Your Surefire Business Localization Strategy in Three Steps

Don't undervalue the importance of localization to the success of your business or allow its implementation to fall victim to trial and error. Instead, create a localization strategy as early as possible and consider it a requirement that deserves executive-level attention rather than a low-level afterthought. Having a well-thought-out strategy in place before executing can optimize localization costs and ROI and help you avoid launch delays. At Bureau Works, we've witnessed all the possible mistakes, so we understand the importance of guiding your efforts with our 3-step expert business localization strategy.  

Benefitting From the Right Business Localization Strategy

Localization can be a broad and time-consuming process that n includes translating content directly related to your product and business communications, marketing content, media libraries, etc. It consists of any content a consumer uses to learn about your product and engage it efficiently. Understanding the depth of this and giving your business localization strategy the due diligence it deserves can help you reap the following benefits:  

Optimize Cost

Businesses enter new markets intending to increase their consumer base and sales. The benefits can be lost if cost control measures aren't considered initially. Not taking the necessary time to think about the localization process before implementing it or rushing it can lead to costly errors requiring extensive file engineering and could have been easily avoided if considered beforehand. These errors can delay market launches and subsequent sales from new consumers or deter new customers from purchasing your product. A localization strategy can help you stay within a budget and easily pivot when implementing it to avoid expensive errors or delays. The more you think about the process, the better your chances of receiving exponential returns.  

Streamline Launch

Many different departments and opinions are involved in localizing your business’s content and launching it in a new market. It can become overwhelming to handle these moving parts with old-fashioned or poorly executed workflows. Creating a business localization strategy allows you to align the wants and needs of all departments involved and ensure everyone is on the same page before beginning the process. Doing this gives your business a chance to develop a strategy that can include all necessary ideas and tackle any foreseeable problems to prevent lengthy delays in the long run.  

Improve Scalability

You will find it much easier to enter new markets if your localization strategy is strong from the start. You would’ve done your homework and dealt with all the possible issues that could arise, so you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect when you begin the process. The more you repeat this process, the more predictable and streamlined it becomes, giving you room to evolve and improve for even faster launches. Taking the necessary time to begin discussing localization efforts early on will allow your business to enter any new market efficiently and economically.  

Three Steps for a Successful Business Localization Strategy

Your business can gain a stronger following of individuals in the underserved markets by expanding into new markets and eliminating the wide range of competition. You should consider these three localization strategy steps before entering any market:  

Step 1: Assess the Scope of Your Project

Beginning a localization strategy should always start with determining what content should be translated and what languages you want to translate it to. Will you localize customer support pages? Do you have email campaigns that should be included? Do you have manuals or other e-books that need to be translated? Understanding what all will be involved in your localization project can give you a much better insight into the cost and any current issues that would need to be fixed so they don’t hinder the project.

Step 2: Understand the Operational Legwork

Once you realize the scope of your project, you can have a better understanding of what will be demanded from your content’s architecture. You can choose the best options that will help streamline the process and keep you from requiring extensive file engineering or reinventing the process with each new language. It will also allow you to utilize more efficient workflows and even automate processes to reduce time to markets in the future.  

Step 3: Find the Best Translation Partner

Localization is an extremely complicated process that involves a lot of moving parts. It’s crucial to select the best partner to help you get the job done. But you must understand your localization goals and current content management process first to have a better idea of what you need in a partner. This understanding allows you to choose one based on compatibility rather than agency size or brand popularity. Certain agencies may provide excellent linguists, but they may not understand how to utilize the tools you use to manage the translation process. On the other hand, you can find technically compatible providers with subpar translation accuracy or content expertise. Finding a partner that fits your needs is the only way to ensure a seamless process.  “True North needs to be established before you set sail.” People without localization experience need help to set the right course. At Bureau Works, we have a wide breadth of experience using the best practices for successful business localization practices without compromising your business goals and being transparent with our workflow. We can help you better understand your target market and the efforts needed to resonate with new consumers.