Gone are the days where people need to buy and download software to their system. Now, people only need to subscribe to Software as a Service (SaaS) applications to get what they need. It is also very convenient to use. The demands for these apps have significantly increased and people all over the world have started using them for various reasons.
To meet the demands, developers are starting to market their SaaS applications globally through localization. But, what are the steps that you should do before localizing your app? We will talk about that in this article, and we’ll also explain the importance of localization for SaaS apps.
Importance of localization services for SaaS Application
SaaS is more than just a website or application. It is a product that provides all the needs of its users with informational content and visuals for a better user experience. Thus, if a company is planning to extend its reach to the global audience, it is essential to localize its SaaS apps first. With localization, the website can offer flexibility and compatibility to all its users worldwide.
Although English is widely used around the world, it also sets a limitation to multilingual users. To reach other nations, it is important to adapt your content and software to their languages for better accessibility. Adapting its website to the culture, preferences, and trends of its target audience can increase its visibility to its target audiences.
However, it is important to choose reliable localization services that can help conquer new international markets with professional language and content solutions. They will be the key members of your localization team. Thus, it is logical to invest time and money in finding the ideal one for your software.
Things to do before localizing your SaaS App
However, localization is a complicated task that requires a lot of research and preparations before you do it. You need to hire professionals who offer expertise in your field and can translate your content accurately in multiple languages. Here are some of the steps that you must do before localizing your SaaS application.
Choose the right locales
It would be impractical to translate your website to 6,500 languages spoken around the world. If you are planning to localize your SaaS app, you must first identify your target market or where your product will sell. After identifying the locations, know the common languages that they use and just choose five to seven languages for starters. You must also consider the capability of the countries to speak English.
For example, when targeting countries like France, Japan, Korea, and German, it is important to localize your website to their languages. However, in countries such as Australia, Netherlands, Singapore, and Philippines, maintaining your page in English is fine.
Conduct market research
After identifying your target locales, it is now time to conduct market research. Search about their local culture and trends, potential customers, and your competitors. Note your advantages and disadvantages against your competitors to find the best marketing strategy to implement. Aside from that, here are some of the questions that you must answer in your research:
- Do the services you offer are compatible with the culture of your target market?
- What are the changes that you should do on your website to make it more appealing to locals?
- What is the right approach to convey your messages to your target audience?
- Are there any issues, terms, symbols, and actions that you should avoid?
By answering these questions, planning your localization strategy will be more convenient. You can also increase the effectiveness of your plan to earn more revenue.
Create a plan for the structure of the screen
Depending on the language, the length of the words, sizes of the characters, and the white spaces between the letters may vary. For example, the world localization in Japanese would be “ローカリゼーション” which has larger characters and more white spaces in between. To avoid the awkward positioning of the words, make sure to plan the structure of the menu and labels on your screen.
Communicate with your translators
For better translation results, let your translators know about the intentions and requirements that you need for the project. Inform them about the tone and style of your brand’s voice and provide a glossary of terminology and access to your products. By including them in your plans and giving them proper briefings, you can expect a faster turnaround and fewer edits.
If you are aiming for a convenient and smooth process, it is ideal to hire seasoned translators with years of experience in software product localization.
Invest in localization software
As your SaaS product continues to grow and expand, you may need continuous localization in every upgrade and website change. To make the process cost-efficient, invest in localization software that can cover your needs in the long run. They can make your translator’s job more efficient and faster.
Conclusion
Localization is a vital process that developers must take when expanding their reach to the global market. However, they must ensure the readiness of their company before translating and launching their websites in other countries. This is where preparations such as market research, finding native translators, and planning every step takes place. After doing the things mentioned above, you are now ready to start your localization strategy.