Smart phones and tablets have become remarkably popular worldwide and the number of apps downloaded has grown exponentially. Today, people rely heavily on apps for everyday assistance and entertainment, and businesses are continuously developing new and innovative apps to meet the needs of their customers. Although your app might be successful in its market, your sales can soar even higher by attracting a global audience through app translation and localization.

The Benefits of App Localization

You can maximize your app’s global visibility through its translation and localization. With your localized app, your company can:

  • Expand its access to a wider market. Although English is one of the world’s most popular languages, there are many people who do not use it. In reality, the most considerable increases in purchasing power and economic growth occur in global regions where English is a second language. Connect with numerous new customers by translating your app to other languages, such as Spanish, Hindi and Chinese.
  • Greatly increase sales. Consumers are expected to spend more than $100 billion on mobile games by the end of 2020. Additionally, since June 2020, business apps comprised the second most popular category for Apple, garnering 1% of the share of active apps. These types of apps are just a couple of examples of how much sales can surge through localization.
  • Gain a solid competitive advantage. Having a competitive edge does not just mean that customers download your app; it also means they store the app. Between 80% and 90% of downloaded apps are only used once and discarded by users. Through localization, you can keep your competitive advantage by ensuring customers continue to use your app.
  • Generate more advertising dollars. By the end of 2020, global spending on mobile advertising is projected to reach $240 billion.
  • Achieve better app store optimization. Translating your app keywords and metadata allows your business to enhance the visibility of your app and brand based on specific keyword phrase searches in app stores.
  • Retain your current customers. Now more than ever, consumers are demanding excellent customer service, especially since they have countless options. By localizing your app, you will be able communicate with your clients in their native languages and sustain their loyalty after they’ve purchased from you.

What are the Most Advantageous Languages to Target?

When deciding which languages to target, consider locations where your app would be well received, and where the demand for apps is soaring. Additionally, analyse which languages are relatively more popular. Beyond the English-speaking population, some of the best languages for app localization are:

  • Japanese – The mobile app market in Japan is projected to increase to $16.2 billion by 2021. As such, your app could earn its share of the expected app revenue.
  • Mandarin Chinese – With more than 1 billion speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most commonly used language in China; an app translated into Mandarin would boost sales significantly.
  • Hindi – India has seen a 165% increase in app downloads from 2016 to 2018, placing it second for the number of app downloads worldwide.
  • Russian – With more than 6 billion downloads in 2016, Russia is the 11th largest market for gaming across the globe. This would be an excellent choice for translating and localizing your gaming app.
  • Korean – Some of the world’s most active app users are from South Korea, with consumers spending 1% of their total daily media time on mobile devices.

As you think about which languages you will choose for app translation and localization, remember that a number of these languages have many regional variations. If you translate your app to Spanish, you will have to be prepared to focus on the differing dialects among the 20 countries where Spanish is the official language.

When deciding whether to translate and localize your app, consider this: Consumers worldwide spend more than 80% of their mobile time on their apps. Help your app stand out among its competitors by localizing it to reach new markets.

Summary

Since smartphones and tablets have become exceptionally popular worldwide, the number of apps being downloaded is soaring. You can increase your sales and reach a global audience through app translation and localization.