Social Media
In today’s rapidly globalizing world of digital commerce, multilingual content management is no longer just a preference—it’s a necessity for many brands. Shopify has released an exciting new update that will please international sellers: Image ALT texts can now be translated into multiple languages!
This development is especially crucial for e-commerce stores selling in different countries, improving accessibility, SEO, and overall user experience. With this new feature, content becomes not only more accessible but also better indexed by search engines.
What is ALT Text (Alternative Text) and Why is It Important?
Image ALT texts are short descriptions that explain what an image represents. These serve the following purposes:
- Accessibility: They allow visually impaired users to access content through screen readers.
- SEO: Search engines can’t “see” images directly; ALT texts help them understand what’s being shown.
- Fallback Content: If an image fails to load, ALT text provides users with alternative information.
Until now, Shopify users could only define ALT texts in a single language. But now, these descriptions can be translated into various languages, strengthening global presence.
What Does Shopify’s New Feature Offer?
Thanks to this update announced by Shopify:
✅ ALT Texts Are Now Multilingual
You can now translate your image ALT texts into the native language of each target market, boosting your site’s accessibility.
✅ SEO Performance Improves on a Global Scale
Google and other search engines better analyze content optimized in multiple languages. This helps you gain advantages not only in local but also in global rankings.
✅ Bulk Import with CSV Support
Shopify also made it possible to bulk import translated ALT texts using CSV files. This is a major time-saver for stores with hundreds of products.
Who Will Benefit Most from This Update?
This feature is particularly valuable for the following groups:
- 🌍 Brands engaged in international e-commerce
- 🏪 Sellers using multilingual store infrastructure
- 📦 Businesses with large product portfolios
- 🌐 Marketing teams developing global SEO strategies
If you’re selling to multiple countries—or planning to expand into global markets—this update can significantly streamline your workflows.
A Strategic Step for Accessibility and SEO
Making ALT texts multilingual isn’t just a technical enhancement—it’s a strategic move that elevates the quality of your brand communication. Users are more likely to connect with content presented in their own language. At the same time, complying with accessibility standards boosts your brand reputation.
It’s important to remember that Google and other search engines give positive signals to websites that prioritize accessibility. So this isn’t just about being visible—it’s about becoming more visible and more reachable.
A Major Opportunity for Shopify Users
Shopify’s new image ALT text translation support takes global compatibility in digital store management to the next level. This feature delivers essential benefits in areas like SEO, user experience, and accessibility, making it much easier to offer optimized content in every language.
If you’re already selling in multiple languages or planning to go global, make sure to include this update as part of your strategy.
For information about Marker Groupe’s development services, please contact us via the MarkerGroupe.com website or by e-mail at hello@markergroupe.com.
