Characteristics of Website Translation

CHARACTERISTICS OF WEBSITE TRANSLATION

WHAT IS WEBSITE TRANSLATION?

The translation of a website consists of adapting the content of our website into different languages to bring our offer to different audiences and improve the positioning of our website, even abroad..

It is necessary to take into account the cultural characteristics of the target audience so that the website content is shown closely and generates a larger impact. For example, analysing the words and adapting them to the specific vocabulary of a region is the most effective strategy so that our website content is the most interesting for its target audience.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TRADITIONAL WEBSITE TRANSLATION AND SEO TRANSLATION?

The main difference between website translation and SEO translation is that SEO translation includes Keyword analysis prior to the translation.. Keywords are determined according to the target language and the target audience of the country to make the most of the SEO strategy of the original web content and improve the position on search engines (Search Engine Optimisation). Through specific translation tools, we create a glossary of keywords that are applied to the entire website translation. If the content of a website is well written and well structured, determining keywords for a SEO translation becomes easy and very profitable.

To a certain extent, we can say that SEO translation forms part of website translation and is a way of making the most of the SEO efforts of our website in new markets.

If SEO translation interests you and your specifications, refer to this post: SEO Translator.

HOW TO MANAGE CONTENT IN A WEBSITE TRANSLATION?

Different ways of managing content exist when a website translation is carried out. According to the technological development to which we have created the website, we can propose different methods of translation.

• Directly translate HTML files. By way of specific translation programs, we keep the exact same format in the translated files. It is the most direct way to translate web content, the programmer will be able to integrate templates without the need to create page after page.
• Translate text formatted content. The translator works with the content in Word, a very easy trick to use two columns, one with the content in the original language and the other in the target language. In this way, we make it easier for the programmer to maintain the reference of the original website and the version of the website content in the other language.
• Translate straight from Wordpress. The use of some web tools is very practical to translate web content. The software Wordpress, it is very accessible and easy to manage, allows the creation and changing of websites into different languages. The idea is that the content of a website can be adapted into another language clearly and precisely, overwriting the original content with the translation. The disadvantage that direct translation from Wordpress poses is that it does not integrate terminological glossaries to check the correct use of determined Keywords for SEO positioning.

IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE METADATA OF WEBSITE TRANSLATION?

The “metadata” refers to data that describes other contents, such as labels, descriptions and key words  For search engines, for example Google, the metadata helps to describe the content of the website and improve the organic positioning, so that the user finds us according to the determined key words.

It is fundamental to determine an coherent SEO strategy with the content of your website, and so that it works correctly and effectively. It is interesting to include the metadata in the translation.. For the translation of this type of content, it is necessary to keep in mind certain aspects of each field, the meta description for example, it follows some size restrictions: only 160 characters are available in Google, which forces us to have a precise translation and include keywords in each field.

HOW IS SOCIAL NETWORK TRANSLATION CONSIDERED?

Website translation includes social network translation. The specificity of social network translation is that you have to adapt the content to each platform and respect the limitations of each one. Twitter is the clearest example, since it is limited to 140 characters, and the translation must be an adaptation of the content.

Translation for social networks deserves special care because they generate a very valuable and almost immediate response. Adapting it to the culture and the references of the target audience is key. Respecting the linguistic tone and register is one of the keys for a correct social network translation

ABOUT ALTALINGUA

AltaLingua is a flagship agency in the translation sector in Spain. We work with the most prestigious online marketing and communication agencies and with more than 500 companies from around the world offering a wide variety of linguistic combinations.

AltaLingua translates into more than 30 languages per week with native translators, that guarantee a correct adaptation for advertising messages according to the market. Also, we have systems of quality management following the ISO 9001:2015 and UNE-EN 17100:2015 standards.