What do McDonald’s, Apple, and Adidas have in common? These are amongst the most well-known brands in the world. Their presence isn’t restricted to one geographical area and people everywhere will recognize the brands just by their logo. But how have these brands made a name for themselves on the global scale? A sure-shot way to do so is through content localization where content is created to appeal to the local audiences in various countries.

5-step strategy for successful content localization

If you aim to take your brand worldwide, you need to have thorough content localization up your sleeves to reach target audiences worldwide. It must include tapping into the cultural, historical and linguistic preferences of various markets. Here are a few tips to make people all around the world associate with your brand:

1. Conduct market research on your local audience

Before localizing content, you need to understand the audience in and around the region you’re targeting at. Learn more about their culture, habits, behaviors, pain points, and needs. Doing so will help you connect with them in a way that they feel most comfortable in. Brands that don’t do this will forever damage their reputation and will have to take an exit even before setting up operations.

2. Become active on social media platforms

As more people use the internet, it’s helpful to have your brand active on various platforms because you never know which audience might reach you. You could also branch out across different regions to cater to the audience there. You can tailor your content as per their preferences and get good online exposure. For example, Vogue (a fashion and lifestyle magazine) has successfully localized its content through Vogue USA, British Vogue, Vogue India, Vogue Italia, and more.

3. User translation methods

Language will always be an important communication element in your localization strategy for different markets. Therefore, it’s better to have proper translation systems in place so that your marketing messages reach different audiences loud and clear. It’s also wise to include native speakers and market experts on your marketing team as they’ll help you develop accurate content for the people in a specific region.

4. Consider nuances and county-specific feedback

A symbol or a color may mean two different things in two different countries. The format of writing a date or the driving side of a car can also be different and this can impact your marketing efforts. It’s better to showcase your products and/or services in local measurements. Use media to gather feedback from your audiences and take them seriously while developing your products.

5. Consistently update your localization methods

Content localization isn’t a one-time task but will keep evolving as per market trends. Continue learning about your audience’s preferences to offer the best user experience. Personalize experiences, revamp old content, communicate in real-time with consumer queries, and carry on with content localization efforts to make loyal customers of your brand in various countries.

Key takeaway

Content localization isn’t easy, especially when brands are deeply rooted in one country with its own culture and preferences. But, if you want to take your brand to the next level—content localization is a must and highly rewarding too! Let us, the Storytailors team help you expand your business globally through content.