Multilingual SEO on WordPress involves a blend of content strategy, technical implementation and using the right tools. The goal is to signal to search engines which version of your page to show to a user based on their language and location. It can help with getting the relevant audience to your website from a range of different countries, which can be beneficial if you’re looking to establish a worldwide presence.
When you consider that 60% of all Google search queries are in English, international businesses need to make sure they’re not missing out on the other 40%. If you don’t properly optimise your website for foreign languages, they could be losing out on a lot of traffic and potential customers.
This guide will explore how you can use WordPress to help you create a multilingual website that will help you rank well on search engines like Google for all languages. Continue reading to find out more.
What is Multilingual SEO?
While you might have heard of regular SEO, which stands for search engine optimisation, multilingual SEO uses the same practices but with a few differences that helps a website rank in multiple languages for a range of different countries.
Global brands like Coca-Cola have long recognised how important multilingual SEO is in reaching their international customer base. They have optimised their websites for various languages, they could not only expand their reach but also position themselves as global players in their respective industries. This has come true, as they are one of the most profitable brands in the world.
Benefits of Multilingual WordPress SEO
Having a multilingual SEO strategy on WordPress gives you many benefits that can be great for business success and long-term growth.
Localise Content
Multilingual SEO enables you to reach new markets and target customers who prefer to browse and shop in their native language. You can create localised content to demonstrate your commitment to understanding and meeting their specific requirements. Each country will have different preferences with the content they prefer, so this should be taken into consideration.
Improve User Experience
Having good user experience on your WordPress website is very important. You can do this by displaying relevant content, localised search results and language-specific metadata. This can help to enhance brand loyalty. When users from a range of countries are able to seamlessly use your website, it shows Google that you are trustworthy and a reliable source of information.
Boost Search Engine Credibility
When you cater to a wide range of languages with your multilingual SEO strategy, your website’s authority should improve and boost your credibility at the same time. It gives you the ability to signal to search engines that you are a reliable source of information for multiple languages, increasing your chances of ranking higher in Google in various countries.
Better Engagement
You’ll also get more social media engagement when you have a multilingual website. WordPress allows you to tailor your content to specific languages, so you can connect with your target audience to a deeper level and encourage them to interact more with your brand. This personalisation shows that you appreciate the cultural values of your customers, which can enhance their trust in your brand.
How to Rank Better With WordPress SEO
Utilise WordPress Tools
Things like hreflang tags and localized metadata are nearly impossible without choosing the right WordPress tool. Plugins like WPML offer compatibility for enterprise-level sites, while TranslatePress provides a streamlined approach to content localisation. Your multilingual website can also use tools like Weglot to automate much of the technical work via the cloud for complete SEO coverage.
Localised Keyword Research
You shouldn’t just port English keywords into another language, as search behavior and terminology vary significantly by region and culture. You can instead identify your specific target markets and then use dedicated SEO tools like Google Keyword Planner to find the precise search terms native speakers use in that locale. For example, those who want to search the term spouse visa UK for permanent residency in the country might not search the English language version of the keyword.
Select an SEO-Friendly URL Structure
You need to adopt a clear and dedicated URL structure for each language, as this strategy is highly recommended by Google to ensure better crawlability and prevent duplicate content issues. SEO-friendly methods are subdirectories (e.g., example.com/fr/), which are generally the easiest to manage.
Multilingual XML Sitemap
You can use an SEO plugin to create an XML sitemap that includes all languages. This helps Google discover and crawl all your translated content efficiently, so you can attract a wider audience with better Google exposure.
Focus on Content and On-Page SEO
You can translate all title tags, meta descriptions, URL slugs and image alt text using localised keywords discovered through region-specific research. A good internal link structure can make sure that all internal links within a translated page point only to other pages in the same language.
Final Thoughts
Achieving high rankings across different languages is important for growth on a global scale, especially since nearly half of all Google searches are not in English. Multilingual SEO on WordPress is good for bridging these international audiences.