Updated: 13 October, 2026
- Why two languages matter here
- The three ways to do it, from worst to best
- 1. A translate button
- 2. Both languages on the same page
- 3. Separate pages for each language
- Write each language, don't just translate it
- Help Google show the right version
- Which pages need both languages?
- Keep both versions up to date
- More than two languages?
- How we can help
- Frequently asked questions
- Does a bilingual website cost more?
- Can I use Google Translate for my website?
- Will having two languages hurt my SEO?
- Should the Spanish pages have Spanish addresses?
- Do I need every page in both languages?
On the Costa del Sol, many customers search in Spanish and many in English, often for the same business. A bilingual website in Spain isn't a luxury here; it's how you reach both. But there's a big difference between a site that simply has a translate button and one that works properly in two languages. This guide explains how to set up a Spanish and English website that people enjoy reading and that Google understands.
Why two languages matter here
When we researched searches for web design in Spain, the Spanish searches outnumbered the English ones by about ten to one. In Marbella, "diseño web Marbella" and "web design Marbella" each had between 100 and 1,000 searches a month. Your own customers will vary, but the pattern is common: residents and Spanish businesses search in Spanish, while visitors and many international residents search in English. A site in only one language is invisible to half of them.
The three ways to do it, from worst to best
1. A translate button
Automatic translation widgets are quick, but the result reads awkwardly, the translated text often isn't seen by search engines, and the menu and buttons can stay in the original language. Customers notice.
2. Both languages on the same page
Putting Spanish and English side by side makes pages long and confusing. Google advises against it: its guidance on multilingual sites recommends one language per page, for both the content and the navigation.
3. Separate pages for each language
The best approach is a complete version of each page in each language, at its own address, for example /web-design-marbella/ and /es/diseno-web-marbella/. Each version has its own title, description and headings, so it can appear in the right search results.
Write each language, don't just translate it
A Spanish page should be written for Spanish readers. That means:
Spanish keywords. People search "diseño web" or "página web", not a word-for-word version of the English phrase.
Local formats. Prices as "1.750 €", dates as "12 de octubre", phone numbers with the right prefix.
The right tone. Decide between "tú" and "usted" and use it consistently.
Spanish details. Legal pages, IVA and anything that works differently in Spain.
Machine translation can be a starting point, but a native speaker should rewrite it. Readers can tell, and it reflects on your business.
Help Google show the right version
A few technical settings make a big difference:
hreflang tags. These tell Google that two pages are versions of each other in different languages, so it can show Spanish searchers the Spanish page.
Visible language. Google works out a page's language from the words on it, so the whole page, including the menu, footer and buttons, should be in one language.
No automatic redirects. Don't send visitors to a language based on a guess about their location; let them choose.
A language switch. A clear link, such as a flag with "ES" or "EN", to the same page in the other language.
Which pages need both languages?
Not every page has to be translated on day one. Start with the pages that bring in customers: your homepage, your main services, your contact and booking pages. Add the rest as you see demand. It's normal for a site to have some pages in only one language, as long as each page is entirely in one language.
Keep both versions up to date
The most common problem with bilingual sites isn't the launch; it's six months later, when prices or opening hours change on the English page and not on the Spanish one. Whoever updates the site should change both, or use a content system that shows both versions side by side when editing.
More than two languages?
Some businesses on the coast also serve Scandinavian, German or Dutch customers. The same rules apply: a separate set of pages for each language, written or checked by a native speaker. We write Spanish and English ourselves and build in any further languages from your translator's text.
How we can help
Every site we build can work in Spanish and English, with separate pages, hreflang and a language switch set up from the start. See web design in Marbella or its Spanish version, diseño web en Marbella, for an example, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bilingual website cost more?
Usually a little, because every page needs writing twice. It's often one of the best-value additions for a business on the coast.
Can I use Google Translate for my website?
As a draft, perhaps. For the published site, have a native speaker write or rewrite each page, so it reads naturally and uses the words people actually search for.
Will having two languages hurt my SEO?
No, if each language has its own pages and the hreflang tags are set up. Google can then show each visitor the right version.
Should the Spanish pages have Spanish addresses?
It helps. A Spanish address, such as /es/diseno-web-marbella/, is clearer for Spanish visitors and matches what they searched for.
Do I need every page in both languages?
No. Start with the pages that bring in customers, and keep each page entirely in one language.