Description

WPML: The WordPress Multilingual Plugin

As the internet continues to connect people from all over the world, creating a multilingual website becomes increasingly important for businesses and individuals alike. WordPress, being the most popular content management system (CMS), provides various plugins to assist in making a website multilingual. One such plugin is WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin). In this article, we will explore what WPML is, its features, benefits, and how to use it to make your WordPress website multilingual.

What is WPML?

WPML is a WordPress plugin that enables website owners to create and manage multilingual websites. It was developed by OnTheGoSystems and has been in use since 2007. WPML is designed to work with any WordPress theme and plugin. It allows users to create content in different languages, translate content, and even manage multilingual e-commerce sites.

WPML is not a machine translation service, but rather a tool that helps website owners manage translations. It allows website owners to add languages to their website, translate content, and manage the translated content. WPML is available in both free and paid versions.

WPML Features

WPML has several features that make it a popular choice for creating multilingual websites. Some of the features of WPML include:

Multilingual Content Creation

WPML allows users to create and manage multilingual content easily. It enables users to add languages to their website, create pages and posts in different languages, and even manage e-commerce sites in multiple languages.

Translation Management

WPML simplifies the translation process by providing translation management tools. It enables users to send content to professional translators, import and export translation files, and even manage translations in-house.

Multilingual E-Commerce

WPML makes it easy to manage multilingual e-commerce sites. It supports popular e-commerce plugins such as WooCommerce, allowing users to sell products in multiple languages.

Language Switcher

WPML comes with a built-in language switcher that enables visitors to switch between languages. Users can customize the language switcher to match the design of their website.

Compatibility

WPML is compatible with any WordPress theme and plugin. It works seamlessly with popular plugins such as Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7, and Visual Composer.

WPML Benefits

WPML has several benefits that make it a popular choice for creating multilingual websites. Some of the benefits of WPML include:

SEO Friendly

WPML is SEO friendly, making it easier for multilingual websites to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). It allows users to optimize their content for different languages and even set language-specific URLs.

User Friendly

WPML is user-friendly, making it easy for website owners to create and manage multilingual websites. It comes with a user-friendly interface and several features that simplify the translation process.

Increased Reach

WPML allows website owners to reach a wider audience by making their content available in different languages. It enables businesses to expand their customer base and even target international markets.

How to Install WPML

Installing WPML is a simple process that can be completed in a few steps. To install WPML, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to the Plugins page and click on the Add New button
3. Search for “WPML” in the search bar
4. Click on the “Install Now” button next to the WPML plugin
5. Once the installation is complete, click on the “Activate” button to activate the plugin

How to Use WPML

Using WPML involves several steps, including setting up the plugin, translating content, and creating language switchers. In this section, we will explore how to use WPML to create a multilingual website.

Setting Up WPML

After installing and activating WPML, the first step is to set it up. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the WPML → Languages page
2. Select the languages you want to add to your website
3. Choose your language switcher options
4. Save your settings

Translating Content with WPML

Once you have set up WPML, the next step is to translate your content. To translate your content with WPML, follow these steps:

1. Go to the post or page you want to translate
2. Click on the “+” button to add a translation
3. Translate your content using the WPML Translation Editor or send it to a professional translator
4. Publish your translated content

Creating Custom Language Switchers with WPML

WPML comes with a built-in language switcher, but users can also create custom language switchers. To create a custom language switcher, follow these steps:

1. Go to the WPML → Languages → Language switcher options page
2. Choose the display options for your language switcher
3. Copy the language switcher shortcode
4. Paste the shortcode into your website where you want the language switcher to appear

Compatibility with Other WordPress Plugins

WPML is compatible with any WordPress theme and plugin. However, some plugins require additional configuration to work with WPML. For example, to use WooCommerce with WPML, you need to configure the WooCommerce Multilingual extension.

WPML Pricing

WPML is available in three pricing plans: Multilingual Blog, Multilingual CMS, and Multilingual Lifetime. The Multilingual Blog plan costs $29 per year and is suitable for blogs and small websites. The Multilingual CMS plan costs $79 per year and is suitable for larger websites and e-commerce sites. The Multilingual Lifetime plan costs $195 and provides lifetime access to all WPML features.

WPML Support and Resources

WPML provides various resources to assist users in creating multilingual websites. The WPML website includes a user manual, video tutorials, and a support forum. WPML also provides professional translation services and a directory of professional translators.

WPML Alternatives

WPML is not the only multilingual plugin available for WordPress. Other popular multilingual plugins include Polylang, qTranslate X, and Weglot. However, WPML is the most comprehensive multilingual plugin and is preferred by many users.

Conclusion

WPML is a powerful plugin that simplifies the process of creating a multilingual website. It allows users to add languages to their website, translate content, and even manage multilingual e-commerce sites. WPML is SEO friendly, user friendly, and compatible with any WordPress theme and plugin. By using WPML, website owners can reach a wider audience and even target international markets.