Website Translation Services: Incredible Guide For Startups
Every day, about 3.6 billion people use the internet, according to Statista research. That is about half of the world’s population who could be interested in purchasing your services or products. While not everyone will be able to buy or be interested in buying what you sell, if you don’t support their language, your chances are little to none.
You should invest in website translation services if you want to expand your startup’s market share. Translation of your marketing materials is very important. You will need to figure out how to speak to your target customers in a way that connects with them on a local level.
Customers simply aren’t willing to put their faith in a company they don’t recognize or communicate with because they don’t understand your language.
We have much to thank it for. Google, Facebook, YouTube, cheaper airfares, etc. lots of new businesses that would not have existed otherwise. But having access to a global public doesn’t mean you can interact with them – at least not without some localization, as we’ll see in this post.
1. Research & Analysis
Before you start translating your startup’s website with website translation services, you’ll need to conduct extensive study and analysis. Because of cultural similarities, purchasing power, utility, or many other considerations, your product will be more successful in certain areas. You also need to figure out where they are.
Examine your global customer personas and try to imagine yourself in their position. Before deciding on the first market for your firm, ask as many questions as possible. Begin by inquiring about product interest in a certain market, as well as growth rates, competition, purchasing power, local preferences, regulations, entrance barriers, and other factors.
Besides, don’t be swayed by statistics. For example, China is one of the most valuable marketplaces on the planet. However, according to the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), 95 % of Chinese internet buyers prefer or will only use websites in their own language.
As a result, if you’re not localizing for your Chinese customers, you’re missing out on a gold mine. Surprisingly, despite China’s massive population and business potential, only 1% of US retailers offer China-specific website versions.
China is known for being a difficult market to break into due to its significantly diverse culture and a variety of legislation and access restrictions.
2. Define Your Project Scope
Set your project scope when you’ve completed your study by determining how many languages you’ll localize for your startup. Choose website translation services providers for the project and inform them of the number of words that need to be translated.
Make sure your programmers are familiar with a variety of programming languages and bear in mind that not all counties utilize the same search engines or criteria for design, marketing, or SEO. Besides, tell them how many pages they’ll have to code.
Your programmers must thoroughly comprehend the chosen technologies where you want to conduct business, just as your translators must fully comprehend and speak the local versions of the language.
Avoiding problems with regulation or compliance. Errors in your translations can be avoided by carefully planning and determining the scope. You can reasonably determine a budget for your startup’s translation effort if you have a good understanding of the needs.
3. Consider Your Design
When it comes to website design, keep in mind that space is crucial. It isn’t just that some languages are more difficult to learn than others. Because Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are vertical languages, adding them to your website will require considerable alterations.
When it comes to website translation and design, the issue is to keep the brand image consistent while appealing to local tastes. It isn’t always simple, as you may need to get your company’s name translated.
Despite the name change, the top companies do an excellent job of using colors, iconography, and typography to maintain the look and feel.
Using global gateways, you’ll be able to view any version of your website right away. If you’re intending to localize into many languages, a dropdown menu is the easiest way to allow your customers to choose their preferred location and language.
Finally, because internet consumption is increasingly mobile these days, make sure to optimize your website for mobile. In fact, mobile internet usage has surpassed desktop usage internationally recently. As a result, you must pay attention to how your site loads on various devices.
4. Perform Translation
You must guarantee that you have the best translators for the task, which is arguably the most crucial component of the localization process for your startup. The best photos, coding, and design won’t help if the words don’t connect with your audience.
As a result, make sure to use native translators who are familiar with not only the language but also the culture, humor, and spirit of the area.
You could wish to look for transcreators who can take your original message and translate not only the text but also the original thoughts. They can enhance the message with their own brand of wit and insight.
5. Choose The Right Images
When it comes to visuals, the most important considerations are cultural sensitivity and the lack of words. There may be different challenges to avoid depending on the country where your startup wants to do business.
Avoid visuals with text and infographics from a practical standpoint. You’ll need to extract the text from the image and send it to your translation agency. The text may not fit within the target language’s limits and may extend beyond the image.
6. Make Sure Your Site Speed Is Fast
Keep in mind that internet speeds vary among regions, and different nations have different requirements. No one enjoys waiting for a website to load, and if it takes too long, they will leave.
Avoid using too many photos and videos that take a long time to load to keep your website fast.
7. Test Multiple Times
It is impossible to overstate the necessity of testing before launching. A first impression is something you never get a second chance to make. Furthermore, customers are not forgiving.
It’s preferable to postpone the launch date than to release a version with defects and problems. Website translation testing entails checking for hardware compatibility, hyperlinks, broken strings, and form functioning, among other things. Additionally, language testing is performed to look for grammatical errors, typos, and cultural taboos.
Choose Your Right Partner for Website Translation Services
If you need assistance with localizing your website, don’t hesitate to contact GTE Localize!
We are ready and able to localize your website into any language with a team of native, professional translators with more than 5 years of experience. Contact us now for your website translation services!
