When you are thinking about having your website translated there are a multitude of options to consider.
Here’s a quick guide to just one of the important points – your new website’s domain name.
There are 3 main choices for your new domain name; let’s take a look at them for an example company’s site www.examplewidget.com.
1: Translated site as a subdirectory of the main website.
The first way you could facilitate a website translated into say German for ExampleWidget would be to host it as a subdirectory of the English source site.
This would give the web address examplewidget.com/de
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
The German version would benefit from the authority of the main website which may have been around for quite a while. |
The site may be held on a server which is a long way from a visitor looking at the pages, meaning the pages will take a while to load. Germany is close to the UK though so this should not be a problem in this example. |
Only one SEO campaign would need to be carried out for the global website. |
Search engines in certain countries prefer sites to have a top level domain name for their country (eg Examplewidget.de might work better). |
2: Translated site with a top level country code.
This would give the web address examplewidget.com.de
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
The German version would benefit from quicker page loading speed as the site could be hosted in Germany, near your users. |
Each translated site would need to be set up, hosted and updated/maintained separately, with its own SEO campaign – this would add more cost. |
Search engine rankings may be better with a top level country code. |
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3: Translated site using a subdomain.
This would give the web address de.examplewidget.com.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Subdomains can be hosted in country to keep page loading speed quick and to improve SEO results. |
If hosted separately, each translated site would need to be updated/maintained separately, with its own SEO campaign – this would add more cost. |
Keeps things consistent and avoids having to register a new top level domain abroad. |
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Which one is best for my needs?
If you are considering having a website translated, there are many questions you need to ask. Here are just a few which may have an impact on what domain name structure you eventually choose:
- Who is your target audience?
- Where are they based?
- What language do they speak?
- What products/services do I want to show them?
- How do they search for products/services like mine?
- How do they prefer to buy?
- How much budget do I have to spend?
- Am I already exporting or just thinking about trying something out?
- How do I currently handle our website requirements?
- Are there any cultural factors I need to consider?
- Would there be a benefit in looking at one of the new domain extensions eg .engineering, .technology, .legal, .tv?
If you are thinking about having a website translated and would like to talk to one of our website experts, just drop us an email to enquiries@midlandtechnical.co.uk and we’d be happy to start the conversation.