5 Reasons Tanzania Websites need to be in multiple languages
Introduction
Tanzania is a diverse and multilingual country, with over 120 languages spoken by its population of about 60 million people.
One of the biggest sectors in the Tanzania economy is tourism. Safaris, and beach holidays in locations like Zanzibar.
However, many websites in Tanzania are only available in English, which is not even the first language of most Tanzanians, let alone the hordes of tourists that flock to the country every year to stay in hotels, visit places of interest and go on Safari.
This can limit the reach and impact of the websites or tour companies, hotels and any businesses that rely heavily on tourists especially in today’s competitive global business and e-commerce.
In this article, we will explore five reasons why Tanzania websites need to be in multiple languages, based on the latest research and best practices in localization.
At Simply IT, which is based in Zanzibar, Tanzania we have extensive experience of Digital Marketing and building websites not only in Tanzania but in Europe in France, Holland, Italy and Germany.
We also know how to build those websites with ‘localised’ elements that make them go to the top of Google searches for keywords in those foreign languages.
Reason 1: Localization increases market penetration and customer loyalty
Localization is the process of adapting a product or service to a specific market, culture, and language. According to a recent study by CSA Research, localization can have a significant effect on the online purchasing behavior of consumers around the world. The study found that:
- 40% of consumers will not buy from websites in other languages
- 76% of consumers prefer products with information in their own language
- 75% of consumers are more likely to purchase the same brand again if customer care is in their language
These findings suggest that localization can help Tanzania and Zanzibar websites reach more potential customers, increase their satisfaction, and create stickier customer relationships.
Reason 2: Localization enhances user experience and engagement
Localization is not only about translating words, but also about creating a user experience that is relevant, appropriate, and appealing to the target audience.
Localization can improve the usability, accessibility, and aesthetics of a website, making it more engaging and persuasive for the users. For example, localization can:
- Use appropriate colors, images, symbols, and layouts that match the cultural preferences and expectations of the users
- Provide clear and consistent navigation, labels, and instructions that reduce confusion and frustration
- Use appropriate tone, style, and humor that resonate with the users and convey the brand personality
- Provide product reviews, testimonials, and social proof in the users’ language that increase trust and credibility
Reason 3: Localization reduces risk and increases compliance
Localization can also help Tanzania websites avoid legal, ethical, and cultural issues that may arise from operating in different markets and jurisdictions.
We have created several ecommerce websites in the EU that sell and deliver to countries throughout the Europe. Did you know there is a different set of rules and regulations for websites for companies based in the EU than in Tanzania. There are also regulations regarding Data Privacy, cookie handling and security compliance (GDPR rules) for websites created for clients in Europe? At Simply IT we provide all of these when we create these websites.
Localization is all about ensuring that a website complies with the local laws, regulations, and standards that apply to its content, products, and services. For example, localization can:
- Use appropriate currency, units, formats, and symbols that match the local conventions and expectations
- Report and display charges, prices and tax according to local requirements.
- Provide accurate and complete information about the product specifications, features, benefits, and limitations
- Provide clear and transparent information about the terms and conditions, privacy policy, and refund policy
- Respect the intellectual property rights, trademarks, and copyrights of the original content and sources
Reason 4: Localization leverages local knowledge and expertise
Localization can also benefit from the local knowledge and expertise of the people who live and work in the target market.
At Simply IT we have a wealth of experience on our team of people with linguistic and Digital Marketing experience in Africa, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This Digital Marketing experience is invaluable when building websites that appeal to customers from those countries.
Localization can involve collaborating with local partners, such as translators, developers, designers, testers, marketers, and distributors, who can provide valuable insights and feedback on the website.
When Simply IT Zanzibar develops a website in other languages we provide our clients the ability to modify and adapt every aspect of the translation of the website into that foreign language.
For example, we can:
- Identify and address the needs, preferences, and pain points of the local users
- Provide suggestions and recommendations on how to improve the website’s functionality, performance, and quality
- Identify and resolve any errors, bugs, or issues that may affect the website’s usability, reliability, and security
- Promote and distribute the website to the local audience and networks using Digital Marketing techniques in Social Media and SEO
Reason 5 Multiple languages compete in a digital world.
The digital world is constantly evolving and changing, and so are the expectations and preferences of the users.
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the top 10 languages of the internet in 2025 will be English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Indonesian, French, Japanese, Russian, and German. By having multiple languages, Tanzania websites can stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the changing trends and demands of the online market.
This can also help Tanzania websites expand their reach and influence beyond their borders, and tap into the opportunities and challenges of the global digital economy.
Multiple languages reflect your diversity and identity. Tanzania is a rich and vibrant country, with a history and culture that spans various regions, ethnicities, and religions. By having multiple languages, you can showcase and celebrate this diversity and identity, and appeal to the pride and patriotism of your customers. This can also help you differentiate yourself from your competitors, and create a unique and distinctive brand image and voice.
Conclusion
To sum up, Multilingual SEO and Localisation is the best way forward if you want to drive traffic and revenue by translating your website content into other languages.
Simply IT offers a suite of SEO tools that can help you build a strong SEO presence with your multilingual website.
From keyword research to on-page optimization and link building, Simply IT can help you through the steps involved in building a successful multilingual site. Contact Us Today.
Let Simply IT handle the localisation & translation of your website
As you can see, there are many benefits of having multiple languages on your website, both for your business and your customers. However, adding languages is not an easy task, and it requires careful planning and execution. You need to consider factors such as the quality, consistency, and relevance of your content, the design and functionality of your website, the availability and cost of language services and technology, and the legal and cultural implications of your choices.
That’s where we can help. At Simply IT Zanzibar, we are experts in website localization, which is the process of adapting your website to the language, culture, and preferences of your target markets. We can help you with every aspect of your website localization project, from selecting the best languages and tools, to creating and managing your multilingual content, to testing and launching your localized website. We have the experience, skills, and resources to make your website localization project a success.
We are the Digital Marketing Agency of choice for over 50 happy clients in Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa, Asia and Europe.
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