Translation and localization services help businesses adapt their content, products, and websites for audiences in different languages and cultures. Translation converts text from one language to another, while localization goes further by adapting content for cultural context, formatting conventions (dates, currencies, units), legal requirements, and local market expectations.
16 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Guide
- Assess your localization needs — Identify which content needs translation (website, app, documentation, marketing materials), target languages and markets, volume of content, and how frequently con...
- Determine your approach — Choose between human translation (highest quality, best for marketing/legal), machine translation with human post-editing (MTPE, good balance of cost and quality), or pure...
- Select a localization platform or service provider — Options include:
- Localization platforms Lokalise, Crowdin, Smartling, Phrase, Transifex (for software/app localization with developer-friendly workflows)
- Translation service providers Welocalize, Lionbridge, TransPerfect, SDL (for enterprise-scale, full-service localization)
- Freelance translators Proz.com, TranslatorsCafe, Fiverr, Upwork (for smaller projects or specific language pairs)
- Prepare source content for translation — Internationalize your codebase (externalize all user-facing strings, avoid hard-coded text). Create a style guide and glossary of key terms. Use clear, simp...
- Get quotes and establish timelines — Professional human translation typically costs $0.07-$0.25 per word. Machine translation with post-editing costs $0.02-$0.10 per word. Turnaround depends on vol...
- Set up translation workflow — Integrate your localization platform with your content management system, code repository, or design tools. Establish a review and approval process involving native-sp...
- Execute translation and review — Submit content for translation, conduct in-context review (checking translations within the actual UI or page layout), and perform linguistic quality assurance (LQA).
2. Key Details
- Translation vs. localization Translation is converting text between languages. Localization includes translation plus adapting images, colors, layouts, date formats, currency symbols, measurement units, legal disclaimers, and ...
- Translation Management Systems (TMS) Platforms like Lokalise, Crowdin, and Smartling centralize translation workflows, maintain translation memories (databases of previously translated segments), manage glossaries, and integrate with ...
- Translation memory (TM) A database that stores previously translated segments for reuse. TM reduces cost and improves consistency as your translated content grows. Segments with 100% matches do not need re-translation.
- Machine translation engines Google Translate, DeepL, Amazon Translate, and Microsoft Translator provide AI-powered translation. Quality varies by language pair. Post-editing by human translators (MTPE) is recommended for cust...
- Cost ranges Professional human translation: $0.07-$0.25/word. MTPE: $0.02-$0.10/word. Localization platforms: $0-$500+/month depending on volume and features. Full-service agencies: project-based pricing, typi...
- Common languages Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic, and Hindi are the most frequently requested localization targets for businesses expanding globally.
Common Mistakes
- Translating without localizing
- Hard-coding text in source code
- Ignoring text expansion
- Using one translator without review
- Not maintaining a glossary
Pro Tips
- Start with pseudo-localization
- Invest in a strong source language
- Use continuous localization
- Prioritize markets strategically
- Track localization ROI