In the first part of the article I spoke about general issues of providing a multi-lingual web site, in the second part we're concentrating on the nitty-gritty of web site translations.

First of all if you're getting an agency to do the work, make sure it's clear what is expected from them. A half decent agency will offer translations in HTML, covering graphics, meta and alt tags. They should also provide a plain text option - ask for the translation in Notepad rather than Word, making copying and pasting quicker through Front Page.

If you're doing it yourself there are two basic approaches. With a site heavy on graphics and complex layout it's probably best to save the individual original pages and type over in the target language. For simpler pages it's probably easier to work from a template in the second language and make changes where necessary.

A common problem of layout of a site in a second language is that of graphics - particularly buttons. You have to allow space on your button for the word with the maximum number of characters. As an example you may have a link entitled "Home" and the translation into Spanish as "Principal". If your menu doesn't allow space for 9 characters, you may have problems with alignment, so it's best to think about your second language right from the start. Alternatively a bit of brain racking or thesaurus thumbing might come up with a solution - "inicio" instead of "principal" for example.

On sites I produce for clients I tend to do the site in Spanish and then the translation into English, my native language. The main reason for this is fluency. Choice of wording is a very important issue and after getting the client's message across in their language, it then becomes simpler to do the same in English rather than vice-versa.

Finally, a word of caution. Just as spelling and grammar errors on a site detract from the professionalism of the design, the same is true of translated work. A poor translation will tend to give the impression of amateurism and at worst could convey a conflicting message. Make sure the work is thoroughly checked, not just for mistakes but also for cultural idiosyncrasies.

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