Unlocking global markets: The essential guide to translation and localization services

Introduction

It’s common knowledge that the customer journey is no longer linear. Your marketing analytics likely back this up. Before purchasing, shoppers meander through multiple touchpoints, such as your website, email, and mobile app. Yet 71 percent of consumers expect a seamless, personalized experience across all channels. To meet these expectations, you need to tailor the omnichannel journey to each individual’s language and cultural preferences.

While this may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. With the right translation and localization services, you can create multilingual customer experiences that resonate with global audiences. Our essential guide will walk you through the process—from determining what you need to localize to choosing a language services provider (LSP).

Understanding translation and localization

Let’s start by clarifying the difference between translation and localization. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, each process serves a different purpose. And you need to know which one is needed for a given project.

Translation involves adapting text from one language into another to recreate the original message. This method is ideal for technical manuals, customer support, and other content that requires little to no cultural adaptation.

Localization, in contrast, extends beyond adapting text and considers the target market’s cultural norms and preferences, including altering cultural references, images, units of measurement, and more to reimagine the user experience for local audiences. It’s ideal for company websites, marketing campaigns, and other content that needs to conform to local expectations to succeed.

Think of it this way: translation can be a stand-alone service, or it can be part of a more extensive localization process.

Translation management systems

As you can see, translation and localization services are crucial for global expansion. They allow you to communicate with your target audience in their language, which increases the odds of a successful connection. And they help you build trust by showing customers that you understand and respect their culture.

The Value of Localization in Different Industries

In fact, most global businesses can benefit from localizing aspects of a product or service. To prove it, we’ll show you how three different industries use localization to reach new markets.

eCommerce and retail

eCommerce and online retail businesses thrive on customer engagement, and localization plays a pivotal role. By localizing websites and online platforms, businesses can:

• Expand global market reach. Brands can enter new markets, attract diverse customers, and increase sales through localized e-commerce platforms and retail websites.
• Ensure cultural relevance. Localizing product descriptions, images, and payment options builds trust and credibility with consumers.
• Customize marketing. Marketing campaigns tailored to the local language and culture can significantly increase conversion rates.

Amazon, for instance, localizes millions of words every week to keep product listings up-to-date in multiple languages. This ensures online shoppers enjoy a seamless experience—regardless of language or location.

Software and technology

The demand for localized software and technology has grown significantly in recent years. As a result, adapting products for global markets helps companies gain a competitive edge by:

• Increasing market penetration. By localizing technology and software products, companies can reach a wider audience, especially in non-English-speaking countries.
• Enhancing the user experience. Incorporating native language support and cultural norms makes software more user-friendly and intuitive.
• Meeting legal requirements. Following local regulations and laws ensures legal compliance and fosters user trust.

To improve the user experience and to increase trust among global customers, Microsoft’s Customer Experience and Success team (CE&S) localizes all of their customer service-related content into 47 languages.

Marketing and advertising

Localization is the key to successful international marketing and advertising campaigns. When marketers adapt their messaging to the local language and culture, they achieve:

• Effective communication. Localized marketing campaigns elicit higher response rates and increase brand loyalty.
• Culturally-relevant campaigns. Advertising that reflects local customs and beliefs prevents cultural misunderstandings.
• Higher ROI. Localization increases the chances of campaign success, resulting in a higher return on investment (ROI).

Regardless of your industry, you, too, can leverage localization to connect with your target audience on a deeper level. It just takes a little background knowledge to get started.

Key steps in the localization process

While every localization project has its own specifications, it typically includes certain steps. To better understand how it works, let’s walk through the process of localizing an ecommerce website.

1. Market research

Identify potential target markets to determine their size, product demand, and cultural preferences. You’ll use this information to choose a location that best aligns with your business goals.

2. Content and product analysis

Analyze all ecommerce content, including product descriptions, images, videos, and user reviews. This will help you prioritize which content to localize first.

3. Website translation

Translate all relevant website content into the target languages, including user interface (UI) elements, product information, shipping and payment details, and any other text visible. This will allow users in different countries to access your website in their native language.

4. Cultural adaptation

Modify the content to match the target market’s cultural norms and sensitivities. This may involve adapting product images, colors, symbols, and other visual elements to resonate with the local audience.

5. Currency and payment options

Offer local currency options and payment methods preferred by the target market. This ensures that the payment gateway and checkout process are compatible with local payment systems.

6. Shipping and logistics

Optimize shipping methods and costs to meet local customers’ expectations. This could include partnering with local shipping providers to ensure timely and reliable delivery.

7. Legal and regulatory compliance

Ensure your ecommerce platform complies with the target market’s legal and regulatory requirements. This includes data protection laws, tax regulations, and product labeling standards.

8. User experience (UX) optimization

Adjust the website’s navigation, layout, and user interface to satisfy the target market. You may need to rearrange content, translate menus, and optimize page load times.

9. Mobile optimization

Ensure that your eCommerce platform is mobile-friendly and compatible with popular devices in the target market. Keep in mind that mobile commerce makes up the majority of sales in many regions.

10. Customer support

Provide customer support in the local language(s) using a variety of channels, such as email, live chat, or phone. This builds customer trust by demonstrating a commitment to their needs and expectations.

11. Localization testing

Verify that all aspects of the localized eCommerce platform work correctly and that there are no linguistic or technical errors.

12. Marketing and promotion

Develop marketing strategies tailored to local audiences, including localized advertising, social media campaigns, and promotions.

Now, if localization looks too complex to take on in-house, don’t worry. You can outsource most of the process to a language services provider (LSP). They’ll provide the linguistic, cultural, and technical expertise you need to bring your project to life.

Choosing the right localization services

Yet, given the number of localization partners out there, you may wonder how to choose the right one for you. Here are some tips to help you decide:

• Look for organizations specializing in your industry, target market(s), and the solutions you need. Localization requires expertise in these areas to adapt your product or service for local buyers accurately. Not all providers serve the same industries, markets,or language pairs, nor do they all specialize in every type of localization.
• Check for accreditations and certifications. Verify that organizations are ISO 17100-certified for translation quality, and ISO 18587:- certified for MTPE (Machine Translation with Post Editing). This is particularly relevant in the pharmaceuticals and finance industries, which are subject to regulatory approvals.
• Ask for client references. Reliable localization vendors will have plenty of client references to demonstrate their capabilities. Ask about clients that work in your industry, are similar in size, and have similar localization and language needs. This will give you insight into whether a provider is the right fit.
• Make sure vendors have the right technological capabilities. Choose a partner that offers robust technological solutions and integrations. For example, localization providers should be able to integrate their workflow management platform with your company’s systems via APIs.
• Ask for transparent upfront pricing. Find out how many free MT words are included and what the price per word is for ad hoc projects or subscription services.

Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be on your way to finding the perfect fit for your localization needs.

Introduction to our multimedia localization services

If you’re looking for expert multimedia localization support, look no further than Acclaro. We offer a full spectrum of translation and localization services to help you grow globally. Our AI-powered WordsOnline platform can continuously localize:

• Websites
• Videos
• Multimedia assets
• Social media content
• And more

By combining machine translation with post-editing by our expertly trained linguists, we provide the highest quality translations. Our professional designers also ensure that all media is localized for purpose and context. We can work with a wide range of formats and file types, and our follow-the-sun methodology means there’s always a designer ready to work with your content. You’ll reach new markets faster than ever with our efficient and cost-effective localization solutions.

Get started today to see how we’ve helped companies expand globally.