Mobile App Localization: A Guide to Successful Globalization

Mobile apps have become an important part of daily life for many people. These apps are available in many different languages and can help people from all over the world communicate and access information. However, not every region has access to the same number of mobile apps. Developing app localization guidelines can help increase the number of apps available to regional populations.

Global apps are much larger than local ones because they need to include support for various languages and cultures. Basically, global apps should be more inclusive and should focus on providing a general sense of use instead of being localized specifically for each region's dialects and customs. Some examples of global apps include social media sites like Facebook, email accounts, and phone directories- everyone uses these regardless of their region or language. Apps that promote cultural awareness and understanding should also be localized globally. You also need to be aware of the Reasons your business should invest in app localisation

Never rely on machine translation alone.

Machine translation is only one piece of an overall communication strategy. Your content needs to be polished, your images must be edited, and your landing pages must be designed. Once these steps have been completed, your website’s content and formatting need to be validated by a third party. Only when all the pieces work in harmony can you expect your website’s visitors to engage with your content.

Always test the accuracy of your translations with a human translator. This is the best way to ensure that machine translation is not over-egging the pudding. You can also manually check for mistakes using a grammar checker or a human editor. We need to be aware of the App Localisation Mistakes to Avoid to deliver the best translation.

Improve your language skills, learn how to use a dictionary, and practice speaking and writing in your target language. You can also try listening to podcasts and watching YouTube videos about your target language. Artificial intelligence is only as good as the data it’s given. If you’re not speaking or writing in your target language, you’re missing out on a lot of potential benefits.

Be aware of how the content will be perceived in other countries

Be sure to consider the context in which your content will be viewed by global audiences. For example, if your content is geared toward a North American audience, it may not be the best idea to post videos that mock the U.S. president or condone his actions. Likewise, content that glorifies or encourages violence against news media cannot be accepted as legitimate news content.

Before you start writing, ensure your content will be received well in other countries where English is not the primary language.

If you need to target a specific audience in another country, make sure your content is also relevant to them.

Use the right language for your app’s intended users and don’t be lazy about it. 

The majority of people who download your app don’t want to learn how to say a word in another language. Try to be considerate of your users and choose appropriate terminology.

Choose the right words for your users, and you will give them a better experience with your application. For example, if your goal is to sell cars, don’t talk to potential customers about how great your cars are; focus on the benefits of owning one. Similarly, if you’re developing an app to help people lose weight, don’t talk about how great your app is going to be for you tomorrow; focus on the benefits of losing weight. Similarly, if you’re making an app to help people with a certain condition, focus on that instead of what the condition is; focus on the benefits of using your application instead of the drawbacks.

Don’t limit yourself to thinking about what you want your app’s users to know and don’t limit yourself to thinking about what you know.

Do your research and find out where your audience is.

Determine where there are high concentrations of people who are interested in your topic. Engage with these communities and create content that people are likely to find helpful.

Use social media to drive awareness and create conversations with people who share your goals and interests.

Asking yourself the hard questions can help you find your audience and create content that they will want to see. You can also use this information to help you choose the right topics for your blog.

Use reputable third-party services for currency conversion and date/time display. 

While most exchanges will have a conversion rate prominently displayed, a better option is to use a website like LocalCpn where you can enter your bank account number and the site will transfer the amount from your account to the exchange’s. You can then view the exchange rate on your bank’s app and make a quick purchase or transfer from your exchange account.

Avoid sites that display the current exchange rate, rather choose a real-time rate that displays the current market value of your money.

Keep in mind that the best rates will vary on a per-country basis.

Don’t assume that the same color that worked in your home country will work in all other countries. 

It’s best to find out what colors work best in your country and stick to that. There are exceptions of course, but for the most part, it’s best to avoid the color red when selling abroad. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use red in your home country, it just means that you have to be careful with how you do it.

Wrapping up

Mobile app localization service is an expensive undertaking as it is. It's going to be far worse if you do not have the right localization partner in your corner, to take care of both the big and small details.

With the right approach, localization can be an enormous asset to your company. If you are looking for a way to drive growth in your product and to reach a broader audience faster, localization from the Professional Translation Services providrers will certainly help. You may struggle with maintaining consistency across various cultures, but that is the price you must pay if you want to reach millions of new users and make your app truly global.