During the seed stage, you can’t afford to splash the cash like it grows on trees.
But - does that mean you can neglect localization?
Well, you can, but it would be a mistake.
For starters, localization doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Neglecting it can actually end up costing you money.
Picture this… 💭
You’re scrolling social media or checking emails. Something grabs your attention. Maybe an interesting new product or app. You click the link and land on a web page.
The design is nice, but the writing doesn’t add up. It doesn’t hit home or flow properly. There are too many words or phrases that are old-fashioned, cliched, or even worse – culturally inappropriate.
"Okay, I’ve seen enough," you think to yourself; "time to click away."
That’s the effect of poor localization. Or, in the case just described, a complete lack of localization. Is that what you want for your product?
That’s why localization is more than just a luxury – it’s a necessity. And it’s best to start early, using the “shift-left” approach (more on that later).
The problem is – many small businesses still think:
a) ⏸️ Localization is something you can leave till later.
b) 💸 Localization costs big bucks, so they can’t afford it yet.
Neither of these is true. That’s why we’ve got some serious myth-busting to do!
⏳ Why Do Businesses Put Off Localization? 🔗
Businesses often delay localization because of the following myths:
Myth 1 – Localization is low priority 🔗
Many startups believe that localization isn't critical at the early stages, focusing instead on product development or domestic market penetration. However, this approach overlooks the potential global audience that could be reached from the outset.
Myth 2 – Localization costs too much 🔗
There's a belief that effective localization requires a big budget – a luxury that early-stage companies simply can't afford. This myth fails to recognize the variety of cost-effective localization solutions available, such as crowdsourcing or tiered pricing models.
Myth 3 – Localization isn’t good for ROI 🔗
Some businesses underestimate the ROI that localization can bring. 💰 They fail to see how localized content can boost user engagement, market reach, and, ultimately, revenue.
Myth 4 – Localization is too complex 🔗
The false belief that localization is a complex and time-consuming process can put people off. In reality, modern localization tools and platforms streamline the whole process, making it manageable even for small teams or collaborative projects.
Myth 5 – Early localization isn’t worth it 🔗
Some companies aren't aware of the benefits of early localization. They don’t know how it can be integrated into their development process. Education about the advantages can help change this perspective.
👈 Adopting A "Shift-Left" Agile Strategy 🔗
It’s a big mistake to localize your content later rather than sooner.
The agile development “shift-left” end to end approach is much better if you want long-term success.
What is the "shift-left" approach? 🔗
The 'shift left' concept in agile development is about taking important steps earlier in the development cycle.
Traditionally, tasks like testing were done at the end of the development process. However, 'shifting left' means incorporating these tasks much earlier, often in tandem with development.
This approach minimizes errors, reduces development time, and enhances overall quality. When applied to localization, shifting left transforms how we think about making products ready for global markets. You start to build in internationalization efforts right from the beginning rather than treating it as a final step.
There are several benefits:
- ✅ Enhanced quality right from the start
- 🔦 SEO optimization for global markets
- 💲Cost efficiency
- 💬 Consistent brand messaging
- ⏱ Faster time-to-market
💣 The Real Price Of Localization 🔗
When we talk about the price of localization, it's not just about the dollars spent on translating content. You need to factor in the cost of missed opportunities and the long-term impact on your business.
Let’s take a look at what the real price of localization is.
5 costs of delayed localization 🔗
- 🧳 Missed global opportunities: The most immediate cost is the potential global audience you're missing. Every day without localization is a day you're invisible to millions who might love your product—if only they understood it.
- 📉 Lost competitive edge: In today's global market, your competitors are probably already localizing their products. Delaying localization means falling behind and losing market share.
- 🗞 Brand reputation risks: Poor localization can harm your brand's reputation. Misunderstandings due to language barriers or cultural insensitivity can lead to negative opinions and reviews.
- 🚨 Increased future costs: Postponing localization costs you more later down the line. Retrofitting a product for new markets is more expensive than localizing from the start.
