Website Translation and Localization Services

Localization is the process of adapting your website to a new market. Translation is one step in this process. Other website localization service steps include adapting content and visuals to the cultural context and conventions of your target market including elements such as measurements, currencies, screen captures, date formats, URLs, and legal notices. Video localization is another step that may be added if your site features videos that you want to subtitle or dub in the target market language.

As of 2023, around 5.4 billion people use the internet, according to ITU. That’s 67% of the world’s population! If you’re ready to reach new markets, consider translating your website into the eighth most used languages on the internet: English, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Italian and French. This will connect your company with 80% of global online purchasing power.Using website localization services is an essential step in your international development. It will help boost your company’s visibility internationally by incorporating SEO optimization and improving your site’s conversion rate. If the content is adapted to the user’s language AND the culture, they will be more inclined to buy your products or contact you. This is backed by CSA Research findings: 75% of consumers say they’re more likely to buy products on e-commerce sites available in their native language and 92% prefer buying from sites that show prices in their local currency.

We work in a wide variety of Content Management Systems (CMS), including WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Typo3, Magento, and more. Our web engineers are good at finding solutions to make your life easier even if it seems too complicated to export text from your website or reimport it after localization.

We translate and localize a wide range of content, including highly creative online advertising, dynamic web shops, email campaigns, forums, app strings, videos, social media content and more.

.HTM, .HTML (HyperText Markup Language): standard language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser..PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor): widely used scripting language especially suited for web development, can be embedded into HTML..CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): language used to describe how HTML elements are to be displayed including layout, colors, and fonts..XML (eXtensible Markup Language): language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in both human and machine-readable format. Plays important role in many different IT systems and is often used for distributing data over the internet..XLIFF (XML Localization Interchange File Format): standard format for multilingual data exchange in the localization industry..JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): lightweight data-interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write and easy for machines to parse and generate. Commonly used to transfer data, used by number of APIs, servers, databases..CSV (Comma Separated Value): plain text file format that uses a comma to separate values. These files are often used for exchanging data between different applications and platforms..POT (Portable Object Theme), .PO (Portable Object), .MO (Machine Object): list of all the text used in WordPress plugin/theme files.RTF (Rich Text Format): legacy document format for cross-platform document interchange. Most word processors can read and write RTF files.

ITC Global has a team of localization engineers ready to help localize all your content. Before we do anything else, we’ll evaluate your needs so we can offer the best solution possible. Here are some questions we might ask you:What CMS was used to create your site? Does it support multilingual functionality and workflows?If it’s a custom system, can data be exported and reimported?Do the products and services you offer differ from one market to another?Do you have a multilingual SEO strategy?Besides text, are there any other types of content to be localized, such as graphics, videos, documentation, etc.?Is your source site finished and ready to be analyzed?

Make sure your website architecture and content creation process are ready to go global. For example, does your CMS support multilingual functionality and workflows? See the next question for details.Provide original Photoshop or Illustrator files for your graphics to eliminate the cost of converting other file types into editable files.Keep globalization in mind when creating content, including text, videos and apps. Here’s an example of why this matters: Text expansion or contraction has a big impact on design when localizing web app interfaces, site navigation, menus, buttons and other elements. If you’re translating from English into other Indo-European languages like French, text can expand by up to 35%. Conversely, if you’re translating from English into Sino-Tibetan languages like Mandarin, text may contract up to 55%. The photo below shows an example of text expansion on a button.

In recent years, content management systems (CMS) have deployed multilingual, multisite capabilities to address the growing needs of global businesses. These systems are flexible and powerful. Examples include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla! or TYPO3. Many CMS support export/import of content as an XLIFF file which translators can work within their CAT tools regardless of original format. You typically need to add a plugin to export XLIFF files. (plugins are also called “extensions” or “modules.”)WordPress: WPML and similar WordPress plugins like Polylang allow XLIFF export/importTYPO3: Using the TYPO3 L10N Manager extension allows to easily import/export files in XML formatJoomla!: Free jDiction plugin allows exporting and importing content as an XLIFF filesDrupal: tmgmt is a free module for Drupal that allows export and import of XLIFF filesSome CMS allow integration with TMS systems like Phrase – eliminates the need to export/import files manually.

Content extraction made easy: We coordinate with your web design agency or access your content management system directly to retrieve the content you need translated.Detailed content analysis: We always have you confirm the content extracted from your website before sending it to our linguists.Expert linguists: We assign your project to linguists who cater to the specific requirements of your industry. They translate exclusively into their native language and are experts in your field.Language localization: Not only do we translate your content, but we also localize it for the target countries. We adapt currencies, measurements, date formats, cultural references and much more.Premium-quality service: A second linguist reviews the work to ensure your strategic content is high quality and upholds your brand image.Agile process for reintegrating translated content: We will adapt to your tools and the way you work, from total automation to manual imports.Functional testing and linguistic sign-off: After content is reimported, you decide how you want to handle functional testing and linguistic sign-off: it can be performed by us, you or your web agency.Update automation: We handle the translation of any new content on your website after the initial translation phase.