In our increasingly globalised world and thanks largely to the internet, expanding into international markets is a reality for many businesses.
Most companies are well aware of the importance of having an active online presence, but this digital content is of no use to potential international customers if they can’t understand it. Hence the importance of a multilingual website.
Having your website translated by a professional translation service will make your products or services accessible to new clients and allow them to feel connected to your brand.
But why are multilingual websites so important, and what factors need to be considered when translating them? Let’s take a look.
Translate your website for strong customer relations
Studies show that 55% of customers prefer to shop in their own language : who can blame them?
Navigating the web through your native language is not only a much more relaxing user experience that eliminates the chances of misunderstandings, but it also makes you feel like the company is speaking to you, that their products or services are for you.
These days many web browsers offer instant machine translation of websites and, while this function can be useful in a pinch, the quality is extremely low which leaves users feeling frustrated and confused.
Customers can’t be blamed for questioning why they should give money to a company that has made no effort to make their digital content accessible.
Is this the impression you want your business to give?
By hiring a professional translation service to translate your website, you will open your business up to a whole new world of potential clients!
Your multilingual website should be easy to find
As well as helping you create strong relationships with prospective clients, translating your website into relevant languages actually increases your search engine rankings, making it easier for your company to be found online.
This is because having your content available in multiple languages means it appears in keyword searches in those languages, not only English, giving your business better exposure.
While we’re on the topic of SEO and search engines, it’s worth acknowledging that around the world different search engines are used: in Russia people use Yandex, in China it’s all about Baidu whilst in South Korea, Naver far outperforms both Google and Yahoo.
It pays to research how people use the internet in the country your business wants to expand into to give your website the best chance of being found by potential customers.
Make switching between languages easy
It’s all well and good making your website available in multiple languages, but if people can’t find the language switcher, they will be stuck viewing the site in English regardless!
It should be an intuitive process so that users don’t have to waste time and get bored. Most websites opt to place the language switcher at the top right-hand side of the page, so this is usually the best option.
Once you’ve settled on the position of the language switcher, you have to decide if you’re going to use flags or words to indicate the languages (or both, though this can look overcrowded).
Flags have the advantage of being visually appealing and simple, but can be rather exclusive; think about all the countries that speak Spanish, for example, they won’t feel represented by a Spanish flag.
If you decide to use words, we recommend having the language written in the relevant languages, i.e. the button should read ‘Deutsch’ instead of ‘German‘ or make it easier for users to find.
Localisation can be just as important as translation
Translating the verbal content of your website is only part of what goes into creating a successful multilingual website; you should work with a translation agency that can also localise your site.
Localisation is the process of altering content, whether that’s a website, a video, or a brand’s advertising campaign, to make sure it is received in the appropriate manner by the target audience, taking culture into account.
When it comes to localising websites, things to consider include images, date and address formats, and brand slogans, to name a few.
How to ensure an efficient translation process
Allowing your translator access to links to the original website they are translating will make life much easier and ultimately result in better translations.
Translation does not exist in a vacuum and knowing if the text they are working on is an image caption, a CTA (call to action), or button will inform how a translator renders it. Similarly, communicate with your translation agency about the best format for the source and target texts.
This will help both your translator and webmaster, who is not likely to understand the target text.
Now that we’ve convinced you of the importance of having a multilingual website, perhaps you’d like more information about BeTranslated’s talented website translators? For more information or a free, no-obligation quote, get in touch today.
BeTranslated operates with dual headquarters in Belgium and Spain, allowing seamless delivery of linguistically precise and culturally adapted language services across European markets.
Belgium offers a uniquely structured multilingual environment. Dutch, French and German are recognised as official languages, while English is widely used in international business and institutional contexts. This combination creates a highly regulated and demanding landscape for translation and interpreting services.
Official data: According to Statbel and Belgium.be, Belgium reached 11.8 million inhabitants in 2025. Around 60% of the population speaks Dutch, 40% French, and roughly 1% German. This linguistic distribution directly influences communication strategies across sectors.
Belgium’s linguistic landscape: Official data
According to the Belgian Federal Government, the country is structured into three language-based Communities and four linguistic regions. Dutch and French coexist officially in the Brussels-Capital Region, making it one of Europe’s most complex multilingual administrative environments.
