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Multilingual website design

A multilingual website is won or lost at the planning stage. We design or rebuild your site so it gets found in every language, not just translated.

At a glance

  • Who it's for: companies creating or redesigning a website in several languages.
  • What we do: a structure per language, translated URLs, hreflang, a redirect plan, native content and SEO checks before launch.
  • Platforms: WordPress, Webflow, Shopify or a custom-coded site, like this one.

Why a multilingual website needs planning

Add languages to an existing site as an afterthought and you often discover too late that the structure doesn't work: untranslated URLs, unmanageable hreflang tags, duplicate pages, or a language switcher that sends everyone back to the homepage. And a poorly prepared redesign can wipe out years of rankings in a few days.

That's why we get involved before the design: each language version gets its own place, its own keywords and its own content.

Our approach, from structure to launch

  1. Keyword research for each language: the pages you need come from real searches in each country.
  2. Structure: usually subfolders (/fr/, /de/); country domains only for a strong local presence.
  3. Translated URLs and hreflang on every page, including x-default.
  4. A 301 redirect plan for redesigns, page by page.
  5. Native content rather than raw translation.
  6. SEO checks before launch, then indexing and ranking checks in Search Console.

WordPress, Webflow, Shopify or custom code

We work with whatever suits you: WordPress with WPML or Polylang, Webflow Localization, Shopify Markets, or a custom-coded static site that is extremely fast and low-maintenance. This website is an example: four languages, hreflang on every page, a multilingual sitemap and structured data. Planning to launch in France or Germany? See our pages on SEO in France and SEO in Germany.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate domain for each country?
Not necessarily. Subfolders (/fr/, /de/) on your main domain work very well and benefit from its authority. Country domains mainly make sense for a strong local presence.
Can I keep my current CMS?
In most cases, yes. WordPress, Webflow and Shopify handle multiple languages with the right settings; we first check that translated URLs and correct hreflang tags are possible.
Will a redesign cost me rankings?
It can, if old URLs aren't redirected. That's why we prepare a page-by-page 301 redirect plan and check indexing after launch.

Let's talk

Your next market starts here.

Planning to grow in France, Germany or the Netherlands? Tell us which market you are targeting. We reply within one working day, in English.

contact@antonanton.fr