3 approaches to localization and how they affect SEO
Localizing your website can be done many ways, and it’s often difficult to know which approach will work best for you. Things like time, resources and the level of content all play a major part in the localization process, and every localization method impacts how Google crawls your site.
With so many factors at play, just how can you possibly decide on which one will be the best way forward, while improving the SEO capability of your website? Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the most common types of localization that can help you decide which is best for your website:
1. JavaScript Installation
This is the most effective approach to website localization and can be easily implemented using Localizer. First, you need to install the Localizer JavaScript code to your website, so it can index all your translatable phrases onto our platform. Once these are loaded, the source content can be selected and translated with the click of a button. You can also serve each localized version of your content under different domain names to maintain SEO-friendliness.
Advantages
Disadvantages
2. Standard Localization
This approach involves serving the localized version of your web pages directly from your website’s servers. Using standard localization, you need to maintain a list for every phrase on your website, then look up the correct translation before the page is served to site visitors.
Advantages
Disadvantages
3. Proxy Server Localization
Using this method, content is served from a layered service provider (LSP) when your website receives a request. This involves setting up DNS entries for each new language and allowing the LSP to look after both new translation requests and keeping an eye on your source content for any necessary new translations.
Advantages
Disadvantages
If you’re thinking about localizing your website and would like to know more about how our platform works, simply visit the contact page on the Localizer website. You can arrange a free trial or live demo to see just how easy it is to translate your website to multiple languages with Localizer!
With so many factors at play, just how can you possibly decide on which one will be the best way forward, while improving the SEO capability of your website? Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the most common types of localization that can help you decide which is best for your website:
1. JavaScript Installation
This is the most effective approach to website localization and can be easily implemented using Localizer. First, you need to install the Localizer JavaScript code to your website, so it can index all your translatable phrases onto our platform. Once these are loaded, the source content can be selected and translated with the click of a button. You can also serve each localized version of your content under different domain names to maintain SEO-friendliness.
Advantages
- Can be installed using just a single line of code to any website.
- Will store all your translations in one place.
- Translations can be easily extracted by Localizer.
- Automatically indexes all your new content for translation.
- Different translations can be served under multiple language domains. (e.g. French under .fr, and Mandarin under .cn)
Disadvantages
- Site speed may decrease very slightly.
2. Standard Localization
This approach involves serving the localized version of your web pages directly from your website’s servers. Using standard localization, you need to maintain a list for every phrase on your website, then look up the correct translation before the page is served to site visitors.
Advantages
- Most languages already have integrated support for this approach.
- Translation management platforms such as Localizer provide the ready-made means to look after this content.
- You’re in direct control of your translations.
Disadvantages
- File extraction can prove very troublesome if a system of doing so is not already in place.
- Moving the content to a translation management platform can take much time and effort.
3. Proxy Server Localization
Using this method, content is served from a layered service provider (LSP) when your website receives a request. This involves setting up DNS entries for each new language and allowing the LSP to look after both new translation requests and keeping an eye on your source content for any necessary new translations.
Advantages
- Simple setup for anyone with access to DNS.
- Translations all in one place.
- Little or no intervention required for updating.
Disadvantages
- Translated site content may not always be up-to-date with source language.
- May slightly decrease site speed for translated content.
If you’re thinking about localizing your website and would like to know more about how our platform works, simply visit the contact page on the Localizer website. You can arrange a free trial or live demo to see just how easy it is to translate your website to multiple languages with Localizer!
Comment(s)0