Multilingual web development consultancy
Many developers have lots of experience in building sites for their local markets, but few are properly versed in the art (and science) of multilingual web development. For instance, it’s still relatively common to see websites with multilingual capabilities using query strings to present language alternatives, rather than the best-practice approaches of using subfolders, subdomains, or even targeted country-code top level domains (ccTLDs).
We have experience in providing website development consultancy to ensure that your multilingual site achieves success in your target overseas territories.
SEO
Simply translating your content into your target audience’s native language is not enough to achieve success in global markets. Your company needs to gain exposure on local search engines. Over 50% of global website traffic comes from search engines. For the most part, customers begin to research their online purchases by entering relevant search queries into search engines.
In order to achieve high rankings on the world’s major search engines, you need to ensure that your website is search engine optimised (SEO). A number of website elements can have a major influence its ability to rank high on global search engines, some of which are explained below.
Domain selection
The domain name you decide to assign to your localised website can have a huge impact on success.
If your business is already a successful brand, it makes sense to expand abroad using the same brand name and to incorporate this into your chosen domain name. However, just because your brand is successful in domestic markets using a specific brand and domain name, this does not mean that this will automatically translate to success abroad.
You can avoid a potential marketing disaster by ensuring that your brand and domain names will be well received internationally. This can be achieved by simply contacting native language speakers and conducting market research within the target country.
Failure to address potential issues that may arise from poor brand or domain name selection risks sabotaging your website localisation project before you’ve even had a chance to deliver your message to the target audience.
For brands that have not yet decided on their site localisation approach to different markets, we can offer consultancy services, which include helping your brand select the best approach to domain name selection and geographical positioning.
Website usability consultancy
Even if you are successful in your domain selection, technical web development, and SEO, you may still have issues appealing to users in your target market due to issues with your site’s usability which could decrease conversion rates.
User interface conventions can vary drastically from culture to culture. Even colour represents different things in different countries. For example, red may translate to danger in the US, but it means happiness in China, and beauty in Russia.
Being aware of your local audience is vital to improving your web usability. TOPPAN Digital Language has the cultural experts required to make your website intuitive for the international market.
CMS integration
Once you’ve decided on your site localisation approach, you’re going to want to be able to prepare your content for translation and deliver it to us in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible. Our secure API allows you to integrate your content management system (CMS) with our translation management system, STREAM, allowing you to select the content that requires translation, receive a quote, and deliver the content for translation at the click of a button.
Contact us for more information about TranslateMedia, or to organise a digital asset translation.
About TOPPAN Digital Language
Since our foundation in 2004, TOPPAN Digital Language has evolved to become a leading provider of translations, and has enjoyed global expansion due to the efficient and specialist service that we provide. We work for several reputable clients who operate within a wide range of industries, and provide them with our translation management expertise and network of dedicated linguists.
To cater for the diversity of our clients, TOPPAN Digital Language recruits specialist teams of language experts covering areas such as Life Sciences, Automotive, Retail, Travel, Technology and E-commerce.
Our professional language services have been independently audited and awarded the ISO 17100 and IS09001 certificates, which is reflective of the quality standards that we maintain throughout the company. In 2010, TOPPAN Digital Language were ranked 9th in the Deloitte Fast 500 for EMEA 2010, coming first in the media sector.
TOPPAN Digital Language is also a member of the Association of Translation Companies in the UK, and the American Translations Association.
For more information about TOPPAN Digital Language or to organise a translation of online materials, contact us.
If you are new to website localisation and would like to place it in the wider context of your digital marketing capabilities, please refer to our guide on website localization strategy.
We provide website translation in over 250 languages including:
It is highly recommended that you use a professional Arabic translation agency to translate your website content into Arabic. Arabic is a complex language and as a right-to-left language, sometimes causes issues with designs that are based on left-to-right languages such as English, French or German. Plus the Arabic language is a double-width (or double-byte) language which means that each character takes up twice as much space. For this reason, titles and meta descriptions often have to be transcreated to ensure that they meet the correct length requirements as advised by Google and other global search engines.
Chinese website translation requires local, native translators and a sophisticated project management process to ensure quality. Chinese, like Arabic, is a complicated language and you’ll need to decide whether to present your website content in simplified Chinese or Mandarin (or traditional Chinese). Furthermore, you’ll need to pay attention to the colour palette you select in your design as Chinese visitors have radically different perceptions of colour. For instance, while red denotes danger in the west (and on websites, often relates to errors), in China it corresponds symbolises good fortune and joy. Also, Chinese SEO is very different from SEO for western markets, not least of all because Baidu is the dominant search engine in China rather than Google.
French is one of the most widely translated languages and one that is a common choice for UK companies who are thinking of entering new markets in Europe. Our native French translators are professional linguists who can deliver your translation in Standard French, Canadian French, Swiss French or, if you choose, African French dialects too. We have significant experience in French SEO and paid search translation services, offering our clients a bespoke service that includes not only French website translation, but transcreation, copywriting and keyword research to ensure high levels of engagement from your French web marketing.
With the ever-increasing amount of business being done abroad, German website translation services are one of the many options a company may choose to enhance their global presence. If you’re looking to market your brand to an international audience, we can help you ensure that your clients are getting the right message. We can provide German marketing translations of websites, emails, brochures and leaflets to create interesting and effective communications.
Brands can no longer ignore the Russian market and if your brand wants to target high net worth individuals – particularly if you’re a luxury brand – then you should really be localising your website content into Russian. Russians are big spenders online and brands that successfully translate their content into Russian can reap the rewards of increase online engagement, conversion, revenue and ultimately, profits. We offer a professional Russian website translation service that is second to none, hiring the best in-country Russian translators with deep understandings of local cultures and customs. Our team has experience in Russian SEO and increasing rankings on Yandex through the effective use of Russian keyword research and
Spanish is the second most widely spoken language globally and one that is a popular choice for brands that are attempting to enter not only the Spanish market, but Latin America and the USA. The growth of the Hispanic community in the United States has meant that many brands, even household names in the US, are looking to localised Spanish content to boost their engagement and conversion rates and ultimately their bottom lines. We offer a bespoke professional Spanish website translation service with a focus on providing our clients with the best in-country native translators regardless of whether they are targeting the USA, Mexico or Peru.
