Why do we need a translation website?
If you do business in different countries, you need to have your website translated and localized. Nowadays, millions of people are browsing through the web for useful information, such as consumer products and services. However, a potential obstacle for businesses to open up the multi-language market is the language barrier. That is why you need to have your website properly translated and accessible to local audiences.
There are millions of websites in different languages around the world. According to statistics from 233 countries, nearly 1,400 million people use the Internet, while about 600 million do it daily. There are seven languages that are the most frequently used in web applications. They are English (18%), Chinese (13.55%), Japanese (7.6%), Spanish (6.4%), German (6.0%), French (4.2%), and Korean (3.6%). Logically, about 50% of Internet users will visit business sites containing the above first three languages. When all seven languages are used, the rate will increase to 75%. Furthermore, if Portugal, Italian, and Dutch are added, the visiting rate will jump to 80%, with the remaining 20% surfing the sites of relatively more obscure languages. It is believed that web sales can increase three-fold if the target languages are properly localized.
What is the web localization?
Strictly speaking, web localization is a process to translate one website into another language, being consistent with the culture and customs of the target users so that they can better understand the source website. The process starts with the translation of the words performed by senior translators, in which the wording and idioms must match the cultural background of the target language. As effective web translations are not just about wording, translators must have a profound understanding of the web content, as well as the related cultural customs of the target users. On the other hand, translated versions may have different numbers of syllables than the source texts, and needs programmers to come in and edit the paragraphs and graphical designs, in order to beautify the product. Therefore, web localization can be defined as a comprehensive project of great complexity.
The web localization is expensive Though, it is a necessary step for businesses aiming to open a global market. Web localization is not only a symbol of business globalization, but also the appreciation and respect for the culture of other countries. One of its advantages is that it allows users to better understand your company, as they will feel more comfortable reading information in their own languages. Of course, you must first convey the information effectively before you can impress your audiences.
More and more business entities now have realized the importance of the Internet in our daily life, and investment in websites has become a necessity. If you are involved in international business, your website should meet the tastes of consumers in the target countries. It should also contain the most accurate and up-to-date professional information, both in text and graphics. Since the web localization process involves such a complexity, it is highly recommended that professionals do the job. In one word, your international business will benefit tremendously from a valuable investment in web localization.
