Demystifying Software Options for Website Localization Projects

With the ever-growing use and popularity of the internet for many consumer needs, the importance of making a good first online impression is a necessity.

A company’s website is the first impression for many consumers in new markets, and that’s why it’s so important to localize content properly. Localizing content is more than simple translation. It ensures the content meets each country’s cultural and linguistic standards to create a natural-feeling user experience for the consumer. The first step in localizing content is choosing the body option for website software localization that fits your company’s needs.  

Three Options for Website Software Localization

One of the first decisions companies make when beginning their localization strategy is between using a proxy service or translating their content. The three main options below have various pros and cons that companies should weigh based on how it will work with their websites architecture as well as their marketing needs:  

1. Proxy Services

Website proxy services don’t translate content but instead, use a mask to deliver it. They add a layer of translation over the pre-existing homepage and create a temporary URL for anyone that accesses it in a foreign market to translate the content for them.  

Proxy services offer effortless initial setup and low initial investment costs since they don’t require an extended start-up time and can begin masking content to translate it right away. They can also work with any content management system and don’t require any architectural change for your site to run correctly.  

The downside to proxy services includes incurring steep long-term costs as their prices increase with growing site traffic. It also makes it impossible to easily switch to a different translation service since they don’t translate content and use temporary links. Content translation would have to start over if you decided to leave the proxy service.

Another con is that proxy services cannot incorporate SEO strategy for new markets because Google does not recognize the mask as a domain. In conclusion, overall proxy services offer a short-term gain with instant translation for a long-term financial and company scaling loss.  

2. Plug-Ins

Plug-ins allow you to translate your content by using their automated translation services or incorporating manual translations. They give your translated content a new domain while keeping your website pages intact, so you’re able to increase your SEO growth.  

One of the most popular is WordPress which works like most plug-ins by granting the translation features but leaving all framework strategies and management up to the company. Others like Adobe Experience Manager have the framework built-in for companies to adhere to translate material.  

Although plug-ins give more autonomy than proxy services, they still have their drawbacks. For instance, plug-ins without a framework require companies to expend countless hours and labor for project management to ensure everything runs smoothly for current and future translations. They also need a lot of file engineering to turn translated files into usable ones as their XLF files don’t work with most translation software.

On the other hand, plug-ins like Adobe can feel more restrictive to some companies because their framework isn’t flexible.  

3. Localization Management Platforms

Translation agencies partner with companies to create a strategy and translate content for them. They include the most notable website translation features like translation memories, glossaries, assignment automation, etc.

They also incorporate SEO plans to ensure its benefits aren’t lost in translation and assist with review processes. They are usually the best option for companies looking to scale their growth and simplify future translations.   However, working with an honest agency is essential, as some will be expensive due to hidden and increasing costs for future translation jobs.

Translation agencies also require more initial work and content management strategy to make sure everything runs smoothly. Unlike proxy services, localization management platforms require short-term loss with initial start-up fees and workload for long-term gain with company growth and easier future translations.  Choosing either option requires knowing your company’s long-term goals and selecting an option that best suits you.  

Get More Convenience from Website Software Localization

Using a localization management platform that’s transparent about its costs and adaptable to your vision can simplify the hassle of localizing content for new markets. At Bureau Works, we deliver end-to-end strategy and results to help you manage localizing content and assisting in whatever way works best for you. We respect how different companies choose to work and provide a framework and content management assistance for the systems you use. We also enable companies to manage the entire process in-house. You get the freedom of knowing exactly how the process is advancing and the ease of using the tools and features that simplify the process the most.