Website Localization
August 27, 2008 by 
cindy
Last updated14 September 2008
You can start your international business development with an International Website.
You can also start with a localized website.
And you can transition from an International Website, targeting several or all countries, to a Localized Website, or several Localized Websites, targeting one specific country at a time.
To create a localized website you will need to know about each of the specific international markets for each of your localized websites.
A localized website brings you closer to your foreign clients. It makes it easier for you to culturally target your communication to different foreign markets.
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• How many languages should you translate your website into?
• What are the current trends? • Why should you think about translating your website? • Why do you need to translate your website? Read more about why you should plan on translating your website into several languages. |
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• Will a localized website get you more international clients?
• How does a localized website help your international business? • Is it worth investing in a localized website? • When should you invest in a localized website Read how a localized website can get you more international business. |
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• What are the extra benefits of a localized website?
• What can you do if you want to find out how to innovate your products? • How can a localized website help you to identify opportunities? Read how a localized website brings you closer to your international clients. |
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• How does a localized website fit into your international business development plan?
• Is a localized website a good transition to international business? • What is a key element to successful international business? Read how website localization can be part of your international plan. |
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• So how do you go about creating a localized website?
• What are the key steps to creating a localized website? Read about your options here. |
Website Internationalization
Still hesitating about whether Website Localization is right for you? Read more on Website Internationalization.
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Website Internationalization |
Foreign Search Engine Submissions
Read more on why you should submit your website to foreign search engines and how to go about doing it yourself.
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Foreign Search Engine Submissions |
Don’t Miss The Whole Story
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This is part of the Get International Clients Business Guide 2 Plan Your International Sales Road Map Be sure to check out the other elements you need to plan your international sales strategy |
| 3.2 |
Website Internationalization Guide
August 16, 2008 by cindy
Last updated 30 August 2008
This is part of the Get International Clients Business Guide 2 - Plan Your International Sales Road Map. A direct link is at the end of this guide.
Internationalizing your website is the first step in opening your online business for international business development.
Website internationalization takes your current website, the one you have for your domestic market, and adds small touches to make it appealing to international visitors as well as your domestic visitors.
There are two main reasons to internationalize your website:
- Your website may be pushing foreign visitors away
- Successful international business development leads to localized websites, and localized websites are much easier to create if you have an internationalized website
An internationalized website communicates well with all of your audiences: domestic and international.
The 7 Steps To Internationalize Your Website
Here are the 7 steps to internationalize your website:
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Internationalize Your Website 1 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 2 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 3 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 4 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 5 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 6 - |
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Internationalize Your Website 7 - |
More On Website Internationalization
Here are some other articles on website internationalization:
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What Is An International Website? |
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What Is An Internationalized Website? |
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How Fast Can You Internationalize A Website? |
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How To Organize
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Is Your Website Sabotaging
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What Website Do You Need
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Prepare For International Markets |
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Website Internationalization
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Website Design
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Consistency For
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Internationalize Your Website
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How To Use
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Next Step After Website Internationalization - Website Localization → NEW!
After website internationalization, the next logical step is what is referred to as Website Localization. Website localization usually refers to a website with a country specific URL and is targeted to one country. This is a big step. There are two other options for businesses not yet ready to take this step. You can read about these other two options here:
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How To Organize Country
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Website Localization
Do you already have some specific market information from at least one foreign country? Read more about Website Localization.
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Website Localization |
Foreign Search Engine Submissions
Read more on why you should submit your website to foreign search engines and how to go about doing it yourself.
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Foreign Search Engine Submissions |
Don’t Miss The Whole Story
|
This is part of the Get International Clients Business Guide 2 Plan Your International Sales Road Map Be sure to check out the other elements you need to plan your international sales strategy |
| 2.5 |
How To Organize Country Specific Content On Your Website
June 23, 2008 by cindy
When you first start marketing to different countries you need to organize your information on your website. How do you go about doing that? If you have a website you will naturally have questions buzzing around your head about search engine results. You don’t want to lose any of your Search Engine Optimization efforts.
