If you put your heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into a blog (and any dedicated blogger knows that, a lot of times, that is exactly what it feels like), then you know how important it is to amass a readership. You also know how impossible it is to master ten languages while juggling all of the responsibilities of being a blog owner (okay, even if you’re not a blogger, this part is nearly impossible). So how do you reach readers who don’t speak or read your native language? Many bloggers are turning to blog translators to tackle this conundrum. Just as with any other tool you might use to better a process, blog translator tools come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Before you dive in to the world of blog translation, read up on the pros and cons of using blog translators:
Pros:
Reach. Whichever way you cut it, incorporation a translating tool into your blog is a simple way to make it accessible to people who don’t speak English. If you want to reach an international market, you simply must use a blog translator.
Cost. Hiring a person to translate your blog, and then creating a different web interface for each language, is a very time-consuming and expensive process. Many website translator tools, like Google Translate, for example, are inexpensive to use, making this a relatively simplistic process.
Ease of use. Translator tools are simple and easy to use. You won’t have to take an advanced course in computer programming to make your site multilingual.
Cons:
Errors. It doesn’t matter how great the software is, any time you use technology to do a human’s job, there are bound to be errors. If you want to see just how much translation software can mess up the meaning of your words, go to any foreign site that offers an automated translate option and check it out. Although some of the mistakes are pretty humorous, it’s likely that you’d prefer not to have your words twisted in those sometimes very awkward ways. This page, http://www.ackuna.com/badtranslator, gives you a chance to see exactly what your text might translate to using a technology-based translator. Check it out.
Page layout. Site translation tools can’t adjust your site’s layout for the extra/reduced space caused by translations. Therefore, your site might be a mess after it is translated.
As you can see, using blog translators comes with some clear advantages and disadvantages. Consider these issues before you decide to use a translator for your blog.
Mabel Hickingbotham is a web designer who loves seeing sites set up to cater to wider audiences. She also loves using Metrofax online faxing and other web-based tools to run her design business.
