Multilingual Web Design Experts

How can we help you?

How many languages can a website support?

A website can support as many languages as needed. If on launch day you only want to have a couple of languages to start with but wish to add more later, that is no problem as our multilingual sites are structured to scale. We can also allow different users to manage content in different languages, assigning language-specific roles where needed.

What’s the difference between multilingual, multi-regional, and multi-site setups?

A multi-lingual site shows the same content to users but in different languages, with the structure and layout to remain consistent. This type of site ensures technical elements like the CMS and metadata support the language switch.
A multi-regional site targets users in different geographic areas, meaning that content might change depending on the region, delivering the right content to the right audience to help improve user engagement and SEO performance.
A multi-site is a flexible setup that involves creating separate websites for different regions or audiences, which is useful if a specific region needs something quite different. It is also beneficial to do in places such as China where unique hosting or domain considerations apply.

Do I need separate domains for each language?

You can separate domains for each language, but it depends on your goals. Language versions can be set up as subdirectories, subdomains, or completely separate domains.
Using country-specific domains (ccTLDs) can benefit SEO by signalling localisation directly to search engines. In some countries (e.g., Russia or China), a local domain extension may be required to rank effectively in local search.

What is the best URL structure for a multilingual site, subdomains, subdirectories, or ccTLDs?

The best URL structure for a multilingual site, depends entirely on your strategy. Here is each one broken down:

• Subdirectories are generally better for SEO if you want to retain the main domain’s authority.
• Subdomains act as separate sites, so authority does not carry over automatically.
• Country-specific domains are great when you are targeting specific regions and want a strong local presence in a particular area.

When working together, we review your goals and recommend the best structure to suit your business needs.

How do you handle international SEO and hreflang tags?

We implement international SEO and hreflang tags directly within the CMS. This includes setting up proper canonical URLs and hreflang attributes to avoid duplicate content and ensure the correct language version is served to the right users in search engines.
We also make SEO recommendations based on your domain structure and target markets to help you get the best possible visibility internationally.

Can you help with content translation?

Yes, we work with trusted translation partners and can offer a range of solutions based on your needs. We have previously translated hundreds of pages for multilingual websites, including projects for the Department for International Trade.

Do you use AI translations, human translators, or both?

We can provide all of the above, including: AI translations, translations via external services, or professional human translators but depending on your budget and requirements, we will advise what is best for you. In most cases, we recommend using human translation for anything customer-facing, especially when tone of voice matters as despite AI and service-based translations being quicker and more cost-effective, they may lack cultural nuance or miss brand-specific language.

How do you ensure content is culturally appropriate?

We work with experienced translation partners and take care to ensure that the correct dialect and tone are used for each region. We also review your target demographics and adjust content, layout, UI/UX, and even colour choices to suit cultural preferences. As part of our process, we can advise on how to best engage users in each region.

Can you create different page layouts or designs for different regions or languages?

Yes, the CMS and tools we use support custom layouts per region or language. This is helpful when a different structure is needed to better suit the content, reading direction, or user behaviour of specific audiences.

Will the website automatically detect a user’s language or location?

Yes, because our sites detect users’ IP addresses or browser language settings so that it can provide the appropriate language or region-specific content straight away, which enables users to see a version of the site that is custom to them.

How is translated content managed in the CMS?

The CMS allows you to switch between different language versions of each page very easily. We can either update each version individually or bulk translate for larger sites, this makes it a lot easier to manage multi-language content.

Can you build multilingual eCommerce sites with different currencies and pricing?

Yes, we can provide different currencies and pricing on your site, depending on where the user is located and language preference, which provides a better user experience. You can either set your own exchange rates manually or use dynamic currency conversion with live rates.

Are there legal requirements for multilingual websites in certain countries?

Yes, certain countries have specific legal or privacy requirements, which is why we advise you on what is needed for your multilingual website and help implement the necessary pages and policies for compliance. For example, cookie policies, data protection regulations, and language mandates may differ by region.

What is the typical timeline for building a multilingual site?

The typical timeline for building a multilingual site depends on the size, but a standard 10-page single-language website typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. For a multilingual site, timelines generally extend to 10 to 14 weeks depending on the number of languages and the amount of content.

Can I start with one language and add more later?

Yes, we often recommend starting with one language and adding more later, which is simple as we build the site with this in mind. This makes it scalable, allowing for your site to grow with time.