Magento Multi-Language: An Easy Way To Expanding Your Store

Guide To Help You Translate and Customize Your Magento Themes and Products

Expanding the multilingual capabilities of your Magento website unlocks a world of possibilities and ensures your business stays ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape. By translating your website into various languages, you gain access to a broader audience, creating opportunities to connect with customers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The benefits are vast, but one that stands out prominently is the significant rise in both traffic and sales. When visitors can navigate and interact with your website in their preferred language, it fosters trust, enhances user experience, and ultimately drives conversions. A multilingual site doesn’t just attract users; it creates loyal customers who feel valued and understood.

What makes this transformation even more exciting is the speed and simplicity with which it can be achieved. You don’t have to wait months to reap the benefits of a multilingual site. The results are often almost immediate, especially when you leverage the power of a specialized plugin. For instance, a compelling case study by Neil Patel, co-founder of NP Digital and Subscribers, demonstrated the impact of multilingual content. By translating his blog into 82 different languages, Patel experienced a remarkable 47% increase in traffic within just three weeks—a testament to the transformative power of language accessibility.

If you’re ready to tap into the global marketplace and build a Magento website that supports multiple languages, you’re in the right place. ConveyThis is the ideal translation plugin to help you achieve this goal. Why is it the best choice? ConveyThis provides all the tools you need to create a sophisticated, professional, and fully functional multilingual Magento store. It ensures your content is accurately translated, your visitors can browse seamlessly, and your store is ready to welcome users from any corner of the world.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to create a Magento multi-language website without any stress. But before diving into the process, it’s crucial to understand which components of your Magento website should be translated to maximize the impact of your efforts. Let’s explore this in detail.

Elements or Components of Your Magento Website That Should Be Translated

To create a truly exceptional and professional Magento multi-language website, it is essential to focus on comprehensive translation. Every element of your website must be carefully translated to ensure a seamless and engaging experience for users from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Leaving certain components untranslated can disrupt the user journey, cause confusion, and even deter potential customers. Here’s a deeper dive into why and which specific elements should be prioritized in your translation project:

1. Product Titles and Descriptions
   Product titles and descriptions are the heart of your e-commerce store. They provide crucial details about the items you’re offering and directly influence purchasing decisions. Translating these components ensures that customers can fully understand the products, their features, and benefits, regardless of their language. Clear, localized descriptions can significantly boost user trust and conversion rates.
2. Shopping Cart and Checkout Pages
   The shopping cart and checkout process are critical touchpoints in the customer journey. Any language barrier here could result in cart abandonment or user frustration. By translating these sections, you make it easy for users to complete transactions, fostering a positive shopping experience and reducing the likelihood of losing sales.
3. Emails and Notifications
   Emails and notifications, such as order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional messages, serve as ongoing communication with your customers. Translating these communications shows your commitment to serving customers in their preferred language, strengthening brand loyalty and ensuring clarity in post-purchase interactions.
4. Navigation Menus and Drop-Downs
   Navigation menus and drop-downs are essential for guiding users through your website. If these elements are not translated, visitors may struggle to find what they are looking for, leading to a poor user experience. Localizing these components makes your site intuitive and user-friendly, regardless of the user’s language.
5. CMS Pages and Content Blocks
   Informational pages like About Us, FAQs, and Policies (e.g., Return Policy, Privacy Policy) are vital for providing transparency and building trust. Translating these pages ensures that users from different regions fully understand your business practices and feel confident in their interactions with your store.
6. Search Functionality
   A search bar that can process queries in different languages enhances usability. Translating the search feature ensures that users can find products or information efficiently, regardless of the language they use to search.
7. Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
   Buttons like “Add to Cart,” “Buy Now,” or “Sign Up” need to be translated to encourage users to take action. A well-translated CTA can significantly improve engagement and drive conversions.
8. Error Messages and System Notifications
   Error messages and notifications (e.g., “Item out of stock,” “Invalid email address”) must also be translated to avoid confusion. Clear, localized messages guide users in troubleshooting issues and navigating your site more effectively.

Why Use a Server-Side Translation Plugin?

Automatic browser translators often fail to capture the nuances of a website’s layout and content. They may misinterpret context or skip certain elements entirely, leading to a disjointed experience. This is particularly true for complex components like shopping carts or dynamic elements such as drop-down menus.

A specialized server-side Magento multi-language translation plugin, such as ConveyThis, eliminates these challenges by providing complete control over your translations. ConveyThis ensures that every aspect of your site is translated accurately and presented consistently, creating a seamless experience for users across all languages. Additionally, server-side translations are more reliable and secure, ensuring your site functions optimally for every visitor.

