THE DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF WEBSITE LOCALIZATION

Website localization refers to the method of modifying a specific website to match the culture, tastes and languages of a targeted market. As a website is the first point of interaction between a business and the clientele, a refined site's importance becomes paramount. Billions of netizens are compelled to browse the net in their non-native language. Research shows that 72 per cent of internet users prefer to browse websites in their local language. As such, to prevent losing out on invaluable revenue and exposure, professional website localization services have become very crucial.

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WEBSITE LOCALIZATION

Contemporary times are characteristic of a drive to make the virtual space less and less English-centric. Localization attempts to correlate an existing product or service with another culture. Furthermore, it is not simply about translating the content of a website but also about adapting it to another socio-cultural setup. For example, aspects like currency, units of measurement, and other locale terminology are alternated and compatible with the target region. Another noteworthy phenomenon is the variability of website design. What may be robust website design in one place may not be the case in another area. For instance, testimonials are critical parts of a website in America, but their significance decreases in Europe.

FACETS OF WEBSITE LOCALIZATION

There are numerous aspects of localizing your website, and we have compiled a list of certain vital elements that make website localization services truly unique undertaking.

1. Content translation – While translating a website’s content, it becomes imperative to adopt a holistic approach. The translated language has to feel natural to the target audience, and attention must be paid to grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.

2. Image Adaptation – Images are highly culture-specific. Hence, the image selection should be wise as the wrong image can offend the targeted market's audience.

3. Symbol localization – Symbols are highly subjective, and their meanings change with location.

4. Layout specifications – One of the critical aspects of localizing a website is to ensure that the layout matches the translated content. Some languages mandate extra space or shorter space than others, and considering such details becomes vital during site localization.

CONCLUSION