App localization is a necessity in recent times, considering the growing need of business expansion. As mobile app developers set their eyes on global market for expansion, it is imperative to inspect the factors that determine how to choose the languages for your mobile app localization.
A common misconception among the companies aiming to expand beyond their current markets is that English is the only language they should localize into. This misconception stems from the fact that everyone speaks English these days. Hence, it is easy to believe that apps in English will be downloaded the most. In reality, only 17% of the world population speaks English. This means that almost 83% of the global population will be unable to download and use mobile apps that are originally in English language.
Knowing which languages are the top ones for mobile app localization will allow you to select the best mobile app localization services for your app. Here is a look at some factors that allow you to choose the language for localizing your mobile app.
Factors to Consider for Choosing a Language for Mobile App Localization
A professional software localization company is responsible for localizing your softwares and apps for the target markets in multiple languages. These agencies hold expertise in localization as they have ample knowledge of the target markets and their preferences. Nevertheless, these are some factors that you should consider before stepping out of your current markets for greener pastures:
- The target audience
One of the first things that a mobile app developing company should gauge for choosing a language is the target market. For example, you own an app in English and want to localize it for Asian market. Here, you will have to define who are your top customers. Is it the Southeast Asians, with a substantial population base? If so, you may want to choose languages such as Hindi, Urdu, or Chinese to localize your app into. Likewise, if you want to develop a mobile app for aid of refugees, African countries can prove to be a good starting point for you.
- Revenue shares
If you are a mobile app developer operating in multiple markets, you may know that the markets with the highest number of downloads necessarily do not generate the highest revenue. A mobile app localization company can assist you in understanding which markets may be the most profitable ones for your app. Although it may seem tempting for you to translate your app in a language owing to its high market share, it may not be the right approach for localization. The market you are planning to localize into may be big. But it is unlikely that you will generate high revenue, you may want to re-consider localizing in the language of that region. For example, you may want to localize your mobile app in German, but the revenue share from this region is less as compared to that of the United States.
- Localization Technology
The technology that you use for localizing your mobile app plays a major role in determining which languages you should choose. When using the services of professional software localization companies, be sure to inspect what translation technology they are employing. Machine translation is best for those language pairs that are hard to localize into. For example, you may want to choose machine translation for translating into Chinese or Japanese. This is because these languages are written in characters. On the other hand, AI may also benefit you in choosing languages for the Asian region.
- Choice of translation company
The choice of translation company is also an important factor in choosing a language for your app. If you wish to enter a new, unexplored territory, using the services of a foreign-based mobile app localization services may be beneficial for you. Conversely, you may plan to expand into your current market by introducing new languages to localize into. In this case, employing a localization service agency in your own region may be your best choice. For example, suppose your mobile app is present in Chinese Mandarin. You can use the services of a local translation agency that translates into Cantonese.
- Culture and regulatory environment
Some countries and regions are harder to expand into, simply because of the strict regulatory environment. The Middle Eastern countries, for example, have a horde of regulations that may make it tougher to localize into. The choice of whether to enter in that market with Arabic app or your original English app may be tough. To adhere to the regulations, you may want to localize into the region. You can do this by using services of professional software localization companies that provide Arabic translation services.
The culture of a country also determines the choice of language you wat to localize into. Asia is a hotbed of cultures with a myriad of cultures and languages. If you wish to expand into Asian market, you will need to employ an expert mobile localization service company that knows the most beneficial Asian languages to localize into.
Conclusion
In this age of advancement, choosing a language to localize your mobile app into may be tough. But with the right translation partner, you can be assured of localizing your mobile app for greater revenue and profit.
