In the 1970s, American Motors made their midsize car named “the Matador” which meant strength and courage, while the exact didn’t at all translate to Spanish-speaking consumers, as “Matador” in Spanish means “Killer”. This made them realize what a mistake they had made.
But it’s not mere brand names that don’t translate well into other languages. This is where content localization comes into the picture and where big players in the market opt for the best content localization solutions.
The best content translation services will instill a practice in one’s website or application where the respective content resonates with a specific place and culture. This includes translating it to the native language, presenting the existing website/application’s content in a culturally sensitive methodology, and adjusting one’s overall global marketing strategy.
After all, we have to understand that foreign lands and their culture won’t fit content based on where we are residing neither we can go by “one size fits all” practices. Due to these factors, emerging businesses and institutions in India collaborate with professional content localization services in India to instill a globalization factor into their strategy. Subsequently, they found out that they could reach out to varied target customers in other geographies just by providing a unique experience catered to their target market segment.
A step-by-step guide for building an effective content localization strategy
- Extensive research of the target market- professional content localization services in India would first advise one to get their market research straight because several questions need to be clarified like do the customers even need what they are selling or can they afford the same? Subsequently, one should also consider the biggest competitors present in those target geographies.
- Zero-in what content to localize- Most MNCs hire the best content writing services just to cater to the expectations of their target customer segment i.e. engaging content. Executing a content audit and identifying one’s top-performing areas is the best way to initiate. A good content localization company can suggest the best localization tools to provide their foreign audience with a truly localized experience.
- Identify the right localization services- Choosing the correct localization services and providing the best content localization solutions will take one’s business to a global level in no time. Additionally, incorporating translation software into one’s website will automate the content localization methodology and workflow. The benefit of using a website translation tool is that it automates varied things like dealing with translators, duplicate pages, and more.
- Check the wording- It is always crucial to ramp up one’s content localization by using words that synergize with their target market. Professionals providing content translation services also know that even varied countries that speak the same language have different variations of words they use.
- Presence in search engines- Visitors in varied destinations use different variants for the same search intent. This is valid for the search terms they’ll use to find one’s services or products. Content translation services let you target the unique keywords used in different markets to assist businesses dominate search results for that destination.
- Offer a personalized shopping experience- For ones that have an e-commerce store, there are a few extra things to consider when it comes to their localization strategies. A majority of customers are still skeptical about online payments. Handing over money into the void is a scary prospect, so consumers tend to gravitate towards more friendly payment options. Professional content localization solutions will make sure that one is aware of the preferred methods of payment depending on the location and culture. For example, a shopper in Brazil might prefer to pay via Boleto Bancario. But if they get that service, they will easily prefer to the one who offers it. This becomes a game changer at the end of the day if we see it.
What should be the best practices for successful content localization?
Businesses must align themselves and be aware of cultural sensitivity if they want to execute a successful content localization methodology. Here are the best practices that professional localization services in India follow-
- Align with cultural variations
- Provide flexibility to users to switch between languages
- Instill multilingual brand assets
- Localize all media content
- Structure an effective website design
- Consider native language nuances- local practices like titles or dates etc.
- Consider testing till the end of its success