- 👀 Reduced user engagement: Non-localized products often see lower engagement and conversion rates in wider markets. This translates to lower ROI from your marketing and development efforts.
Not adopting a localization strategy can translate into missed opportunities, like losing market share or not reaching global audiences that might love your product. It can also pose long-term consequences as increasing costs, less user engagement and damage to your brand's reputation
The reality of localization pricing 🔗
Now you know that delaying localization can cost you dearly over the long term. But how can you afford to start localizing early when you’re doing everything on a shoestring?
The answer lies with scalable solutions. Modern localization platforms like Localazy grow with your business. You can start small with essential features and then build from there.
One way to save the pennies is to use affordable localization techniques like crowdsourcing.
What is crowdsourcing? 🔗
Crowdsourcing involves enlisting the support of a diverse global community to translate and adapt content into different languages. 🤲 This is an affordable way to get accurate translations that take into account cultural nuance.
Another advantage of crowdsourcing is that as your product evolves, localization efforts can be continuously improved through a community feedback loop. Hundreds of Localazy users like School Planner, FlybyWire or Ukraine Shelter have already used this feature with great success in their projects.
What Localazy plans offer 🔗
These days, you can access tiered pricing models to help you find a level of service that fits your budget and integrates nicely into your existing workflows. At Localazy, we have pricing plans to meet any budget. To demonstrate that you can start localizing today, let's see what you can get with each of them. 🙂
🌱 Free Plan
If you want to test a proof of concept or have a hobby project, our free tier is the perfect gateway to basic localization.
You get:
- 200 managed source keys
- Free access to ShareTM (crowdsourced translations)
- Review, Glossary, and Amazon Translate suggestion
- Access to API, CLI, and SDKs for file upload/download
👩🚀 Professional Plan
Got a startup or a small project with a limited budget? Then this plan's for you.
You get:
- Up to 2,500 source keys
- Batch MT pre-translate, OCR & Screenshots, Google Translate in machine translation suggestions and pre-translate, custom plurals, multiplatform development, translation sharing, and release versions.
🚀 Autopilot Plan
Our most popular choice is perfect for growing startups and digital agencies.
You get:
- Up to 7,500 managed source keys
- Automated workflows, auto MT pre-translate, DeepL & OpenAI translations, Figma screenshots, webhooks, and all official integrations without restrictions.Business Plan (formerly Agency)
🌎 Business Plan
The ultimate self-service solution for global businesses that manage large volumes of content.
You get:
- Up to 100,000 managed source keys
- Duplicity resolving, branching, file & key aliases, language permissions, reporting, Single Sign-On, CSV Export/Import, secret projects, and upcoming features like style guides, tags & tasks, teams & extended permissions.
🪐 Enterprise Tier
Ideal for large-scale projects that need a customized solution for all their l10 needs, including full localization services and support.
You get:
- Custom limit on source keys.
- High-volume translation services, SLA/priority support, dedicated localization manager, initial setup & configuration, custom integration development, custom locales, backup & restore, and audit logs.
🎉 All of our plans include a 7-day trial and unlimited seats, projects, words, and languages. See the details in our handy pricing guide!
🏆 Localize Your Startup For Long-Term Success 🔗
In this guide, we've busted the myth that localization is an expensive luxury.
With automation tools and platforms with flexible pricing, localization is within reach for startups and small businesses. Localazy can help you to make localization an essential part of your strategy for future growth.
💡 The key conclusions you need to take into consideration are:
Start now, not later 🔗
Localization isn't a distant dream for when your startup starts taking off. It's a necessity now, as it means you can start tapping into wider markets from day one.
Cost-effective solutions are available 🔗
With platforms like Localazy, you don’t need a hefty budget to go global. Our tools and strategies make localization accessible and affordable for businesses of any size.
Crowdsourcing to the rescue 🔗
Don’t underestimate the power of the crowd. It’s a cost-effective way to get your content translated accurately that also takes into account cultural nuances. The best thing? You can get it free with Localazy.
