At the end of 2017, there is not a person within the developed world not owning a smart phone- we watch, exercise, shop, even eat with their help and thus they’ve become an integral part of each of our lives. That’s the reason why business owners and companies have realised the opportunity behind developing apps to reach those 4.8 billion mobile users– an incredible buying force.
Building an app, however, is the easy part- anyone with basic knowledge on programming can create a somewhat-satisfactory version of your vision. However, in order for your application to successfully reach new demographics and expand your customer base, mobile localization is more than necessary. By not only translating, but also localizing your mobile content, you can be certain that the product you’re offering responds to the needs of the international markets while accurately representing your brand’s ideology.
Mobile localization allows you to increase your business’ influence over international markets – Whether your app is an extension of your online business or it provides a completely different service, it is important that it responds to the requirements of the targeted international markets. What’s worth noting is that, what has worked for your business previously in terms of localization might not be a solution for your mobile app. To satisfy users from different cultures and backgrounds, you’d need to research what are the mobile trends within their market and what would make them relate to your product.
Ensuring greater visibility and engagement- successful mobile localization, whether it is for a website or an app, begins with an accurate translation into the local language- otherwise, there is the possibility that it won’t even be discovered by users. Impeccable translation is crucial for the users’ first few minutes interacting with the app- especially because 77% of them never use an app again 72 hours after installing it.

That being said, however, make sure you are putting your efforts and resources into the right markets. Market and audience research will help you determine the best geographical location within which your business will be easiest to establish and integrate within the local culture. Try looking into your competitors’ customer base and determine whether they are the people you’d also want to target with your product or service.
Provide a better user experience– a seamless and enjoyable experience using the application is much appreciated by customers, no matter from which part of the world they are. Other than making apps cater towards the needs of foreign markets and improving a brand’s visibility, localization strategies will increase your website’s operability on all types of mobile devices. Localization, however, does not only encompass the user experience within a website- it transfers to all external communications, such as press releases, blogs and social media. The idea is that, communication with the targeted audience must be seamless and cohesive, contributing to a satisfactory experience using the product.
Realising the opportunity for profit and expansion provided by foreign language markets, more and more businesses have adapted their content to cater to these global audiences. “The Impact of App Translations” study by Distomo proved that an app that is efficiently localised is downloaded 128% more countrywide.  This means that, while design and operability are crucial, an app cannot be fully optimised if it fails to overcome the language barrier. Relying on high-quality translation services will make the localisation process much more seamless and straightforward and will give you the expected results.

Today, numerous industries, from e-commerce to game developers, are experiencing significant growth within the mobile markets. With the most profitable languages in the gaming app industry being Japanese, English and Korean, more and more businesses have realised the power of mobile localization as a way to respond to the trends within a particular market. This, however, puts a responsibility on the translation and localization professionals, to ensure that a brand can be culturally integrated within a foreign market.
Being certified in almost 80 languages, at 1-StopAsia, we can be the guiding hand you need to successfully localize your business and spread your message across. Through mobile localization, you can become a part of the everyday experiences of your customers and offer a unique experience that will make your brand stand out and will facilitate a better engagement.