Website translation and localization
We have built an excellent reputation for quality and attention to detail in website localization, having translated online material into more than 25 languages. Our growing portfolio of website localization clients includes Avid, Autodesk, Logitech, SAP, Electronic Arts and Zeus, and we have also undertaken a large number of projects for smaller clients.
As well as offering straightforward translation, we also carry out other website localization activities in house, including QA, handling graphics and Flash animations, and Project Management. This ensures that the localized version of the website matches the original as closely as possible.
While website localization for the most part replicates other offline localization projects, it does present unique challenges. Not least of these is the initial approach to the translation itself, which depends on the way the website has been created. Traditionally, websites have been built using individual pages created to a standard template. Increasingly, however, they are now being developed using a Content Management System (CMS) to drive the material and offer greater flexibility for updating and maintaining the content.
Our approach to traditional templated websites is similar to the localization of any other document. We extract the content from the source files, translate it, check it and place the new content back into the template. We then carry out full linguistic QA to check the accuracy of the translation, proofread the text and ensure the fit of the new copy. In addition to focusing on the main website text, we also address other important issues such as the translation and creation of buttons, document downloads and Flash animations.
Websites which use a CMS require a different approach. The key question is whether to translate within the CMS or extract the content, translate it and then re-import it into the CMS. In order to recommend the best way forward, we evaluate the client's CMS, and weigh up whether it would be easier for our translators to extract the text and utilise Alpha's translation tools, or to familiarise themselves with the CMS and work within it. There are benefits to both methodologies. Standard translation tools are more powerful, but investing time to learn more about a client's product/service and bespoke CMS can enhance the quality of the translations and build long-term working relationships.
We believe that our attention to detail, rigorous QA, wide-ranging experience and, above all, obsession with quality, make Alpha the best choice for any company looking to localize its website and communicate with a new audience.
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