Category: Localization

If you’re reading this blog, you probably know what localization is and how it can help any business with its digital marketing strategy. It will provide you with better customer service, help you obtain increased awareness, and, of course, bring in more cash for your company. However, we have discovered that many companies make serious errors in their translation appraisals. As a result, we decided to discuss these issues in this essay. Read it attentively and steer clear of them in your approach. Let’s now focus on the ‘DON’Ts’ you should avoid if you want to keep your e-commerce business going.

1. Poor Translation Quality

This is the first blunder you must avoid when availing of localization service at all costs. Nowadays, many businesses are easily turned away when they locate a translation company that offers services at a lower rate. Companies frequently use AI technologies or Google Translate; nonetheless, there are certain drawbacks. AI cannot comprehend language context, idioms, or minor geographical distinctions. This frequently results in serious grammatical errors and even formatting errors. To avoid all of this, you must choose a reputable provider. We advocate engaging expert translators or language service providers rather than using free translation software for literal, word-for-word translation.

2. Not taking into consideration varied language lengths

Don’t presume that all languages are as succinct as English when opting for localization companies. Compared to other languages, such as German or Finnish, the English text is generally quite compact. Therefore, translations can vary greatly in length and density. When strings overlap with other controls in the UI, you’ll need to make adjustments after translation if you don’t plan ahead.

3. Missing out on the minute details

It is not so simple to localize. True success takes a lot of attention, especially to the smallest aspects. Linguistic and localization testing must be performed properly to provide the best localization campaign. The translated website must operate well across many devices and browsers in different regions. And that there are no faults in your content or the little aspects. As a result, you can provide a consistent user experience in any market where you do business. This entails creating a website that appears to have been designed just for your target demographic. Not a sloppy or incomplete translation of the original.

4. Loss of product titles during translation

Customers want to feel as though your things were designed specifically for them. To accomplish so, you must be extremely detail-oriented and recognize that product titles that work well in one location may not sell or even be understood in another. Modifying your product titles such that they inform your overseas consumers that you are in the business of fixing their particular industry difficulties while being stylistically consistent with your source title is critical.”

5. Not including localized payment methods

If you are localizing your website, you must do so correctly. At the moment, technology is advancing rapidly, which means that new localized payment methods are emerging daily. While certain payment systems, such as credit cards, are worldwide, there are significant geographical disparities in how consumers pay for goods. According to Statista, credit and debit cards will account for more than half of the market in North and South America by 2020. However, in Asia-Pacific, wallet-based transactions account for more than half of all online transactions. You must do due diligence on the leading payment options. People will find buying goods or services from your firm simpler if you accept local payment options.

When you start testing for localization early and frequently, you may save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run. For the translated version of your product, you can employ automated tests of test translation files and character encoding. Always test your changes for code mistakes, syntax, capitalization, consistency, and localizability concerns. Having localization in mind when developing the original program greatly simplifies the localization process. If you avoid these frequent problems and adhere to the best practices outlined in this article, your website should be fully localizable, allowing you to expand into the foreign market.

Expanding business on an international or foreign market has now become more flexible than ever. Not only does it give more global exposure but also brings in varying audiences and potential customers. While entering a new market, the most essential element is to make your product or services adaptable and customized, suiting the requirement of the target audience. This is where localization services help. Localization is the process of transforming the content and other key details of a product or service when entering a new region or targeting a specific market. For example- modifying products or services with localized elements, website localization, application and software localization, localization in content marketing and a lot more.

It is often confused with the translation process. But translation is a simple conversion of text from one language to another. But in localization, various elements like understanding regional languages and cultural differences play a huge role. Along with content, localization also involves the adaptation of various factors of the target region like the use of specific colours and images and different currencies and payment formats. What may be considered acceptable in one region or country can be considered offensive in another. That’s why localizing according to regional understanding is important. Failing this, a brand’s reputation can go down and affect its marketing strategy. This is why localization is a key factor in a brand’s marketing strategy. And the best way to build a connection with people is when you speak in their native language  Adding cultural elements and identifying important aspects of the specific region will help people resonate with your product or service.

Benefits of Localization Services for Business:

Today all businesses need localization while entering a new market. It has endless advantages that can help a brand reach more audience and stand out. Let’s dive into how a brand, with localization, can build a strong presence and increase its sales.

• Builds Trust and Credibility: Localization services help in revamping the brand’s image to a new region or target market with appropriate linguistic and cultural differences. When the cultural preferences and values of the target audience are taken into consideration, it helps them to connect better and builds trust. It also adds a lot of value when the audience finds your website multilingual. It shows them how you acknowledge language and cultural differences.

• Provides Global Exposure: Implementing good localization practices can help a brand expand and enhance its global reach. Thanks to the digital era, you can easily reach thousands of people and expand your business online. All you need to do is localize your business [website, product, service etc] according to the target region’s language and cultural preferences. Making your website multilingual is the best way to go global.

• Boost SEO: Localizing websites, content and other online elements help build a strong online presence. Adding relevant keywords and various SEO elements according to the target audience’s languages and preferences helps in ranking higher. Your website might rank higher in your original language but it isn’t necessary it will rank higher in another language. With global SEO multilingual localization services, you can alter and drive more website traffic. It will also generate more organic traffic and attract a worldwide audience.

• Increase in ROI: Expanding business to different regions means attracting more potential customers. With localized content, you can reach bigger markets and generate more sales. A business with localization definitely profits more when they enter global markets than just targeting one region or country. It also gives brands a great opportunity to enter new markets and increase their market share.

• Enhance Audience Engagement: Content that is tailored according to audience preferences helps in engagement and easy communication. When people visit your website and find content in their native language, it instantly builds a connection. Modifying content with localization will help you attract more audiences. It will also help the audience resonate more with your brand.

