My Journey to Build My Personal Website and Introduce Continuous Localization
Building my personal website was an exciting and challenging project that not only enhanced my web development skills but also allowed me to explore the dynamic field of continuous localization. Here’s a detailed account of how I approached this endeavor, from selecting the right tools to implementing efficient localization practices.
Web Building Details
Domain and Hosting:
I began by choosing Hostinger for its reliable services and purchased a domain name that reflected my personal brand. Hostinger provided a user-friendly interface and excellent support, making the initial setup smooth and hassle-free.
Website Platform:
For building my website, I opted for WordPress due to its versatility and extensive range of themes and plugins. WordPress allowed me to customize my site to meet my specific needs while ensuring a professional look and feel.
Theme and Design:
I selected the Astra theme for its clean, modern design and high customization capabilities. I configured the theme with an opaque container and a global background image that added a cohesive and attractive visual element. The color scheme was chosen to feature purple and gold, lending a sophisticated and distinctive aesthetic. I used the Roboto font family to ensure readability and a contemporary appearance.
Comment Controls:
To maintain a clean and interactive website, I set up filters and controls for comments. This helped manage user interactions and ensured that the website remained free from spam and inappropriate content.
Showcasing Major Projects:
I showcased my major projects on the website, allowing visitors to explore my work and understand the breadth of my skills and experience.
Continuous Localization Process
Localization Tools and Integration:
To localize my website efficiently, I integrated the WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) and Crowdin continuous localization API. This powerful combination allowed me to deliver translated content seamlessly from Crowdin to the website, creating an effective and ongoing localization loop.
Localization Steps:
- Content Analysis and Preparation:
I started by performing a thorough content analysis to understand the scope and identify any cultural or contextual adaptations needed. This initial step included setting up my translation environment in Crowdin and planning the use of continuous localization. - Glossary and Terminology Management:
Creating a comprehensive glossary of key terms and phrases was essential. I used tools like Trados for glossary management, ensuring that translations were consistent and accurate across all website sections. - Static and Dynamic Text Localization:
- For static texts within .html and .js files, I resolved concatenations and ensured smooth integration. For example, changing JavaScript concatenations to a format suitable for localization.
- Dynamic texts, such as tooltips, were localized by duplicating .html files and altering the page injection methods to fetch Chinese HTML files directly.
- Image Localization:
Using Procreate on my iPad, I localized certain JPEG and PNG files by changing English characters within the images to Chinese. This step ensured that all visual content was consistent with the localized text. - Technical and Legal Content:
Special attention was given to translating technical content and legal terminology. Crowdin’s translation memory and glossary features were particularly useful in maintaining consistency with technical terms and ensuring accurate legal translations. - SEO Optimization:
SEO optimization was conducted for the Chinese version of the website. This involved keyword research and implementing localized SEO strategies to enhance visibility in search engines in China. - Collaborative Review and Quality Assurance:
A peer review session with professionals fluent in Chinese was conducted using Crowdin. This collaborative process focused on refining translations for accuracy, coherence, and cultural appropriateness. Crowdin’s QA features automated part of the review process, ensuring high-quality translations. - Final Implementation and Launch:
The final steps involved translating interactive elements and user interface components. Ensuring that navigation elements and call-to-action buttons were properly localized was crucial. Once everything was in place, I launched the Chinese version of the website and monitored initial user interactions to make real-time adjustments as needed.
Conclusion
Building and localizing my personal website was a rewarding journey that combined technical web development skills with the intricate process of continuous localization. Utilizing tools like WPML and Crowdin allowed me to maintain an efficient workflow and ensure that the website was accessible to Chinese-speaking audiences. This project not only enhanced my professional skills but also provided valuable insights into the importance of localization in reaching a global audience.
