Will Google Translated Content Get Flagged By Google?

Will Google translated content rank? That’s a question a lot of businesses ask whenever they plan to translate their website.

Think about it, ranking your site in English is already challenging enough, so spending time and effort on a translated site that won’t rank will definitely be good for a business.

So how does Google deal with translated content? Let’s talk about this and answer questions you may have regarding Google and translated content.

Will Google Translated Content Be Seen as Duplicate Content?

When you talk about SEO, one of the biggest sins a website can incur is having duplicate content. So when you translate your content, will Google consider it duplicate content?

The most straightforward answer to this question is no, and Google will not tag your translated content as duplicate content. This is because when you do translation right, there will be changes in the overall content that can be considered “new.”

Easy, right? Well, not so much? Because this means you must use professional translation to ensure, your content will not be flagged as duplicate. When you work with a professional translator, you will bring changes in the wording and grammar structure, and they will be handing you back brand new content. If you opt to use automated translation services, you may get a word-for-word translation making it a duplication.

To add to this, Google Search Console also states that “text translated by an automated tool without human review or curation before publishing” is enough grounds to receive a penalty. This will apply to content created from WordPress plugins and other tools that help you translate online.

Should You Use Google Translate?

As much as Google loves all its tools, there are limitations to how they would like people to use them. Take Google Translate, for example. It’s good for translating a paragraph or two of foreign text you found online, but Google frowns upon websites that use it to translate their content.

This is because Google translated content does not usually undergo proper checks or curation. It does not take into consideration the context or voice during translation. In fact, a lot of times, you can only “understand” the translation often, but it’s actually a word-for-word translation. The low-quality output produced by Google Translate (and other automated software) is precisely the thing Google does not want in its search engine.

This is why getting a professional translator is your best bet if you want multilingual content. It will save you the trouble of getting multiple penalties from Google. This is aside from the fact that getting a professional translator will ensure you will be communicating to your overseas markets the way you need to.

Should I Use Automated Translations for Keyword Research?

Another mistake businesses make when translating their website content is doing the translation before any localized keyword research. This will become a problem as the site will no longer rank for the right keywords. Think about it, the direct translation of a keyword may not be what people use to search it online.

Single-word translations may seem obvious, but they will not be accurate 100% of the time. This is the reason why it is best practice to do keyword research FIRST on the new language before you move forward with the translation project. Again, don’t use Google Translate or any other automated software. You don’t want to spend manpower and money on creating content based on the wrong keyword, right?

In terms of long-tail keywords, this becomes even more complex. Direct translations of long-tail keywords will seldom work and will not make sense with your target market. Get help from a professional translator while doing keyword research to know what you should look for.

What Should I Do From A Technical SEO Standpoint In Publishing Translated Content?

One other thing businesses have trouble with in translating their website is “how” they should publish it from a technical SEO standpoint. Why? Well, because you want both your English and the translated version of your content to rank. The question is, how?

First off, you need to take into consideration the URL structure of your site. You have two goals:

• All pages from all versions of your site should be indexed.
• Your site should not have any duplicate content penalties.
• It should rank in other international search engines and some local search engines.

Benefits of Translating a Website

Reading through all of this, it’s easy to ask yourself why I should even bother?

Good question. If it’s going to be so hard and costly to have your website translated, what’s the point? Well, let’s see.

1. Reach a larger audience – By translating your website into other languages, you open up your business to a whole new audience of potential customers who may not have been able to find you before.
2. Improved customer service – When you can communicate with your customers in their language, it shows that you care about them and are willing to go the extra mile to serve them better. This will lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
3. Get ahead of the competition –  Not many businesses spend time and effort translating their websites. This gives you a competitive advantage in your industry as you will be one of the few that can cater to a multilingual audience.
4. Unlimited growth potential for your business –  translating your website is an investment that will pay off in the long run. Not only will it help you reach new customers and markets, but it will also improve your bottom line. If you trap your business by selling only through one language, then you are severely crippling the potential of your company.
5. You become a trailblazer –  by being one of the few businesses with a translated website, you become an industry leader and can be looked up to by other businesses. This can help you attract new customers, partners, and investors.

So, should you translate your website? The answer is a resounding YES! It will be hard work, and there are no guarantees that everything will go perfectly, but the benefits of translating your website outweigh the costs. Not only will you be able to reach new customers and markets, but you’ll also improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Plus, you’ll get ahead of the competition and have unlimited growth potential for your business. So, what are you waiting for? Start translating your website today!

By now, you should understand how Google sees translated content well. If you have any questions or if there’s anything we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.