Multi-Lingual Websites – What’s in it for your business?

We live in a time where borders and concepts of division are viewed in a negative light and inclusivity, diversity and acceptance are becoming more and more prominent. Be it a business brand or a personal brand, displaying diversity is essential for starting and maintaining strong relationships. For your business, one of the most effective ways of communicating these good qualities that your brand is affiliated with would be to operate on a multi-lingual website. When it comes to software development, Multi-Lingual websites are a platform where the initial interaction itself will ensure that the customer views your business in a positive light. Although this approach might seem unnecessary when you look at it from the point of a cost element, what you need to keep in mind is that in the long run, it's truly an essential and worthwhile investment for your business. From having access to a larger market to building a brand image that is rich in trust and driving up your sales, there are many benefits for your business by operating on a website that communicates through multiple languages. Let’s look at some of the major advantages you can gain by switching to a multi-lingual website.

1. The Image Game

Having a multi-lingual website is a surefire way of increasing your business branding. A website that is understood by different communities will convey the message at first glance of your company being open-minded, inclusive and respectful about different cultures. It also allows the client to understand that you care about their convenience, which helps in setting you apart from your competition. Multi-lingual websites are also a good way of getting past the cultural barriers that often keep businesses from reaching the entirety of the potential market. When you run a multi-lingual website, it puts the client at ease, helping them understand your message in words they are familiar with, making them more open to your suggestions and advice.

2. Expanding Markets

Another advantage of owning a multi-lingual website is the fact that it will effectively and efficiently increase the market that you connect to. Having your website set up in multiple languages mean that a diverse mix of communities and countries can now access and understand the services you offer, meaning a steady flow of new customers that will be directed to your company at all times. Presenting your website in a customer's native language also helps to show your company in a friendly light, which in turn will make the customer feel comfortable and willing to choose you to offer them solutions.

3. Increasing Trust

As we mentioned earlier, a multi-lingual site helps your company to be seen as the more accessible option which is a key component in building trust for your brand within the market. A multi-lingual site not only helps you seem friendlier, but it also put the customer at ease and your message seems more credible presented in their native language. Trust between you and the customer is also enhanced by the fact that when communicating in their language there are fewer chances of the message being misinterpreted due to cultural nuances or getting lost in translation. Speaking to them in a language that they are comfortable with will make your company seem like a friend offering solutions rather than a brand trying to sell their product.

4. More Reach – More Sales

Increase in sales is yet another benefit that you can gain by operating on a multi-lingual website. Merely setting the languages for the country or region you are operating is not enough in today’s world where every town consists of people from different regions in the world living in pockets of diversity. So, if your company is operating in a region that mainly speaks Spanish, but your website also offers language options for English, German and Dutch, that automatically moves you to the top of the list by catering to each customer in their native language regardless of where they are living. Applying this system wherever you are operating is sure to increase your number of sales.

5. Ruling Over Your Competition

A multi-lingual website is one of the easiest and cost-effective ways of acquiring an edge over your competition. At the first glance itself, you are communicating to the customer that you are different, you value diversity, you are open and that you care about their convenience above all – all good factors that point out how your company differentiates from the competitors. At a time where more and more people are constantly travelling from one place to the next yet seeks the comfort of what they are familiar with, having a multi-lingual website effortlessly allows you to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace.

6. Maximum Value on SEO

From an SEO perspective, having a multi-lingual website ensures that your business shows up even in regions where major search engines are not prominent. Especially for countries such as China, France and Japan where popular search engines like Google and Yahoo take a backseat and local search engines direct the customers to websites that will cater to their specific needs it is important to operate on a multi-lingual website so that your brand is understood and accepted without the interference of a language barrier. Plus, operating on multiple languages gives you an advantage even in the entry process by automatically falling under a favourable category because search engines are able to direct their customers to your website, where the locals can understand without any extra effort. Even if your business is operating in a region where search engines such as Google and Yahoo are the key players it’s advisable to have a multi-lingual website because even the major search engines are now moving towards allowing for searches to be run in foreign languages. A multi-lingual website will make sure your business is always visible in these instances.