Even if your brand already understands the basics of localization, digital content localization comes with its own challenges. Websites, blogs, landing pages and online campaigns behave differently across markets, and each requires a strategy built for digital channels.
In this guide, we explain what digital content localization is, why it matters for visibility and search performance and how it helps global brands connect with new audiences. You’ll also learn how experienced teams approach localization in practice, the tools they rely on and real examples from VeraContent’s work with international brands.
What is digital content localization?
Digital content localization is the process of adapting content from your website or blog to a new foreign language market.
While translation is the literal conversion of text, localization converts every element of the content, not just the written word. It seeks to change the original source material to fit the new market’s language, culture, expressions and sentiments.
Localization affects every aspect of content, from the content itself, including the color palette or design, to when it is posted, all while ensuring your brand’s core message stays the same.
Usually, this process requires a native eye from someone familiar with the target market who can create integrated and effective content abroad.
“Localization is really about making sure you’re transmitting information in a way that’s understood and allowed in the target market.”
– Kyler Canastra, head of business development at VeraContent
Digital content localization, in simple terms: Digital content localization adapts online content such as websites, blogs, landing pages and campaigns to fit the language, culture, search behaviour and expectations of a specific market, while keeping the brand message consistent globally.
See also: Translation vs. localization: What’s the difference and why should you care?
Find more examples of our localization projects here.
Who needs a digital content localization strategy?
If your brand publishes digital content for audiences in more than one country, you need a digital content localization strategy.
That includes global brands, SaaS companies, e-commerce businesses and marketing teams running multilingual websites, blogs or campaigns. Any time content is meant to attract, inform or convert audiences in different markets, localization needs to be part of the process from the start, not an afterthought.
Why digital content localization matters for global growth
People connect more easily with content that feels familiar. Speaking the right language is part of that, but so is using the right terms, visuals, and references for each market.
Digital content localization helps your content show up in local search results, feel relevant to local audiences and perform better across channels. Without it, even well-written content can miss the mark or never reach the people it was created for.
5 ways digital content localization differs from traditional localization
1. Multilingual SEO requires market-specific keyword research
Multilingual SEO impacts how highly your page ranks on search results for different languages. It can quickly get complicated and technical, so we recommend working with a multilingual SEO expert or agency who can help.
2. Metadata localization affects visibility and structure
Digital content contains metadata, the tiny indicators that sort your content in your website or storage bank. This could look like category labels, titles, alt-text for images, tags or, especially in the case of multilingual websites, hreflang tags.
Metadata can and should be translated because even if the audience never sees them, they impact your site’s organization and SEO.
3. Keyword translation is not keyword localization
Keyword localization is about how people search, not how words translate. Unfortunately, keyword translation is not as easy as simply automatically translating keywords. For example, asking a machine translator to convert “wedding ring” to Spanish might give you “anillo de boda.” Seems simple enough, right? Actually, Spanish-speaking buyers are far more likely to search for “alianza” instead.
Consumers in foreign language markets might have different search habits, phrases or terms for products, and preferences for interacting with brands online, so proper international keyword research is vital to understanding foreign market users’ needs.
4. Digital content calendars must reflect local timing
Planning online content schedules is tricky enough without throwing in multiple languages or differing time zones and holidays. We recommend creating a blog editorial calendar to map out your multilingual content ahead of time.
5. Visual and UX localization matters online
Localization extends to visuals, too. After all, blog posts with images receive 94% more views than those without. Every bit of content will require finding culturally relevant images that convey the right emotion. Visual layouts can also be localized.
Regarding multilingual websites, remember that specific language markets, such as those with non-Latin alphabets or languages that read right to left, like Hebrew or Arabic, require a tailored website layout for a better user experience.
See also: Multilingual copywriting: Adapting your ads for new markets
While localizing Spanish food-tech startup Heura’s website from Spanish to Italian and English, VeraContent localized the text and food-based images according to regional preferences, all while maintaining the brand’s design and feel.
What a digital content localization strategy can do for your business
Customers want to feel understood, and the easiest way to do that is by speaking their language.
According to CSA Research, an overwhelming 60% of consumers will only make purchases in their own language, even if they speak English. Additionally, studies show that localized digital marketing content outperforms English ones in click-throughs and conversions. It all comes down to creating an optimal customer experience.
“When you’re trying to connect with an audience, it’s important to speak to them in a language that feels comfortable to them.”
– Kyler Canastra, head of business development at VeraContent
The risk of not adapting digital content to a new market is two-fold:
- You might be missing out on potential audiences who don’t speak English. Remember that while English is the most popular language online, the share of the world population that speaks English is only 16%. In fact, China has the most internet users in the world.
- If your competition is already targeting new markets with localized campaigns, you could be disadvantaged.
Even simply translating isn’t enough. By properly localizing content, you avoid potentially unsuccessful or even offensive translation mistakes.
See also: 4 bad advertising translations to learn from
Real-world digital content localization examples
Global brands know localization can break new ground and build trust with international audiences.
That’s why Mapp, a customer intelligence and marketing analytics provider, came to VeraContent to collaborate on digital content localization projects for their English, German, French and Italian customers.
Since Mapp localizes content for multiple key markets, they produce a high volume of content—and while their in-house team has broad knowledge, they still need experts for certain projects. At first, they worked with freelancers, but managing multiple creators and briefs quickly became difficult. That’s where VeraContent stepped in.
