How to Translate Your WooCommerce Store: A Comprehensive Guide

As a seasoned e-commerce professional with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how language barriers can hinder online businesses from reaching their full potential. If you’re selling products to a global audience, translating your WooCommerce store is an absolute necessity. It’s not just about making your site accessible; it’s about creating a welcoming and familiar shopping experience that resonates with customers and drives sales.

You might be thinking that you need to create separate websites for each language, but that’s not the case. Thanks to powerful multilingual plugins, you can easily translate your existing WooCommerce store into multiple languages with minimal effort. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right plugin to setting up automatic translations, so you can start reaching a wider audience and boosting your sales.

Let’s dive in!

Why Translate Your WooCommerce Store?

Here are some compelling reasons why translating your WooCommerce store should be a top priority for your business:

• Increased Customer Reach: 75% of customers prefer to buy products in their native language (according to a recent study). This means that by translating your store, you’re opening up a whole new world of potential customers who might not have been comfortable navigating your site in another language.
• Improved Customer Experience: When customers see information in their own language, they feel more comfortable and confident making a purchase. This leads to a better customer experience, higher conversion rates, and increased customer loyalty.
• Boosted Sales: Translation directly impacts your bottom line. By making your store accessible to a wider audience, you’re increasing the chances of selling more products and generating more revenue.
• Enhanced Brand Reputation: Investing in translation demonstrates that you value your international customers and are committed to providing them with the best possible experience. This can enhance your brand reputation and build trust.

If you’re already shipping internationally or selling digital products available in multiple languages, translating your store is a no-brainer. However, even if you’re just starting to consider expanding your reach, translation should be a part of your long-term strategy.

How to Translate Your WooCommerce Store (2 Easy Methods)

The most effective way to translate your WooCommerce store is by using a dedicated multilingual plugin for WordPress. These plugins offer a seamless way to manage translations and ensure that your store is properly localized for your target audience.

We’ll explore two popular and highly effective methods using plugins:

Method 1: Using TranslatePress to Translate Your WooCommerce Store

TranslatePress is a user-friendly translation plugin for WordPress that makes it incredibly easy to translate your site through a point-and-click interface. It’s a fantastic choice for beginners and those who prefer a visual approach to managing translations. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Install and Activate TranslatePress

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins » Add New.
2. Search for “TranslatePress” and click Install Now.
3. Once installed, click Activate.

Note: The free version of TranslatePress allows you to translate your site into one additional language. For unlimited languages, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version.

Step 2: Install the ‘Extra Languages’ Add-on

1. Download the ‘Extra Languages’ add-on from your TranslatePress account.
2. Go to Plugins » Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Click Upload Plugin and choose the downloaded ‘Extra Languages’ add-on file.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

Step 3: Configure TranslatePress Settings

1. Go to Settings » TranslatePress in your WordPress admin.
2. Click the License tab and enter your license key (found in your TranslatePress account). Then, click Activate License.
3. Click the General tab. Verify that your default language is set correctly. Select the additional languages you want to use for your store from the ‘All Languages’ section and click the Add button next to each.
4. Customize other settings, such as how the language selector will appear on your site.
5. Click Save Changes.

Step 4: Start Translating Your WooCommerce Store

1. Click the Translate Site tab in your WordPress admin bar to access the translation editor.
2. The translation editor will display a live preview of your website on the right side. The translation panel is on the left.
3. In the preview panel, navigate to the page you want to translate. Hover your mouse over the text you want to translate. A blue pencil icon will appear. Click on it to edit the text.
4. Enter the translations for the text in the panel on the left. You can do this for any or all of your site’s languages.
5. Click Save translation at the top of the screen after each translation.

Now, visit your website to see the translated text. Use the language switcher to change the language to your desired option. All text automatically generated by WordPress and your plugins should be automatically translated.

Note: You can create custom translations for default text. Text generated by WordPress or plugins will have a green pencil icon in the TranslatePress translation editor.

