SEO Tips for Multilingual Businesses – Global Translations Guest Blog

(What’s the difference?)

AI Translations

As previously described, AI translations are the machine-driven conversion of one language to another with no regard to context, results or even accuracy. This, however, is not the only option to reach your SEO goals within other languages.

SEO Translations

Professional SEO Translation (including website translations), is the process of translating SEO content, through a translator versed in SEO tactics.

Not only should the language be accurately translated, but the consideration of search success within another language shall be taken on board too.

This means it may not be a word for word translation but one that contemplates the meaning of the words. Alternative words are used if they gain more success in another language as a keyword, title tag and so on.

SEO Localisations

The final option is a full SEO Localisation. Localisations take translations one step further.

It is where the content is not only tailored for the benefit of SEO but for the readers too. It adapts it on a cultural level, ensuring the readers feel as if it was the original content, speaking directly to them.

It removes cultural sayings, metaphors or wordplay that may cross wires in another culture, and provides the appropriate replacements for that target market.

It aims to keep the readers engaged. The optimisation of words for SEO are involved in this process, but aren’t the main focus.

In an ideal world a multilingual businesswill have both an SEO translation and a localisation when approaching a foreign market, in order to see the most success.

1. Research Your Audience

Knowing your target market makes life a lot easier when trying to sell them products and services. Are they an older, less tech savvy audience? – Use less tech savvy words.

How does the specific culture respond to direct sales, do they prefer more subtlety?

These are considerations that must be researched for a successful venture.

2. Keep Sentences Short

Most readers do not care for lengthy scientific answers, so keep it to the point. Short attention spans are common in this technology age. If you can’t remember how the sentence begins at the end, it is far too long!

3. Use ‘The Active Voice’

This is where you write as if the subject of the sentence completes the task, rather than receives it. For example, the blog was written by John, rather than John wrote the blog.

This small but effective trick makes the text feel much livelier and keeps readers engaged.

It also makes the writing easier to understand if this is not the reader’s first language. This will help ensure your message gets across as a multilingual business!

4. Keyword Search in Your Target Language

An effective keyword in English, may not still be effective once translated into Spanish. Make sure you research the keyword once it is translated to ensure it will still benefit your SEO!

5. Direct Translations Aren’t Always Beneficial

There are countless examples of when direct translations have gone wrong. Remember, the direct translation of sentences doesn’t always make complete sense. Don’t be afraid to adapt the way you portray your message, if it means it is clearer to for the reader.