Localization
Localization adapts the store to a market beyond translation: currency, sizes, payments, and norms made native.
What localization is
Localization is adapting the store to a market, not just translating it: language, currency, sizes, payment methods, imagery, and norms adjusted until the store feels native to the shopper.
Why localization matters
Shoppers buy where they feel understood: prices in their currency, sizes in their system, payment the way they pay, delivery promises that make local sense. A translated-only store reads as foreign; a localized one reads as theirs.
What localization touches
- Language: native-quality translation, not word-for-word output
- Currency, tax display, and local price points
- Payment methods and delivery options per market
- Sizes, units, dates, imagery, and cultural references
Frequently asked questions
Where should localization start?
Currency, payment methods, and the buying path: checkout in local terms moves conversion before a word of content is translated. Then localize the pages that sell, product and category, ahead of the blog.
Is machine translation good enough for a store?
As a first pass reviewed by a native speaker for the pages that matter: product copy carries nuance and trust that raw output misses, and mistranslated sizing or claims create returns and worse.