There are 4.39 billion people that are internet users in 2019. Internet is a global platform. As a website owner, it is important that your website is accessible to the people from every corner of the globe. When you are considering how to adapt your website for different languages, you have an amazing option of choosing website localization services. Website localization helps to launch multilingual versions of your website and mobile to maximize your global reach.
Website Localization as a Communicational Bridge
Website localization is an involved and advanced process to make a website more culturally relevant and appropriate. This often includes the changes to visual statics, logos, relevant phrases in the target language, page layouts and communication style. The process completely changes the map of your website not just linguistically but also visually. Website localization goes beyond just the conversion of languages to improve the source language as well as other website elements to meet the customer’s cultural preferences in the customer’s own target language. It is important that the translation of information is clear and understandable to eliminate any cultural misunderstanding or offense. For example, Starbuck’s website is customized according to the customer’s location preferences. The website is designed differently for Japanese customers and Greek customers as shown in the picture and localization has been followed for every available country.
What Is The Difference Between Website Translation and Website Localization?
Sometimes people get confused between website translation and website localization and think that both are the same thing. However, it is different. Website translation just changes source language of web content such as text, multimedia, eBooks, or apps into the target language. This is just a process of converting one language to another, it may not meet the cultural preferences of the target audience and it may look boring without localization.
Website localization simply adds spice to the over-all website. It modifies the source language as well as the visual effects to attract the eyes of the target audience. Both of these methods are imperative of excellent customer satisfaction by refining your site’s message to meet the cultural, functional and linguistic expectations of your global audience.
Who Should Use Website Localization Services?
If your website is an informational hub, a brand showcase, a corporate intranet or any e-commerce store and you want to grab the global spotlight, then website localization is the right fit for you.
Benefits of Localization
- Maximize your connectivity to a global audience. It is more attractive to the customer when the website meets the preferences of him/her. So, website translation won’t do the job alone.
- Customer satisfaction is essential to increase your revenue or traffic on your website. Localization simply improves the user’s experience.
Popular Websites That Use Website Localization Like A Pro
Nike
Nike steals the show in the fitness industry. Nike is extremely popular and has reached a high market share with its amazingly comfortable products and website localization. Nike has done subtle changes in website design and language. There’s a picture of Nike’s Spanish website and US website that do not lose the essence of the brand’s motive but fits both corners of the globe linguistically.
Coca Cola
Coca-cola is available at every corner of the world, it is like oxygen. So, it is obvious that they will use website localization to dominate the market with high-revenues. Here’s an example of Coca cola’s Thailand website of August 2019 that features various Thai personalities to attract the preferences of Thailand’s population.
And their French website captures the essence of French culture as Coca Cola reaches 100years of service in France. Coca Cola has done subsequent changes in the website design, while Nike has taken the slow road.
McDonald’s
Everyone has been to one of the outlets of McDonald’s at least once in their lives. McDonald is ruling the food business by creating a long satisfied customer chain for quite a long time. The localization is clear when a customer explores the food and happy meal options which is based on regional tastes. Here is an example of McDonald’s India website and Spanish website of 2019. When you will open the Indian website, you will find ‘rice bowls’ as rice is a comforting and popular food in India. But, you will not find rice in McDonald’s Spanish website.
Nescafe
Nescafe is the leader in creating various layouts, designs, region-specific product variations. Winter or summer, monsoon or autumn, the craze for coffee never runs short and Nescafe has utilized this craze appropriately. Nescafe provides such amazing coffee and it has spread almost all over the globe. The website is completely translated and localized. The short paragraph and static logo are present in almost all websites. However, the localization takes place when the product is specified according to the region. The Russian website of 2019 features localization in the form of linguistics and the product variations available in Russia. ‘Gold Origins Sumatra’ is available in Russia but not in the US.
Internet is a bridge that removes the gap between nations. As 4 billion people are internet users, promote your brand in a global platform to reach out to maximum deals by making your brand culturally diverse through website localization and become the next billion-dollar business.