Google Translate Plugin
Originally Published Dec 2014 | Updated June 2022
In this day and age, everyone is using Google. To stay ahead of the game you need to provide the best experience for anyone visiting your website. One of the easiest ways to do this it to offer your services in their native language.
When it comes to your website, most people expect a personalized online experience. Allowing the user to navigate in their language is a great way to get started.
Google Translate is a WordPress plugin that will translate your website’s content to the desired language of the user at the click of a button. By having this capability you can attract new audiences, grow traffic, and increase conversions. Google Translate offers more than100 languages and is both Android and iOS compatible. What more could you ask for? Well, let’s find out.
Google Translate: Pros
Quick & Free Plugin
Google Translate is a free plugin. This makes it a great alternative to paid plugins, especially if you’re working with a limited budget. All you have to do is download the plugin, install on your website and click activate. From there you need to tweak a few settings and your users are now able to translate content on your website.
Stay Ahead Of Your Competition
Always check out your competitors, see what they are doing and look for ways to stay one step ahead of them. If you offer a translation service on your website and your competitors do not, you can create a more personalized experience for your audience. By making it personal, you can increase the time they spend on your website along with the chance of a conversion. If you make your audience feel comfortable, they will be more likely to reach out.
Google Translate: Cons
Inaccurate Translation
As great as a free translation plugin can be, there will always be disadvantages. The top one that comes to mind is accuracy. Even though Google Translate is ever-evolving, it can easily change the meaning of a word or a sentence. This could be very bad as you don’t want to offend anyone visiting your website.
SEO Character Counts
When it comes to SEO, having the correct character count is an important factor. When you translate a word, it doesn’t always have the same character count.
Let’s use the word “go” as an example. When you translate “go” to Spanish you get “vamos”. You have now gone from two characters to five which can bring you over the recommended character count.
Previously Deprecated
Warning: this plugin has been deprecated in the past. However, during the pandemic, Google decided to bring back the plugin. Anyone who had the plugin installed on their website was grandfathered in and was able to keep using the plugin, however, it was no longer available for new website use.
Why was this plugin deprecated? The most likely reasons is that the plugin became more of a financial burden than expected. Google provided an amazing service and received no monetary compensation, while others profited.
How Can Cohlab Help?
Want to find out if you need a translation plugin or need help setting one up? Contact Cohlab today for any help with your analytics and implementing a new plugin!
Cohlab Digital Marketing
Image(s) licensed by Ingram Image