Optimizing URLs for Multilingual Real Estate Websites: Thai and Chinese Considerations
In today’s global marketplace, creating a multilingual website can significantly enhance your reach and accessibility, especially in industries like real estate. As we embark on building our real estate platform tailored for Thai and Chinese audiences, one crucial question arises: Should we incorporate non-Latin characters in our URLs for these languages, or stick to Latin characters?
During our research, we encountered varying recommendations, particularly from Artificial Intelligence sources, suggesting that using non-Latin characters can lead to cumbersome URL structures. For instance, URLs in Thai or Chinese may appear as strings of encoded characters such as ‘%E%D%DGSH%’, which can be off-putting and less user-friendly.
The Best Practices for URL Structure in Multilingual Sites
Opting for the appropriate language in your website URLs is pivotal, especially for the non-English sections. Here are some best practices to consider:
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User Experience Matters: URLs should be easily readable and recognizable. For instance, users may find it more challenging to engage with links that are written in characters they are unfamiliar with.
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Follow Industry Standards: Analyzing how leading brands approach their multilingual websites can offer valuable insights. Many major companies often opt for English (or Latin) characters, even in their Thai or Chinese versions. This strategy not only ensures consistency but also improves SEO performance.
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SEO Considerations: Search engines typically interpret Latin characters more effectively, which can enhance your site’s visibility in search results. While Google is improving its ability to read different scripts, using Latin characters can be a safer choice for SEO purposes.
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Target Audience Preferences: Understanding your audience’s preferences is key. Sometimes, localizing URLs in the native script can enhance a user’s sense of trust and connection with the site. Consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gauge how your target demographic feels about this.
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Consistent Structure: If you decide to go with Latin characters for your URLs, maintain a consistent structure across all language versions of your site. This approach fosters uniformity and can improve user navigation.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision regarding URL structure for your multilingual real estate site should consider usability, SEO efficiency, and audience preferences. While non-Latin characters may be tempting for authenticity, the practical aspect of clarity and user experience often outweighs it. Reviewing successful brands can further clarify the best approach for your unique needs. By balancing these elements,