Ever wonder whether you should expand your products and services into a new country? For small businesses, the answer is probably no. But for large enterprises, I’m sure this thought has crossed their minds a few times. That’s why we developed this checklist to guide you to the correct answer. Be ready to analyze your competition, market opportunities, and global demand.
Your Three Localization Questions
Question |
Determinant |
Are you facing stiff competition? |
If you’ve been competing with the same players day in and day out, it’s probably time for something new. They know what you’ve been up to and can quickly counter your marketing efforts. It’s a zero-sum game in the long run, which is great for customers but costly for businesses. When faced with this scenario, consider expanding your market. If your competitors are domestic-focused, you may have an edge in competing globally. Localize your business in new markets to gain the first-mover advantage. |
Are there market opportunities for your product or service in another market? |
This sounds like common sense, but it’s not easily known. To answer this question, you need insights from customers who may not even speak English. Therefore, a good localization partner is key in helping you uncover the answer. In addition, understanding culture and customer habits is essential for building a successful localization plan. You’ll be able to meet customers where they are, understand their pain points, and deliver hyper-targeted messaging to them. |
Is demand for your product and service growing on a global scale? |
If yes, localization is definitely the answer! |
As you consider localization, don’t forget that certain English phrases, idioms, and assets don’t translate well into other languages. A good translation partner will not overlook these details and will leverage localization and transcreation to address them, preserving the intent of your language across different languages.
The Bottom Line / TLDR
If you’ve answered yes to the three questions above, then localization is right for your business! In need of a sanity check for your current localization efforts, or want to explore localization? Contact us for a free consultation! We’ve helped our business partners localize their product and service offerings across 35+ countries!
