Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the whole world understands English. Despite it being one of the most spoken languages in the world, a vast population gravitates towards Chinese, French, and Spanish, just to name a few examples. Therefore, you might be wondering if your website, which currently caters primarily to English-speaking users, is getting the attention it deserves. That will lead you to question if you need to consider content translation to increase your site’s reach and relevance.
How to Increase Your Site’s Traffic With Content Translation
Despite the fact that only a quarter of the world’s population speaks English, the majority of websites present content in that language. As you can see, site owners can only benefit from a multilingual site. It’s only natural for an audience to prefer consuming content in their native tongue. Companies such as GoTranscript are in the best position to fill the gap.
Focus on Your Audience
Your audience is the reason your website exists – always remember that. So, consider where they come from. You may benefit from focusing on the most spoken languages, such as Chinese, Spanish, and French. However, if you find that a big portion of your visitors come from Indonesia and Malaysia, consider translating your website into Malay. Google Analytics is a crucial resource to delve into user demographics.
Before you rush into the translation process, keep in mind that you should never compromise quality. You must understand that translation is a long-term goal. Focusing on one language at a time is a much better strategy than going all in at once.
Do Not Depend on Machine Translation
Shortcuts are fantastic, but not when it comes to translation. Even if you’re operating with a tight budget and timeline, you should steer clear away from automated translation tools. They may be great for everyday speech – think ordering food and greeting the locals – but don’t bring the quality and accuracy you need for a professional website.
Professional text translation services that operate with international human resources have a leg up. They may charge more for their work, but at the end of the day, the extra costs are worth it. Only native people understand the intricate nuances of their language. They know how to present your points accurately so that your content sells.
Opt for Trustworthy Translation Services
Now that you understand the benefits of professional translation services, it’s time for you to locate a trusted company. Finding one may not be easy, considering the vast number of parties out there claiming to get the job done. You must understand the need to opt for an established vendor, one that prioritizes urgency without sacrificing quality.
Whenever you’re in doubt, take the time to read unbiased reviews. You will find them on websites such as G2 and Trustpilot. At the same time, it would help if you understood that all translation companies aren’t perfect. Some may charge very low prices but fail to deliver on time. Others may provide top-quality translations but charge an arm and a leg for them.
Make Localization a Priority
As you delve into the world of translation, you’ll notice that it isn’t as simple as making sure a sentence delivers the same meaning in another language. You’ve got to think about how the audience would interpret the content.
Even with English, people in the US and the UK communicate differently. For example, the British would have a biscuit with a cup of tea. Coincidently, Americans never call a biscuit that – a cookie is the preferred term for them.
Naturally, only people who are familiar with the local culture would be able to translate your content into their language. Therefore, ensure your translation team understands the importance of localization.
Proofread Your Content
Don’t simply upload translated content onto your website before confirming its accuracy. People and machines make mistakes, and just because you spent hundreds or thousands on a service, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to check the results.
As such, you must gather a team of bilinguals to study your translations. If the original meaning of the text remains, you then have the confidence and assurance that your intended audience will appreciate the content.
Optimize for Search Engines
Another way to gain higher traffic for your site through translation is by optimizing your content for Google and Bing. Without going into too much detail, this implies using the right keywords and updating your images’ alternate texts. Search engines rank multilingual sites higher than others, so get ready for more global traffic.
Translation Destroys All Barriers to Entry
While translating your whole website may require a considerable commitment, you can be sure that it delivers. It leads to effective business expansion and opportunity growth. However, don’t take on more than you can handle. To ease the process, get in touch with a reputable translation vendor today.