Running a small business in the modern environment is vastly different from what it used to be even a few decades back. The days of small, family-operated companies whose main market used to be the precinct it was located in are mostly gone. Nowadays, any respectable small business will inevitably expand its area of operations to a much wider region such as the city or the rest of the country, depending on their field of business, often even forming partnerships with international entities.
Because of that, it’s vital to have the company website localized for the international area it’s targeting. Relying solely on your native language to convey information is sufficient on a national market or in cases where the language is mostly the same, e.g., a US-based company opening its branch in Ireland, but it falls short of expectations if your target audience needs to switch to their non-native language.
In such situations, the numerous advantages of website localization for private industries are made evident, including easier access to local markets, increased brand recognition among the existing customers, higher client retention, and the ability to better target potential customers with on-site marketing. Explore these benefits below and help your company become an international powerhouse.
Improved Access to Local Markets
The main reason any company needs to have its website localized is that it’s targeting a new or foreign market. English is not the default language in most countries around the world, and instead of trying to reach out to potential clients with your native language alone, you should consider having the website translated into their locally spoken tongue. Not only does it make communication with your prospects easier, but it also marks you as a serious business that’s willing to go the extra mile to make sure it can reach its target audience.
If your website is targeted towards people in Brazil, for instance, having it in Portuguese will make it much easier for Brazilians to find you without doing extra research; it’s even more important when you want to reach such an unusual audience like people from Barbados. Even though English is an official language there, you will need trustworthy Barbados interpretation services providers as well as high-quality translations that might reach people in their regional languages or English-based creole.
This way, you can spread the word about your products and services among the foreign populations at large, rather than only reaching the small number of English-speaking foreigners who are already familiar with your brand due to its presence in the US marketplace.
Increased Brand Recognition Among the Existing Customers
If your company is targeting a foreign country, another vital reason to have your website localized is that it will help you build better brand recognition among the existing customers. Even if your company is already well-known among citizens of a particular country due to its presence on the international market, having a localized website can still be a great way to reinforce that image.
In addition to that, it can help you gain more trust among prospects by showing that you’re willing to put some effort into ensuring your clients can easily communicate with you and be comfortable with your services. The fact that the website is accessible in their native language will make them feel more welcome and comfortable, and as a result, they will be more likely to buy from you.
Higher Client Retention
Another benefit of having a localized website is that you can use it to keep your current clients on board. One of the main sources of revenue for any company is the number of repeat purchases from loyal customers.
If you want to maximize that, it’s crucial to ensure that your current clients are as satisfied as possible with the user experience they get when visiting your site. Having everything in their native language will definitely help – it’ll make them feel more welcome and at ease, and they’ll be more likely to return and buy from you again in the future. You might even consider having your blog posts translated.
Better Targeting Potential Customers With On-Site Marketing
The final advantage of website localization that we want to discuss here is using targeted marketing on your website. One of the most effective ways of getting new clients is through on-site marketing – any promotion work done on your website.
For example, if you’re selling clothes, you can add a page to your website where you allow your customers to subscribe to a monthly newsletter to receive all the latest offers and discounts. When they subscribe, you’ll be able to target them with more personalized ads and other types of marketing that will be relevant to their interests and needs.
Apart from that, you can regularly offer special deals and discounts or enable your customers to join a loyalty program.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – the main reasons why website localization is such a good idea for small businesses. Having your website localized lets you ensure easier and more effective communication with your target audience and make them feel more welcome and comfortable with your services.
In addition to that, having a localized website will make you seem like a serious and credible business that’s willing to go the extra mile in order to serve its clients better and make them happy. With this in mind, get in touch with your local interpretation and translation services provider and see how you can benefit from website localization. Good luck!
Hey Guys! My name is Richard Andrew. I am a contributor to the Strategy Watch. I have finished my graduation with a major in Economics. My interest areas are Economics, Financial Analysis, Stock Analysis, and Business Strategy.