{"id":374,"date":"2013-12-04T18:12:42","date_gmt":"2013-12-04T17:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.textmaster.com\/blog\/?p=374\/"},"modified":"2018-04-19T12:16:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-19T10:16:00","slug":"10-mistakes-translation-online-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.textmaster.com\/blog\/10-mistakes-translation-online-store\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Mistakes to Avoid When Translating your Online Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your online store is booming and it\u2019s time to get more customers abroad. Whether you\u2019re selling vintage t-shirts or garden gnomes, you know that it\u2019s time to translate your ecommerce site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To get you started, we\u2019ve compiled a list of the 10 most common pitfalls<\/strong> of translating your website:<\/p>\n

1. Not translating your site at all<\/h2>\n

While many people in today\u2019s globalized world have at least a small understanding of a second language, that doesn\u2019t mean that they will appreciate having to put it to use on your site. Don\u2019t forget, the customer experience is key, and if they have a hard time understanding and navigating your site, your sales will suffer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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2. Using automatic translation tools<\/h2>\n

Google Translate is fine for personal use, but should be avoided like the plague<\/strong> when building your multilingual site. Why? Automatic translation tools make mistakes, which will make your site look unprofessional.<\/p>\n

Need more convincing? Automatic translations can also be mistaken for duplicate content<\/a>, which Google penalizes. Your ranking in search engines will be downgraded and for an online store, that\u2019s pretty disastrous.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already dedicated hours to copy\/pasting your site into Google Translate, don\u2019t worry, you can always hire a proofreader who will double-check and rewrite your text.<\/p>\n

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3. Forgetting or ignoring SEO (keywords, alt tags, meta data)<\/h2>\n

Not only do you need to make sure that your web content and meta tags are SEO-friendly, but you actually need to understand what the relevant search terms are in each language<\/strong>, as they may not be word-for-word translations.<\/p>\n

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4. Assuming that one language is the same everywhere<\/h2>\n

Just like English is different in the US and the UK, so is Spanish, French, Portuguese and countless other languages in different regions. Create a stronger bond with your customers<\/strong> by using expressions and vocabulary that they can relate to.<\/p>\n

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5. Translating only a part of your site<\/h2>\n

You made your product descriptions and contact page multilingual, but did you remember to translate your FAQs, shipping options, privacy policy, and terms of use? Online shopping is all about trust and you need to make sure that all these pages are available in your customer\u2019s languages so that they feel comfortable buying from you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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6. Not showing the local currency or measurements<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t make your shoppers do math<\/strong> \u2013 do it for them. Convert dollars to euros and pounds to kilograms, or your visitors may just leave.<\/p>\n

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7. Providing customer service in only one language<\/h2>\n

Your website is only one aspect (albeit a big one) of your business. Don\u2019t forget to translate your customer service emails<\/strong> and promotional newsletters.<\/p>\n

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8. General cultural ignorance<\/h2>\n

Not knowing the local customs and traditions could mean missed opportunities<\/strong> or even worse, negative reactions. For example, December 26 (Boxing Day) is one of the biggest shopping events in many Commonwealth countries like Canada, so if you think you can take that day off, you\u2019ll lose out.<\/p>\n

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9. Never updating translations<\/h2>\n

This one will slowly creep up on you. One day, you decide to add \u201cSpecial Offer\u201d on one of your products in a rush. Then you update a few lines of your shipping policy, but don\u2019t have time to translate it. Before you know it, your site is has inconsistent information in different languages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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10. Ignoring the context<\/h2>\n

Good job! You translated your shipping policy into Italian, but did you remember to include relevant information on costs and timelines for delivery to Italy? Having a multilingual site<\/a> is about giving the best experience to the customer, which includes providing information relevant to their region.<\/p>\n

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What about you? Have you made one of these blunders?<\/p>\n

Until next time!<\/p>\n

The TextMaster<\/a> Team<\/p>\n

\"Translation<\/a><\/span>