French first, English too

Bilingual website in French and English, done right for Google

A bilingual website lets you serve French and English speaking customers without losing either one. JobeLabs builds bilingual sites in Quebec with French as the main language, a real English version written for English readers (not machine translated) and the technical setup that lets Google show the right language to the right person.

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French first

French is the main version, at the root of the site. English is added alongside it.

Separate addresses

Each language has its own pages (/ for French, /en/ for English), and Google indexes each one.

Hreflang tags

Google knows which page translates which, and shows the right version based on the visitor's language.

Adapted, not literal

English copy is written for English readers, using the words they actually search for.

Why a bilingual website helps Quebec businesses

Around Quebec City, part of your potential customers don't read French, or not easily. That's especially true for businesses that depend on tourism or visitors.

  • Tourism: Old Quebec, the Côte-de-Beaupré, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Montmorency Falls draw visitors from English Canada, the United States and beyond. They search in English.
  • Local English speakers: families, workers who moved here and students feel more confident calling after reading a page they understand.
  • English searches: someone typing hair salon Quebec City won't find a page that only exists in French.

If your customers are almost all French speaking, a French only site is often enough. Bilingual sites take more upkeep, since every new text has to exist in both languages. We'll discuss it honestly on the first call.

French and English websites in Quebec: the place of French

In Quebec, the Charter of the French Language covers the language of business, including company websites. In general terms, French must be present and must not be pushed into the background. Exact rules depend on your situation, so check with the Office québécois de la langue française for your case. Every JobeLabs site uses French as its main language by default.

How to build a bilingual site Google understands

  1. Separate addresses: the French page and the English page each have their own URL, so Google can index both.
  2. Hreflang tags: each page tells Google where its other language version lives, so each visitor sees the right one in search results.
  3. Adapted translation: English copy is rewritten with the terms English speakers really use.
  4. Titles and descriptions per language: what appears in Google is written for each audience.
  5. A clear language switch: visitors land on the matching page, not back on the home page.

That's how jobelabs.com itself is built: French at the root, English under /en/, with proper hreflang tags. RinkLog, the app built by JobeLabs, is bilingual too. See more in the portfolio or browse Quebec City web design.

Bilingual website cost

The English version is added to a package (Showcase, Booking or Complete management) as a translation option. Its price mostly depends on how much text needs adapting, and it's written in your quote. You can also supply English copy from your own translator. Base packages are on the pricing page.

Your site in French and English

Tell us how many pages you have and who you want to reach. After a 20 minute call, you get a written fixed price quote within 48 h.

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Frequently asked questions

Does my website have to be in French in Quebec?

As a general rule, the Charter of the French Language requires French to be present on a Quebec business website without being pushed into the background. Exact rules depend on your situation. For an answer that applies to you, check with the Office québécois de la langue française.

Can I use machine translation for the English version?

You can, but it's rarely a good idea. It often reads awkwardly to English speakers, and Google tends to favour better written pages. An adapted translation with the words your customers actually search for works better.

What is an hreflang tag?

It's a technical note on each page telling Google where the other language version is. It helps Google show the French page to French speakers and the English page to English speakers, without treating them as duplicate content.

How much does a bilingual website cost?

The English version is added to a package as a translation option. The price depends mainly on the amount of text and is written in your quote after the discovery call. If you already have translated copy, it costs less.

Can I edit both languages myself?

Yes. In the admin area, every text has a French and an English version. You update hours, services and photos once, and the change applies to both.

Let's talk about your project

Free 20-minute discovery call, then a written fixed-price quote within 48 hours.

Get a quote Book a 20-min call418-558-5590