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How to Localize Apps for the Chinese Market

In this era of digitalization, mobile penetration is more than before. Mobile users are more in number than desktop users. One of the benefits of mobile applications is that you can use them on the go.

But how can you use them because of distant cultures and languages? For this, you must go for app localization services. They will optimize mobile apps and websites so that users have a good experience.

Many companies opt for mobile websites and apps. However, some choose one of them. The selection between the two depends on their usability, features, and target market. Several studies have shown that users prefer mobile apps more than mobile websites. 

Therefore, it is a justified reason to go for mobile app developments.  After developing the app, it is necessary to localize it to reach potential customers around the globe. It is the best way to take your game or mobile app to a global level.

Do you know that app localization is on everyone’s to-do list for 2021? It is a proven fact that app localization is the best way to gain market share by enhancing sales.  As an app developer, you must be thinking of which market to target.

China-A Lucrative Market for Mobile Apps

China is a unique market for mobile developers. A whopping 989 million people use the internet out of the population of 1.4 billion. It has one of the biggest digital advertising markets. Moreover, it has seen tremendous growth in 2021.

 According to some reports, Chinese people spend 40% on mobile apps.  The best part of the Chinese digital market is that their isolation is unique because the firewall of China follows specific rules and regulations. China provides massive opportunities and a great challenge to mobile app developers. Any mobile developer that wants to enter the Chinese market must hire Chinese app localization services.

Is Your App Suitable for the Chinese Market?

Do you know that one out of four Chinese smartphones downloads foreign apps? In other words, 212 million smartphones have at least installed one foreign application. Despite all these, local apps still dominate the Chinese app market.

 If your app is successful in the West, then it does not mean it will be successful in China. Therefore, you have to prepare yourself before tapping into the Chinese market and develop an understanding of pricing, different business strategies, and buying preferences. Understanding consumer behavior is essential if you want apps to achieve global success.

The apps are used in China for communication, entertainment like videos, games, and music, instant messaging, and internet browsing. Foreign apps that provide social network services are not successful in China.

But the foreign apps that provide online shopping, videos, finance, education, photography, finance, and education are popular in China.

At present, games are in great demand. iOS users don’t install apps for online shopping, radio, music, and fashion. On the other hand, Android users prefer watching videos, using navigation apps, and taking photos.

Moreover, they like using finance and education apps.  The important thing to note about the Chinese market is that it is dynamic and evolves rapidly. What’s important today becomes history easily. Chinese people use 25% of the apps only once. 

Therefore, it becomes very difficult to keep evolving in-app localization projects. Localize apps in the market only if you find Chinese people’s interests. Do ask yourself if you are following the trends of the app. Additionally, are you getting enough leverage among local developers?

Follow Rules in App Localization in China

App localization projects for the Chinese market are different. This is not because the language is different. But you have to give attention to many technical factors to resonate with the target market. You can encode with any of these standards like ISO-2022-CN-extension, EUC-CN, and GB. 

 It is recommended to use UTF-8 because it supports all the Chinese characters and will assist you in the localization of apps in different languages in the future. It is also important to find a local server for hosting the app and to integrate it with cloud systems. If you don’t do this, then potential clients will not be able to have access to your app.

 It will result in delays and disconnections. To get access to Chinese servers, you must have a legal entity or legal partner in China. If not then you can use the servers of Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. 

China’s great firewall is a foremost challenge for any foreign app developer. Therefore, it is recommended to have a local partner to increase the probability of success.

Give Attention to Translation

The most crucial step in App localization services is translation. Finding out reliable translation services is also a daunting task. For this, you need to do market research and find a translation agency that employs a native translator. 

This is because many translators don’t have knowledge of Western ways of communication. Thus, you should hire a translation agency that gives app localization projects to natives and translators that live outside China. 

They will translate your app while keeping regional and cultural nuances in view. They will use terminologies and local dialects without changing the intended brand message. You have to provide the translation agency with complete information. In this way, they can provide you with impeccable Chinese app localization services.

Don’t use Google Translate or any other software for automated translation of the app. It will save you money, but you will not get seamless translation services.

Chinese people use difficult expressions in writing. Therefore, it is pivotal to go for human translation. To translate all the content, descriptions, titles, error messages, feedback requests, and text inside the graphics. If you leave anything, then Chinese people will delete your app without any second thought.

Wrapping Up

It is predicted that by 2023, 900 million people will browse the web from their cell phones. Each website that is used in China has its app.  Apps in China evolve rapidly. Therefore, to tap into the Chinese market, you must analyze your apps quickly and plan app localization services.

Professional translation services will be of great assistance to you in getting robust app localization services.

 

DigitalTechviews

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