Localizing your company's information for global locales requires a complete strategy and plan for implementation.
Involving a professional localization company in developing the plan can greatly improve your chances for success.
Successful localization follows a consistent pattern:
Determine the target audiences (and related languages).
Then, create the content/material/deliverable in English. Once internal approval has been secured, ask the localization company for an estimate.
Whenever possible, ask the localization company to be part of the planning process. Their understanding of the challenges and common mistakes in localization can save you money and cultural embarrassment.
When the localization company has been selected, bundle up the entire project and send it to them.
The localization company performs the localization process "in place" -- if it is programming code, the code is unaffected by the translation process; if it's content within HTML code, the HTML code is untouched during the translation process.
Select a localization company who will use native speakers for the actual translation along with native-language editors to review the translation before it is finalized.
When the work is complete, the localization company returns the localized files to you. You are able to review and test the localized information easily and effectively.
