Creating a multilingual Squarespace site requires careful planning and proper structure. You can achieve this manually by following these essential steps and best practices.

Basic Requirements & Limitations

• Sites can only display embedded text in one language (checkout pages, date formats)
• Products can only be sold in one currency
• Different domains/subdomains for different languages aren't supported
• For better language support, consider using Weglot integration (available in version 7.1)

Site Structure Setup

1. Create a language selection homepage
2. Develop separate page sets for each language
3. Implement a language switcher dropdown menu
4. Maintain consistent navigation across languages

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Homepage Setup:

• Create a blank homepage
• Move it to the Not linked section
• Add language selection options

2. Navigation Structure:

• Create separate dropdown menus for each language
• Name dropdowns according to languages (e.g., "English," "French")
• Ensure consistent page order across language versions

3. Content Organization:

• Add pages to first language dropdown
• Duplicate pages for second language
• Translate content while maintaining structure
• Link homepage to both language versions

Navigation Display Options

• Default: Show navigation menus on all pages
• Alternative: Place pages in Not linked section and use content links
• Separate sites option: Create individual sites for different languages/currencies

SEO Optimization Tips

• Implement proper language meta tags
• Create language-specific URLs
• Use hreflang tags for language targeting
• Ensure consistent translation quality
• Monitor performance in Google Search Console

Remember that while manual setup offers flexibility, it requires careful attention to maintain consistency across all language versions and proper SEO implementation for each language variant.

For advanced needs or specialized SEO support, consider working with a Squarespace Expert who can optimize your multilingual site structure and search engine visibility.

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