Where does your company fall on the Localization Maturity Model (LMM) continuum?
The LMM is a scale of the stages that companies progress through as they refine their process for providing translated, localized materials for their international customers. The LMM was developed by CommonSense Advisory, a research and consulting company in the language services industry, who provide insight into pricing, technology, quality strategies, industry trends and more. The stages of the LMM range from 0, companies who don’t do anything to manage global growth, to 5, companies who embrace the value of languages and cultures within their company culture.
We get a lot of calls from people who want to translate their website and increase their multilingual lead generation, yet they have no idea where to start. We work with these customers to give them guidance of how to progress along the scale and set a vision for where they ultimately want their company to fall.
The short answer is “no!” English is not good enough alone. Let’s look at some statistics to find out why translating your website is so important for your global marketing strategy.
First, websites that are translated convert three times more visitors into customers. This is true even for bilingual English visitors.
A Gallup survey showed:
It’s clear from these numbers that internet shoppers are looking for information that is in their primary language so that they can fully understand the features and benefits of the items they are researching.
Read more about translating your website to attract leads.
There are approximately 1.2 billion English speakers in the world, both native and as a secondary language. Yet the number of native speakers is a fraction of that number at around 378 million.
Now consider that there are 3.1 billion internet users who don’t speak English at all!
On the internet, 75% of the world’s internet users don’t speak any English, and another 16% do speak English but it is not their native language. This means that if your website is only in English you are missing out on delighting 91% of potential visitors because they either can’t understand your website or prefer to go elsewhere because your content is not in their preferred language.
What a missed opportunity!
Translating your website into a few key languages can increase your sales exponentially.
Now that you know a little more about why you should translate, let’s dive deeper into the CSA Localization Maturity Model (also called the Globalization Maturity Model).
They’ve broken it down into 6 stages, numbered from 0 – 5.
Climbing the LMM scale takes a lot of work and dedication. It’s not typically a linear path, just like any other process of improvement, there are bumps and detours along the way. But reaching the top of the scale means your company has fully embraced a global mindset and provides materials and support to customers in every market they service.
If your company wants to streamline their translation process and develop a Translation Management Plan, we are happy to consult with you about your needs. We work with companies at every stage of the LMM and provide guidance for progressing toward becoming a truly global company.
Contact us for a free consultation today.
Rapport International specializes in multilingual communications, providing language translation and interpretation services that are accurate and culturally appropriate. We use the right voice, correct terminology to avoid liability, customize services to your needs, and deliver on time and within your budget. And with our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust that it’s done right. Contact us today if you would like more information or to get a free quote.
Categories: Project Planning & Management, Multilingual Growth
Rapport International provides written translation, spoken interpretation and multilingual communication services for local and global companies. What makes them different? With their 100% satisfaction guarantee, expert advice and devotion to people-first communication, you get the highest quality results every time, so you can thrive in your market.
Locations in Boston, MA + Lincoln, NE
BOSTON OFFICE: +1-978-443-2540
LINCOLN OFFICE: +1-402-432-8671
Rapport International provides written translation, spoken interpretation and multilingual communication services for local and global companies. What makes them different? With their 100% satisfaction guarantee, expert advice and devotion to people-first communication, you get the highest quality results every time, so you can thrive in your market.
Locations in Boston, MA + Lincoln, NE
BOSTON OFFICE: +1-978-443-2540
LINCOLN OFFICE: +1-402-432-8671
Copyright @ 2023 Rapport International. All Rights Reserved.
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