Question about WPML (translation)

[kurosaki4d]

Hello Everybody,

I want to use "WPML" to translate some of my articles into another language.

However, I don't intend to translate all my site's articles, but only a couple of them.

So, if I leave some of these articles "untranslated" will that hurt my SEO?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 752298]

No, it will not hurt your SEO if you haven't translated some of the articles

Btw, do you need WPML, I can upload it here for free

 

[TheMarquis]

So, if I leave some of these articles "untranslated" will that hurt my SEO?

No, it will not hurt the SEO. Make sure, beside the articles, you translate all the pages (in the 2nd, 3rd, and so languages): Homepage, About, and all the other pages. Keep in mind that with the 2nd language, you will have two sites, not one, and you have to treat the 2nd one as a real website. For example, if you have 10 articles on your 1st language site (the default one) and you'll translate only 3 in the 2nd language, you will rank just for the 3 ones you translated.

Unsolicited advice: When you translate in another language, do a proper keyword research before, to rank better.

Cheers!
M

 

[SirLouen]

So, if I leave some of these articles "untranslated" will that hurt my SEO?

Nope, you can simply do a fallback to the original language just in case they end coming from the language site.

You can translate as many pages as you want and WPML will input all the SEO parameters you need to stay fit (hreflangs mostly)

 

[kurosaki4d]

No, it will not hurt your SEO if you haven't translated some of the articles

Btw, do you need WPML, I can upload it here for free

Thanks Festinger, I appreciate the thought!

As a matter in fact, I intend to use WPML. But I already beat you to that one @Festinger I have an account on your site

@TheMarquis
Thank you for your valuable advice. Indeed I totally overlooked the other pages.

That's why I asked about some pages left untranslated, because I intend to translate only those that can rank in a different language after having done the keyword research.

That's an interesting advice, to "treat the second language as another site", does that mean that I have to upload a separate sitemap for it? Or Add it as a separate site in Google Seach Console & Analytics?

 

[TheMarquis]

does that mean that I have to upload a separate sitemap for it?

Yes, you have to upload the 2nd sitemap. Example: US, with EN default language: sitemap.xml and France, with FR 2nd language: fr/sitemap.xml (it may be different on your site, depending on what kind of sitemap generator are you using).

Another thing to keep in mind (we'll keep the en/fr example): If you do a small edit, even the smallest edit, on your EN page, make sure:
1. Check "Minor edit", near the "Update" button.
2. Edit the 2nd language (the fr one), and mark it as "Translation completed". If you don't do this, your 2nd site page will be put in the "Pending/unpublished" mode, and not in the "Published" mode.

 

[kurosaki4d]

Yes, you have to upload the 2nd sitemap. Example: US, with EN default language: sitemap.xml and France, with FR 2nd language: fr/sitemap.xml (it may be different on your site, depending on what kind of sitemap generator are you using).

Another thing to keep in mind (we'll keep the en/fr example): If you do a small edit, even the smallest edit, on your EN page, make sure:
1. Check "Minor edit", near the "Update" button.
2. Edit the 2nd language (the fr one), and mark it as "Translation completed". If you don't do this, your 2nd site page will be put in the "Pending/unpublished" mode, and not in the "Published" mode.

@TheMarquis Will surely keep that mind. Thank you very much! I'm happy that I asked this question on this forum. So much value I'm getting from you

I'd love to know how you'd go about the analytics, do you do them separately? GSC & Analytics?