How to Make Your Shopify Store Multilingual Without Rebuilding It

The number of global online stores that Shopify can support is above one million. However, most shop proprietors cannot manage language barriers. In case one language is used by your store, you may be unable to reach a significant portion of your international customers.

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On the bright side: To reach international customers, you do not have to open your store on foreign soil. With the right Shopify store development tools and setup, you can install multiple languages on your Shopify store. This method helps in increasing your sales, improving the shopping experience of your customers, and expanding the global presence of your brand through smart Shopify multilingual store development practices.

Without further ado, it is time to dive into the step-by-step explanation of how to turn your Shopify store into a multilingual-enabled one using professional Shopify store translation services, no need to reconstruct everything from the ground up.

Why Should You Consider a Multilingual Shopify Store?

Setting up multiple languages in your store allows your products to connect with people in their own language. This builds trust, cuts down on abandoned carts, and boosts sales. In fact, more than 70% of shoppers say they’d rather buy from websites in their language.

Using multiple languages also has an impact on Shopify multilingual SEO, helping your site show up higher in searches from different areas. This leads to more visitors from search engines in other languages.

6 Easy Steps to Add Multiple Languages to Your Shopify Store

Below are the steps to make your Shopify store multilingual:

Step 1: Pick a Solid Multilingual Shopify App

You don’t need to write code or get a developer to add languages to your site. You just need a strong multilingual Shopify app.

Look for these features:

• Automatic content translation
• Option to edit translations
• Works with Shopify Markets
• Handles Right-to-Left (RTL) languages
• Links up with SEO tools

Apps such as Langify, Weglot, or T Lab are common picks. These tools give you the ability to translate your Shopify store and also let you make manual tweaks to improve accuracy.

Step 2: Translate Your Store’s Content

After you set up a Shopify language translation app, it’s time to begin translating your store’s content.

Here’s what you need to translate:

• Product names and details
• Group titles
• Site navigation
• Front page ads and carousels
• Buying basket screens
• Rules and common questions

Good translation tools use computer-based translation to make the job quicker. But you can also check and tweak each part by hand to ensure quality.

Some tools also include a Shopify payment screen translation add-on to make sure every step, including the payment page, is ready in the language the user prefers.

Step 3: Add a Shopify Language Picker

Your site visitors need an easy way to change languages. That’s where the Shopify language picker comes into play.

A language switcher is a tiny button that lets customers change the store’s language. You’ll often spot it in the header or footer. Many translation tools include this feature.

When picking a language switcher, look for these qualities:

• Easy to spot
• Fits your theme’s look
• Saves user choices

It is possible to modify the switcher using icons (such as flags) or text (names of languages). Ensure that it is readable and functions well on computers and phones.

Step 4: Enhance Your Shopify with Multilingual Search.

Putting up your site in several languages is only half the battle. You must also make it SEO-friendly. Shopify multilingual SEO helps your store to be indexed and ranked in each of your languages.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Create unique URLs for each language (such as /fr, /de, etc.)
• Use hreflang tags to assist Google in understanding different language versions
• Convert meta titles and descriptions
• Add all language versions to Google Search Console

Many Shopify store translation services or apps handle SEO. But it’s always a good idea to review your language URLs and meta tags to ensure they’re set up.

Step 5: Check Everything Before Launch

Before going live, test your store in every language. Here’s a list to follow:

• Does the language switcher function on every page?
• Are the translations precise and thorough?
• Is the checkout process translated?
• Does the website perform well on computers and phones?
• Do the different language versions show up in Google searches?

Use such tools as Google Mobile-Friendly Test and SEO checkers to analyse every variant of your site. As well, consider consulting people (who speak the language) where possible.

Step 6: Keep Your Translations Fresh

Your Shopify store evolves. You add new items, refresh collections, or switch up your homepage banners. Make sure your translated versions stay up-to-date, too.

Most Shopify apps for multiple languages have features that sync in real-time, letting you know when new content needs to be translated. Set a reminder for yourself or monthly to look over your translations.

This makes sure all visitors enjoy the same top-notch experience, regardless of the language they use.

Common Mistakes to Steer Clear Of

Even with the right tools, store owners can slip up. Keep an eye out for these:

• Using machine translation without checking it
• Not translating checkout or policy pages
• Hiding the language switcher where it’s hard to spot
• Not doing SEO for other languages
• Skipping tests on different devices

Fixing these small problems can boost user experience and make your store more trustworthy.

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Shopify Markets: Built-In Language Features

If you use Shopify Markets, you already have access to some built-in multilingual tools. Shopify allows you to:

• Accept payments in various currencies
• Display content in multiple languages
• Use market-specific domain names

However, to access complete translation capabilities, you still need a Shopify language translation app. Shopify Markets works best when combined with a professional translation app and plugin.

Wrapping it Up

Turning your Shopify store into a multilingual interpretation does not have to be a major endeavor. You can widen the scope of your store with proper planning, tools, and detailed help without redeveloping an entire store.

It may be your first time trying your hand at the game, or you may already be selling to international clients; nevertheless, multilingual support is becoming an essential feature. It plays a pivotal role in the expansion of business..

At CartCoders, we provide full solutions to make your Shopify store speak multiple languages without hassle. From adding apps to Shopify checkout translation plugins, we support your global expansion without the tech headaches.

Check out our Shopify store translation services and help with setting up language switchers now.

Let CartCoders help you communicate in your customer’s language.