The Ultimate Guide to Changing the Language on Your Shopify Store

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Preparing Your Shopify Store for Multiple Languages
3. Adding New Languages to Your Shopify Store
4. Managing Languages for Different Markets
5. Changing the Default Language of Your Shopify Store
6. Practical Considerations and Tips
7. Conclusion
8. FAQ

In today’s global marketplace, the ability to cater to a diverse clientele is not just an advantage; it's a necessity. With Shopify, an e-commerce platform that powers millions of businesses worldwide, providing a multilingual shopping experience is within reach. If you've been wondering "how to change language Shopify," you're in the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from preparing your translations to making them live on your store, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers, regardless of their language.

Introduction

Did you know that websites available in multiple languages have a lower bounce rate and higher conversion rates? This statistic highlights the importance of offering content in your users' native languages. In the ever-expanding global e-commerce space, localizing your Shopify store can significantly impact its success. Whether you're looking to expand your market reach or improve the shopping experience for your current audience, this guide is designed to pave the way. By the end of this article, you will learn not just the technical steps involved in changing the language on Shopify but also the strategies for managing and optimizing language settings for markets.

If you manage a Shopify store and have contemplated making your content accessible in multiple languages, you're taking a step in the right direction. From preparing your translations to assigning languages to specific markets, every aspect of multilingual support on Shopify will be covered.

Preparing Your Shopify Store for Multiple Languages

Before diving into the "how," it's vital to understand the groundwork necessary for a successful translation.

Assessing Translation Needs

The first step is to gather or prepare the translations for your store's content. If you don't have the translations ready, consider utilizing a translation app from Shopify's app store. Some apps facilitate automatic translations while offering the flexibility to tweak these translations as needed.

Ensuring Compatibility

Your Shopify theme plays a crucial role in how languages are displayed on your store. Not all themes support multiple languages out of the box, so you might need to check with the theme developer or consider themes known for their multilingual capabilities.

Adding New Languages to Your Shopify Store

With your translations at hand, the next steps involve integrating them into your store. Shopify simplifies this process into a few manageable steps:

1. Access Language Settings: Navigate to 'Settings' and then 'Languages' in your Shopify Admin area.
2. Add a New Language: Click on 'Add language' and choose the desired language from the list. Ensure that you have the translations ready or a translation app installed to handle this new language.
3. Publishing Your New Language: Once added, you can publish this language so it becomes available to your customers. If you publish without adding translations, Shopify will prompt you to complete this crucial step.

Managing Languages for Different Markets

Shopify allows you to target specific markets with specific languages, ensuring that customers from different regions can shop in their preferred language.

1. Assigning Languages to Markets: After publishing a new language, assign it to a market from the 'Languages' settings in your admin area. This ensures that the language becomes visible to visitors from that market.
2. Unpublishing or Deleting a Language: Should you need to remove a language, either temporarily or permanently, Shopify provides straightforward options for both unpublishing and deleting languages.

Changing the Default Language of Your Shopify Store

Perhaps you're not just adding a new language but aiming to change the primary language of your store. The process is as seamless as adding a new language, with the added step of selecting a new default language from your list of published languages.

Practical Considerations and Tips

• Translation Quality: Automatic translations can save time, but for best results, consider professional translation services or native speakers to review content.
• Legal and Cultural Nuance: Be aware of legal requirements or cultural sensitivities in your target markets. Certain products or marketing messages might not be suitable for all regions.
• SEO Implications: Utilize hreflang tags to help search engines understand the language and geographical targeting of your pages. This can improve your store's visibility in local search results.

Conclusion

Expanding your Shopify store to cater to multiple languages is not just about translating words. It's about opening up your business to the world, respecting cultural diversity, and enhancing the user experience for your international customers. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you're well on your way to making your Shopify store a multilingual destination that welcomes and engages shoppers from across the globe. Remember, in the realm of e-commerce, language is not a barrier but a bridge to new opportunities.

FAQ

1. Can I automate the translation process on Shopify?

   • Yes, there are several apps available on the Shopify App Store that can automate translations. However, it's recommended to review these translations for accuracy.

2. Will adding multiple languages slow down my Shopify store?

   • Shopify is designed to handle multiple languages efficiently. However, keep an eye on any third-party apps or custom code that may impact store performance.

3. How can I make sure my store complies with the language requirements of a specific market?

   • Research the specific legal requirements and cultural norms of each market. When in doubt, consulting with legal experts or localization professionals can be beneficial.

4. Is it possible to revert to the previous language setting if needed?

   • Yes, you can change the default language at any time by following the steps to change the default language in your Shopify admin.

5. Can I use multiple currencies along with multiple languages on my Shopify store?

   • Yes, Shopify supports selling in multiple currencies alongside multiple languages, offering a truly localized shopping experience.