A multilingual website allows you to reach audiences in different languages. Here's how to manually create one:

Basic Structure Overview

• Create a top-level landing page with language selection
• Build separate pages for each language version
• Include language-specific navigation menus
• Ensure consistent structure across all translations

Setup Instructions

1. Create the Landing Page:

• Add a blank page in the [No Links] section
• Include language selection buttons/links
• Design a clear visual hierarchy for language options

2. Set Up Navigation:

• Create two dropdown menus (one per language)
• Name each dropdown in its respective language
• Ensure consistent page order across languages
• Delete any demo pages if present

3. Add Content Pages:

• Create all pages in primary language
• Duplicate pages for secondary language
• Translate content manually
• Maintain identical page structure

Important Limitations:

• Built-in text remains in one language
• Single currency for all versions
• No separate domains/subdomains per language
• System messages stay in primary language

Navigation Options:

• Full dropdown menu visibility
• Hidden navigation with content links
• Separate sites for different languages (additional cost)

SEO Considerations:

• Optimize content for each language
• Use appropriate meta descriptions
• Follow Google's multilingual SEO guidelines
• Consider hiring an expert for complex setups

Alternative Approaches:

• Use index pages for scrolling content
• Implement cover pages for language selection
• Consider Weglot integration (version 7.1)
• Utilize template-specific features

This manual approach requires careful planning and maintenance but offers full control over your multilingual content.

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