Is translating your site into multiple languages a good strategy?

[pheal]

Hello everybody! So here's my first post (well, the second if we count the welcome post). I would like to know what you think about building a huge content site and then translating it into many languages, as opposed to creating hundreds of micro sites.

I've read that most poker affiliates launch hundreds of websites, but I've always privileged working on one site at a time, building the site and the brand to hopefully become a behemoth in a particular niche. It worked for the mainstream entertainment site I run, and I'm now looking for staffers that will translate the site in various languages.

I'm new when it comes to poker affiliate marketing, but I'd like to apply the same strategy: build a site with at least 200-300 pages of content, then translate it in various languages. What are your thoughts and experiences?

[Michael Martinez]

Don't use Wordpress as your CMS if you intend to try this. It will block the translated pages from being indexed by search engines (apparently due to a problem that causes the search engines to hammer the site at too rapid a pace).

[NickM]

Don't use Wordpress as your CMS if you intend to try this. It will block the translated pages from being indexed by search engines (apparently due to a problem that causes the search engines to hammer the site at too rapid a pace).

Is there any way to fix this? This is the first I have heard of this. Is there any more detailed information anywhere?

Would this occur if you used a new WP installation for each separate language directory?

What about a plugin like "WP super cache" to serve static versions of the translated languages?

And why would having non-English pages cause search engines to "hammer the site at too rapid a pace"?

[Charlie Brown]

I'm currently doing this with my new poker site, but it's too early to tell what the results are/will be.

@Michael: I was actually going to use WP for this site, but finally opted for typo3. Do you have any experience with that CMS (typo3) or recommendations for other CMS for multi-languages sites?

[AceHigh Pino]

Don't use Wordpress as your CMS if you intend to try this. It will block the translated pages from being indexed by search engines (apparently due to a problem that causes the search engines to hammer the site at too rapid a pace).

Actually you can do separate installs of Wordpress onto your site for EACH language and you have uploaded. Many people have Wordpress and put in new languages for their sites all the time. Cheryle, Josh, or Nicole could probably chime in with more info.

[Michael Martinez]

I have not worked with separate installs of Wordpress for multilingual sites, but when you use a single install with the translation plug-in, the plug-in sends code 404 status codes for the translated pages.

I have not used Typo3.

[CK]

I havent done it with a single install because I didnt like how it set up the folders for me. Instead I use a new install on each language, set the wordpress url to the correct language code ie de, fr etc and work it from there. The only problem with this is you are setting up multiple themes over and over again as well as the updates between them. That being said I have had no problems with indexing or ranking with this method.

Another option as well if your only translating just your money pages, which most do I would set those pages up just using html or php. Strip out all the wp jumbo and just created the proper folders and upload. I do this when I am not doing a complete site. Its easier than having to go through updates

[pheal]

Actually you can do separate installs of Wordpress onto your site for EACH language and you have uploaded. Many people have Wordpress and put in new languages for their sites all the time. Cheryle, Josh, or Nicole could probably chime in with more info.

It would be interesting to get their input. I also think doing separate installs of Wordpress for each language on subdomains (like es.mypokersite.com, fr.mypokersite.com and so on) is the best option. Also, like NickM says, the php might eat up a lot of resources if you have good traffic so WP Super Cache is essential.

Thanks a lot for your replies!

[Nat Arem]

Are you the Michael Martinez from SEO Theory?

[Nat Arem]

Instead I use a new install on each language, set the wordpress url to the correct language code ie de, fr etc and work it from there. The only problem with this is you are setting up multiple themes over and over again as well as the updates between them.

That isn't totally true... If they're on the same server, you can call template files across vhosts.

Something like...

require('/var/www/html/vhosts/domain.com/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/themename/header.php'); 

I know it's long, but it will work if your server is configured correctly.

If you have problems, look into whether you're running php in safe mode along with the current configuration of open_basedir.