Translating your website into Spanish
Web translation or website localization is the process of taking your website content and translating it into other languages. Companies do this (translating your website into Spanish) in order to reach the global market. This includes translating your website textual content, audio and video files and even customer notifications.
Definitions
Website translation and website localization are often used interchangeably but they are quite different. The first is the linguistic word for word conversion into other languages. The latter involves other technical aspects such as
- text optimization to reflect local customers phrases,
- inclusion of cultural elements like
- local currency,
- holidays and
- time formats.
All these factors culminate into offering your local markets that personalized and immersive customer experience.
A Hispanic or Latino according to the office of management and budget is described as a person of Mexican, South or Central American, Cuban, Puerto Rican origin, or any person of other Spanish-speaking culture regardless of race.
According to the 2019 Hispanics in the US Fast Facts by CNN Library, the Hispanic community makes up 18.1% of the total population of the United States, a total of 58.9 million Hispanics. This figure represents 1% growth compared to 2017 figures. Hispanics are the second largest ethnic group and the largest minority in the United States. According to the 2015 Census Bureau projection, the Hispanics in the United States would grow to comprise about 28.6% of the nation’s total population.
Translating websites – why you should do it
If you have tried Web translation and web localization, you would agree that as interesting as they sound it is not easy to achieve. If properly done, however, it has an undoubted potential opportunities for both startups and firmly established businesses. With globalization all around us, businesses within their national markets are limiting their opportunities greatly. Research has proven it that customers are most likely to buy from a website in their localized languages.
TRANSLATING WEBSITES INTO SPANISH – THE BUSINESS CASE
These projections show that any business translating web content into Spanish will have access to the Hispanic population customer base. It will subsequently increase its business opportunities. Amazon for instance decided to go down this route and started translating its website into Spanish. That way Hispanics based in the United States can access their products and services in a language they’re more comfortable with. Most Hispanics living in the US have a sound understanding of the English language. But content in Spanish undoubtedly builds customer trust between the Amazon brand and its customers.
TRANSLATING WEBSITES INTO SPANISH – THE TECHNICAL SIDE
Web translation is increasingly more of a technical process than a linguistic one. It involves choosing a good Content Management System that supports your original language and also translated versions. Understanding feedback and comments from clients is crucial to creating a good customer experience.
