As a business expands into new markets, it’s important to localize its website content for those regions. Preparing the company website for localization is a process that involves many steps, from translating and editing the content to making sure the layout and design are correct for each target market. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the key aspects of preparing a website for localization.
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What Is Website Localization?
Website localization is the process of adapting a website to a specific market or region. This typically involves translating the site’s content into the local language, as well as making any necessary cultural and social adjustments. Localization can also involve other elements, such as changing images, videos, and graphics to be more relevant to the local market.
Website localization is important for businesses that want to expand their reach and tap into new markets. It can help them better connect with local audiences and ultimately boost their bottom line.
There are a few things to keep in mind when embarking on a website localization project:
- Choose the right target market or region. Not all markets are equally ripe for expansion and some may require more work than others.
- It’s important to have a clear understanding of the local culture and customs. This will help you avoid any potential pitfalls and ensure that your site is culturally appropriate.
- Partner with a reputable localization company that has experience translating websites. This will help ensure a high-quality translation that accurately reflects your brand.
Website localization is a complex process, but it can be extremely beneficial for businesses that want to reach new markets. By taking the time to understand the local culture and partnering with a reputable localization company, you can ensure a website localization project will be successful.
Why Do You Need To Prepare Your Website For Localization?
There are several reasons why you might need to prepare your website for localization.
First: If you’re planning on expanding your business into new markets, it’s important to make sure that your website is accessible to audiences in those markets. This typically involves translating the site’s content into the local language.
Second: Even if you’re not planning on expanding your business internationally, you may still need to localize your website if you want to appeal to a global audience. For example, if you have a website that targets English speakers in the United States, but you also want to attract visitors from other English-speaking countries, you’ll need to make sure that your site is accessible to them as well.
Third: You may need to localize your website if you have plans to change your target market or audience. For example, if you originally designed your website for a domestic audience but now want to target international users, you’ll need to make sure that your site is available in multiple languages.
Fourth: You may need to localize your website if you want to improve your search engine optimization (SEO). Localization can help you rank higher in search results for certain keywords, which can ultimately lead to more traffic and custom.
If any of these scenarios apply to you, then you’ll need to prepare your website for localization.
How To Prepare Your Website For Further Localization: Step-By-Step Plan
First thing first – choose the right target market or region. Not all markets are equally ripe for expansion, and some may require more work than others. Do your research and consider the potential return on investment (ROI) before making your decision.
Then you’ll need to have a clear understanding of the local culture and customs. This will help you avoid any potential pitfalls and ensure that your site is culturally relevant. Speak with locals, read books and articles about the culture and visit the region if possible.
Later on, you’ll need to find a reputable localization company to partner with. This will help ensure a high-quality translation that accurately reflects your brand. Get quotes from multiple companies and ask for references before making your decision.
So, here is the point where we start translating your site’s content into the local language. This is usually done by creating a parallel version of the site using a different URL or subdomain.
Here is the detailed localization roadmap:
1. Content translating, editing, and proofreading: This is perhaps the most obvious step in preparing a website for localization. All of the text on the site needs to be translated into the language(s) of the target market(s). In addition to translating the text, it’s also important to edit the content so that it makes sense in the context of the new culture (s). For example, certain words or phrases may have different connotations in different cultures, and it’s important to be aware of these differences when translating content.
2. Layout and design checking: Once the content has been translated and edited, it’s important to check the overall layout and design of the website. We make sure that all of the text is correctly formatted and that the overall look and feel of the site is appropriate for the target market(s).
3. Navigation review: Another important aspect of preparing a website for localization is to review the navigation. The navigation should be easy to understand and use, regardless of the user’s location. All of the links should be working correctly, and it should be easy to find the information that users are looking for.
4. Website testing: Once all of the above steps have been completed, it’s important to test the website to make sure everything is working correctly. This includes testing all of the links, navigation, and functionality of the site. It’s also a good idea to ask a native-speaking local focus group that is not familiar with the website to test it out to see if they can easily find what they’re looking for.
5. Website launching: Once everything has been tested and reviewed, the website is ready to be launched in the target market(s). It’s important to monitor the website after launch to make sure everything is working as it should and to address any issues that may arise.
By following these steps, you can prepare your website for localization and ensure a successful expansion into new markets.
What Are the Core Benefits of Website Localization?
Website localization can have a number of benefits for businesses, including, but not limited to:
Increasing international traffic and reach
Improving search engine optimization (SEO)
Enhancing the user experience (UX)
Boosting conversion rates for your website
How Much Does It Cost To Localize A Website?
The cost of website localization services can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the site, the number of languages, and the complexity of the project. Generally speaking, businesses should expect to spend between $700 and $10,000 per language.
Website localization is an important investment for online businesses that want to expand their reach and appeal to a global audience. By taking the time to prepare your site and partner with a reputable localization company, you can ensure a successful expansion into new markets!
To Summarize
Website localization is a critical step for businesses that want to expand their reach and appeal to a global audience. When done correctly, it can have a number of benefits, including increased traffic, improved SEO, enhanced UX, and boosted conversion rates. Although the cost of website localization can vary depending on a number of factors, businesses should expect to spend between $700 and $10,000 per language. By taking the time to prepare your site and partner with a reputable localization company, you can ensure a successful expansion into new markets.
This is an important final step in order to solidify your website’s internationalization efforts. Proper website localization will take your site a long way towards becoming truly globalized and, ultimately, more successful.
FAQ
When is the best time to hire a website localization company?
The best time to hire a localization company is as soon as possible! The sooner you hire a company, the more time they will have to work on your site before launch. In other words, if you want something done right, you need to take the lead on it.
Before hiring any volunteers or going ahead with an in-house solution, make sure to do your research in order to avoid any potential errors. You don’t want to end up with an inaccurate translation that could reflect poorly on your brand.
How much does it cost to localize a website?
The cost of website localization can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the site, the number of languages, and the complexity of the project. Projects in the IT, FinTech, and Crypto sectors are significantly more expensive in localization than sites from more general business areas. The final price depends on how many people will be involved in the localization process and whether additional niche experts will be needed.
Is it worth it to localize my website?
Website localization is an important investment for businesses that want to expand their reach and appeal to a global audience. By taking the time to prepare your site and partner with a reputable localization company, you can ensure a successful expansion into new markets.
How can I find a reputable website localization company to partner with?
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a reputable website localization company:
– Make sure they have experience localizing websites in your industry.
– Ask for quotes from multiple companies and compare pricing.
– Check out online reviews to get an idea of their reputation.
– Ask for references from past clients.
– Make sure they offer a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