In this digital age, we all want information retention. Internet firms are looking for new and innovative techniques to appeal to their global users.

 That’s what the whole world is looking after. Website localisation is the solution to the above request. It’s the newest way to attract new traffic like never before.

Website localisation is an excellent blueprint to grow businesses substantially; that is making it accessible to a variety of public. Striking a connection at the very fundamental level of language could work wonders for an international corporation. Website localisation means designing and transforming the websites, making them more user-friendly for local communities.

Such features and designs include: 

• Encryption algorithms
• Hardware compatibility
• Names, time, date, weights, measurements.
• Entry fields and Hyperlinks
• Image appropriateness
• Form functionality
• Shopping basket and item lists
• Load time (A vital part for any e-site)

Linguistic alterations include:

• Spelling errors, wrong use of words, punctuation errors
• Grammatical mistakes
• Presence of culturally insensitive elements
• Inappropriate texts
• Misuse of keywords
• Readability and appeal of the message

Why website localization?

let’s Have a look at some statistics:

72% of customers give preference to websites in their native language.

Website visitors are four times more likely to purchase from a website in their language.

Surprising, isn’t it? Generally saying, viewers all across the globe will give a higher preference to the content of their language.

As a matter of fact, a fifth of web users speak Chinese; an 8% speak Spanish. Disappointingly, not even a 5% provide for the Spanish users, a mere 2% for the Chinese. What this means is that the majority of the net users have no choice but to opt for content in foreign vocabularies. In today’s era, we can’t compromise ourselves to target a limited set of viewers. Incorporating smart localisation strategies can advance local careers into overseas markets and open the gates for fresh opportunities. With multilingual websites, businesses can be propelled to new customers, caring for their culture and customs as well.

What is localization?

Localisation is a colossal front to take on. Just translating text to local languages, never does the job. All the minor details have to be kept in mind. The correlation between the programmers for the website and the translators for the content has to be meticulous. Just because a website is easily accessible over the Internet, doesn’t mean people will always buy it. People don’t like talking to robots.

Plain and boring information in alien words would never deliver the company’s motto.

Changing “Women shoes” to “女鞋” (women shoes in Chinese) on SHOES.com isn’t enough.

Localisation involves adding elements of native customs. This would make the experience more humanistic and natural. With all the information and instructions set in some foreign language, the viewers could feel a little overwhelmed.

Now one can’t rely on Google translator for this, can they?

How it works?

 Website localisation involves two teams: The developers for the website and The Translators for the content. The concord between the two groups is essential for delivering a decisive final product. The harmony between human expertise and automated software, go hand in hand to provide rich material with utmost accuracy.

• Analysis of content:

 Each topic with headings, subheadings, highlighted words and bullets are noted down. The format is analysed, and translatable text is recorded.

The content is further organised in the following criterion:

Graphics and Multimedia: Images, audios and videos too require localisation. Obviously, the localisation platforms cant allow the text to be in one language while the image accompanying it, is in another. Thus the professionals make sure the media is modified accordingly. Suitable subtitles for videos, while matching captions for the image. Concisely, the viewers should be able to interpret the meaning of that media.

• Currencies and technical units:

Conspicuous to say, the customers to do the math for converting the cost of products. All the professional units like length, weight and currencies are switched. Also, the dates are represented in the correct way for the local viewers.

Using word to word translations won’t produce the expected result. The correct terminology and vocabulary are needed for every language. Thus localisation agencies often use native translators to create a picture-perfect scene.

A more in-depth look into website localisation

Website localisation requires not only smooth and relevant translation of information but also to make the viewer feel at home. It’s essential to ensure that the web content is abiding cultural compassion. Translations put out by Google Translation will never suffice. The very fundamentals of a heritage, can’t be deciphered by an AI.

Let’s take a look at some more statistics:

72.1% of consumers spend most or all of their time on websites in their language

72.4% of consumers said they would be more likely to buy a product with information in their language.

This is a simple yet clear indication, as to why localisation is essential to enter global markets.

Regional SEO: The Game Changer

Whatever it is, that we search in Google, might be different on another search engine, on a different language. For instance: “Vacation Accessories” will sound good for an American user. For a British customer, “Holiday Supplies” will be a better fit. SEO localisation is a crucial aspect to cover, before entering foreign markets. For maximum efficiency, it is advised to abhor the exact translation of keywords. 

In China, people mostly surf on Baidu. In Russia, searches are most prevalent on Yandex. Thus, not only the terms vary, but even the search engines are also different. Hence, it becomes a necessity to certify the use of appropriate keywords, optimised for foreign vocabularies and search engines. To facilitate region-specific keywords, experts in localisation agencies perform an in-depth analysis. They will provide with apposite keywords which not only suit the global preferences but also match with local engines.

The localisation of SEO is an irrefutable factor of website translation. Examining the search-demands of the local search engines, using analytical tools to get the best-localised keywords; is essential.

Revamping the metadata and the external links also make an SEO friendly website.

Some salient features of SEO Localization:

• URL localisation: Making URLs user friendly, which can be interpreted by the communities.
• Title translation: Befitting titles, describing the products/services in local vocabularies.
• Description translation: Comprehensive translation by native experts, striking the exact connection.
• Keyword localisation: Localised keywords for a wealth of languages, for individual search engines.

Apart from designing the content befitting for an indigenous audience, it’s paramount to make sure the structure is legally abiding. Foreign markets have their own set of rules and web authorities. Thus, it’s necessary to keep the content well within the legal boundaries. Making the website secure and sensitive to the target viewers should be the topmost priority of any localization agency.