The history of AI in web development can be traced back to 1993, when the Mosaic graphical web browser was launched. Artificial intelligence has come a long way in the 30 years since that browser first reached the market. It will be even more important in the future.
Artificial intelligence technology is becoming invaluable to the art of web design. A growing number of web developers are utilizing a wide array of AI tools to complete their designs faster and improve the quality of their websites.
AI has become even more important when it comes to creating more complex sites that serve a diverse audience. You can use AI to personalize content and create a large amount of relevant content more easily. This is particularly true when you are creating a global website that will serve people that speak different languages.
Using AI to Create a Multilingual Website
Whether your business serves a global audience or is planning to expand, you should know that having a multilingual website is about more than using some random plugin. You not only have to make sure that everything on the site is translated correctly, but you need to provide an excellent experience to everyone who comes to your website. This will be a lot easier if you utilize AI technology wisely during the design process.
You also have to consider specific compliance issues and modify some of your content to account for cultural sensibilities. This is one of the benefits of using AI to personalize the design of your website. This is why you need to take your time and plan carefully before you start. Here’s how you can build a successful multilingual website in four steps.
Hire a Translation Service that Uses Machine Learning to Improve Efficiency
The very first thing you’ll have to do is search for a translation service. Do not cut corners here and hire some random freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork. This is probably an essential part of building a multilingual website, so go with a reputable agency that has translators from all over the globe so you can have the whole translation project handled by one service.
If you’re looking for a great translation agency, you should check out Global Voices. This translation service has over 9000 linguists in their network who speak over 150 languages. This is the translation company to go for if you want your website to read perfectly in any language and look like it was written by a native speaker and not a machine.
Many of these translation services use machine learning technology to translate content more efficiently. Read Write Web talked about the benefits of machine learning in translating content. This enables you to get competitive rates and receive your translations more quickly.
Choose the Multilingual Format and Use AI for Content Personalization
There are different ways that you can set up a multilingual website. For example, you can either have separate domains depending on the language and the country or have a single domain with multiple subdomains or folders for each language.
Each of these options has its pros and cons and might not work for all businesses. For instance, if you want your site to be served in over 30 languages, then getting a domain for each one can get expensive. Some countries also have restrictions as to who can purchase domains with national extensions. So, in this case, you should consider going with different folders or subdomains.
Going with folders is usually the simplest and most cost-effective way to set up a multilingual website. Even major companies like Apple use this approach. The only time you should be using different domains is if you want to serve a very different experience to various visitors and don’t need the site to be translated into a ton of languages.
AI technology can also help personalize content according to region and language. This is going to make it easier to deliver the best possible user experience for people all over the world.
Add a Language Selection Menu and Use Machine Learning Geolocation Technology
The next step will be to add a language selection menu to the website. It should be well visible at the top of the page. You can also consider adding some icons to make it stand out, like a globe, for instance.
You can then choose the layout for the menu. You can decide to use flags, text, or both. The simplest way to go would be to go with plain text, but you could use a combination of text and flags to make it as easy as possible for people to find in their language.
You will want to also sure that you have an AI-driven geolocation service in place as well. This will help you make it easier to personalize content for the people visiting your website.
Check the Fonts
This is something many people overlook, but fonts do not look or feel the same based on the language. For instance, a handwritten font might look good in English but horrible or unreadable in Arabic. This is why you will need to check each page for readability. You might also have to adjust the alignment based on the language, as not all cultures read from left to right.
Artificial Intelligence is Vital to Creating Multilingual Websites
This is all you need to know if you want a professional-looking multilingual website with AI. There is no doubt that AI is becoming important for developing websites. Take the time to translate your site correctly first, then ensure that everyone gets a great user experience.