What is “website translation” and “website localization”? What is the difference between these two notions?

Site translation is translation of site text and its adaptation to the peculiarities of the target segment (the result is site translation in MS Word format). HTML-layout (the result is HTML pages with translation of invisible text, as well). Replacement of text in images and Flash format files and other multimedia formats (the result is files in relevant formats).

While carrying out site localization, key emphasis is placed rather upon basic search queries (even with respect to common mistakes) than upon text contents representation adequacy. For example, while analyzing search queries for the word “translation” one can come across both "translation agency" and "translation company".  Therefore, text (contents) translation of a site is not translation in its traditional sense. It is rather site (its specific pages) contents representation with regards to the specifics of the Internet, search queries, local word and phrase use peculiarities. These measures are aimed at further successful indexing of translated pages by search engines.

Besides, it is translation of not only the website itself, but of other objects, as well - buttons, menus, flash screen-savers as well as the site code – invisible to the user headlines, meta tags and other segments of major importance for site promotion with search engines.  

Work at a site usually takes a few stages:

1. Contents translation – translation of the basic (visible to the user) site contents.

2. Site localization – translation of invisible modules as well as the text the user can see as a result of his/her operations with the website. E.g.: incorrect password, form completion, message sending, etc.

3. Site optimization for “interested” guests. Research of key site theme vocabulary is done and relevant contents is chosen. HTML code improvement for better indexing by search robots is made.

4. Site assembly – input of translated text into html pages, CMS systems, flash screen-savers, etc.

5. Site testing – verification of site translated version operation capacity.

6. Site support (provided by customer’s request) – Site support includes daily or weekly translation of texts published at the website. Also, if agreed, we can offer your site promotion by search words offered by You.