Continue translating the rest of your WooCommerce product pages and site content in the translation editor.

Automatically Translate Your WooCommerce Store Using TranslatePress

TranslatePress integrates with Google Translate to offer automatic translations, saving you even more time and effort. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Create a Google Cloud account and set up an API key.
2. Go to Settings » TranslatePress » Automatically Translate in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Select Yes for ‘Enable Automatic Translation’ and enter your Google Translate API key.

If you prefer not to create an API key, you can use Google Translate manually. Copy sections of text into Google Translate and paste the translations into the TranslatePress editor.

Method 2: Using WPML to Translate Your WooCommerce Store

WPML is a premium translation plugin for WordPress, known for its robust features and user-friendly interface. It allows you to connect your site to third-party translation services, giving you even more control over your translations. Let’s explore how to translate your WooCommerce store using WPML:

Step 1: Sign Up for WPML

1. Create an account on the WPML website. You’ll need the Multilingual CMS plan to translate WooCommerce.

Step 2: Install and Activate WPML

1. Go to Plugins » Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for “WPML” and click Install Now.
3. Once installed, click Activate.

Step 3: Register Your Site Key

1. Click the Register Now link on your Plugins page.
2. Enter your site key (found in your WPML account) and click Continue.

Step 4: Install Essential WPML Add-ons

1. Go to Plugins » Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click the Commercial tab.
3. Select the following WPML add-ons:
   • String Translation
   • Translation Management
   • Media Translation
   • WooCommerce Multilingual
4. Check the Activate after download box.
5. Click Download.

Step 5: Configure WPML Language Settings

1. Go to WPML » Languages in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Select the language for your current content and click Next.
3. Select the languages you want to enable for your site by checking the boxes next to them.
4. Choose the order in which the languages will appear in the language switcher. You can also choose what to do if a translation is missing for a page or product.
5. You can add the language switcher to your navigation menu, a widget, or the footer area of your website.
6. Optionally, include a link to different translations at the top or bottom of your content. Customize the link’s appearance.
7. Click Next.
8. Choose whether to send theme and plugin information to WPML.org for faster support.
9. Enter your site key if you haven’t already done so. Click Next.
10. Review the recommendations for additional components to install (if you haven’t already installed the WPML plugins listed above).
11. Click Skip and Finish to close the setup wizard.

Step 6: Configure WooCommerce Multilingual Settings

1. Click the Let’s continue button on the WooCommerce Multilingual setup wizard.
2. Choose to Create missing translations for your store pages and click Continue.
3. On the Global Attributes tab, click Continue.
4. Choose whether to Enable the multi-currency mode and click Continue.
5. Select your preferred option for Translation Options (whether to show products even if they’re not translated) and click Continue.
6. Click Close setup on the next tab.

Step 7: Translate Your WooCommerce Products

1. Go to WooCommerce » WooCommerce Multilingual in your WordPress dashboard.
2. View your product list. A new column will display the languages you selected during WPML setup.
3. Click the + icon for the desired language to translate a product.
4. On the product translation screen, you can copy fields from the original or type in the translated text.
5. Translate any additional text related to the product.
6. Check the Translation is complete box and click Save & Close.

You’ll see your product list again. The + icon for the translated product and language will now be a pencil icon, allowing you to edit the translation.

Repeat the translation process for all your products in other languages.

Step 8: Translate Your WooCommerce Product Images

1. Go to WPML » Media Translation in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click the + icon for the chosen image.
3. Enter the image name or select a different image for the translated version.
4. Click Save media translation.

Step 9: Translate Your Product Categories

1. Go to the Categories tab and translate your product categories in the same way as your products.

Once you’ve translated your products and categories, customers will be able to view them in their native language on your website. WPML automatically translates WordPress-generated text, like ‘Add to cart,’ into the user’s language.

Automatically Translating Your WooCommerce Store Using WPML

If you prefer not to create translations manually, WPML offers several options, including automatic translation with the help of Google and Microsoft AI.

