How to design and launch a multilingual B2B site in Webflow

So, you need a B2B website in multiple languages, and you want to build it in Webflow. Maybe your clients are in Berlin, Brazil, and Boston—or maybe your boss just decided that “we should go global.” Either way, you’re staring down a big project with a lot of moving parts. If you’ve Googled around, you already know: there’s no single button to “make my site multilingual.” But don’t worry. You can do this, and you don’t need to lose a year of your life (or your hair) in the process.

This guide is for designers, marketers, and anyone wrangling a B2B site for multiple markets. We’ll go step-by-step, from planning to launch, with the real talk on what’s worth your time and what isn’t.

1. Get Clear on What “Multilingual” Really Means for You

Before you touch Webflow, get clear on the basics. “Multilingual” can mean a lot of things. For some companies, it’s just a handful of pages in two languages. For others, it’s the whole site, blog, and legal docs in six languages.

Ask yourself: - Which pages actually need translation? (Hint: Not always the whole site.) - Do you need full translation or just key landing pages? - Are there legal/compliance requirements for specific markets? - Who’s keeping the content up to date across all languages?

Pro tip:
Don’t translate everything by default. Focus on pages that drive leads or support your sales team. Translating old blog posts no one reads is a waste of time and money.

2. Map Out Your Site Structure Before You Build

Webflow is flexible, but making big structural changes after you’ve launched is a pain. Plan first.

Decide: - Will each language have its own subdirectory (e.g., /de/ for German) or subdomain (e.g., de.yoursite.com)?
Subdirectories are usually better for SEO and easier to manage in Webflow. - How many languages do you need at launch? How likely are you to add more soon? - What’s your default language? (Usually English, but not always.)

Draw a quick sitemap for each language. Even a rough sketch helps you spot translation gaps and duplicate pages before you’re knee-deep in builds.

3. Pick Your Multilingual Tech Stack for Webflow

Here’s the truth: Webflow doesn’t do multilingual natively. You need to choose a translation solution. There are three main approaches, each with trade-offs:

Option 1: Webflow’s Built-in Localization (Paid Add-on)

  • Webflow launched their own localization add-on in late 2023.
  • Lets you create and manage translations inside Webflow, with support for subdirectories.
  • Pros: Seamless with the Webflow interface, less maintenance, supports SEO-friendly URLs.
  • Cons: Costs extra per locale, still maturing (expect bugs and missing features), can get expensive fast for many languages.

When to use: If you want a “mostly native” experience and can stomach the extra cost.

Option 2: Third-Party Plugins (like Weglot or Lokalise)

  • Plugins like Weglot, Localize, and Linguana all promise “multilingual in minutes.”
  • Pros: Dead simple, no-code setup, handles language switching, automatic machine translation.
  • Cons: Subscription fees, some control lost (especially over SEO and design), can bloat your page load times, and automatic translations are never perfect.

When to use: If you need to launch fast, don’t mind paying, and you’re OK with machine translation as a starting point.

Option 3: Manual Duplicate Pages

  • Duplicate each page or collection for each language inside Webflow.
  • Pros: Full control, no extra cost, total flexibility over content and design.
  • Cons: Tedious to manage, easy to make mistakes, a nightmare to update, not scalable past 2–3 languages.

When to use: Only for very small sites with just a few languages. Otherwise, don’t do this to yourself.

Bottom line:
For most B2B teams, Webflow’s built-in localization or a plugin like Weglot are the only sane options. Manual duplication is a last resort.

4. Set Up Your Webflow Project for Multilingual

Now it’s time to actually build.

If using Webflow Localization:

  1. Enable the Localization add-on in your Webflow project.
  2. Add languages you need (e.g., German, French).
  3. Set up subdirectories (e.g., /de/, /fr/).
  4. Translate your static pages and CMS content using Webflow’s editor.
  5. Configure language switcher elements and make sure they work on all devices.

If using Weglot or another plugin:

  1. Create your main site in Webflow—just in your default language.
  2. Sign up for the plugin and follow their install instructions (usually just pasting a snippet into your site’s custom code).
  3. Configure the languages and review automatic translations.
  4. Manually fix bad translations (there will be some).
  5. Test language switching and check that SEO tags, canonical URLs, etc. are correct.

If you’re still thinking about manual duplication:

Don’t. But if you have to: - Duplicate each page for every language. - Link navigation menus to the right pages per language. - Manually translate content (no shortcuts). - Use folders or prefixes (like /de/about) for organization. - Stay organized—this gets ugly fast.

5. Don’t Forget about SEO and Legal Stuff

You can build a beautiful site, but if Google can’t find your French version, it’s all for nothing.

Key steps:

  • Set hreflang tags properly so search engines understand which language version is which.
  • Make sure each language version has unique URLs (no /about in every language).
  • Translate meta tags (title and description) for each page.
  • Check GDPR or local privacy laws for each region—especially if you’re collecting data.

Pro tip:
Don’t trust plugins to get SEO perfect out of the box. Double-check with a tool like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog.

6. Test Like a Skeptic

Translation and localization introduce a ton of places for things to break.

What to check before launch: - Language switcher works everywhere (mobile included). - No broken links between language versions. - Forms and CTAs work in every language. - Translations actually make sense (get a native speaker or a sharp-eyed colleague to proofread). - SEO tags are correct per page/language. - Cookie banners and privacy notices are translated (and legally compliant).

Don’t rely on machine translation alone—it’s fine for a first draft, but you’ll sound like a robot. Or worse, you’ll make a weird, embarrassing mistake.

7. Launch, Monitor, and Iterate

You’ll never get everything perfect on day one. That’s fine.

  • Announce the new languages to your audience—don’t just quietly launch.
  • Monitor analytics to see which pages and languages are actually getting use.
  • Fix bugs and translation errors as users find them (they will).
  • Update content regularly—if your English site changes, have a process for updating other languages quickly.

Pro tip:
Don’t add more languages than you can actually maintain. It’s better to have two great language experiences than five half-baked ones.

What to Ignore (and What Not to Overthink)

  • Don’t spend weeks perfecting your language switcher’s icon. Users just want it to work.
  • Don’t translate legal disclaimers or privacy policies yourself—get a pro or use vetted templates.
  • Don’t panic if you get negative feedback on a translation. Fix it, move on.

Wrap-Up: Keep It Simple, Ship, and Improve

A multilingual B2B site in Webflow isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to get bogged down in details and tool choices. Start with the core pages, launch, and learn as you go. Don’t wait for perfection or try to “future-proof” every little thing. Your global users will thank you for a site that works—even if it’s not flawless from day one.

You’ve got this. Hit publish, see what breaks, fix it, and repeat. That’s how real teams go global.