This framework directly impacts how companies communicate, draft legal documents, and operate across regions. Language compliance is not optional. It is embedded in the legal and institutional fabric of the country.
Education data: Insights from Eurostat show that 68.5% of Belgian lower secondary students study English, while 44.4% learn two or more foreign languages. Multilingualism is not a trend. It is a structural reality.
Official languages and regional application
Dutch (Nederlands)
Dutch dominates the Flemish Region and plays a central role in economic hubs such as Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels. It is widely used in logistics, trade and institutional communication. Professional Dutch translation services are essential for companies operating across the Benelux and Northern European markets.
French (Français)
French is the official language in Wallonia and co-official in Brussels. Cities such as Liège, Namur and Mons rely heavily on French in administration, education and business. High-quality French translation services are critical for legal compliance, institutional communication and EU-related documentation.
Language trends: Data from Eurostat indicates that more than 52% of Belgian upper secondary students study French as a foreign language, confirming its strong institutional and cross-border importance.
German (Deutsch)
German is officially recognised in eastern Belgium, particularly in municipalities such as Eupen and St. Vith. This region facilitates economic and administrative exchanges with Germany and Luxembourg. Specialised German translation services support technical, legal and cross-border operations.
Multilingual compliance for regulated sectors
Belgium enforces strict language laws across public administration, education and the judicial system. Businesses must adapt their communication depending on the region in which they operate. This requirement creates a strong demand for professional language services in regulated industries.
Legal translation: contracts, court documents and regulatory compliance
EU policy: The European Parliament confirms that linguistic diversity is a fundamental value of the European Union, with 24 official languages recognised across institutions.
With operations in both Belgium and Spain, BeTranslated ensures consistent terminology, cultural accuracy and regulatory compliance across Northern and Southern Europe. This dual positioning allows companies to scale internationally while maintaining linguistic precision.
Geographical framework: The UK Government PCGN highlights Belgium’s four linguistic regions, including the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region and the German-speaking area in eastern Wallonia.
Need multilingual support in Belgium or Spain?
Work with experienced language professionals supporting companies, institutions and international organisations across Europe.
Are you planning to hire a translation agency? To get the results you want, you need to ask yourself the right questions.
The market for translation is huge and the competition is stiff. As a customer, it is up to you to entrust your work and product to the most qualified experts.
Let’s go through some of the reasons why it is best to hire a small translation agency.
Optimal responsiveness
Does hiring a small team really equate to better customer experience and improved responsiveness? Yes!
Communication within a small company is much simpler than in a larger one, which makes it possible to offer customers a fast and efficient service that is better coordinated.
By hiring a small translation agency, you can avoid the slower pace and indifference of bigger companies.
A small company can combine quality and speed much more easily. Do you need something urgently translated from English to French? All the better to hire a small translation agency!
A small company can respond to your request faster and you can rely on them to always deliver your translated documents on time.
Your individual customer care person will respond to all your requests and needs throughout the project.
When you hire a small translation agency, your project is managed by a single intermediary, the project manager.
heir mission is to ensure a smooth process for you, starting with your initial request up through to the delivery of your completed translated documents.
The result of having one person take care of your project from beginning to end also eliminates the chance of miscommunication or the space for anything to get misconstrued.
A small translation agency will connect you to its vast network of professional translators, who are selected according to strict and rigorous criteria.
This is where the single project manager shines, responsible for monitoring your project from A-Z and ensuring a smooth process all around.
The project manager will identify the most suitable and experienced translator for you and has the responsibility of ensuring that your collaboration with the company goes smoothly for the entirety of the project.
The perfect translator-client match
Though small translation agencies may have a smaller pool of translators they work with, this means the project managers are extremely knowledgable about the translators’ skills and specialties.
Thanks to this, they will be able to find the right translator for your project, one who is an expert not only in your language combination but also in the field relevant to the project.
Working with a small translation agency that can offer an intimate service and personalised customer care is without a doubt the ideal option for you.
This is what you need to be focused on when looking to implement your next translation services contract.
Contact BeTranslated, a boutique translation agency with a strong network of experienced native translators located around the world, for more information or a free, no-obligation quote today.
