Category: Localization & Translation Written by: Daqeeq Date: 08 Mar 2021
Daqeeq says….
5 Questions to Help You Start Product Localization Right
If your product has become a smash hit in your home market and you’re looking to expand globally, you already know that product localization isn’t a choice, but rather a prerequisite for companies looking to compete in the global market.
So, this is the right time to answer some major questions in order to present your products globally, and if you have the right answers to these questions, then you are ready to move forward.
When do I need to think about localization?
This process will rely on your company, but many roadside bumps can be avoided by selecting a localization partner early and engaging them deeply. Choose the right partner, and the process will be much easier and you will benefit from their experience of partnering with businesses at a similar level of growth to yours.
At a practical level, you really need to think about localization from the moment you even think you may want to look beyond your own domestic market.
In what markets and languages should I find and present my product?
If your goal is to dominate the global economy, you’re running out of options. It seems appealing to make your product available in as many languages as possible so that you can reach a wider audience. Bear in mind, however, that product localization takes considerable time and money.
You also don’t want to waste your effort by finding later that your clientele already prefers a rival or doesn’t even have the means to buy your product.
Our advice is to build a simple market positioning plan before you plunge into time-consuming localisation. Detailed analysis for your target markets and competition should be done first carefully to figure out how your product blends into the current business environment. From there, decide how you can build a specific market place to distinguish yourself.
What Should I Prepare Before Starting Product Localization?
There are two important but often ignored steps that need to be taken before you can start localizing. The first is the internationalization of your goods. It facilitates localization at a technical level and should be an integral part of the product creation process. The aim is to isolate the source code from any localizable elements, making it much simpler and faster to adapt your software to a new market.
The second step is to grasp all the local laws and legal criteria of your current target market. Consider recruiting a local legal professional who will advise and educate you on matters such as terms of service, privacy and data security. Even if this will increase the localization costs in advance, it will save you the legal penalties that you will have to face for breaking local law.
How Will I Manage the Localization Process?
If you’re thinking of handling your location with spreadsheets and emails, then we need to alert you. A manual method leaves a lot of space for error, will eventually take more manpower, and will easily frustrate the team. Investing in the right translation management method will help take the headache out of product localization.
With localization tools, you can simplify your localization workflow and achieve better translation efficiency, quicker time-to-market and more transparency. Overall, the localization project will run much more smoothly, and your team will thank you for that.
Choosing the right tool, however, is not a simple job. Look for interactive features combined with a user-friendly interface that helps the team to work together and collaborate in real time. In addition, the framework should be cloud-based, versatile and scalable in order to evolve with your requirements. Ideally, it will also interact with the current workflows and resources via an API.
Does culture affect my work?
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