Website Translation for Shopify: What’s the Best Choice?

Looking to translate your Shopify site? We've compiled your options so you can decide which technology solution works best for your business.

Dominic Dithurbide's avatar
Dominic Dithurbide

June 13, 2023

11 MIN READ

Modern communication, transportation, and commercial innovations are making our world feel smaller than ever. New technology has created an unprecedented level of interconnection, presenting an opportunity for business. E-commerce providers everywhere are partnering with Shopify, a platform that allows individuals and businesses to create and manage their online stores, to take advantage of it.

Shopify is the nation’s largest provider of e-commerce software with 28% of US online stores - over 2 million merchants and 4.6 million live websites - using the platform's tools and features. Shoppers who speak a multitude of languages visit your Shopify website every day. Engage and delight them with a cutting-edge website translation solution for Shopify from MotionPoint 

Why Translate Your Shopify Website? 

For today's vendors, website translation isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. Consider some statistics: 

For more than two decades, our easy-to-use software has supported retail and ecommerce success at businesses around the world. We know that website localization is a big step for many companies. You need to take your time and test the success of your efforts. That's why we created MP Express, an inexpensive translation solution for Shopify websites that works in only 90 seconds.  

By adapting your Shopify website to multiple languages, you’re not just translating content—you’re strategically positioning your business for global success. Cost-effective translation for Shopify websites doesn’t just ensure that your products and services resonate with a diverse audience, it also: 

  • Fosters trust by building connections. 
  • Enhances user experience with a seamless browsing experience for users in their native language. 
  • Makes your website accessible to audiences everywhere, increasing market reach, expanding your customer base, and opening new markets. 
  • Drives organic traffic with improved SEO that leads to higher search engine result rankings in different languages. 
  • Reduces language barriers, which boosts conversion rates and leads to increased sales. 
  • Sets your business apart from competitors who may not offer localized content, positioning you as a customer-centric option and giving you a competitive edge. 
  • Shows respect and understanding for local cultures, building brand loyalty and enhancing trust among international customers. 
  • Ensures legal compliance by meeting localization requirements in countries with language regulations for consumer-facing websites. 

How to Translate a Shopify Website 

Translating your Shopify website is a critical step towards engaging with non-English speaking audiences, but methods vary in complexity, cost, and effectiveness. Understanding the pros and cons of each option is essential for making an informed decision. Let's look at two popular approaches: 

Manual Translation through CSV Files 

One way to translate your website's text content is by exporting it into a CSV file, translating it, and then importing the file back into your Shopify store. This is a complex process that requires technical and linguistic expertise. It's effective, but expensive. 

Pros: 

  • Control and Accuracy: Manual translation ensures that nuances and industry-specific terminology are correctly handled. 
  • One-Time Effort: Once the translation is done, it does not require ongoing adjustments unless the original content changes. 

Cons: 

  • Time-Consuming: The process can be slow and requires significant manual effort, especially for large websites. 
  • Resource Intensive: You’ll need multilingual expertise, either through in-house translators or by allocating funds to hire professionals. 

Shopify’s Translate & Adapt App 

Another option is to install an app from the Shopify App Store, then use it to automatically translate your content or edit translations manually within the app interface. It's a straightforward process that provides a quick and generally effective translation solution but may lack the depth and accuracy of manual translation in some scenarios. Subscription fees for the app and additional costs for professional review or enhancement of automated translations may be required. 

Pros: 

  • Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface integrates directly with Shopify, making it easy to manage and update translations. 
  • Cost-Effective: Initial costs may be lower compared to manual translation, with options for automatic machine translation that can be refined manually. 
  • Dynamic Updates: You can easily update translations as your store’s content changes. 

Cons: 

  • Poor Quality Control: Automated translations may not always capture the correct context or nuances, potentially requiring manual adjustments. 
  • Dependence on Inadequate Software: The app’s capabilities may be limited by the languages it supports or the quality of its machine translation, limiting its functionality. 

In the past, you would have had to consider your specific needs, budget, and the importance of accuracy versus speed in your market expansion strategy, then choose one of these methods accordingly. Not anymore.  

MP Express is the easy-to-install, easy-to-use, affordable Shopify website translation alternative that e-commerce Marketers have been searching for. 

Introducing MP Express 

MP Express is a no-code, browser-based proxy translation software developed by MotionPoint, designed specifically for Marketers who need to quickly and efficiently launch multilingual versions of their websites. Integrating advanced AI technology and allowing for real-time translation without the need to modify the original site's code or structure, MP Express enhances SEO, supports multiple languages, and improves user experience with an effortless, accurate translation of your Shopify website.  

Built with Marketers in mind, the platform is scalable, cost-effective, and easy to integrate into your existing Shopify website with no coding required. It's geared toward easy, collaborative use with features like translation editing, language toggle, and custom scope for multilingual websites. MP Express is scalable, ready to grow with you, and more accurate than Google Translate. 

MP Express is the Best Choice for Shopify Website Translation  

Shopify is a secure, affordable, all-in-one software that makes it easy for shoppers to engage with your website. It's a great choice to support your e-commerce website but, if you're not talking to visitors in their preferred language, you're losing sales. 

Translate your Shopify website efficiently, accurately, and with minimal use of resources. Try MP Express today. 

Last updated on June 13, 2023
Dominic Dithurbide's avatar

About Dominic Dithurbide

Dominic Dithurbide is a creative, goal-driven marketing leader that's dedicated his career to the translation industry. Dominic brings proficiency in global marketing, demand generation, and go-to-market strategies to MotionPoint's marketing team.

Dominic Dithurbide's avatar
Dominic Dithurbide

Marketing Manager

11 MIN READ