{"id":8637,"date":"2016-06-09T14:20:21","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T12:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phraseapp.com\/blog\/?p=482"},"modified":"2023-03-10T12:35:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T11:35:08","slug":"localization-isnt-just-about-translation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/","title":{"rendered":"Localization vs Translation: The Difference Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_6409f34cd0ca9\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The likely most fundamental challenge to <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/global-expansion\/\">global expansion<\/a> is breaking down the language barrier. In response to it, more and more companies are hastily putting translation and localization at the top of their agendas. However, shortly after setting out on their global journey, most of them end up realizing that both processes, although similar, aren\u2019t one and the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As much as <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/translation\/\">translation<\/a> matters, rolling out a global product isn\u2019t only about transferring an application, website, or marketing assets from one language to another. Instead, making a product accessible to people across cultures means adapting it to cultural differences, linguistic specificities, purchasing habits, legal requirements, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be more specific:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Translation<\/strong> renders a message from one language into another.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Localization<\/strong> adapts a translated message to the local context of the recipient.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This one big difference makes translation a key part of localization. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both processes are mutually reinforcing and linked under the umbrella of <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/globalization\/\">globalization<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to realize and appreciate the difference behind the pair of localization vs translation can have serious consequences for anyone looking to expand the global footprint of their business. To help you get a better understanding of it, this guide will walk you through the ins and outs of both translation and localization.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Overview<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#translation-and-localization-whats-the-difference\" title=\"Translation and localization: What\u2019s the difference?\">Translation and localization: What\u2019s the difference?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#slang-idioms-colloquialisms\" title=\"Slang, idioms, colloquialisms\">Slang, idioms, colloquialisms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#slogans\" title=\"Slogans\">Slogans<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#symbols-icons-and-colors\" title=\"Symbols, icons, and colors\">Symbols, icons, and colors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#imagery\" title=\"Imagery\">Imagery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#text-length-and-direction\" title=\"Text length and direction\">Text length and direction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#currency-number-date-and-time-formats\" title=\"Currency, number, date, and time formats\">Currency, number, date, and time formats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#legal-requirements\" title=\"Legal requirements\">Legal requirements<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#translation-vs-localization-which-should-i-choose\" title=\"Translation vs localization: Which should I choose?\">Translation vs localization: Which should I choose?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#when-you-might-be-better-off-with-good-old-translation\" title=\"When you might be better off with good old translation\">When you might be better off with good old translation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#when-you-might-need-localization\" title=\"When you might need localization\">When you might need localization<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#how-does-localization-work\" title=\"How does localization work?\">How does localization work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#software-localization\" title=\"Software localization\">Software localization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#website-localization\" title=\"Website localization\">Website localization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#game-localization\" title=\"Game localization\">Game localization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#marketing-localization\" title=\"Marketing localization\">Marketing localization<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-isnt-just-about-translation\/#complementing-not-competing\" title=\"Complementing, not competing\">Complementing, not competing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"translation-and-localization-whats-the-difference\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Translation and localization: What\u2019s the difference?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we\u2019ve briefly touched on above, the main difference between translation and localization is that translation only covers language transfer while localization also involves adapting everything from content and visuals to user experience and layout to a specific market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some examples of what you need to take into account during localization to make your product work for users in their local context.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"slang-idioms-colloquialisms\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slang, idioms, colloquialisms<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slang words carry much more than just the concepts they describe. They often reveal a lot about the speaker\u2019s social background, age, and even mood. Simply replacing them with their dictionary equivalents might not only sound unnatural but also fail to deliver the message as intended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine a brand whose entire messaging is based around American youth slang. Directly translating funny little words such as \u201con fleek\u201d or \u201clit\u201d into other languages would be a surefire way to lose the company\u2019s target audience in other markets. Instead, you need to carefully research the local equivalents of such words and expressions to make sure your message still hits home.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"slogans\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slogans<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slogans are another great example of how localization can go beyond translation. A slogan that works in one market might not only sound odd but also be completely meaningless in another. This is because slogans often rely on wordplay, puns, or other linguistic specificities that don\u2019t translate well (or at all).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take \u201cI\u2019m loving it.\u201d The non-standard grammar of this iconic McDonald\u2019s slogan would be completely lost in languages where \u201cpresent continuous\u201d is not a thing. If it meant and sounded just the same as \u201cI love it,\u201d it would be nowhere near as effective.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"symbols-icons-and-colors\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symbols, icons, and colors<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colors are often loaded with cultural meanings that don\u2019t necessarily translate well to other cultures. For example, white is the color of purity in Western cultures but death and mourning in Eastern ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same goes for symbols and icons: The common Western sign for \u201cokay\u201d (\ud83d\udc4c)has a vulgar meaning in Arabic cultures. An even more amazing example, the \u201cslightly smiling\u201d emoji (\ud83d\ude42) is actually a sign of disbelief in China.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"imagery\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagery<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Images are another highly culturally influenced element. A picture that works in one market might not only look odd but also be completely meaningless in another. This is because images often rely on cultural specificities that don\u2019t translate well (or at all).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the picture of a Christmas tree on a Christmas card would be lost in cultures where Christmas is not a thing. Depending on the context, it might even be seen as offensive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"text-length-and-direction\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Text length and direction<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization also involves technical aspects that go beyond translation. For example, text length and direction are two things that need consideration when localizing a website or an application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some languages, such as German, are much longer than English. So if your designer\u2019s approach is to cram as much text as possible into every nook and cranny of the UI, you might end up with too little space for the translated text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same goes for text direction: Right-to-left languages such as Arabic or Hebrew need to be taken into account when designing the UI. This means, first of all, that you should internationalize libraries, fonts, and tools that support them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"currency-number-date-and-time-formats\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currency, number, date, and time formats<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another technical aspect of localization that goes beyond translation is currency, number, date, and time formats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different countries use different currencies, so you need to make sure your product or service can handle them all. The same goes for date formats: In the US, people write dates in M\/DD\/YYYY format\u2014e.g. 3\/14\/2015\u2014while in most other countries, DD\/MM\/YYYY is the norm\u2014e.g. 14\/03\/2015.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The list goes on for time formats and even phone numbers, so if you\u2019re planning to expand your business globally, make sure your product is able to handle all the different formats.