Food delivery? There is a mobile app for it. What about online banking? There's also an app for it. Your smartphone will likely have the task or information you're looking for, from leisure and education to transportation and business.
Users have never been more "hungry" for material in their native language, with 255 billion mobile apps downloaded to connected devices worldwide in 2022. If you want to reach as many users as possible, language and culture should not hinder them from using your software.
App localization is a critical component that can increase your mobile app's global coverage, download rates, and income numbers. App localization is a complicated process with numerous steps that necessitate a solid plan and sturdy technology.
Does localization have an impact on user reviews? The answer is straightforward: yes. Indeed, up to 16.11% of user reviews involve localization somehow.
Positive user reviews and high ratings increase an app's exposure and build trust in new customers. However, winning these honors requires more than simply a fantastic product. App localization is critical in defining the user experience, influencing ratings, and propelling app success.
Working with a dependable language partner, such as professional mobile application localization services or a native-speaking language specialist, can significantly speed up the localization process.
Why Should You Localize Your App?
The process of adjusting your software and its app store listing to appeal to multiple geographic target markets is known as app localization. It's a must if you want to take your mobile app global.
While English is commonly regarded as a universal language that fosters communication among diverse original languages, research indicates that people prefer content in their language.
For firms with worldwide goals, app translation is a no-brainer. There are billions of app users worldwide who cannot be reached by an unlocalized app - localization allows you to target app users in every country worldwide and optimize your app's exposure and coverage.
Some of the Advantages of App Localization include:
- Exploring new markets: The key to app market expansion is app localization. Consider Airbnb—the company that began in its founders' apartment is now present in over 220 countries worldwide, with a market capitalization of $75 billion.
- Increasing app engagement: Users like content tailored to their interests and needs. It significantly affects user experience and can help you increase engagement and loyalty.
- Increasing app downloads and visibility: According to research, app store descriptions written in the local language can boost app downloads by up to 38%.
- Increasing sales: Investing in localization implies that your market share grows considerably with each country you enter, as do your revenue sources.
The Effect on User Ratings and Reviews
User reviews and ratings are important metrics that directly impact an app's success. Here's how app localization affects these factors:
- Improved User Experience: Users are more likely to have a favorable experience when accessing an app in their favorite language. They can easily comprehend directions, information, and features, decreasing irritation.
- Favorable User Feedback: Users are likely to submit favorable reviews if they believe an app respects their language and culture. They value the time and effort invested in localization, which can result in positive feedback.
3. Less Negative Feedback: Poor localization, on the other hand, might result in negative feedback. Users may meet language challenges, misread instructions, or encounter cultural insensitivity, which might negatively impact their experience.
- Higher Ratings: Apps that promote localization obtain higher ratings. When an app meets their language and cultural needs, users are more likely to rate it positively.
- Increased Visibility: Positive ratings and reviews increase an app's visibility in app stores. As a result, it appears more frequently in search results and recommendations, garnering a wider user base.
Best Practices For App Localization
1. Begin With the Most Often Used Online Languages
To maximize the reach of your app, start with the most widely spoken languages online. English, Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, and Arabic are the most widely spoken languages. However, your target language selection should also be consistent with the objective of your app and likely user demographics. Investigate your target audience's language preferences to ensure you prioritize the most impactful languages.
2. Make a Plan
Localization is not a one-time activity; it necessitates a well-planned strategy. Make a detailed roadmap outlining the necessary processes, timeframes, and responsibilities involved in the process.
3. Adhere to the Platform Guidelines
Each software platform (iOS, Android, etc.) has localization guidelines. Following these principles will ensure uniformity and compatibility across various platforms and devices. Follow recommended practices for string externalization and use the platform's localization frameworks to speed up the process.
4. Make Translatable Content Available Outside of Code
Avoid hardcoding text directly into the code of your program. Instead, externalize all translatable content into resource files, such as user interface text. This allows for easy translation management and updates without requiring code changes. Use string resource files for different languages to enable easy replacement during localization.
5. Plan for Text Expansion During the Design Phase
Text expansion is a common issue encountered during app localization. Text in one language may demand more space than text in another, resulting in layout difficulties. To address this, design the user experience of your program with text expansion in mind. Allow for longer translations without jeopardizing the user experience.
6. Plan Out Your Continuous Localization Strategy
Localization is a continual effort, especially as updates and new features are added to your software. Accept ongoing localization to handle future changes efficiently. Install a translation management system (TMS) that allows for seamless cooperation with translators, automates workflows, and tracks version control.
7. Run the App Through its Paces with Native Speakers
Thorough testing with native speakers is essential to ensuring translation quality and accuracy. Cultural nuances, language-specific errors, and localization flaws that would otherwise go unreported can be identified by native speakers. Conduct usability testing to determine how effectively the localized app connects with the intended audience.
8. Accept Localization
Accept localization as a necessary component of the software development process, not an afterthought. To ensure a smoother and more effective process, incorporate localization efforts from the project's outset. Engage your development staff, designers, and marketers so that they can appreciate the significance of catering to a worldwide audience. While extensive localization is advantageous, it may not be essential for every project. Analyze the content and features of your app to assess the extent of localization required.
Conclusion
App localization is no longer an afterthought in today's global app market; it is a strategic need. Its influence on user reviews and ratings cannot be overstated. With the help of app localization services, app localization increases user satisfaction. It encourages positive feedback and higher ratings by giving users a personalized, culturally relevant experience worldwide. As the app market expands and diversifies, speaking your users' language through successful localization is critical to standing out, gaining trust, and attaining app success. Finally, it's a win-win situation for developers and consumers, resulting in a more connected and user-friendly digital world.
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