In the very beginning you have two choices to prepare for international business development. You can decide to start with
- A separate English language International website
- Internationalizing your current website
This is just preparation. Internationalizing your website can even be compared to doing a little housekeeping. It simply cleans up your website.
The next step after this is to create country specific content for your international audience. Once you create country specific content, what do you do with it? Read more
What Website Do You Need To Open For International Business
June 9, 2008 by cindy
Last Updated 17 August 2008
There are many basic sales principals for your domestic market that also apply to your international markets. These principals can help you when planning for your international business expansion.
Your website is an important platform for your business communication. Ideally it is designed to communicate effectively with your market. It is designed to do something specific for your business in your domestic market.
So what happens when you want to open your business up to other markets in other cultures?
Your communication will change.
But what about its platform…your website? Read more
How Quickly Do You Need To Get A Globalized Website?
May 29, 2008 by cindy
I’ve had quite a few questions lately on how to move towards a globalized website.
And the marketer in me responds my looking at their current business and what they are marketing.
Knowledge Helps You Save
It is important for any online business with a desire for international expansion to know what is involved in website globalization.
Why?
There are things you can do today, no matter how many international sales you currently have, that will help you save time and money later when you actually need to move towards website localization and website globalization.
This is why website globalization is such a buzz word. Read more
4 Ideas To Get Your Website International
March 21, 2008 by cindy
Website Localization
You have finally decided to take the plunge and make the web design changes necessary to go after more international sales. Your important web pages are ready to be created in the local language, you have looked at the aspects of the culture that are different from your own, and you need to cover the last little items.
Here are 5 web design ideas that you should follow: Read more
4 Ideas To Get Your Website Visible In A Foreign Country
March 20, 2008 by cindy
Website Localization
You have finally decided to take the plunge and work on making your website more visible so you can go after more international sales.
Your main web pages are ready for the foreign market you are targeting. You have looked at the differences in culture and adjusted your communication. And now you are ready for your foreign target market to see your website.
Here are 4 ideas to get more international visibility: Read more
Localization Is A Door To Innovation
February 18, 2008 by cindy
I am always amazed at stories of product innovations when companies develop their international markets. These stories are inspiring. And when they are stories in countries I’m not familiar with they often completely take me off guard.
In his book “Redefining Global Strategy”, Copyright 2007, from Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, Pankaj Ghemawat, gives a few examples of how everyday products were changed to adapt to local market demands in India:
- Detergent bars for people to wash their clothes by hand.
- Toothpaste made to be used with fingers instead of toothbrushes
- A bar of soap with one side coated in plastic so it would take longer to wear down
- A special shampoo and hair oil product
Hearing about such stories gives us all valuable insights into the cultural differences in our foreign markets. It makes us realize that other cultures have basic needs and desires different to our own. Other people live very differently than we do.
How can we use the inspiration from these stories in our own business? Read more
Localize Your Website To Transition To A Global Market Internet Business
January 29, 2008 by cindy
This article is the second part of a series - Transition To A Global Market Internet Business. Read the other two parts here:
1 - Internationalize Your Website
3 - Culturally Customize Your Communication
International Development With Internet Marketing In Three Easy Steps
Once you have your main website open for international business.
If your website is actually speaking to foreign visitors and not alienating them, then it is time to take your next step in developing a global market presence.
All of your marketing efforts should be aimed at determining where you need to sign up for a localized website. Read more
How To Localize Your Website
January 14, 2008 by cindy
Companies often adopt a progressive approach to localization. In part due to the time it takes to translate the website, the investment in translation, and also to refine the local marketing strategies.
In this case, the company will localize the website before translating all of the web content. Local users respond well to this if they have something in their local language and you show them clearly where to go to find further information. The key is to keep the links open to the more detailed information during the transition and to label them clearly and appropriately for the native user.
For your localized website to communicate well you need a certain depth of content. As translation costs are expensive and time consuming, companies often prefer to take this transition slowly, to adopt their website as closely as their website templates allow them to the local markets. Read more
