English is rightfully considered the most widely used language in the world. It is also worth noting that around 60% of all content on the internet is created in English. That is why, when businesses decide to translate their websites into foreign languages, the English version is usually the first one to be developed.
However, when the time comes to make a website multilingual, many website owners underestimate the complexity of the translation process. Translation involves much more than simply running content through a machine translator. Automated tools often produce numerous errors, resulting in awkward phrasing, inaccurate wording, and mistranslations. As a result, visitors may struggle to understand the content and choose to leave the website in favor of a more reliable source.
Below are some of the most common mistakes made when translating a website into English.
Missing Content on Website Pages
This often happens when only the website structure is translated, while the main content sections are overlooked. In the original language, every page may contain detailed information and articles that are valuable to users. However, when visitors switch to the English version, they find empty or incomplete pages.
Naturally, users are unlikely to stay on a website that lacks essential information.
Translating all website content requires time and resources. For this reason, businesses should include these expenses in their budgets and carefully assess the purpose of creating an English-language version.
Several scenarios are possible:
Business Card Website or Landing Page
A simple website that introduces a company often serves primarily an image-building function. In this case, a large amount of content is not required. It is usually sufficient to focus on the key information that visitors need.
Full-Scale Website
The approach depends on your goals and objectives. However, if you decide to launch an English version, the translation should be comprehensive. Otherwise, localization loses its purpose. Empty pages and incomplete translations can negatively affect your reputation among users and potential customers.
Automatic Website Translation into English
In an attempt to save money, some website owners rely on translation plugins and automated translation tools. All it takes is asking a developer to install the necessary extension.
Unfortunately, this approach is not suitable for professional websites. Translation errors are inevitable, and they can significantly damage user experience, especially when entering international markets. In many cases, automated translation causes more harm than good.
Translating 100% of the Content Word for Word
Surprisingly, this can also be a mistake.
Professional website translation is usually referred to as website localization. An English-language version should not be an exact copy of the original. When targeting a new market, literal translation is often ineffective.
What Differences Should Be Considered?
Cultural Preferences
If you are targeting a specific region such as the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, localization is essential. Different audiences perceive information differently. For example, measurement systems vary between countries. Simply translating the text is often not enough.
Different Product or Service Offerings
Products, services, and terms may vary by market. It is logical to create dedicated pages and adapt content to meet the expectations of customers in a specific region.
Local Contact Information
Contact details should be updated to match the target region.
Region-Specific Content
Some articles should not be translated at all. Instead, they should be completely rewritten to address local audiences and market conditions.
Translating Legal Documents
Many websites contain legal documents such as Privacy Policies, Terms and Conditions, or Data Processing Agreements.
At first glance, translating these documents may seem straightforward. However, in the event of a legal dispute, the translated text may be treated as a legally binding document. Errors and inaccuracies can lead to serious financial and legal consequences.
For this reason, legal website content should always be translated by professional translators who specialize in legal documentation.
Translating the Website Interface
Sometimes the main content is translated, but important interface elements remain in the original language. These may include menus, navigation buttons, categories, forms, and even image file names.
In some cases, translating these elements requires modifications to the website code, but it is a necessary part of the localization process.
You have probably visited websites where the menu remains unchanged after switching languages. This is a common mistake. Users expect every element of the website to appear in the language they selected.
How Can You Avoid These Mistakes?
The answer is simple: trust professionals.
Our translation agency provides complete website localization services tailored to the countries and regions you want to reach. Our specialists do more than translate content—they adapt both the text and the user interface to meet the expectations of your target market.
If your website contains specialized content, it is handled by translators with expertise in the relevant field. Editors and proofreaders also participate in the localization process to eliminate grammatical, stylistic, and spelling errors, as well as inaccuracies and typos.
This comprehensive approach ensures that your website is properly prepared for international audiences and helps you avoid the risks and losses associated with poor-quality translation.
