As the world increasingly becomes digital, the need to reach out to the global audience has intensified. One sure way of sharing your company’s products and services with the audience is through a website. If you are among the companies which are on the brink of rolling out a website, chances are you already know about website localization services.
Website localization is the adaptation of a company website according to the preferences of the target market. This also includes altering the design, color, layout, interface, and language of your website. Although the task of localizing your website is a complex one, it is rewarding once you get the right skills. If you want to convey a message to your target audience which resonates with them, you have to look beyond machine translation.
Just because your website users belong to China, Japan, or the Philippines and are only a click away, it doesn’t mean that they understand the language displayed on your website. This means you have to localize your website properly in order to make sure your global users understand your message. Of course, a website localization service would make the job easier for you.
Here are a few tips to choose the best website localization services in order to boost traffic and views from the global audience.
Tips to choose the best website localization service
Do the Planning from the start
Planning for website localization from the very start is critical for website success. According to statistics, more than 4.5 billion people use the internet daily. While this huge number is not an indicator of the fact that they will all check your website, it still points out the great potential. This is the reason why you should always consider localizing your website according to the preferences of the target market.
It is said that almost 72% of consumers spend most of their time on websites in their language. Besides, 72.4% of consumers are of the view that they are more likely to buy a product that has information in their language. Planning for website localization is essential from the very start for this reason.
Identify your target market
Another important factor that you should work on is identifying your target market. Answer questions such as “where are your potential customers located? And what are their interests?” Research where your potential customers might reside and what you can do to attract them. Then, work on tailoring your website according to their preferences.
Remember, the cost of localization rises with the number of languages that you choose to localize in. This means that you do not need to go on a full-scale localization of your website in many languages. All you need to do is to localize in those languages which you think have more number of visitors.
Get your team together
Localization involves many persons coming together to make the whole task possible. This means that you have to keep your budget in mind when choosing a team for your localization tasks. Granted, the size of your team may be bound by your budget, but you don’t need to compromise on the quality of your work. You will need a team of expert linguists who know what makes your customers tick.
Just keep in mind that if you want to localize your website according to the target market, you have to combine a team of experts. A small error could result in lost sales and profits for your company. This is why you need to be careful in selecting a team for your website localization project.
Prepare your list of keywords
An important part of your website localization is keyword research. Once you have chosen your target markets, you will need to prepare your keywords. Optimize your website for the global market in the same way you are localizing it for your local market.
Understand that not everyone uses Google as their search engine. For example, in China, the search engine used is Baidu, while Yandex is used in Russia. You need to know the words that your viewers are searching for, along with the search engines that they are using. Your translators should use key terms in all languages, both on-page, and off-page. This also includes metadata, keyword density, and external links that you will use on your website.
Test before launching
Always go for localization testing of your website before launch. The linguistic testing makes sure all words are correctly translated. On the other hand, localization testing makes sure the different language sites are working fine. Ensure all sites are functioning properly and look for any broken design.
The Last Word
With so many different languages in the world, it is no surprise that the global audience is vast. Website localization services may seem like a tough task with so many customers to cater to, but with the right tools, you can make sure your website is localized according to the target market. This will result in more profits and sales for your company, increasing the chances of greater global acclaim and success.
