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Startup companies rarely (if ever) develop with the idea of “thinking small.” In today’s fast-moving and dynamic market, startup companies have the ability to grow and thrive. Technology is global, and therefore many startups have their eyes on going global right away. That is a great reason to provide tips on localization for startups. Making a commitment to going global involves thinking about localization from the start!

3 TIPS ON LOCALIZATION FOR STARTUPS

Tip #1: Write Your Content with Translation in Mind

When creating content (support documentation, website copy, marketing collateral, etc.) write with translation in mind. What does this mean? Write simple. Avoid idioms and jargon. Avoid long and complex sentences. Writing content that is informative, yet easy to read, will help simplify the translation process when the time comes.

Tip #2: Make Sure Your Software is Internationalized

Internationalization means designing software applications that can be easily adapted for different languages and cultures. Think of internationalization as what enables software translation and localization. Such qualities include:

Allowing for space in the user interface (UI) to make room for text expansion

The ability to support international characters

Authoring in formats that support left to right (LTR) and right to left (RTL) languages

Tip #3: Research and Explore Your Potential New Markets

Deciding to localize is one step. The other step is determining what languages. The Internet landscape is constantly changing. According to a report by Common Sense Advisory titled “The Rise and Fall of the Top Online Languages,” translating into 14 languages will allow you to reach about 90% of the world’s total population. These languages are: Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.

It also wouldn’t hurt to get boots on the ground. Visit your target market, meet people, learn about the culture. True localization is not trust translating content, but connecting with another culture and adapting your material and content accordingly. Also, it is important to enlist people in your target market to localize your content. They will not only speak the language, use proper grammar and syntax, but they will also be aware of cultural nuances.

HOW CAN A LANGUAGE SERVICE PROVIDER (LSP) HELP WITH LOCALIZATION FOR STARTUPS?

Initially, we understand that budget and finances may be a hurdle that get in the way with localization. However, there are ways that working with an LSP can help you, long term. Here are some different ways:

Bilingual employees are free to handle their primary duties such as sales, marketing, development, etc.

You will not have to manage the translation process including different languages, resources, and time zones.

An LSP (like E-ging) has a linguist vetting process ensuring quality translations for your subject matter.

You will have a single point of contact with your LSP partner who you can go to with any requests, questions, or concerns. This helps streamline your process.

An LSP will also use translation memory tools and can use glossaries and termbases to help create efficiencies for consistency, cost savings, and turnaround time.