Sunday, October 06, 2013

English is not the only language! The fact is that most Internet users are non-native English speakers. According to figures published by Internet World Stats, only 27.5 percent of Internet users designated English as their primary language in 2010. Localising, translating your content into language suitable for the local market,  your content can have significant advantages.

The figures reported by Internet World Stats indicate that the majority of Internet users are more comfortable with languages other than English.

Growth. The number of Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish language users on the Internet is rapidly outpacing the number of English language users. The graph below shows the explosive percentage growth of Internet users by language from 2000 to 2011.

Looking into the future, more content on the Internet will be written in languages other than English as the number of non-English-speaking Internet users increases. The Engco Model of Language Forecasting listed the following as the top languages on the Internet:

While 2050 may seem far in the future, the trend is clear: languages other than English, such as Hindi and Chinese, will one day take the lead in having the largest number of Internet users.

Internet users are most comfortable in their native languages. Having your website and other materials translated into your potential customers’ native language will help them to better understand your company and the messages you want to convey.

A localised website generates “site stickiness”, as potential customers will want to spend more time on a website in which information is presented in their own language. With website localisation and user-friendly marketing strategies, you can create unprecedented growth in your web traffic and have the opportunity to communicate with millions of local residents who will have the potential of becoming your loyal customers.

Website localisation also significantly enhances your company’s profile by presenting the image of your company as a truly international venture. Localisation provides a dynamic way of showing that you understand the values and respect the culture of that particular region or country. Website localisation provides a very effective approach to communicating with local audiences in order to create new markets for products and services, and to become a major player in the international market.

Stay ahead of the competition; localisation of your website, marketing materials, and communications makes sound economic sense.

Written by:
Karen Hodgson, CEO of Translationz