POP SEO Tip #30: Tips for Localization - Enhancing Success
In a previous post, we touched on the topic of localization rather than just translation. We talked about how localization ensures that you’re reaching your audience in other countries in the language they actually speak, not some stilted version of it. However, localization is pretty complex, so here are a few important tips to bear in mind. Name: Your service or product name is important. You spent a lot of time coming up with the English version, and you should spend the same effort when localizing it. You need to determine if you want to keep the name (which could work if there is no correlating word in the other language). You may want to change it if there is a local word or phrase that encapsulates what you’re trying to convey with the name. The Entire Experience: It’s important that your entire experience is localized for each target area. For instance, if you were marketing an app, you would localize the content within the app, from screen to screen. However, it’s also important to localize the app description in the store, as well as your terms of service and other elements to create a cohesive experience. Format: When localizing, it’s important to format for different lengths. While it might not seem that way, English is pretty concise, and our alphabet doesn’t take up a lot of room. However, other languages are different, and you might find that your content takes up three times as much space on the screen as it did in English. Account for this in your localization efforts. Language: It’s far easier to localize simple, direct language than it is complex wording or legalese. Keep your language simple so that it’s easier to localize. In the end, localization might be complex, but it’s very achievable with a solid strategy underpinning your efforts.
