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Multilingual Web Sites are a cost-effective and powerful way to unleash the true international potential of the World Wide Web. Non-English speaking Internet users appreciate the companies who talk to them in their own language, and remember them when they make their purchasing decisions.
5 Tips for Developing Web Pages for International Audiences
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Allow sufficient space for text swelling
Leaving adequate white space in the English design is necessary to accommodate the 25-30% expansion that is typical for most European languages.
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Design graphics in layers
Your translation service provider can localize graphics cost-effectively if they are created in layers.
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Write culturally-neutral text
International audiences may not understand references made to cultural elements unique to the US.
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Evaluate interactive components
Interactive components such as search engines should be designed to process characters not included in the standard English alphabet.
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Develop a Maintenance Strategy
Updating all languages simultaneously is crucial, especially if the site contains time-sensitive data such as price information or promotional product announcement.
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Please contact us for a free copy of our Smart Designer's Guide to Multilingual Web Sites©.
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