Without mobile app localization, you’re leaving business growth on the table. If your mobile applications cater to a US audience, you’ll have a maximum of around 300 million potential users. But if you look outside these borders, there are whopping 4.8 billion users worldwide.
Based on these numbers, you’d be missing out on just shy of 94% of the global mobile app market. But you can’t simply target these users with your existing mobile app without any modifications because around 40% of internet users never buy from websites that aren’t in their native language. Assuming the same for mobile apps, that’s 40% of downloads you’re never going to get, and it’s likely to be higher if your competition has already localized their offering.
It’s not all doom and gloom though! in this article, you’ll learn more about mobile app localization and how it’s done so that you too can reap its benefits.
First, let’s learn a bit more about what mobile app localization is.
What is Mobile App Localization?
Mobile app localization involves modifying certain aspects of your application to better fit with its intended audience. For example, a mobile game company may change their characters based on the region they target so that the audience connects with them better.
Of course, it’s also essential to change the language of your mobile app if people in the region aren’t native speakers of the original content language. But localization goes further than the simple translation of words. Localizers will also tweak the content so that it makes more sense depending on the context where the text is used.
Mobile app localizers reflect on many aspects that could affect how the audience receives the localized app. These aspects include cultural sensitivities, language-specific formatting, local slang, imagery, and even legal requirements. If any of these factors aren’t localized correctly, it could lead to the underperformance of your mobile app.
Above all, the goal of mobile app localizers is to tweak and modify your app so that it could pass as a locally created one. This local aspect builds trust, rapport, and comfort with your end-users leading to greater engagement and customer happiness which means more growth for your business.
What Does Mobile App Localization Involve?
Mobile app localization should involve several steps if you want an authentic app for your new audience. These steps involve content analysis, internationalization, project brief creation, and quality control checks.
Here are the four critical aspects of successful app localization in more detail:
Content Analysis
Since mobile app localization involves many different parts, it’s essential to plan for your project. By starting with content analysis, your mobile app localizers will be better prepared for successful localization. You’ll also have a better idea of the expected completion date so you can begin preparing for launch.
During the content analysis, your mobile app developers will note every piece of content that requires modification, so no detail is missed. Some of these details include local measurements, potentially sensitive material, the user interface, and more.
Mobile App Internationalization (i18n)
Internationalization (i18n) is the next step of the process, and it’s all about making future localization projects as simple as possible. This step involves separating your mobile app source code from any aspects that require localization. By separating your code, you’ll have a reusable code framework for each new audience.
An essential step of i18n is using variables in as many places as possible to avoid the need for manual changes with every new project. You’ll also need to ensure that your mobile app user interface is flexible and automatically accommodates texts in various languages. After all, you wouldn’t want your users’ first experiences to be full of glitches and out-of-place content!
Project Brief for the Mobile App Localization Process
So that your mobile apps localizers have a better idea of what you require, you must give them a project brief. The project brief should contain all the big-picture statements about the mobile app, such as the overall tone, messaging, and desired theme.
You’ll also want to address any individual pieces of content that are particularly important for the mobile app—for example, introductions or help manuals.
If there are any particular words that your app developers may struggle to (or shouldn’t) modify, you should add them into a glossary. This glossary will give them a clear idea of how you want certain words used. For example, you may want to keep trademarked words the same no matter where your mobile app is localized for.
Quality Control (QC) Before App Downloads
QC is crucial for ensuring the success of the localization project. These checks are used in critical points throughout the localization process. They catch errors before they cause roadblocks later down the track. Overall, QC checks prevent incorrectly localized aspects from influencing later localization decisions.
In the mobile apps localization process, there should be three key QC checks. These checks should occur after all language localizations, once imagery and text are combined. And as a final check, make sure that the mobile app functions as it should or does not cause notable issues, such as draining the battery or creating duplicate data.
Above all, you should never skip the QC check part of the mobile app localization process. They ensure that the end-user will have the best experience with your mobile application. In addition to that, many companies may consider employing microservices as their preferred software development method, which offers various advantages to the developers.
Take Advantage of a Global Market with Mobile App Localization
The potential market for your mobile application could grow exponentially if professionals localize it. Here at Day Translations, we specialize in getting mobile applications ready for new audiences through our proprietary localization process.
Incorporating as many region-specific features into your mobile app as possible will give you the best chance for success. That’s why we’ll ensure that your mobile app looks and feels just like it was created locally. After all, most people prefer to use mobile applications that fit their cultures, beliefs, values, and preferences.
Ready to grow your audience and deliver your mobile application to new audiences?
Then get in contact with us on 1-800-969-6853 or through live chat. Get a free mobile app localization quote in no time.