Do you know that when it comes to global websites, you can use machine translation to localize user-generated content? Read on to know how to do it.
There are various cheap and straightforward ways to translate user-generated content online, and one popular tool is Google translator. Google translate is the most widely used free machine tool because it’s straight forward: you copy the content and receive the translation instantly. But are business owners who use machine translation on website content doing more harm for SEO?
As most businesses are embarking on expanding globally, the need for a multilingual content has become a must-have. However, instead of looking at translating as an investment, some business owners see it as a costly and time-consuming affair. So they opt for the free machine translation. But did you know that machine translation can put your website SEO at risk unless you know how to use it effectively?
Machines such as Google are the go-to option for those who want to cut cost as it provides free translation online and is readily available. However, it can fall short in search engine optimization and, in turn, penalize your site for using automated content. This means that if you use machine translation entirely to turn your content into multiple languages, it can result in lower search engine rankings which can negatively affect your brand credibility in the presence of a new global market. But does this mean that you should not use machine translation?
On the contrary, translation tools can be advantageous to your website as long as you select the right content. A localized human profession should be delegated to translate fixed content, including page headers and frequently used text such as column labels.
Other material like reviews, testimonials, feedback, comments, or any separate section which is not the central content can be assigned to machine translation. You should also use a machine when you need to translate bulk content at a faster pace or that which a professional translator can improve later on.
The rule of thumb is to use a human translator for content that customers will read in their local language. That way, instead of getting robotic translations, your content will resonate with the viewers, which results in high search engine rankings and an overall boost of SEO performance.
How to Use a Machine to Interpret Multilingual User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) has become an essential part of many companies marketing strategy. The content can be in the form of a review about the experience of using your product or a post about the useful features of your brand. In short, it is content that influences consumers and validates your brand.
The need to use translation online for user-generated content provides a great business opportunity for a business that wants to reach new customers. However, user-generated content from machine translation does not always convey correct meaning or use proper grammar and punctuation. As a result, many companies are taking charge of UGC to reflect the accuracy of what the customers say.
Once translated, the content which includes reviews can be repurposed into social media post to promote your brandhich means that you have to consider the tone, style, and personal touches like imperfections; otherwise, you risk devaluing the message.
Pros and Cons of Crowdsourcing
Have you ever noticed how inaccurate some translation tools are? When it comes to translating user-generated content, crowdsourced translation is another preferred option. Companies tend to see crowdsources as such an attractive option because it is cost effective and fast. With this option, you will not need to hire local translators, yet you get large and a relatively cheaper labor force. Since various people will be working on different parts of the project at the same time, the turnaround will also be shorter.
The success of this option has created crowdsourcing myths where people believe that it’s a crowd of people working together. What happens is that a specific issue is broadcasted to people with a unique talent. The individuals then use their exceptional skills to provide a solution.
However, despite its numerous benefits, crowdsourcing in the translation industry has disadvantages.
- While the volunteers or participants maybe bilingual, there is a high chance that they are not localized professionals, which results in low-quality translations.
- If you break into a market with low internet users, you are likely to find a scarcity of translators. Such a scenario can mean employing expert translators, which results in more expenses.
- With crowdsourcing option, the only way the translated content can be reviewed is if a significant portion of the contributors point out that the translation is not correct. This makes it hard to carry out effective quality control.
How to Improve Machine Quality Translation
Wondering which is the best way to improve machine translation quality? If you are expecting a machine to translate your content as perfect as a human being, then you are likely to be disappointed. This is because online translation tools are still unable to grasp the nuances of language, which result in lost communication. However, you can help it improve its linguistics.
- Use short sentences, which are well-written and with a simple structure.
- Avoid using slang, compound words, or industry jargons.
- Perform quality control frequently to ensure that the translation is according to how you want it.
- Upload commonly used translated words and phrases to train your machine translation engine.
The increase in internet users and mobile devices that can access social media has caused a spike in need for user-generated content translation. Most companies are opting for machine translations because of speed and cost. As a business owner, what you need to remember is that the investments you have put into your website and SEO will be worthy of the machine translation if you select the appropriate content and help it improve the quality of the translation.