Printer FriendlyIn the early days of the Internet, web users had to adapt to English-language sites because there were few alternatives. Today, website translation and localisation is essential if you want to win international clients.
One of the great things about marketing on the Internet is
that you don’t have to find prospects, they find you. With a translated and
optimised website you can be found in search engines and generate measurable
traffic to your website. Once on your site, visitors can be guided through well
written information, encouraged to interact, place an enquiry or place an
order.
The Internet is a great platform with which to test new
markets. Your website can play a significant role in growing your business
internationally, but while the Internet has removed geographical barriers to
trade, the language and cultural barriers remain. Because English is the language of business, few managers bother with translation.
However, those that do, often find that the extra effort is very well received.
Translation is an art, and like most arts it is more complicated than it
looks. There are several aspects to localisation and website translation, e.g.:
- Cultural issues, e.g. use
of colours
- Multiple currency
transactions
- Local search engines and
directories
- Foreign addresses and
contacts
- International sales taxes
- Customs regulations and
tariffs when shipping products overseas
- Use of imagery
- Political or religious
connotations
Did you know? Most multinational companies are now more committed
than ever before to creating localised versions of their websites. Ford owns
131 country specific websites,
Having a multilingual presence shows an appreciation towards
a foreign culture and demonstrates a commitment to the foreign market. It is
because US and
