How to Add a Language Switcher to Your Website

If you want visitors to switch between different languages on your website, there are a few options available depending on how your site is configured and which services you use.

This article outlines the available approaches and when each should be used.

Option 1: Use the Weglot Translation Integration

ASP websites can integrate with Weglot, an external translation platform that automatically translates your entire website into multiple languages.

With Weglot:

• Your original content is managed in one language within the CMS.

• Weglot automatically generates and manages translated versions externally.

• Users can switch languages using the Weglot language switcher on the site.

This approach is useful if you want to avoid maintaining multiple language versions of content directly in the CMS.

If you would like to explore this option, please contact your Account Manager to discuss setup and licensing.

Further guidance on Weglot can be found in the following articles:

• https://support.asp.events/hc/en-us/articles/26123823081885-Weglot-DNS-Setup-Propagation-Timing-Reversal-Guide-for-Weglot-Subdirectory-Integration

• https://support.asp.events/hc/en-us/articles/24340248422813-How-to-Start-a-Weglot-Account

• https://support.asp.events/hc/en-us/articles/24338944033565-Weglot-Support

Option 2: Use an ASP Language Licence

If you have purchased a language licence with ASP, translations are managed directly inside the CMS.

This means:

• Each language is managed in a separate back office.

• Content must be created and maintained for each language individually.

• A language switcher is used on the front end so users can switch between the translated versions.

How the switcher is implemented depends on the template your website uses.

Language Switcher by Template Type

Custom Websites

If your site is built using a custom template, a language switcher may need to be added by the front-end development team.

If it was not included in the original build scope, please contact Support who can advise on the next steps. In most cases, a new panel location can be added to your website layout to display the language switcher.

Classic Composer Templates

Classic Composer templates include a simple language switcher that can be configured in the CMS.

Example:
https://themes.showoff.asp.events/motif

To set this up:

1. Navigate to the Header Language panel in the CMS.

2. Add the text you want displayed for each language (for example: EN / FR / DE).

3. Link each item to the relevant translated version of the website.

Once published, users will be able to switch between languages directly from the website header.

Composer 2 Templates

For Composer 2 templates, language switcher implementation can vary depending on the site configuration.

If you require a language switcher on a Composer 2 website, please contact the Support team who will advise on the available options and next steps to have it implemented.

Summary

There are two main ways to provide language switching on your website:

The exact setup of the language switcher will depend on your website template and translation setup. If you are unsure which method your site uses, please contact Support or your Account Manager for guidance.