Creating a Multi-Language Site in Wix (Without Losing Your SEO)

cantydigitalcreative
6 days ago
6 min read

Expanding your website into multiple languages may seem like a simple translation task at first glance. But anyone who’s tried it knows it takes more than just swapping words—it touches everything from page structure to search visibility.

Luckily, if you’re using Wix, you’ve got some powerful tools in your corner!

In this guide, we’ll explore how Wix Multilingual works, practical steps to set it up, and strategies for keeping search engines happy while serving visitors in their preferred languages.

Why Going Multilingual Actually Matters

So, why bother with more than one language anyway? You might think English covers most of the internet—and sure, it’s popular—but you’d be surprised. Over 70% of online users prefer content in their native tongue. That’s a lot of people who might leave your site without even reading a word if it’s not in a language they’re comfortable with.

SEO is another factor. Done right, multilingual pages can rank in different regions, driving traffic that wouldn’t even find your English-only site. But, do it wrong, and search engines might get confused—or worse, think your pages are duplicate content. That can mess up your rankings completely. That’s why building a multilingual Wix website is about much more than just hitting ‘translate’ on Google.

Step 1: Plan Your Multi-Language Strategy

Don’t rush straight to adding new languages. First, figure out who you’re translating for. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Which languages actually matter for my audience?
Am I translating everything or just key pages?
How will blogs, product descriptions, and dynamic content work?

Say your analytics show you’re getting traffic from Mexico and Canada. That’s a hint that you might want Spanish and French versions of your site. If you run an online store, start with your product pages and checkout flow—those matter most for sales. A blog post from 2019? Maybe leave it untranslated until you see demand.

Pro tip: Start small. Pick one additional language first. Make it perfect, then expand. Quality always beats quantity here.

Step 2: Start with Wix Multilingual

Wix Multilingual is Wix’s built-in solution that makes setting up additional languages simple. It allows you to create translated versions of your site without starting from scratch. Once installed, it gives you:

Automatic language detection
A language switcher that visitors can use at any time.
Translation tools, both automatic and manual.
A proper URL structure for each translation
SEO-friendly Hreflang Tags

How to use Wix Multilingual:

First, open your Dashboard. Go to Settings → Multilingual → Get Started. Pick your main language and any others you want to support.
Choose Pages to Translate - Not every page needs translation. Maybe your contact page or legal info can stay in the default language.
Duplicate Content Properly. Wix will create copies of your pages for each language, making sure search engines treat them as separate pages, which is crucial for SEO.

Step 3: Translate Your Content

When creating a multi-language site in Wix, there are two main approaches: manual and machine translation. Each has its own advantages, depending on your resources and goals. Here’s a breakdown:

Manual Translation - Gold Standard: A professional translator creates unique, high-quality website content for each language. While it takes time, it’s invaluable for SEO and user experience.
Machine Translation - AI-Driven Tools: Wix integrates with AI translation tools to provide a fast and efficient way to get your content translated. Use these translations as a starting point, then refine them with a native speaker or professional translator. Avoid fully relying on automatic translations, as they may lack natural flow and accuracy.

Translate More Than Just the Main Text

Translation doesn’t stop with paragraphs and headings. SEO relies on multiple layers of content, and each one matters. These details signal to both users and search engines that your content is genuinely designed for their language. Here’s what to focus on:

Meta titles and descriptions
Alt texts
URLs

And remember: translations need ongoing updates. Every price change, blog post, or sale must be updated in all languages. Otherwise, you end up with weird mismatches (like a sale banner that only exists on your English homepage).

Step 4: Set Up the Right URL Structure

This is one of the easiest ways to make or break multilingual Wix SEO. Some businesses simply add query strings (?lang=es) or try to put translations on the same page. Search engines don’t handle this well.

Wix takes care of this for you by creating subdirectories. For example:

example.com/ → English
example.com/es/ → Spanish
example.com/fr/ → French

This approach gives each version of your multi-language Wix website its own space in Google’s index.

Step 5: Manage Hreflang Tags

Hreflang tags prevent search engines from confusing your translations with duplicate content. Wix automatically inserts these tags for pages created through the Multilingual system, but it’s still good to verify them.

To make sure your hreflang tags are properly set up for multilingual pages:

URLs Must Be Clear: Every language page should have a distinct URL.
Self-Referencing: Each page should reference itself in addition to other language versions. For example, /en/home should include hreflang references to itself and /fr/home.
Include Only Fully Translated Pages: Pages that aren’t fully translated should not be part of the hreflang configuration; otherwise, search engines may misinterpret them.

Tools like Google Search Console make it easy to check whether hreflang tags are functioning correctly.

Step 6: Utilise SEO for Translations

Translating content isn’t the finish line. You’ve got to optimise it, too.

Language-Specific Keyword ResearchDon’t rely on direct translations of English keywords. Search habits differ across languages. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Keyword Planner can help identify terms that are actually being searched in the target language.
Localised Content MattersHere’s an example: a “summer sale” in Australia happens in December, while in Europe, it would be in June. Make your content culturally relevant, not just linguistically accurate.
Internal LinkingLinking translated pages to each other not only helps visitors navigate but also boosts SEO.
Check Your SitemapWix updates your sitemap automatically, but double-check that all translations appear and submit the sitemap to Google Search Console to help with indexing.
Page Speed & Mobile OptimisationMultilingual pages can slow down your Wix site if you’re not careful. Optimise images and avoid heavy scripts.

Step 7: Avoid Common Mistakes

Even with Wix Multilingual, mistakes happen:

Duplicate Content: Don’t manually duplicate pages outside of Wix Multilingual.
Partial Translations: Publishing half-translated pages is confusing. Either translate fully or leave it in the default language.
Metadata Neglect: Don’t forget about the titles, alt texts, headings, and meta descriptions—they all need translation.
Ignoring Regional Differences: Words, currency, idioms, and measurements—don’t skip this.

Step 8: Follow More Tips for a Smooth Workflow

Running a multilingual Wix site can get messy. Here’s how to keep it manageable:

Use a Translation GlossaryKeep a document of approved translations for key terms, like products, brand terms, or commonly used phrases. Consistency matters.
Toggle Between Languages in Wix EditorCompare pages side by side to ensure your Wix web design doesn’t break. We’ve seen text boxes explode in French or German because of longer words—it happens!
Track Analytics by LanguageTrack traffic, conversions, and engagement for each language to identify which translations perform best. Use that to guide your next translations.
Place Language Switchers StrategicallyPlace them where visitors expect—typically the header or top navigation. Make it obvious; users shouldn’t have to hunt for it.

Step 9: Test Everything

Before hitting publish:

Click every link. Seriously, every single one.
Test hreflang tags. Google’s Rich Results Test is great for this.
Review translations for typos, formatting, and cultural accuracy.
Preview on phones, tablets, and desktops. Even small layout shifts matter.

Make Multilingual Work, Not Break It

Expanding your website is more than a technical task—it’s a chance to connect with people globally. Start with a clear plan, pick one language to pilot, use Wix Multilingual properly, and treat every translated page as a separate product.

If you focus on quality over quantity, follow the technical essentials, and test thoroughly before launch, you’ll expand your reach without sacrificing SEO rankings. And if you’d like expert Wix Multilingual support or some guidance along the way, reach out to us. We’re here to make sure your Wix website connects with audiences all around the world!