This sounds like a newbie question, but I want to ask it anyway. Is it a good idea to have translations of many different languages on your site as opposed to letting people use google translate? If it's a bad idea, I'd like to know before I take the time to make more translations. Like I don't want Google looking at my site as a bunch of duplicate pages and lowering my page rank. The reason I ask is because according to google analytics my site seems to appear in more searches for French than in English. Currently I have my site translated in French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. If it is helping, and I'm not misreading the stats, I plan to make as many translations as possible. I just don't want to take the time if it's a waste of time. thanks, ph111
I have the same question for a site of my own and - on a different forum - was told that diifferent subdomains might dilute the seo for the english site. Am note sure if this is true.
It indirectly helps in terms of SEO. If your website has good number of visitor from various locality it is imperative to have multi language option. This will give you good user experience and hence it will be an aid in SEO for sure. Afterall SEO is giving good usability to the users.
Well, I would say if i am a user - I won't spend much time on any site whose language is Greek & Latin to me. Its a matter of user - translating something and going for the next page; again translating - oops.. If I am in your place - I will take decision on site's language and will create pages on that language; and I will attract audience on that language.