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"legal-requirements\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal requirements<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last but not least, there are also legal requirements that can differ from one market to another and which you need to consider during localization. For example, different countries have different laws and regulations regarding terms and conditions, privacy policies, cookies, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the European Union, for example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/policies\/data-protection\/data-protection-regulation\/\">General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/a> requires companies to get explicit consent from users before collecting, using, or sharing their personal data. This means that if you\u2019re planning to expand your business to the EU, you need to make sure your product or service complies with GDPR.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"translation-vs-localization-which-should-i-choose\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Translation vs localization: Which should I choose?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, with the difference between translation and localization explained, you might be wondering: Which one should I choose?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer is: It depends on your needs. If you\u2019re looking to simply transfer the meaning of your content from one language to another, then translation is probably all you need. If you want to adapt your content to a specific market, then localization is the way to go.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"when-you-might-be-better-off-with-good-old-translation\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you might be better off with good old translation<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some examples of text types where translation is normally enough:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">User manuals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical documents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical specifications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training manuals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientific journals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, any content that includes universally valid information and that doesn\u2019t require any cultural adaptation will do just fine with &#8220;just&#8221; translation. Don&#8217;t take this assertion as playing down the importance of translation\u2014<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-translator\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">translation is one of the most challenging professions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out there.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"when-you-might-need-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you might need localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some examples of content and other types of assets where localization is often necessary:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Web or mobile apps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing websites or campaigns (e.g. ads, social media posts)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brand names and slogans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Packaging and labels<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, for any content that is at least slightly related to marketing your product or service in another cultural context and in a foreign language, localization is the way to go.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having said that, it&#8217;s worth pointing out that managing a localization project isn&#8217; just a side task for your marketing team. It\u2019s a complex process that requires careful planning, coordination, execution, and, in most cases, a dedicated, full-time <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-localization-manager\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization manager<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_cda840fbd7293b77d53f8cc8b232a4a9\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image image--align-middle\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1700\" height=\"2200\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"Localization best practice ebook cover | Phrase\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png 1700w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1187x1536.png 1187w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1583x2048.png 1583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"subhead\">Free download<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6\">Best practices for developing effective localization strategies<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Explore how to tackle localization management efficiently and engage customers across the globe in their native languages and local experiences.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/resources\/localization-best-practices\/\">Download ebook<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_640b0bca87260\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-does-localization-work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does localization work?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We could\u2014and actually did\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">write an entire article on <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/how-important-is-localization-for-your-business\/\">how localization works<\/a>. Still, for the sake of brevity, we\u2019ll just give you a quick overview here, depending on the kind of localization you\u2019re after:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"software-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/solutions\/software-localization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of adapting a software application to a specific market. This includes adapting the UI, splash screens, in-app tooltips, and all user-facing content, such as error messages or help documentation, to the target market\u2014all while making sure that the software still functions as intended.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"website-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Website localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers in a foreign market. This is why it\u2019s essential to make sure that they go past your homepage and stay on your site long enough to learn more about your product or service. <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/solutions\/website-localization\/\">Website localization<\/a> helps you do just that by adapting your website\u2019s content, design, and user experience to the specific needs of your target market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"game-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Game localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Few audiences are as demanding as gamers, and few things are as hard to localize as video games. Slang, humor, succinct cultural references\u2014all of these make <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/solutions\/game-localization\/\">game localization<\/a> a pinnacle of the craft.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the process here is similar to the one you\u2019ll have for software localization, it makes sense to add \u201cdamage control\u201d steps such as beta testing with a select group of gamers or setting up a local community management team to handle feedback and complaints.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"marketing-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/optimize-marketing-localization-process\/\">Marketing localization<\/a> stands apart from the other types of localization because it\u2019s not really about translating content. It\u2019s about adapting your whole marketing strategy to a specific market, and that means understanding the local culture, customs, and trends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, marketing localization will require copywriting to create new content from scratch or a deep rework of your existing material in a process known as<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/transcreation-marketing-across-cultures\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> transcreation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This makes it the only example of localization where translation might not be involved at all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever scenario best describes your needs, the most effective way to manage both translation and localization for global expansion is to use cloud-based <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/\">translation software<\/a>. <\/span>A translation management system, for example, eliminates manual and repetitive translation tasks through smart automation and can fully manage the flow of multilingual content from submission to publishing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"complementing-not-competing\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complementing, not competing<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Localization and translation are two different things, but they\u2019re not mutually exclusive. In fact, localization is impossible without translation, while the best translations entail at least some adapting of the content to the target audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, localization and translation are 2 complementary processes that work together to help you reach your global audience. From adapting your marketing strategy to local trends to translating pages and pages of user documentation, both localization and translation are essential to your global success, and the latter is a key part of the former.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_9c211924f2b06e0561396c9221601533\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"h4\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Speak with an expert<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Want to learn how our solutions can help you unlock global opportunity? We\u2019d be happy to show you around the Phrase Localization Platform and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/demo\/\">Book a call<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Translation and localization are often confused to be the same. Learn the one big difference between both terms and how best to use them to drive global growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":1238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"class_list":["post-8637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-localization-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8637"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8637"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89411,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8637\/revisions\/89411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}