1. Go to WPML » Translation Management in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Complete the setup wizard to choose who will translate your site (you can assign translators, use a translation service, or set up automatic translations).
3. On the Advanced Translation Editor screen, click Continue.
4. On the Summary screen, click Done!
5. Go to the Translation Management dashboard.
6. Click the Translation Tools tab.
7. Click Sign up for free to set up automatic translations.
8. Enter your billing details. You’ll receive 2,000 words/month of machine translation for free. After that, WPML offers pay-as-you-go pricing based on your translation needs. They also offer bulk prepaid credits.
9. Go to the Translation Dashboard tab.
10. Select the items you want to automatically translate. Choose ‘Product’ from the content type dropdown and click Filter to display your products.
11. Check the boxes next to the products and images you want to translate.
12. Select the languages you want to translate your products into (defaults to all languages).
13. Click Add selected content to translation basket.
14. Go to the Translation Basket tab.
15. Verify the content you want to translate. Click Send all items for translation.
16. A popup will appear, confirming that the media files have been sent for translation. Click Continue.
17. Go to the Translation Tools tab again.
18. Select the content you want to translate. Click Translate automatically.
19. You’ll see a message confirming that the jobs have been added to the translation queue.
20. Go to the Translation Jobs tab to monitor the progress of your translations.

Once your automatic translations are complete, you can edit them using the WooCommerce » WooCommerce Multilingual page. The translated pages will be live on your site.

Conclusion

Translating your WooCommerce store is a smart investment that can significantly expand your customer base, boost sales, and enhance your brand reputation. With the right approach and tools, the process is relatively straightforward. Choose a plugin like TranslatePress or WPML, follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a truly global online presence.

FAQs

What is the best way to translate my WooCommerce product descriptions?

The best approach depends on your budget and level of comfort with translation. You can use a plugin’s automatic translation feature, hire professional translators, or utilize a combination of both. For high-quality results, consider using professional translators, especially for critical product descriptions.

How do I ensure that my translated product pages are SEO-optimized?

Use a multilingual SEO plugin to help you optimize your translated content for search engines. Make sure your translated product descriptions and titles contain the correct keywords for your target audience. Also, use hreflang tags to inform search engines about different language versions of your site.

Can I translate my WooCommerce store into multiple languages at once?

Yes, both TranslatePress and WPML allow you to translate your store into multiple languages simultaneously. This makes it easy to reach a wider audience and cater to different language groups.

What are the best practices for translating WooCommerce product attributes?

Translate your product attributes carefully to ensure accuracy and consistency. Make sure the translated attributes match the original language’s meaning and context. This helps customers easily understand and filter product options.

How do I manage currency settings for a multilingual WooCommerce store?

Both TranslatePress and WPML offer multi-currency support. Set up currency settings to display prices in the appropriate currency for each language. Ensure that prices are correctly converted and displayed to avoid confusion.

Do I need to translate my entire WooCommerce store?

You don’t necessarily need to translate every single page and element on your site. Prioritize translating essential content, such as your homepage, product pages, and checkout process. You can gradually translate other sections as needed.

How do I choose the right language for my WooCommerce store?

Research your target audience and identify the languages they speak. Use tools like Google Analytics to track the geographical location of your website visitors. Select the languages that will reach the most potential customers.

Can I translate my WooCommerce store with a free plugin?

Yes, you can use the free version of TranslatePress to translate your store into one other language. However, for unlimited languages, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version. Other free plugins are available, but they may offer limited functionality compared to premium plugins.

What are the benefits of using a premium translation plugin?

Premium plugins like WPML and TranslatePress offer more features and support, including automatic translations, advanced language management, and dedicated customer support. They are often more reliable and efficient for large-scale translation projects.

How do I update translations after I’ve made changes to my WooCommerce store?

Both TranslatePress and WPML allow you to update translations easily. When you make changes to your store’s content, you can update the translated versions using the plugin’s interface.

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