Lack of Online Language Diversity is Hurting your Ecommerce Site:
Ecommerce websites are now the preferred shopping method for people all over the world. The convenient new age option for purchasing goods, allows consumers to buy products from any country. As the popularity of ecommerce shopping spreads, the need for more diversified language options offered online is on the rise. The current lack of language diversity is a missed opportunity for ecommerce sites wanting to appeal to a broader market and sell their products internationally. Selling your products to an international market through an ecommerce site is the biggest opportunity for businesses to substantially grow in a short amount of time. However, neglecting the impact that a multilingual website has on your business puts you a step below your competitors.
Top Ten Languages of the Internet in Order:
- English, 25.5% of Internet Users
- Chinese, 20.4% of Internet Users
- Spanish, 7.9% of Internet Users
- Arabic, 4.6% of Internet Users
- Portuguese, 4.1% of Internet Users
- Malaysia, 4.1% of Internet Users
- Japanese, 3.2% of Internet Users
- Russian, 2.8% of Internet Users
- French, 2.7% of Internet Users
- German, 2.2% of Internet Users
The top ten languages make up for 77.5% of world wide web users, the remaining 22.5% are speakers of various other languages.
Statistics Regarding Languages Used Online:
Knowing the stats and understanding your target market is the only way to maximize opportunity when working to appeal to a foreign consumer base. English is the founding language of the internet and currently 25.5% of internet users speak English. Although English is the most widespread language for internet content, it only accounts for a small percentage of total languages used online. Knowing that alone should make you aware of the huge opportunity for businesses to attract international customers who speak a language other than English. In the past 17 years the number of Chinese internet users has increased 2,262.8%, Spanish internet users 1,516.1%, Arabic internet users 6,805.9% and Russian internet users 3,272.7%. Here presents the key piece of information; targeting your products to countries which show the most internet usage growth, gains new customers and increases sales for a long time to come. These individuals are fresh to the world of the internet and are ready to see what it has to offer them.
The Hispanic population in America reached 56.6 million in 2015 and is projected to reach 106 million in 2050. Some cities inhabit more hispanics than native born Americans. Most American ecommerce sites don’t cater to the large Hispanic consumer population living in their backyard, which is a missed opportunity. “E-Tailers Are Neglecting the Hispanic Population and Losing Business (Website Localization Can Help),” explains the sheer impact the Hispanic population has on the United States as well as how online business are missing out on large culturally diverse markets because they are continuing to treat the United States as a homogeneous English speaking country. If you’re conducting business online, you want to take advantage of the platform the the internet provides. The internet is a tremendous tool and can be used to maximize your reach to your target audience around the world. Offering your ecommerce site in the language spoken by the audience you’re working to appeal to, is a great way to reach and connect with them.
People Prefer to Read and Shop in Their Own Language:
Purchasing behaviors affected by language, were studied by Common Sense Advisory, they polled 2,430 web consumers in eight countries, the following facts were found:
- 72.1% of people buying products online, spend most or all of their time on websites who offer content in their native language.
- 72.4% of consumers are more likely to buy products from a site that provides content in their native language.
- 56.2% of consumers said being able to read content in their native language was more important to them than price of the product.
The European Commission collaborated with Common Sense Advisory to conduct a study to survey language preferences of internet users in 23 E.U. countries, the following was noted:
- 9 out of 10 internet users said when given the option, they will always choose to view sites with content provided in their native language.
- 19%, 1 in 5 people said they never look through a site that does not provide content in their native language.
- 42% of people polled said they never buy products where the information is only provided in another language other than their own.
By not providing your website in the language spoken by the target market you are trying to reach, you’re excluding many potential customers for the simple fact that they cannot understand the content displayed on your site.
Ecommerce Site Information That Should Undergo Localization Efforts:
- Currency and Applicable Pricing
- Payment Methods
- Shipping, Delivery and Return Information and Policies
- All Content Displayed on Site
- Product Information
- Special Sales and Online Offers
- Customer Support
Localization is Key to Higher Conversion Rates and Increased Sales for your Ecommerce Site:
Ecommerce localization is one of the best ways to get noticed and boost sales in an international market. Tapping into a customer base living on the other side of the world may seem far fetched and unattainable. However companies who invest in localization efforts in order to cater to target audiences, give themselves the greatest chance of success on virtual foreign soil. It’s vital your target audience feels at ease navigating, reading and making purchases on your site. Providing people the option of reading content in their native language lets customers feel they’ve been thought about and accommodations made to obtain their business. This can help in providing a great customer experience to everyone, regardless of language barriers. “International Business Expansion Through Language Services,” lists the steps businesses take in order to promote their products while appealing and catering to a foreign crowd. People want a simple and easy experience online, that’s what online shopping is all about. Providing them with the option to read your site in a language they understand can convert shoppers into buying and returning customers.
Studies have proven, navigation of a site in a person’s native language, outweighs the importance of price spent on the product. Hiring a language service provider to aid in penetrating a global market can advance you beyond your competitors. Localization is a great way to understand and apply behaviors of your target audience to your ecommerce site in hopes to attract customers. Taking this step is an important part of an online enterprise, Niki’s Int’l Ltd. provides businesses with localization services that will ensure accuracy in translation and provide your target audience with the intended marketing message created and designed for your business. Localization services provided by Niki’s Int’l Ltd. include the selection of culturally appropriate images and colors, formatting and adapting text in the new language to be visually appealing to your target audience, as well as selecting the perfect amount of translation needed to deliver optimal impact for your new localized ecommerce site. The investment in localization services generates a long-term financial return due to the customers you’ll gain along the way.
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.