2012-09-19

A lot of steps for us, but a simple click for a reader:

1. Create a new email in constant contact.

2.  Make sure the 'Webpage version' box is checked within the 'Header options'  panel.

3.  At any point during your editing of the new email, click on the 'Preview' button (next to the 'Save' button in the new editor.)

4.  A preview window will pop up with your email design.  In the header, click on the link where it says "Having trouble viewing this email?  Click here."  A new tab or browser window will open.

5.  Copy the URL of that new window or tab -- it should be something like "campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=..."

6.  Open a new browser window and go to Google Translate.  Paste the copied URL into the left hand panel and hit the 'Enter' key.

7.  A translated version of the email should be generated.  You can adjust the 'from' and 'to' languages as needed.

8.  Copy this page's URL -- make sure to select the true URL and not the address in the Google box.  The URL should be something like "translate.google.com/translate?sl=..."

9.  That URL is insanely long -- you will need to use a URL shortener to make it useable by Constant Contact.  Open a new browser window and go to your preferred URL shortener such as goo.gl.  Paste the copied URL into the shortening box and generate a new URL.  Copy the shortened URL.

10.  Go back to your original email.  Find a place where it makes sense to put the link.  I type text near the top of our email that says 'para espanol haga clic aqui'.

11.  Select the 'clic aqui' text and click the 'Insert Link' button in the new editor.

12.  An 'Insert Link' window will pop up.  Paste your shortened URL into the appropriate box.  Click the 'Insert' button

13.  Click 'save' to save the block you've been editing and click the overall 'save' to save the email.

There is now a link in your email that will automagically translate your email.  What is especially nice is that you can continue to edit the email and the changes will be pushed through to that link.  Your next email, however, does require you to jump through all of those hoops again.

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