7 Steps for Defining a Localization Strategy for Your Business
With a continuously globalizing market, a strong localization strategy will set your business up for success. It will help to create a personalized user experience across countries and connect with international audiences. You owe it to your business to go beyond translation and create culturally adapted content that will resonate well with the local market.
This post will help you define your business's localization strategy and ensure your global campaign is successful. Let's dive in.
Identify your target market
The first step for defining a localization strategy is to identify your target market. If you already know where you want to grow your business, then you're good to go.
Otherwise, take some time to analyze the global market before setting your sights on a specific country. Start by looking at your website analytics. Where is your current traffic coming from? If there are already some international audiences browsing your products, you might have a good starting point in those markets.
Try to research your business' potential across countries. If you notice a high demand for your product in a specific area, it might be a good localization target.
Put together a team of experts
The next step is to gather a team of professional translators who specialize in localization services. Since localization requires the perfect command of both languages and a deep understanding of the target culture, working with an experienced localization agency is critical.
At Language Buró, we take time and care to maintain your brand and quality standards. Our team of native-speaking translators can provide you with localization services and adaptation for any content.
Find out linguistic, cultural, and technical differences
There are many nuances when preparing content for another market, from linguistic details to cultural differences. For companies looking to expand globally, a poorly done translation can jeopardize the entire brand image. A joke can turn offensive when translated. Date formats can differ from country to country. You don't want that to happen to you! Please leave it to the experts to create an appealing user experience for your target market while dealing with your tasks.
Decide on the content you want to localize
Do you want to localize your website or your social media accounts? What about your user-generated content and reviews? If you're still not sure, now's the time to sit down with your content creators and decide what you want to localize.
Remember that sometimes it's better to create entirely new content relevant for your local audience. Instead of using existing social media accounts, consider creating separate profiles for different countries. This is great for gaining trust and engagement, both crucial when entering a new market.
Adapt your design and graphics
The visuals are also an essential part of your localization strategy. We can't neglect the importance of cultural adaptation in both translation and design. If you want your business to build a strong brand across markets, don't leave anything to chance. Design localization also plays a significant role in your marketing strategy, so make sure you do it right.
Test your localized content in the target market
You are almost done! Now it's time to test your content in the target market. After all, there's no localization strategy without testing. Consider performing a market research study or sending your final version to a few local users for tests. Before going live, it's essential to test everything out. Skipping this step can result in some considerable setbacks in your project.
Provide customer support in the local language
It's time to launch your project! Congratulations! Another thing to consider is customer support because you'll be receiving a lot of foreign queries upon your launch. Do you have enough resources to deal with foreign customers? Consider hiring a local employee or writing a FAQ to cater to your customers' needs. Customer support is of the utmost importance when you're new to the market.
Planning a localization strategy for your business may seem tricky at first, but with our tips, you'll be on the right track. We're also eager to join efforts for your international campaign. Our team of expert translators can provide culturally-adapted content that will make sense on a global scale. If you want world-class localization experts, look no further than Language Buró! With us as your language partner, you can expect proactivity, fast delivery, and quality! Get in touch with us today to receive a free localization quote.