If you're thinking about creating a mobile app for your e-commerce business, you’re probably wondering if you translate the app as you would a website. This is a reasonable question when you consider the importance of mobile apps in e-commerce. Different studies show that one-third of customers make purchases using their smartphones or other mobile devices, and, while a responsive version of a website is suitable for an occasional purchase, apps offer many advantages.
Applications in e-commerce
Apps have become a quick and secure way to make purchases. They are the ideal resource for dissemination and advertising and an unparalleled tool for reaching the customer. They give users quick access to your catalog without the need to use search engines and improve your strategy for customer loyalty and customized user experience. When the app is installed on a person’s mobile device at all times, they are more likely to make another purchase.
In this sense, it is essential that you translate your app if your goal is to reach a growing number of consumers and boost the internationalization objectives of your brand.
What to keep in mind when translating apps
When translating mobile applications you need to take several factors into account due mostly to the peculiarities of this type of platform:
- When translating the content of an app, you may need to consider certain factors that affect your marketing slogans, adapting these slogans to the characteristics of a mobile environment: number of characters allowed, buttons, etc.
- Don’t forget important details like information on the date and time, availability of sizes, or legal documents. It is very important that all information be completely adapted to the country where the app is operating.
- Entrust the translation of your applications to professionals with experience. In addition to a full understanding of these types of platforms, they will know how to efficiently tailor the content to the respective country.
- Remember to translate the components of the system, such as error messages, XML files, the website where you can download the application, user manuals, and help sections.
- Make sure to properly translate the app description. It’s the first thing that users read, and it's what determines whether they download the app or not.
- Prioritize the languages of countries where you operate or are planning to operate. You can also include the language of a country with a high rate of downloads. It's an opportunity to expand.
- Don't leave everything in the hands of Google Translate. You’ll sacrifice a lot of nuance, and you might run into some serious errors.
Translating applications is both a a necessity and a challenge for e-commerce. It is a clear-cut way to reach mobile users in all the countries you are targeting.
Get the support of an experienced specialist translation agency to translate your apps, taking into account all the tools you need to avoid mistakes that could damage sales and your company's image.
