How Does Website Localisation Work?
Website localisation is refining web content to provide a useful and relevant experience for users by considering culture, language, and flow. It’s not the same as translation: localising content takes into consideration the nuances of the target region. Some words can have the same definition, but different meanings in different contexts. Similarly, there are always different dialects of a language, like Spanish in Spain, Spanish in Mexico, and Spanish in South America.
Some people confuse localisation and translation, but localising web content goes beyond just translating words into another language. Read on to learn how to think about web localisation-and how to execute it in powerful, authentic ways.
Globalization vs. Internationalization vs. Localisation
Globalization, internalization, and localisation are three different concepts related to how businesses operate and expand their operations. Globalization refers to the integration of economies, cultures, and societies across the world. In business, globalization refers to expanding into other countries. It involves setting up a global supply chain and adapting products and services for various cultures and markets.
The process of internationalization involves creating software or mobile apps and then localising them to target unique cultures, regions, and languages. Software developers and engineers do this to make sure websites work well in different languages and cultures.
Global website localisation refers to the process of adapting products, services, and marketing strategies to meet the specific needs and preferences of a particular local market. This can involve changes to language, design, branding, or product features to better appeal to local consumers. Site localisation can help companies gain a deeper understanding of local markets and establish stronger relationships with customers.
The Basics of Web Content Localisation
Localising a website requires five key elements
- Different languages and regions ensure that the website's text, content, and brand voice are genuine and tailored to users. This helps to create a customised experience for users.
- Websites use cultural aspects of communication to show understanding of different cultures and make users feel comfortable. This includes dates and times, units of measurement, and local holidays.
- Transactional elements such as currency, payment options, addresses and character sets are not only important for the local feel of the site, but for the accuracy and proper handling of transactions and on-site conversions.
- Local communication and trust elements such as phone numbers, local addresses, in-language customer support, legal notices and security banners may not seem mission-critical, but they're key to engaging with local audiences. They also ensure that your in-market sales and marketing teams have the information they need to serve your customers.
- Navigation and discovery for your translated site is critical to helping users select the language they need, and immediately start interacting with your site in an authentic way.
4 Benefits of Website Localisation
Website localisation can provide several benefits for businesses looking to expand their global reach. Here's what you can expect to gain from the right localisation for website strategy:
- Increased sales and revenue: A website for a specific area can help businesses connect with customers they couldn’t reach before. By providing a website that is accessible and relevant to local customers, businesses can increase revenue and establish themselves in local markets.
- Improved SEO and website traffic: Localised websites that are optimised for local search engines and keywords can help improve search engine rankings, which can drive more traffic to the website. By using the right keywords and phrases in local languages, businesses can increase their visibility to local customers who are searching for their products or services online.
- Increased customer engagement: Localisation allows businesses to tailor their website to the specific needs and preferences of a local market, which can increase customer engagement and satisfaction. By providing content that resonates with local audiences, businesses can create a more personalised experience that encourages customers to spend more time on the website and engage with the brand.
- Improved brand reputation: Localisation can help businesses establish a stronger presence in local markets, which can improve their reputation and credibility with local customers. By showing a commitment to meeting the needs of local customers, businesses can build trust and loyalty, which can lead to long-term success and growth in new markets.
How to Begin Web Site Localisation in 4 Easy Steps
Are you ready to seek out website localisation services? To begin your web site localisation project, you need to lay a strong foundation. You need to ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I dedicated to making a genuine, multilingual website to show my users that I value their experience? (You’ll read more about this in an upcoming section.)
- Do I have the right professionals on my team to support my site as it scales? A great partner can help make this easy.
- Are my in-market sales teams asking for a more complete, robust online experience for their customers? If the demand is there, it might be time to meet it.
- Is my content engaging and enriching enough to attract my target audiences? You've already invested in a powerful online experience, and you want to maximise the return on that investment.
How to Keep Your Website Relevant
After a web site localisation project, your users should be able to navigate your site easily and quickly. Ensure your translated content uses the appropriate language and terms that resonate with the local customers you serve. Literal translations can come across as obviously out of touch with the local culture, and compromise things like SEO and brand integrity.
This approach includes localising multimedia content, too. Using images, videos, and PDFs in the right language can boost brand credibility and engage users with the content.
As always, the devil is in the details. Make sure your international customers can easily understand and utilise the significant information on your website. This includes adapting currency, payment methods, measurements, address formats, and contact details. With these changes, your customers won’t miss a beat as they’re spending time on your site.
What Needs to Be Localised?
Great website localisation means thinking beyond the site itself to all the digital assets, content and channels that make up your international digital presence.
First and foremost, consider how locals will discover your site. Make sure regional search engines know about your new local website, so you're easy to find in search results.
Having a website localisation or translation partner who understands SEO can be beneficial. They can help you go beyond just using localised keywords and utilise advanced tools like Proxy Translation Technology. This ensures the translated version of your website properly displays in your customers’ local search engine results.
Advanced providers can use technology to detect user preferences on your site. This allows them to welcome first-time visitors in their preferred language. They can also guide visitors to the most suitable localised site.
Localisation for Omnichannel Multilingual Marketing
If your company uses an omnichannel marketing strategy, localisation will become more involved and complicated.
Ensure you translate your omnichannel content, including email campaigns, social media posts, and offline assets. You need to consider things like social media handles and pop-ups, as well as how localising affects format.
For instance, one must take into consideration that Arabic reads right to left. Find a partner who can help you locate and customise content, making sure it is connected to your online presence.
See what our CEO Evan Kramer has to share about omnichannel multilingual marketing:
Why Microsites Aren’t Enough
As you expand to international markets with your digital presence, one thing becomes abundantly clear: local markets expect a website experience that is every bit as fantastic as the one on your flagship site.
It can be tempting to solve the localisation problem with a simplified microsite that takes your company's essential information, translates it into the local language, and serves up an abridged experience to those users.
But users regularly abandon websites that don't provide consistent language experiences or deliver compromised experiences in favour of taking a simplified approach.
As you extend your global reach into new markets, strike the right balance with powerful website translation that doesn’t compromise the user experience.
Invest in the Best Website Localisation Solution
When adapting your company’s website for local markets, focus on finding solutions that provide accurate translations and engaging localizations.
To effectively localize and translate a website, you need top-notch translators. You also need advanced technology to deliver the right content to the right audience. A good partner can assist with managing workflows and translations, making it simple to publish, track, and update content.
MotionPoint elegantly employs both website translation and localisation to ensure clear, effective, relatable content for every market where you do business. We designed our localisation platform to meet all translation and localisation needs, big or small. Reach out to us today and let us help you reach new markets where your business will thrive.