When we began working with Mapp, our solution was to create a multilingual digital content production and localization process that simplified the workflow across languages.
One specific project we worked on was the “Retail of the Future” campaign, which featured thought leadership, statistics, client testimonials and more on industry trends in an e-guide for retailers. We also created blog posts and a landing page for the campaign, which were then localized into German and Italian.
See also: Content localization: A how-to guide for global brands
VeraContent’s digital content localization process
Here’s a breakdown of the three key steps we took when taking on a new digital content localization project from Mapp.
Step 1: Strategic briefing and market alignment
First, Mapp would give us a content brief. Because of our previous partnerships, they knew we could take the brief and return with high-quality work that fit their vision. They already trusted our processes, and since we were already familiar with the brand, we could get straight to work.
“Working with VeraContent is like having someone in-house who automatically gets it. They already know Mapp’s tone of voice and how to write for our brand, so not much is required from our side.”
– Esther Lago Méndez, Partner Marketing Associate Director at Mapp
Step 2: Centralized workflows and native specialists
We streamlined the content creation process so that the team at Mapp would only need to coordinate with one point of contact—one of our project managers. Meanwhile, that project manager would look through our pool of vetted content creators and linguists to find the right fit for the project.
For our work on the “Retail of the Future” campaign, we contacted specialists familiar with each target region’s retail and e-commerce industry.
“It’s easier when you have one contact so that everybody always speaks to the same person. It helps to keep track of what’s happening.”
– Esther Lago Méndez, Partner Marketing Associate Director at Mapp
Step 3: Two-step editorial review and optimization
Once finished, our linguists turned the localized content over to our project manager, who would then send it to another linguist for review. We always use a two-step editorial process to ensure all content is accurate, effective and fits the brief.
This is also the step in our process where we typically get client feedback. All of this would be done for every piece of content—and in a faster turn-around time than their small in-house team could accomplish.
“Getting the right writers and editorial process in place from the beginning of your content production process is worthwhile because if you don’t, it could cost you more in the long run. For example, if you make mistakes and publish things that aren’t true or in line with your brand, you may suffer those consequences later on.”
– Shaheen Samavati, CEO of VeraContent
Our efforts showed results shortly after: the 2022 Retail of the Future campaign was a huge success for Mapp. The e-guide generated over 600 leads and led to 15 conversions, while the e-guide download landing page boasted an average reading time of over a minute.
To learn more about our collaboration with Mapp, check out our client story.
Digital content localization tools and technologies
Choosing the right tools is critical for scaling digital content localization without sacrificing quality. Below are the three main tool categories global brands rely on, along with practical use cases for each.
Tool type #1: Machine translation and CAT tools
If you’ve ever used an online translator, you’re familiar with machine translation tools. These copy/paste tools allow you to quickly convert text to another language, which is always useful when you need a quick and easy translation. Google Translate, DeepL, and Bing Microsoft Translator are the most popular.
Meanwhile, CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools can drastically speed up localization processes by remembering phrases, automatically updating websites and handling large volumes of translated content. For CAT Tools, over 80% of companies use SDL Trade Studios, but we at VeraContent use Phrase (formerly Memsource).
“Automation will save you a lot of time, and it’s not that big of a financial investment. It’s worth looking at how you can incorporate some of these tools, even for those working with small-scale content production.”
– Shaheen Samavati, CEO at VeraContent
Explore both of these tools (and the pros and cons of each option) in our article on machine translation tools that are better than ChatGPT.
Tool type #2: Website localization and management platforms
This can include:
- Quality assurance tools like Verifika or ApSIC Xbench check translated content for typos and mistakes. Most CAT tools have some QA functionality, but experts swear by QA tools’ superiority in the localization process.
- Translation management systems (TMSs) are highly useful in optimizing your localization process. They can organize language translation, store glossaries of commonly-used terms, and assist localization workflows for project managers—or automatically translate content with a machine translation tool before a round of reviews by human eyes. Plunet BusinessManager or Lokalise are popular options.
- For websites running on WordPress, plugins like Polylang or TranslatePress can cut down unnecessary complexity on a multilingual website.
Many more tools can help your brand consistently and effectively localize digital content. Which one is right for you? We recommend trying out several kinds to find what works best for your team and goals.
“We have a separate translation solution for each type of marketing: for user interface we have one, for blogs we have another one, for user communication we usually use a third vendor or freelancer. And also, let’s not forget about design.”
– Galyna Margolin, localization team lead at Payoneer
See our article on the top 8 localization tools to optimize your digital content for more tools like bug trackers, SEO tools and image optimization software.
Tool type #3: Human-led localization services
Machine translation tools, management systems and automated software are invaluable to the localization process—but localizing digital content is still tricky.
To truly nail localization, you need a human eye. The best localization services do use the right AI tools, but don’t rely on algorithms to localize content. Instead, they use native linguists familiar with the language and target audience.
Get started with digital content localization
If you’re looking for a structured, scalable way to manage digital content localization, VeraContent can help. We work as an extension of your team, combining local expertise with clear workflows and proven tools.
To learn more about how we can help, request a Free Content Consultation today. You can also kick-start the process by downloading our free worksheet on adapting your content to local markets below.
