Many organizations use localization software to improve the quality of the content on apps, websites, video games, and other digital platforms. You might not be sure if you should invest in L10n software, though. Let's examine the reasons for adopting the localization model and using software to accomplish your goals.

Search Engine Optimization

Modern search engines tend to connect users with the most local results possible. You can pull out your phone right now and search for "seafood restaurants," for example. The search engine will provide results for restaurants in your immediate area as long as your phone has location services turned on.

Localization tells a search engine where your content belongs in the world. For example, English has many localized variants. A search engine will quantify whether a website uses English and if it uses American, British, Canadian, or Australian English.

Suppose a sneaker company is building a global brand. It might elect to create localized websites for Japan, the U.S., China, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Ideally, the search engine will recognize that each version represents a distinct regional division of the business and send searchers to the appropriate site.

Connecting With Users

You want users to feel like your organization connects with them. However, you'll have a much easier time connecting with users if they feel they don't have to make the extra effort to communicate with your operation. If they log into an app and the content uses highly localized language, idioms, cultural norms, and even imagery, they're much more likely to feel warmly toward your brand.

Employing Localization Software

The idea behind L10n software is to develop a corpus of localized content. Whenever you or one of your employees creates localized content, the software will track how it performs. You can then narrow in on producing content that mirrors whatever performs well for a particular region.

Likewise, you can use localization software to hand out assignments to team members. Suppose you have an American English version of a product main web page. Using the software, you can assign jobs for localizing for other languages and even different versions of English. A Canadian company, for example, might have an English page ready to go and need to assign a French version to connect with users in Quebec.

Notably, team members can refer to data in the L10n software. Someone adapting a fantasy RPG's text for the Chinese market, for example, might check what the database says about taboos and cultural norms. This can help a company to avoid offending or confusing users.