International Expansion Requires Localization:
Globalization cannot be achieved without the aid of localization, a language service aiming to translate content and marketing material in order to appeal and entice a specific target market. Any business interested in expanding their offerings to an international consumer market, should invest in professional localization services. More and more people are coming to understand the important role localization plays in gaining targeted audiences and increasing overall sales. Having your hand in multiple international consumer markets can lead to an increase in sales, international brand awareness, expansion of your customer base, and ultimately boost revenue. Due to the vast benefits and advantages localization provides, the service has become extremely popular for businesses wanting to expand. The following are a few aspects of the process you should consider before choosing a target audience, purchasing the service and undergoing the process.
You Can Not Sell Offerings in English to Non-English Speaking Buyers:
Common Sense Advisory surveyed 3,000 online shoppers, spanning across 10 countries to find 60% rarely or never buy products or services from websites who only provide content in English. Only 26% of the world’s internet population operates in English, this is why businesses are turning to localization in order to globalize.
Other Interesting Findings from the CSA Survey:
- 75% of online shoppers prefer to buy products in their native language.
- 30% of the 3,000 respondents never buy at English language sites, and another 29% rarely do.
- Automotive and financial services are the products that consumers are least likely to buy if the website is not in their native language.
- Exactly half would prefer that at least the navigation elements and some content appear in their language, and another 17% strongly share that preference.
Shoppers have little to no interest buying products or services from a company who only offers content in English, if you’re wanting to appeal and entice linguistically and culturally diverse audiences, you must adapt your marketing strategies and create content in the language your target audience speaks.
China is the Hardest But Most Lucrative Market to Localize For:
China is known for being at the top of the list when it comes to the amount of people in the country who utilize smartphones, now its the worlds largest app market as well with revenues reaching over $44.8 billion in 2016 and estimated to reach $80.6 billion by 2020. Chinese consumers in 2016 spent five times the amount of money they spent on smartphone apps compared to the amount spent two years before.
This information is telling you that the Chinese consumer market is ready and waiting to be tapped, however its quite hard to localize content and marketing for a Chinese audience. There are multiple languages and dialects spoken throughout China, many standards you must be compliant with as well as a variety of various cultures to appeal to. Localization for the Chinese market is insane to crack, however, hiring a professional language service company (LSC) who has the means to delve into the research and who has access to native speakers can give you a fighting chance in your efforts to localize your content for a Chinese market.
Ample research must be carried out prior to releasing your offerings in China or any other diverse consumer market for that matter. If your interesting in expanding your offerings into international consumer markets, it’s time to hire a LSC and undergo the process of localization. Localization is the key to globalization success and Niki’s Int’l Ltd. can aid you in achieving your goals of expansion.
Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a WBENC-Certified Women Business Enterprise with 20 years of language service experience. A global network of highly skilled interpreters and translators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for on-site, telephonic and video remote interpretation services. Our linguists are available in over 350 languages and dialects, and our network includes certified interpreters and translators. Our work is guaranteed with a $1 Million Errors & Omissions policy, so that you can be confident that your project will be completed with the highest level of quality and professionalism within the field. For more information contact us at 1-877-567-8449 or visit our website at www.nilservices.com.