CMS and Translation Plugin Integration: What Clients Need to Know

This article covers the essential aspects of CMS and translation plugin integration, providing clients with the necessary knowledge to set up and manage localized content efficiently.

Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, Hubspot, and Drupal are widely used to create and manage digital content, and they support a variety of plugins to enhance website functionality.

One critical type of plugin is the translation plugin, which enables the creation of multilingual output by facilitating the translation of content into different languages. Integrating translation plugins with a CMS requires a bit of technical expertise, but understanding the process is key for clients to ensure smooth content management for proper localization.

Understanding CMS and Translation Plugins

A CMS is designed to help users create, edit, and organize website content, often without needing advanced technical skills. However, for websites targeting a global audience, offering content in multiple languages is crucial. Translation plugins extend the CMS's capabilities by providing tools for translating content into various languages. The latest-generation Translation Management Systems provide translation plugins for the most widely used CMS. 

Besides allowing linguists to input translations, the plugins also facilitate content synchronization, ensuring that all language versions of a page, post, or product are consistent and synchronized across the output.

If your CMS supports translation plugins, we recommend reviewing these considerations before launching a project:

The Technical Integration Process

• Compatibility: The first step in integrating a translation plugin is ensuring the plugin is reputable and compatible with the CMS version being used. Some translation plugins are updated regularly, so it's important to use a plugin that supports the CMS version. The use of plugins may also incur an additional cost, so make sure to include it in your localization budget.

• Installation and Configuration: Once the plugin is installed, it needs to be configured. Configuration settings may include defining the languages to be supported, setting default languages for the site, and deciding how the content should be translated. Clients should choose the most appropriate translation workflow based on their resources and needs.
  
  
• Management: Translation plugins often come with a dashboard or interface for managing translations. Clients should familiarize themselves with how to add and manage translations for pages, posts, product descriptions, and other content types. These plugins typically allow the creation of language-specific versions of each page. Some plugins also offer customization options, such as selecting specific content for translation (such as excluding certain widgets or menus) or using custom translation fields. Clients may need technical assistance to tailor these settings to their website's design and user experience goals.
  
  
• Testing: After setting up the translation plugin, it’s essential to test the multilingual content for accuracy and consistency. This includes verifying that content is properly displayed in all languages, ensuring the language selector works as intended, and confirming that translated content is synchronized.

Content Exchange: Localizable Content

Localizable content refers to the elements of an application or website that can be translated and adapted for different markets and audiences. This includes text, images, and multimedia that vary depending on the region or language.

Here’s what clients need to know about managing localizable content:

• Content Structure: CMS platforms store content in various formats (e.g., posts, pages, custom post types), and translation plugins need to be aware of how content is structured to facilitate the translation process. Clients should understand how their CMS organizes content to ensure the plugin can access and translate all relevant elements.
  
  
• Content Synchronization: Many translation plugins synchronize content across languages to ensure consistency. This includes translating headlines, body text, and metadata. However, clients must verify that all elements are linked across versions to avoid discrepancies between languages.
  
  
• Translating Non-Text Elements: In addition to text, clients should consider how non-text content such as images, videos, and forms, will be handled. Some translation plugins allow for the translation of image alt text or even entire image galleries. Clients should ensure these assets are properly localized for different languages and markets.
  
  
• SEO Considerations: When setting up a multilingual output, especially websites, clients should consider the SEO implications. Translation plugins often help with setting up the relevant set of tags, which are crucial for indicating to search engines which language version of the content to show based on the user's location. This ensures that search engines serve the correct language version of the page to the right audience.

Conclusion

By following the correct installation, configuration, and content management steps, clients can successfully use translation plugins to localize their CMS content for global audiences. Ensuring smooth content exchange and translation synchronization, while addressing technical details such as SEO and customization, will enhance the site’s usability and ensure high-quality, localized experiences.

If you are considering deploying a translation plugin for your CMS and need help, reach out to us.