Language Switcher Webflow: A Comprehensive Guide

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Language Switcher Webflow can be a game-changer for websites that need to cater to multiple languages. By adding a language switcher, you can make your website more accessible and user-friendly for international visitors.

To get started, you'll need to create a new element in Webflow, specifically a "Language Switcher" element. This element allows you to add multiple languages and switch between them seamlessly.

Design and Implementation

You can customize the language switcher in the Linguise dashboard, where every modification will be reflected on your website.

To get started, head to Settings > Language flags display, where you'll find various elements to set up, including layouts, position, content, and more.

You can choose from 3 layouts: side by side, dropdown, or popup, and customize the language switcher position to suit your design.

The language switcher content can be set up to display language names in English or native language, and you can even customize the flags shapes and size.

You can also customize the box shadow and colors to match your website's design.

To create a language selector, you'll need to customize the Locales List element, which functions like a Collection List.

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Design

Two Women Sitting at Table and Talking in Sign Language
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Designing a language selector for your website is a crucial step in creating a user-friendly experience for your international audience. You can integrate the Locales List element into a dropdown, which offers a more accessible solution for integrating a language selector.

To create a dynamic language selector, you'll need to customize the Locales List according to your preferences. This involves personalizing the component container, adjusting the distribution of elements, and modifying individual elements to match your design.

The appearance of the Locales List should match the overall design of your navbar. Experiment with styles, colors, and text styles to ensure perfect integration. You can also choose to display the display name or ISO code of the language, depending on your design preferences.

The language switcher can be customized from the Linguise dashboard to match your website's design. You can choose from three layouts: side by side, dropdown, or popup. You can also adjust the language switcher position, content, and flags to suit your needs.

Here are some key design elements to consider when creating a language selector:

Linguana Pros and Cons

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One of the standout features of Linguana is that all features are included across all plans.

This means you won't have to worry about upgrading or downgrading plans to access the tools you need.

Linguana's pay-for-what-you-use AI credits give you the flexibility to automatically translate content as needed.

This is similar to Webflow Localization's machine translation feature, which can be a huge time-saver.

If you have a site with many locales or languages, you'll appreciate that plans with unlimited languages are more affordable than the competition.

This can be a significant cost savings, especially if you're managing a large and complex website.

External Solutions

External solutions can be a game-changer for translating your Webflow site. You can use external plugins like WeGlot, Bablic, or Easyling, which are based on translation proxy systems.

These plugins let you access and translate content beyond the Webflow interface, often by adding a special JavaScript fragment in the page code. This gives you a dedicated administration panel to examine texts, translate them automatically or by hand, and even export them for offline translation.

Recommended read: Webflow Plugins

Credit: youtube.com, Language Switcher - Webflow tools

Some popular external plugins include WeGlot, Bablic, and Easyling, which offer a range of solutions for translating your Webflow site.

Here are some of the benefits of using external plugins:

  • Access to a dedicated administration panel for translating content
  • Ability to export translations for offline use
  • Option to send translations to a trusted translation provider

However, using a translation proxy can have some drawbacks, such as a penalty from the SEO point of view, as the pages are dynamically translated by the proxy, but do not exist per se.

External Plugin

Using an external plugin can be a great way to translate your Webflow site, and it's not just about adding a plugin to your site. WeGlot, Bablic, and Easyling are some of the popular options available, each with their own strengths and advantages.

These systems allow you to access and translate content even when the Webflow interface is not available. You can add a special JavaScript fragment in the page code to make it work.

One of the biggest advantages of using a translation proxy is that it gives you your own administration panel to manage translations. From here, you can examine texts, translate them automatically or by hand, and even export them for offline translation or send them to your trusted translation provider.

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However, using a translation proxy does come with a penalty from an SEO point of view. The pages are dynamically translated by the proxy, but don't exist per se, which can affect your site's search engine rankings.

To mitigate this issue, providers often offer solutions that involve DNS configuration. This process can be a bit complex, but it's a crucial step in linking your site to the translation technology provider.

Weglot Pros and Cons

Weglot offers nearly instant implementation, requiring only a code embed and DNS record updates.

The automatic translation feature is a game-changer, as it doesn't require your input.

One of the standout features of Weglot is asset localization, available on all plans.

You can also take advantage of a glossary and translation-exclusion list to refine your translations.

For those who prefer a more visual approach, Weglot's visual editor interface lets you edit translations directly on your site.

However, Weglot can be pricey for high-content websites with many words.

Translated URLs are only available on the Pro plan and up, which may be a limitation for some users.

To manage your translations, you'll need to log into a third-party platform.

Rosemary Boyer

Writer

Rosemary Boyer is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative content. With a focus on technical and educational topics, she has established herself as a reliable voice in the industry. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, covering subjects such as CSS Precedence, where she breaks down complex concepts into clear and concise language.

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