Start ups need to have their eyes on the global prize from the very beginning.
Anything less is to compromise on the massive potential that exists out in the big, wide world for any business start up.
Localization and translation of content, platforms, marketing collateral and the like should not be an after-thought for any start up – it needs to be part of the master plan from the start.
Far from being a daunting task that adds hours to your work load, research has actually shown that startups which decide to operate overseas really don’t face any more challenges than new companies that focus solely on business at home.
In short, international expansion is not that difficult anymore and the benefits far out way any initial investment.
Here’s 5 key reasons we believe a start up business should consider when deliberating on localization, translation or internationalization of their content, platform, service or solution.
1.Localization Reaches More People
Start ups need to begin life with a bang! Getting your brand out there in front of lots of people is essential. Adopting localization at the heart of your strategy means you are automatically going to be seen and heard by many more people than, for example, just those that speak English or are from your own country. Using global languages such as Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Swahili and others keeps the number of languages down yet maximizes your global coverage.
2. Localization Saves Money
Compare the investment for a good localization and translation strategy against another growth option for a start up and it is evident that the localization route saves you money. Today the costs for translations are a lot more competitive than even 5 years and on top of that as an industry we provide better quality and at faster speeds.
3. Localization Sees Quicker Results
The time is takes to see real results in terms of developing brand awareness, a sales pipeline, social media activity, etc is relatively quick, even sometimes instantaneous. It is not uncommon for start ups to suddenly find success in a far flung corner of the globe they had not expected – the reason being that their product/service is perfect for that market. Had localization not been used they would never have known of its potential.
4. Localization Takes Less Work
Implementing growth plans takes resources. Hiring in new people, resourcing, funding and managing them as well as their workloads, suppliers, etc all adds to the complexities of running a business. This is something most start ups want to avoid. Outsourcing the localization work to a reliable partner gets rids of all the pain, hassle and investment needed and helps the stakeholders focus on the enjoying the process and guiding it to a successful outcome.
5. Localization Beats the Competition
One way to start, be and stay competitive is to be a ‘global start up’. Having an international brand automatically puts you ahead of some of your competition leaving you, and possibly a few others, to reap the benefits of business both at home and abroad. Localization, especially one that is well thought out and reflects the goals and values of the start up, can really make a difference in terms of that special differentiation from competitors.
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