July 26, 2023
Recently, well-known podcaster Josh Hall invited a WPML team member onto his Web Design Business Podcast. The goal? To enlighten his audience—avid web design enthusiasts and aspiring business builders—on the benefits of a multilingual website.
In today’s interconnected world, the value of a multilingual website is monumental. It goes beyond simple translation – it’s also about adapting your message to resonate culturally with your audiences. In doing so, you make your content not only accessible but also deeply relevant.
Our talented Partnerships Marketing Manager, Dean Jones sat down with Josh Hall to talk about the importance of multilingual websites. With his extensive knowledge of the WPML (WordPress Multilingual) plugin and his expertise in the field of web design, Dean was well-equipped to showcase the benefits of a translated website to Josh’s audience.
We caught up with Dean post-podcast to get a behind-the-scenes look at this experience.
I was drawn to the opportunity for two main reasons. Firstly, as a former freelancer with experience in running a small web design business, I felt a deep connection with the topic and knew I could offer insights that would resonate with Josh’s audience. Secondly, it was a new experience for me to represent a company in a professional capacity on a podcast, and I saw it as a valuable learning opportunity.
To achieve a natural, meaningful conversation, I knew I had to be confident. This came from understanding the subject matter well. I identified key topics we should cover like:
Once I felt like I had my bases covered, I just had to trust my knowledge and preparations.
The experience was really great, and the hour flew by! The interview felt more like a conversation with a friend.
Josh was a great host and I felt really comfortable right from the start. Once the “public speaking” nerves subsided, I eased into our talk and found that I could flow with the topics, trusting in my preparations. The notes I had made earlier simply served as a guide, ensuring we stayed on track and covered all the critical points.
It all boils down to preparation and knowledge. You need to be confident in what you’re speaking about. While it’s great to have a good interviewer (I was lucky to have Josh!), you should be prepared enough to steer the conversation yourself if needed. And remember, it’s okay not to know everything!
Although the video didn’t go viral on YouTube, I had some nice comments from colleagues, some good engagement on LinkedIn, and a nice comment from a UK audience member under the audio version of the interview on Josh’s site. This comment alone shows just how important multilingual SEO is.
Given my positive experience on Josh’s channel, I’m now a lot more open to the idea of doing more of this kind of work. Besides being a great learning experience, it’s a fantastic way to engage with the WordPress community. As a company behind popular WordPress plugins, it’s important that we spend some time interacting with those that form the WordPress ecosystem.
Dean’s chat with Josh serves as a testament to the power of having a multilingual website. A multilingual website bridges the gap between diverse cultures and helps businesses make a more significant impact. Understanding the relationship between language and culture can shape our interactions and global opportunities in more than one way.
As we continue to engage with the WordPress community and beyond, we’re excited about the meaningful conversations the future holds.
Are you interested in working with a globally distributed team that encourages growth and advancement? Are you ready to harness the power of technology for a better future?