Import WordPress translations to Shopify

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Import WordPress Translations to Shopify: A Complete Guide

As eCommerce continues to grow globally, businesses must adapt to reach diverse audiences in their native languages. For Shopify store owners, translating product data is essential to meet the demands of international customers. If you’re migrating from WordPress or already using WordPress for translation management, importing these translations to Shopify might seem challenging. However, with apps like Polydata, the process is simplified, allowing you to maintain product translation consistency across platforms. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to efficiently import WordPress translations into Shopify.

Why Import WordPress Translations to Shopify?

WordPress, with its flexible plugins like WPML and Polylang, is a popular platform for managing multilingual websites. These tools allow you to organize content in various languages, including product pages, descriptions, and metadata. If you are switching from WordPress to Shopify or want to integrate your WordPress translations into your Shopify store, doing so manually for each product would be laborious. Automating this process ensures that all your hard work—product descriptions, titles, and metadata in different languages—doesn’t go to waste and that your Shopify store is accessible to customers in their preferred language.

Tools You’ll Need for Translation Import

Before diving into the translation import process, it’s crucial to gather the right tools to make the migration smooth. For importing WordPress translations to Shopify, you will need the following:

1. Polydata: A Shopify app designed to import multilingual content via CSV.

2. A WordPress Export Tool: WP All Export is a common plugin to extract your WordPress content, including translations, into a CSV format.

3. Spreadsheet Software: You can use Excel or Google Sheets to map and prepare your translation data for import.

4. CSV Import Template: Polydata provides an import template that you can use to align your WordPress data with Shopify’s format.

Step-by-Step Guide to Importing WordPress Translations to Shopify

Step 1: Export Your WordPress Translation Data

Using a tool like WP All Export, you can extract all the relevant data for your products, including titles, descriptions, slugs (product handles), and metadata (meta titles and meta descriptions) in different languages.

• Select the content type (products) you want to export.

• Include essential fields such as product ID, product title, description, and meta tags.

• Make sure that the translations for each language are included and labeled clearly.

This will generate a CSV file containing all the translations of your product catalog, which you can later edit and format.

Step 2: Prepare Your CSV File for Import

Once you have your export from WordPress, the next step is to prepare this file for Shopify import using Polydata’s template. The columns in your CSV should include:

• Product SKU: The unique identifier for each product.

• Locale: The language code for each translation (e.g., en, fr, es).

• Translated Fields: This includes product titles, descriptions, and meta tags for each language.

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By aligning these fields with Polydata’s import requirements, you ensure a smooth upload of your translation data.

Step 3: Map Your Data to Shopify Format

Next, you will need to map your WordPress export file to Shopify’s format using Polydata. Polydata’s CSV template allows you to map each language-specific field (e.g., title, body_html, meta_title, meta_description) with your exported data from WordPress.

The following fields are typically mapped:

• Product SKU: This links the translation to the correct product in Shopify.

• Translated Title: Your translated product name.

• Translated Description: The product description in the target language.

• Translated Meta Tags: Including the meta title and description.

Step 4: Import the CSV File into Shopify

Now that your CSV file is prepared and aligned with Polydata’s template, it’s time to import it into Shopify. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Polydata: Log into your Shopify store, navigate to Polydata, and select the “Import” function.

2. Upload CSV: Upload your prepared CSV file. Make sure that the file adheres to the proper structure and that each field is mapped correctly.

3. Start Import: Begin the import process. Polydata will validate your data, ensuring there are no errors such as missing fields or incorrect product SKUs.

4. Track Progress: Polydata provides real-time progress tracking and alerts you to any issues. Once the import is complete, check your store to ensure that all translations have been applied successfully.

Step 5: Verify Your Translations in Shopify

Once the import is complete, it’s crucial to verify that all translations appear correctly on your Shopify store. Browse your product pages and ensure that titles, descriptions, and metadata are displayed in the appropriate language.

If you find any discrepancies, Polydata allows you to fix the errors in your CSV and re-import the file, ensuring smooth corrections without having to redo the entire process.

Best Practices for Managing Multilingual Shopify Stores

To maximize the effectiveness of your multilingual Shopify store, keep these best practices in mind:

• Use Consistent Locale Codes: Ensure that you are consistent with language codes across your CSV file (en for English, fr for French, etc.).

• Test Imports on a Small Batch: Before running a full import, test the process with a smaller set of products. This allows you to catch errors early.

• Regular Updates: Keep your translations up to date, especially as you add new products or modify existing listings.

• SEO Considerations: Remember to translate meta titles and descriptions properly, as these play a key role in your store’s SEO performance.

FAQs

Can I import WordPress translations for collections and product metafields?

Yes, Polydata supports importing translations for collections, product options, and metafields, allowing you to translate all aspects of your store.

Do I need to manually assign translations to each product?

No, Polydata uses SKUs or product IDs to match translations with the appropriate products, streamlining the process.

What happens if my CSV contains errors?

Polydata provides error tracking during the import process, allowing you to fix issues before completing the upload.

Is Polydata compatible with other translation tools?

Yes, Polydata integrates with third-party tools like WPML, Polylang, and other translation systems used by WordPress.

How often should I update my Shopify translations?

It’s recommended to update your translations regularly, especially when introducing new products or making significant changes to your product catalog.

Can I automate future imports from WordPress to Shopify?

Yes, Polydata can handle automated imports, allowing you to regularly sync translations between WordPress and Shopify.

Conclusion

Migrating WordPress translations to Shopify doesn’t need to be a complex task. By using tools like Polydata, you can streamline the process, ensuring that your store maintains accurate multilingual content. This guide has outlined the key steps for importing translations, ensuring your Shopify store is ready to cater to customers across multiple languages.

Useful links:

• Shopify Multilingual Support

• Polydata Documentation

• WP All Export

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