By translating all components of your Magento website, you not only cater to a global audience but also position your online store as a trustworthy and professional brand. This comprehensive approach sets the stage for enhanced user satisfaction, higher engagement, and increased sales, helping you reach new markets and achieve long-term success.

A Step By Step Guide to Create a Magento Multi-Language Website

Translating your Magento website into multiple languages can greatly enhance your global reach, increase traffic, and boost sales. Using ConveyThis as your translation solution makes this process simple, efficient, and professional. Below is an expanded guide to help you set up a Magento multi-language website with ease.

Why Choose ConveyThis for Your Magento Website?

ConveyThis provides exceptional features that simplify the process of translating your website:

• Supports Hundreds of Languages: Translate your website into almost any language to cater to a global audience.
• Automatic Detection and Translation: Instantly detect and translate content, saving you time and effort.
• Professional Human Translators: Order trusted human translation services directly from the ConveyThis dashboard to ensure high-quality results.
• Complete Content Control: Edit, review, and modify translated content to align with your brand and messaging.
• In-Context Editor: Translate content directly on the front-end of your website and see changes reflected immediately.

With these powerful tools, ConveyThis provides a comprehensive solution for creating a multilingual Magento store.

Step 1: Create a ConveyThis account

1. Visit the ConveyThis website and click on the Sign Up button.
2. Fill out the registration form with your basic information, including your email address, name, and password.
3. Verify your email by clicking on the confirmation link sent to your inbox.
4. Once verified, your account will be activated, granting you access to the ConveyThis dashboard.

Step 2: Configure Your ConveyThis Account

1. After activating your account, log in to the ConveyThis Dashboard.
2. On the setup page, you will need to supply your website’s domain name. Enter the URL of your Magento store in the designated field.
3. Select the original language of your website (the primary language your site is currently in).
4. Choose one or more target languages you want to translate your website into. ConveyThis supports hundreds of languages, so you have plenty of options to cater to a global audience.

Step 3: Install the ConveyThis Plugin

1. On the next screen, you will see a JavaScript code snippet provided by ConveyThis.
2. Copy the code snippet as you will need it later when integrating ConveyThis with your Magento store.

Step 4: Access the Magento Admin Dashboard

1. Log in to your Magento Admin Dashboard using your administrator credentials.
2. Navigate to Admin Panel > Content > Configuration.



3. From the list of available store views, select the one where you want to enable the language translation feature. If you want to apply it to all store views, choose the Global option.

Step 5: Configure the JavaScript Code in Magento

1. Locate the HTML Head section within the selected store view settings.
2. In the Scripts and Style Sheets field, paste the JavaScript code snippet you copied from the ConveyThis dashboard.
3. Save your configuration by clicking on the Save Configuration button.

Yes, it is that easy! You now have a full-fledged translated website which avail your visitors the opportunity to switch from one language to another on Magento multi-language website through the use of ConveyThis translation switcher.

Another interesting thing is that you can use this ConveyThis Magento multi-language solution with Magento multi-currency tool. With this, you can proudly say your website is set for international market where you will have people buying from any part of the world.

Enhance SEO for Your Magento Multi-Language Website

Customizing your Magento multi-language website goes beyond design and usability; it’s crucial to optimize your site for search engines to attract a global audience. Proper SEO ensures that your site ranks well in search results across multiple languages and regions, driving organic traffic and improving visibility.

Implement Multilingual SEO Best Practices

Multilingual SEO is the cornerstone of a successful international online presence. Here’s how to ensure your Magento website is optimized:

1. Hreflang Tags:
   Use hreflang tags to signal to search engines the specific languages and regions your content targets. This helps prevent duplicate content issues and ensures the correct version of your site appears in search results for each language. For example:<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr-fr" href="https://example.com/fr/" />

2. Localized URLs:
   Use localized URLs for each language to improve click-through rates. For example:
   • English: https://example.com/en/products
   • French: https://example.com/fr/produits
     Localized URLs are easier for users to understand and improve the relevance of your site in local search results.
3. Optimize Meta Tags and Content:
   Translate and localize meta titles, descriptions, and headers for every language. Use keywords relevant to each language and region to improve discoverability.
4. Structured Data Markup:
   Add structured data (schema.org) to your product pages and other key areas of your site. This helps search engines better understand and display your content in search results.

Leverage Local Keyword Research

Each language and region may have different search behaviors and trends. Conduct thorough keyword research to identify the terms your target audience uses.

• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to discover keywords in various languages.
• Focus on long-tail keywords for niche products or services to attract highly relevant traffic.

For example, the search term “running shoes” might be popular in English-speaking regions, while “chaussures de course” is its French equivalent. Ensure your content targets both accurately.

Optimize Load Speed for International Users

A slow-loading website can deter users, especially those accessing your site from other countries. Improve your site’s performance by:

• Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN): CDNs store and deliver your content from servers closest to your users, reducing latency.
• Compressing Images and Files: Use modern formats like WebP for images and minify CSS/JS files.
• Caching Content: Implement caching mechanisms to serve static content quickly.

Monitor Analytics and Performance

Track how your multilingual website performs across different regions and languages. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to gather insights on:

• Traffic sources and user behavior per language.
• Bounce rates and session durations across regions.
• Keyword rankings in multiple languages.

Adjust your content, keywords, and marketing strategies based on the data to continuously improve your site’s effectiveness.

By focusing on multilingual SEO, you not only make your Magento website accessible but also position it for success in competitive international markets. With the right optimization strategies, you’ll attract more organic traffic, engage your global audience, and maximize the impact of your multilingual site.

Customizing Your Magento Themes and Products

Customizing your Magento website themes is a vital step in creating a professional and user-friendly design that enhances your multilingual capabilities. By tailoring the look and functionality of your site, you not only improve the user experience but also establish a strong brand identity that resonates with a global audience. Let’s dive deeper into the best practices for achieving seamless customization.

Translate and Localize Your Themes

Creating a cohesive multilingual website starts with ensuring that your theme supports translation. This involves localizing every visual and functional element of your website, from buttons and navigation menus to headers, footers, and custom content blocks. A localized theme makes your website intuitive for users who speak different languages, fostering trust and improving engagement.

How ConveyThis Can Help:

• Automatically detects and translates all translatable elements within your theme.
• Allows you to manually adjust translations to ensure they match your brand’s tone and style.
• Supports context-specific translation, making complex layouts and widgets multilingual-ready.

For instance, a button labeled “Buy Now” in English might translate to “Kaufen Sie jetzt” in German. ConveyThis ensures this translation aligns with the layout and functionality of your theme without breaking the design or user experience.

Focus on Responsiveness

In today’s mobile-first world, ensuring that your Magento website is responsive is critical. A responsive design adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes, providing an optimal browsing experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This feature becomes even more essential for multilingual websites, as text length can vary significantly between languages, potentially affecting layout and readability.

Why Themes Like Oxelar and SNS Simen Are Ideal:

• Flexibility: These themes come with adjustable layouts that ensure your site remains visually appealing, regardless of the language or device.
• Pre-Built Features: Built-in sliders, icon fonts, and customizable design elements make it easy to maintain a professional look.
• Multi-Purpose Compatibility: Both themes work well with any type of e-commerce store, allowing you to cater to diverse markets without the need for separate designs.

Pro Tip: Test your site across multiple devices and languages to ensure a consistent experience. Tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test or BrowserStack can help identify and resolve potential issues.

Leverage Multilingual Tools

Going global with your Magento store means addressing not just language differences but also regional preferences, including currencies and payment methods. By integrating Magento’s multi-currency tool with your multilingual website, you create a localized shopping experience that boosts customer trust and conversion rates.

Key Benefits of Multi-Currency Integration:

• Localized Pricing: Automatically display prices in the customer’s local currency based on their location.
• Seamless Checkout: Provide region-specific payment options to simplify the checkout process.
• Dynamic Conversion: Keep pricing updated with real-time exchange rates, eliminating confusion and increasing transparency.

Additional Customization Tips

Optimize Visual Hierarchy

Ensure your design prioritizes readability and usability in every language. For instance:

• Avoid overly narrow columns, as longer words in languages like German may disrupt layout.
• Use scalable fonts and adaptive spacing to handle varying text lengths.

Incorporate Language-Specific Imagery

Incorporate culturally relevant imagery or graphics for different regions. For example, consider using region-specific banners or illustrations during local holidays.

Maintain Consistency Across Languages

Ensure that fonts, colors, and branding elements remain consistent across all translations. This helps maintain a unified brand identity, even as you expand to new markets.

Test and Iterate

Regularly test your multilingual site for usability, speed, and performance. Use customer feedback to refine both design and functionality.

By customizing your Magento themes and products with these strategies, you can create a multilingual website that is not only visually stunning but also functional and accessible for users worldwide. With tools like ConveyThis and responsive themes, your online store will be well-equipped to thrive in the global market.

