In simple words, a website is the digital interface of any business. So, it should contain clear and precise information about your business. A website is also a tool to reach across borders that you cannot reach physically. However, if you think that developing a website is enough, you are wrong!
There is a huge difference between a website and a customized display of your business over the internet that resonates with your audience’s demands and preferences. Localization is a crucial part of developing a global website. It is indeed a time-consuming process that requires a full stack of resources and collaboration with a professional website localization agency.
This statement might sound scary but remember, it is not an expense but an investment that will give you a high ROI in the form of increased customers and sales. A major mistake that most website owners make is doing the localization or translation by themselves, that’s quite risky and involves multiple challenges.
The Challenges of DIY Website Localization
When it comes to website localization, doing it yourself or DIY is not a practical approach. It will only put your hard work, time, and resources on steak. Let’s find out how:
- Language Accuracy
The language of website development is almost the same around the world: English. All the developers work on the same ground. But, when it involves website localization, developers need to add data sets or codes for the seamless functioning and accurate translation of the website content from one language to another. This whole process is full of complications that are difficult to handle for a non-professional.
- Cultural Nuances
Although you are localizing software or a website, cultural accuracy is paramount. Now, while developing a website for diverse regions, would it be possible for you to adapt the website content exactly according to the audience’s cultural preferences? No, because it requires specialized knowledge that not everyone possesses.
- SEO Impact
Translation and localization directly impact your website’s search engine ranking. People prefer to click on and buy products from sites available in their native language. So, if your website and keywords are not optimized, it will affect your website’s visibility in the target region.
Keys Benefits of Hiring a Professional Translation Company
A website translation company consists of professional and native-speaking translators with years of website localization and translation experience. It is wise to trust someone with expertise instead of risking your resources and the brand’s image. Here are the benefits that you can acquire by getting your website translated by professionals:
- Expertise
Professional translators are language experts. They have a strong grip on both the target and the source language which helps them to handle complex terminology and technical aspects like HTML, CSS, and CMS easily. Moreover, they are subject-matter experts and adapt the website language according to the target audience’s linguistic preferences.
- Cultural Understanding
Imagine localizing a website for Arabic-speaking audiences. Can you easily translate the content from English to Arabic? No, right? Arabic is a language with a right-to-left structure. Professional translators can efficiently localize it. Along with the language, they are also aware of the formatting and layout requirements including date and time, measurements, and currency.
- SEO Optimization
Being locals of the target language, translators are well aware of the target audience’s habits. They know the user’s style of searching for products and services on the internet and also the search engine algorithms. This helps them to localize your keywords accordingly and improves your website visibility on search engines. As a result, you get more customers and a high return on investment.
- Project Management and Consistency
While developing a website for multilingual audiences, it is crucial to maintain consistency by delivering the intended meaning of the messages accurately across languages. Poor translation and amateur translators are unable to do this. Therefore, trust only professionals for better management of your translation project and to ensure the consistency of your message.
Choosing the Right Translation Company
The following are the key steps that you need to keep in mind while looking for a professional translation company:
- Experience in Website Localization
Look for a company with a proven track record in website localization. Make sure they understand the challenges and requirements for translation and can handle technical elements.
- Expertise in Your Target Markets
Make sure the company has a deep understanding of the target language and culture. If your website is industry-specific, look no further than experts in that field to ensure accurate translations.
- Client Testimonials and Reviews
Professional translation companies always prefer to showcase their success stories. Check out the client testimonials and reviews to ensure whether they actually provide the best services as they claim or not.
- Pricing
Even though you are a startup or an established enterprise, investing in localization can be tricky. So, you can compare quotes from different translation companies and choose one that suits you. However, do not compromise quality to save a few pennies.
A website is what brings you business not only from national but international markets as well. Therefore, localize your website according to your audience’s linguistic and cultural preferences to get more business and sales.