Set Up Automatic Translation in Wix
Wix Multilingual enables you to automatically translate your website into over 180 languages -- without technical know-how. The function is based on Google Translate and since 2023 also on DeepL for better quality. Here is what you need to know:
- Why use it? Reach a global audience and save time. 76% of online shoppers prefer content in their native language.
- Prerequisites: An active Wix Premium plan (from EUR 17/month) and a published website.
- Setup: Install "Wix Multilingual" in the App Market, select target languages in the Translation Manager and activate automatic translation.
- Optimisation: Review and edit translations manually, adjust SEO settings per language and set up a language selection menu.
Tip: Regularly check the translations and use professional support when needed.
Wix Multilingual Update: Auto Translate CMS Collection Content
Before You Begin
A successful start depends on the right technical foundation and the targeted selection of languages.
System Requirements
Before setting up Wix Multilingual, ensure your website meets all necessary prerequisites. The most important requirement is an active Wix Premium plan.
PlanMonthly CostSuitable for MultilingualLight EUR 17✓Core EUR 29✓Business EUR 36✓Business Elite EUR 159✓
First publish your website so that all content can be captured. Once this is done, you can proceed with selecting the appropriate target languages.
Selecting Target Languages
Once your website is technically prepared, select the target languages to achieve greater international reach. With over 4.33 billion active internet users worldwide, internationalising your website offers enormous growth potential.
When selecting target languages, you should consider the following aspects:
- Analyse visitor data: Use your website data to find out which countries your visitors come from and which languages they prefer.
- Assess market potential: In addition to the number of speakers of a language, the economic potential of the respective market is also important.
To optimally prepare content for translation, you should use clear and understandable formulations.
Preparation Aspect****RecommendationLanguage styleClear and preciseTo avoidJargon and idiomsContextAdd additional explanationsCultural adaptationConsider local norms
Setup Guide
Once your website is prepared and you have selected the target languages, you can set up the automatic translation. Since March 2023, Wix has offered improved translation quality through the integration with DeepL, which has been shown to lead to 20% higher user engagement for translated websites.
Install Wix Multilingual
Go to the App Market in your Wix dashboard. Search for "Wix Multilingual" and click "Add to My Website". Installation is automatic and takes just a few minutes.
StepActionNoteOpen App MarketDashboard > App MarketAccessible via the side menuSearch for app Enter "Wix Multilingual"Available free of chargeAdd appClick "Add"Installation is automatic
First Steps
After installation, you can start the basic configuration. Wix provides you with 3,000 free translation words that you can use immediately.
- Set main language In the Translation Manager, set your main language. This should correspond to the language in which your website was created.
- Adjust regional settings For each language, adjust the formats for the following elements:
- Date and time
- Numbers and currencies
- Units of measurement
After completing these settings, you can activate the automatic translation.
Activate Automatic Translation
Activation is done in the Translation Manager. Proceed as follows:
- Open the Translation Manager.
- Click "Generate Translations".
- Select "Translate Website Automatically".
- Review the results.
Important: New content or changes are not automatically translated. You need to manually start the translation process for such content.
Tip: Keep translated pages hidden until you have reviewed the translation quality. You can adjust visibility at any time in the language settings.
Optimising Translations
Once automatic translation is activated, you should adjust the results to improve the experience for international users.
Review and Adjust Translations
Automatic translations are a good starting point, but they often need fine-tuning. In the Translation Manager, you can:
- Select a language and specifically filter for missing translations.
- Review translations according to the following priorities:
Translation TypeReview MethodReview IntervalMain textLine-by-line reviewAfter each auto-translationNavigation elementsTest entire navigationOnce monthlyProduct descriptionsDetailed reviewAfter changes in the product range
Setting Up the Language Selection Menu
A well-placed language selection menu makes navigation easier for international visitors. Here is how to set it up:
- Open the Wix Editor.
- Place the language menu in a visible location.
- Design the menu to match your corporate design.
- Activate the desired languages.
Tip: Place the language menu in the top navigation or in the footer so that visitors can find it quickly.
Ensure that the following settings are correct for each activated language:
- Date formats
- Currency indications
- Units of measurement
- Number formats
If necessary, you can use the "Use Original Content" function to keep individual elements in the original language. This gives you more control over the presentation.
Improving Translation Results
Translation Guidelines
Good preparation can significantly improve the results of automatic translations. Here are a few tips that can help:
- Clear text structure: Write short, concise sentences and avoid idiomatic expressions. A logical and clear structure makes the text easier to translate.
- Multilingual SEO optimisation: Adapt meta descriptions to each language and optimise keywords for the respective target group. Also check whether your URLs are correctly localised.
Once texts and SEO elements are adjusted, it is worth checking for commonly occurring problems.
Fixing Common Problems
Design Adjustments Ensure your design is flexible enough to support different languages:
- Plan sufficient space for longer texts.
- Keep line spacing consistent across all language versions.
- Use the same text design for each language.
Targeted Review of Translations
- CMS Content Content such as new CMS collections is often not automatically translated. Add these manually to transfer them to all languages.
- Updates Changes to the original text do not automatically affect the translated versions. Regularly check whether updates are necessary.
- Special Terms Product or brand names should remain in the original language to avoid misunderstandings.
If automatic translations are not convincing, you can adjust them directly in the live editor. Should design problems arise from longer texts, revising or shortening may be useful.
With these measures, you ensure consistent and well-readable translations.
