Key Takeaways
- Hindi and regional-language content can reach audiences that English-only sites miss.
- Use separate URLs per language with hreflang tags for SEO.
- Localise, do not just translate: examples, units and tone should fit the audience.
A large share of Indian internet users prefer content in their own language. A multilingual website can open new markets and improve trust for government, education, healthcare, finance and consumer brands.
Choose languages strategically
Start with languages where your customers and growth markets are, such as Hindi for North India, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali or Gujarati for specific states.
URL structure
| Option | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subfolder | /hi/, /ta/ | Recommended for most sites |
| Subdomain | hi.example.com | More setup |
| Parameters | ?lang=hi | Not recommended for SEO |
SEO essentials
- hreflang tags linking language versions
- Translated titles, meta descriptions and URLs where appropriate
- Language-specific sitemaps
- Avoid automatic redirects based on IP; offer a language switcher
Translation vs localisation
Machine translation is a starting point, but human review ensures accuracy, tone and cultural relevance.
Technical tips
- Unicode fonts that render Indic scripts well
- Line-height adjustments for Indic scripts
- CMS workflow for translators and approvers
- Keep forms and error messages translated
See also website accessibility and corporate website development.
Planning a corporate website project?
Light Animation has designed and built software and websites for brands like Godrej, Saras Jaipur Dairy and Jaipur Traffic Police. Share your requirement and get a free consultation and estimate.
Explore Corporate Website DevelopmentGet a Free QuoteRelated reading: Website Accessibility Guide · Corporate Website Development Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my website be in Hindi?
If a significant share of your customers prefer Hindi, a Hindi version can improve engagement, trust and reach.
What is hreflang?
An HTML attribute that tells search engines which language or regional version of a page to show to users.
Is Google Translate enough for a website?
Machine translation helps but should be reviewed by humans for accuracy and tone, especially for important pages.
Does a multilingual site help SEO?
Yes, it lets you rank for searches in each language and reach new audiences.
