Pixel Executive helps businesses grow both locally and internationally through multi-language web design and digital marketing. Our team has a wide range of skills, from developers, graphic designers, and digital marketers to multilingual SEO and Google PPC specialists, and can call on a network of trusted experts such as copywriters, translators and data compliance specialists.
Stirling Austin: Prior to founding Pixel Executive, I worked for over 20 years building manufacturing, distribution and service businesses in the UK and across Europe. I have first-hand experience of developing business in foreign markets.
The internet has given small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to enter the global market in a way that was never before possible. They are able to sell their goods and services and build their brand directly through their website to customers all over the world with minimal effort.
That being said, internationalising and localising your website is an essential step to take if you want to be noticed by overseas customers.
e.g. Broad desired outcomes
e.g. Specific and measurable outcomes for those goals
e.g. How the goals and objectives will be achieved
e.g. Specific actions that you will take to achieve your objectives
The process of building your website to support multiple languages
The technical best practice principle is the same as those for a building, e.g. the foundations need to be installed and configured correctly according to the required use and future flexibility.
Example: Excel versus CRM
Adapting your design and content to be relevant to local markets.
The actual process of translating, keeping brand consistency whilst allowing for cultural differences and sensitivities, e.g. colours, taglines, logos, personality, tone of voice, local customs, images
Example: McDonalds
Historically, multilingual websites required vast budgets, since they were custom coded by in-house developers or large agencies, with high build and modification costs attached. This is no longer the case.
Proprietary pay-as-you-go systems, such as Wix, do have some languages capability but are not designed with localisation in mind. Plus all content and language specifics cannot be easily transferred if you leave.
Open source systems such as WordPress have dedicated plugin extensions specifically created for streamlining translation workflows, multi-language web design and multilingual SEO.
Take into account the market’s culture, business practices and customer preferences, which can influence design, content selection, and translation.
Translations should take into account the need to fit the format and design, some will take up more space than others. Translating from English into languages such as Spanish or French can result in 20-25% expansion, while German may expand as much as 35%.
Consider web font compatibilities with minimal spacing.
Use translators that understand how to use local selling expressions. (A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush doesn’t translate very well in French).
Transcreation is the merger of two words: translation and creation. It’s an intricate form of translating that preserves the original intent, context, emotion, and tone.
The DIT Internationalisation Fund is open to SME businesses that have significant potential to grow international sales.
Eligible projects will have a minimum project value of £2000 and maximum £18,000 with up to 50% grant funding available.
The funding can be used by a business to support:
The company must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) with up to 250 employees
• No more than 25% of the business is owned by an enterprise that is not an SME
• Annual turnover does not exceed €50 million or annual balance sheet does not exceed €43 million
