Do You Need a French and English Website in Montreal?
Here is what you will find below:
- Why one language can cost you calls in Montreal.
- What to translate first if you cannot do everything at once.
- How to set up two languages so Google understands them.
- A short note on Quebec language rules.
Montreal speaks French, English and often both in the same sentence. Your customers search the same way. One person types “serrurier Montréal”. Their neighbour types “locksmith near me”. If your site speaks only one of those languages, you are invisible to the other.
We build sites for Montreal trades, so this comes up often. Let’s look at how to handle it.
Why One Language Leaves Customers Behind
People search in the language they think in, especially when something has gone wrong. A locked door, a burst pipe or a broken garage door is stressful. Few people switch languages under stress.
A page in only one language is also harder for search engines to match to the other language’s searches. It may be fine for your regulars, but it limits new customers who find you through Google, Maps or AI answers.
This is not about translating everything. It is about making sure the pages that bring in calls are available in both languages.
What to Translate First
Start with the pages that earn money, in this order:
- Your home page. The first impression and the main route to your services.
- Your top service pages. The two or three jobs that bring most of your revenue.
- Your contact page and forms. Make it just as easy to call or request a quote in French as in English.
- Your service area and prices. Clear and specific, in both languages.
Blog posts and extra pages can follow later. A smaller site that is fully correct in both languages beats a large one that is half translated.
How to Set Up Two Languages the Right Way
The technical side matters, because it decides whether Google shows the right version to the right person.
- Separate addresses for each language. For example,
/fr/for French. One page should not change language on its own. - A visible language switch. Let people choose. Do not force them based on their browser.
- Language tags between versions. These tell Google which page belongs to which language so it can show the right one.
- Translated titles and descriptions. The text that appears in search results needs translating too, not only the page itself.
This is part of what we build into every website we develop, starting at $2,900. It is much cheaper to plan two languages at the start than to add them after the site is finished.
Translate by Hand, Not by Button
Automatic translation is tempting, but a stiff or wrong sentence costs trust fast. French readers notice when a trade page sounds like a machine wrote it.
Use a person who knows how Quebecers actually speak and write about your trade. Check local terms and the words people really search. The French your customers type may differ from a textbook phrase, and your pages should match what they type.
The same goes for your Google Maps profile. Make sure your business name, services and description are accurate and clear in the language your customers use.
A Quick Note on Quebec Language Rules
Quebec has rules about the use of French in commercial communication, and they can apply to business websites. We are a marketing agency, not a law firm, so we do not give legal advice.
What we recommend is simple: check what applies to your business with a qualified professional, then build your site so it can serve customers properly in French. Having a French version is good for customers and is a sensible starting point either way.
FAQ
Can I just add a translate button?
Automatic translation tools change the page on screen but do not give Google a real French page to show in results. A properly built French version also reads better and builds more trust.
Do I need to translate every page?
No. Start with your home page, your main service pages and your contact page. Add the rest over time.
Will two languages slow my site down?
Not if it is built properly. Each language is a normal page, so speed depends on how the site is built, not on the number of languages.
Do This Week
- Search your trade in French and in English. Notice who appears.
- List your top three services and check if each has a French page.
- Book a free website review and we will tell you what to translate first.