Outstanding themes for Magento multi-language websites

Now that you’re ready to install ConveyThis, it’s time to explore some of the best Magento multi-language templates that can enhance the appearance and functionality of your website. A multilingual website ensures that visitors speaking languages other than English can navigate and understand your content with ease. Pairing this accessibility with a visually appealing and professional-looking design is key to creating a successful online store.

Below are two exceptional Magento themes to consider for your multi-language website:

1. Oxelar – Multipurpose Responsive Magento Theme[4]

As its name suggests, the Oxelar theme is a versatile and responsive Magento theme with a modern design. It is ideal for building a multilingual e-commerce website that is visually appealing and easy to use.

Key Benefits of Oxelar:

• One-Click Installation: Quickly set up your website with minimal effort.
• Flexible Layouts: Offers a variety of layout styles to suit your branding needs.
• Icon Fonts: Includes an extensive library of awesome icon fonts.
• Customizable Sliders: Features different sliders to showcase your products dynamically.
• Integrated Google Maps: Includes a “Contact Us” page with Google Maps for better customer interaction.
• Clean and Modern Design: Suitable for any type of e-commerce website, providing a professional look.
• AJAX Features: Supports AJAX-based add-to-cart, wishlist, and product comparison functionalities, enhancing the user experience.

Oxelar is a reliable choice if you’re looking for a theme that combines aesthetics, flexibility, and multilingual capabilities.

2. SNS Simen – Responsive Magento Theme[5]

SNS Simen is a robust and highly customizable Magento theme designed for multilingual e-commerce websites. Its clean and fresh design makes it a standout choice for businesses looking to captivate global audiences.

Features That Make SNS Simen a Great Choice:

• Powerful Admin Panel: Offers a user-friendly and robust admin setup for easy customization.
• Blog Support: Includes styles for blog pages, allowing you to engage your audience with helpful content.
• Built-in Integrations: Supports tools like Twitter Bootstrap, Google Fonts, and more.
• Cross-Browser Compatibility: Works seamlessly on popular browsers, including Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Safari.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Comes with a user guide and HTML documentation for easy setup.
• Modern Technologies: Utilizes HTML, CSS, and LessCSS for advanced styling.
• Front-End CPanel: Provides a supportive cPanel on the front end for quick adjustments.
• Additional Extensions: Includes useful extensions such as SNS Product Tabs, SNS Products, Quickview, SNS QuickSearch, and SNS Proaddto.
• Dynamic Product Display: Features related product and upsell product sliders.
• Google Maps Integration: Offers an integrated Google Map on the contact page to enhance user convenience.

SNS Simen’s sleek design and powerful features make it a go-to option for businesses seeking a responsive and multilingual Magento theme.

Why Combining a Theme with ConveyThis Matters

Choosing a professional theme like Oxelar or SNS Simen ensures that your website looks visually stunning and functions seamlessly. Pairing it with the ConveyThis plugin elevates your website further by enabling automatic translations of your content into multiple languages.

Benefits of Using ConveyThis:

• Effortless language switching for visitors.
• Professional and machine translations with human proofreading options.
• Front-end in-context editor for real-time adjustments.
• Global readiness when combined with Magento’s multi-currency tool, allowing your store to cater to international markets.

Conclusion:

Translating and customizing your Magento website into multiple languages is not just an enhancement but a strategic move to elevate your online store’s global presence. By providing your visitors with the ability to browse your website in their native languages, you foster a deeper connection and significantly increase your chances of driving traffic and sales.

As demonstrated, implementing a solution like ConveyThis makes the process seamless, efficient, and highly effective. With its robust features, including automated translations, professional human translation options, and an intuitive in-context editor, you can confidently build a sophisticated multi-language Magento store that caters to diverse audiences.

Additionally, pairing your multilingual site with a compelling, responsive theme further ensures an engaging and professional user experience. Themes like Oxelar and SNS Simen offer versatile designs and features that complement your multilingual efforts, making your store visually appealing and functional for users worldwide.

Now is the time to take the next step toward expanding your reach. Equip your Magento store with the power of multilingual functionality using ConveyThis and witness the transformation of your online business into a truly global enterprise.

Additional Resources:

1. ConveyThis Integrations – To explore compatibility with Magento.
2. How to Translate Magento – For more guidance.
3. Help Guide for Migrating To Magento – For step-by-step support.
4. Oxelar – An outstanding Magento theme.
5. SNS Simen – A responsive Magento theme.