Why Does eCommerce Localization Matter And How Can It Benefit Your Business

If you're already a part of this eСommerce movement, you may be wondering how to increase your sales. The answer is simple: enter foreign markets, starting with localizing your website.
Why does your eCommerce website need localization?
Localization is much more than just translation. It is more about thinking outside the box — researching regional specifics, analyzing local marketing channels, and paying attention to time zones, currencies, and data formats.
ECommerce websites desperately need localization if you plan to conquer foreign markets. About 65% of people prefer content in their native language when buying online. This means it's in your interest to give your clients access to a localized version of your website.
A short guide to eСommerce localization
Market research
Adapting products
For example, if you're selling clothes in the USA and Japan, you might need to introduce smaller sizes for the Japanese market. Or, if you're selling electronic gadgets, make sure that your power cords fit the region's electrical outlets.
Content translation
Amazon is an excellent example of how to translate a website's content. All the content for different language versions is fully translated into each locale's language. Below you can see that the Italian version of Amazon looks native to Italians.


As a rule, eСommerce websites require constant content updates, such as new product information or price changes. For these purposes, you can use a service such as Nitro, which lets you translate as little as one word. It makes content translation a breeze and allows you to update your content as often as you need without waiting several days.
Local SEO
Currency, payments, and shipping optimization
Additionally, think about introducing new payment methods when entering new markets if needed. For instance, Konbini is a payment method popular in Japan, while in France, it's a good idea to support Carte Bancaire.
Here, Skullcandy fully localized its cart and took the trouble to change the currency into Japanese yen for the Japanese locale.

Local support team

Challenges in eCommerce localization
One challenge is the nature of eCommerce. The content of eCommerce websites changes quite often, so you'll need to constantly stay on top of the changes.
In Alconost's experience, it's essential to pay attention to these common factors — all crucial in eCommerce website localization:
A quick case study
2Checkout turned to the Alconost team to assist with their professional localization services. While working with 2Checkout, Alconost managed to overcome all the eСommerce localization pitfalls they encountered.
In particular, the localization team pays special attention to UX/UI. Even if the client doesn't request a check of the original texts, the translators check all the details on the original, native-language website.
In the case of 2Checkout, Alconost suggested a more easily translatable version of the original text on the client's website to improve the entire user experience and website interface. Later on, this original text provided by Alconost was used as a framework for other language locales.
Original text: "No Surprises — We will email you about upcoming renewals and confirm that your license has been renewed 30,7 and 3 days before the renewal and confirm that your license has been renewed if you do not opt out."
Alconost's enhanced reduced version: "No surprises — We will email you about upcoming renewals 30,7 and 3 days before the renewal and confirm that your license has been renewed if you do not opt out."
The Crowdin platform is a tool that helped simplify the translation tasks and facilitate communication with translators, allowing 2Checkout to maintain a very hands-on approach to managing the translation flow.
In the screenshot, you can see how Alconost's managers requested clarification to ensure 100% accuracy of the translated and localized texts.

Bottom line
EСommerce localization projects are complex, and you need thorough research and a well-structured plan to do it right. But the result is worth it: localizing your online store opens up a world of new horizons for your eСommerce business. Use our keyword research and analysis tools to boost the SEO of your eCommerce business.
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