What’s the difference between translation and localisation?

Your company’s global success is related to how well you communicate in the local languages spoken by your customers.

A company that is expanding into new international markets needs its website to be available in the languages spoken by its new customers.

While simply translating a site can bring visitors and generate interest, establishing authentic connections that lead to conversations make localisation essential.

Despite the tendency to use the terms translation and localisation interchangeably, to ignore their differences is to miss out on the most effective way of optimising your site’s content to serve your international customers.

Localisation means translating a document to be used in a particular market. Localisation comprises all of the elements necessary to address the cultural and linguistic requirements of any particular country.

Translations are effective, but localisation goes beyond merely converting the language: it generates movement by using words and phrases that ensure your message is expressed correctly. 

Recognising cultural details is essential for an effective and productive localisation that will help your company to be accepted and understood in new markets.

But localisation is much more than just choosing the correct words. There are marketing professionals who personalise their multilanguage websites to feature specific holidays or to share exclusive messages. There are also special promotions for predefined markets.

When you are looking to have your company’s website translated for local markets, it is important to choose a service that will provide you with authentic and precise translations, as well as with localisations that will increase engagement.

Be sure to choose a service that can make elegant use of website localisation and translation to make sure the content is clear and effective, and fits perfectly with each of the markets in which you conduct business.