What version of 68 Classifieds are you running? v4.2.0 Developer What template are you using? own template Please describe in detail the issue you are having: Does anyone use more than 1 language? I need at least 2. I read the other multilingual threads, but they aren't very helpful. This issue seems to be a hot potatoe but I think its very important to find a solution. Thanks.
Choices 1. Use google translator (poor quality) 2. Make a sub directory/sub domain and direct language posters to it appropriately. 3. Best way -make another domain. Generally mixing languages on the same site is not a good idea. Especially from a search engine point of view - use another domain or a subdomain and set the headers for language appropriately so the browser knows what language it is.
Thanks seymourjames for your tips, You must know I live in Switzerland. We have 3 languages - italian, french and german. So far google never had any problem with it. Domain for each language will not be the best solution I think. Sub directory - I will think about this. Does anybody practice more than one language on his 68classified website?
I used to but then separated them onto separate domains. If you need search engine traffic then definitely go in the direction of subdomains or domains. There is another advantage to doing so. You then focus on the "site" which is the most successful. In your case I would serious think about separate domains with .fr .de and .it if as I said you need search engine traffic.
Thanks again seymourjames! I still believe multilingual site seems to be a hot potatoe... I don't want users from Italy oder France. In switzerland live three main ethnic groups livin in their own regions. 60% speak german, 30% french (may be you know geneve...), 10% speak italian. Using more languages in switzerland causes definitly no search engine problems. Have a look at this classified website ImmoScout24 - they use 3 switzerland languages and english, and no subdomain because it's really not necessary. Does anyone know wether 68classified script is unsuitable for multilingual website? I hope it is suitable...
Yes it does make it much more difficult and your example is a poor one without meaning to cause offense. If you are targeting keywords. Even the header tells the search engine what language to expect, the page title, the names of categories, the meta descriptions etc. In reality this means you have to segment your site and at the very least put each language into a subdomain or subdirectory else you will need to allocate it dynamically. In general you need 3 systems each one independent of the other (3 databases too). This is not 68C specific but common sense and applies to most web sites. If you try to have several languages in the same page you will find the search engine indexing is poorer so that is a no go as well. The best way is to actually have separate domains or use subdomains as they have the edge over subdirectories. You interlink each of these domains/subdomains. I have been doing 68C sites in 2 languages for 4 years and you would be wise to listen. If you make a mix you will dilute its worth SEO wise unless you intend to establish and have the money for a creating a strong brand. Finally as an aside, do you really expect people to type in an advert in 3 languages - this is wishful thinking for me. Even the site you give does not try to do that and this potentially has a nasty side effect if you do what they do. The site example you give has quite a few marketing bucks available and it has been around a while to build up a brand. That is its strength. It also appears to be a custom built script. Nonetheless what they actually do is change the headers and template as you go from one language to another. The only realistic way to mimic this in 68C is going to be using subdirectories, subdomains or separate domains. e.g look here in the source of their site<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="fr" lang="fr"> then look on the German and Italian pages etc. What is poor about their site is they create a massive duplicate content issue. Same advert in the same language on three different pages. Basically, they present a German language advert on an Italian page etc. Whilst this may work for the Swiss person speaking multiple languages it is not going to look so good to search engines. They see 3 identical adverts on the same domain. I would spend some time doing a little Google research on SEO and multiple languages. Propbably the best example of a multi language site and how to do it is Wikipedia - they do it using subdomains? They took the compromise approach of compartmentalizing for search but still being able to market the brand around one domain name.
Thank you very much again. Now I understand your arguments and agree of course. So I will first start with german language, and when site is finished I'll take your advice. Thanks!
Its best. Rome was not built in a day. Get ranked in German and you will find it easier to then offer the other languages as your name takes hold.
