation?
No, localisation features require hosting on Webflow’s infrastructure.
Conclusion
For Australian businesses aiming for international markets, a multilingual website is a strategic necessity. Utilising Webflow’s localisation tools allows businesses to connect with global audiences effectively, enhancing user experience and conversions.
Focus on maintaining a structured, culturally relevant site with robust SEO practices. Start small, develop a clear plan, and expand as your audience grows. A site that speaks your visitors’ languages builds trust and opens doors to global opportunities.
How We Can Assist with Webflow Localisation
We specialise in transforming Webflow sites into fully localised experiences by setting up language-specific structures and integrating Webflow’s localisation tools or third-party solutions.
Our expertise ensures your content is accurately translated and culturally adapted, including layout adjustments for languages like Arabic.
We also optimise your multilingual SEO with the appropriate use of hreflang tags, localised metadata, and language-specific sitemaps to enhance global search rankings.
Begin your Webflow localisation journey with us today.
