This guide outlines ways to overcome the language barrier when you are expanding your business to other countries.
Due to the current economic moment, companies have faced more difficulties in keeping sales high and ensuring good profit margins every day. This scenario, coupled with the high value of the dollar, has caused commercial managers to direct their efforts in the search for new markets, focusing on exports.
Trying to launch your business in another country can be incredibly challenging, especially considering all of the financial and logistical challenges that you might face. If the other country uses the same language that you’re currently using, then it’s usually not much of a problem.
You might need to change a few spellings (common for companies moving from Europe to America) but it generally makes things easier. However, if the country speaks an entirely different language, then you’re going to run into a lot of complicated language barrier issues.
Solve language barrier problems
So to help you out, we’ve put together a couple of tips on how you can overcome the language barrier when growing your business overseas.
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Do your research and make sure you understand the country you want to move into
Before you even consider moving your business into another country, it’s extremely important that you do your research into local markets. This will help you identify any competitors that you should be concerned about and also help you understand the culture of the country. All of this information will help you decide if it’s worth moving your business into that country.
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Understand how many different languages that country speaks
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that another country only has one main language. Some countries have multiple languages and it’s important that you print your physical materials and translate your services in all of those languages to avoid language barrier problems.
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Hire translation services for documents and interpreters for meetings
If you’re going to grow your business in a different country it’s vital to use professional translation services to solve any language barrier issues. Solutions such as Architekst are an excellent help when it comes to interpreting, subtitling, transcribing and even localizing. It’s well worth the investment to work with professionals or potentially even hire a full-time translator to do telephonic interpretation for your business.
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Avoid using any kind of idioms or jargon from your home country
We don’t often realize it, but when speaking to people of your home country it’s actually fairly common to use all kinds of idioms and slang terms. This is especially true if you work in an industry that has developed its own vocabulary. Make sure you avoid any unnecessary language barrier complications in communication by avoiding the use of jargon and idioms.
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Don’t rely on technology too much when it comes to translating
While there are a lot of excellent forms of technology that can help you interpret messages and communicate with different languages, you have to remember that they’re not perfect to break a language barrier.
Subtleties and idioms can’t translate very well with things like Google Translate. You might also be tempted to invest in translation devices that can live translate things with voice input. However, none of these things will be as effective as an interpreter or professional service.
Additional tips to break the language barrier
Selling products and services to other countries is not a simple task. In addition to the fact that it is necessary to have effective marketing and seek other companies and people who are interested in the business, commercial managers also need to face the language barrier to be able to close deals.
Presenting the description of the products and services correctly to international buyers and negotiating in English or in the language of the country of destination of the goods is challenging and being prepared for this is essential.
Knowing this difficulty, in today’s post we will present some aspects of what you need to know to overcome the language barrier when making an export. Check it out!
Know the market where the product will be inserted
The first step to be taken by managers before any export is to study and know the market in which the product will be inserted and marketed. It is extremely important that managers study details of the country to be worked on, one should seek to understand what the profile of buyers is like and how they behave with new international products and services.
By knowing the particularities of the public in the new country, it is possible to pass on the information and details about the products more effectively, favoring the acceptance of the items in the new country. Another important point to be highlighted is that by knowing the public it is possible to better understand this public and its cultural particularities, which helps to reduce linguistic difficulties and allows a more effective positioning.
In addition, in market research, the localization of the website or software should be considered. This location ensures that the product is fully directed to the public, ensuring greater success in the new market.
Understand the laws of the new country
In order to export products to a new nation, it is essential that the exporting company knows how the laws and the legal system work in the destination country. Therefore, it is essential that managers seek to research and understand the laws in force in the country in which the products will be inserted. Otherwise, errors may eventually be made in the legalization of items or problems at customs.
In order to better understand the particularities of the new country and understand the laws in force accurately, it is highly recommended that the company seek specialists in international tax law and, whenever necessary, also with language service companies to assist in the communication process. With the help of a company specialized in each subject it is possible to understand the functioning of the new country and address strategies that will not be barred by inspection and can provide excellent results.
Perform accurate and reliable translations
Finally, to ensure the success of the product in the new country, managers need to perform an accurate and reliable translation. A tip when performing the translation is to provide the new market with information both in English and in the language spoken in the country, this helps the introduction of the product and its acceptance.
To ensure that the translation is performed correctly and reliably, it is very important that managers look for companies that are experts in the subject. It should always be borne in mind that any error in the product description, or information erroneously described in the manuals can harm the company’s image in the new market and greatly hinder sales.
Conclusion
Did you learn how to overcome the language barrier during the export of products and services? Hopefully, this article has shown you a couple of affordable ways to break out of your home country and expand globally with a different language. There’s no doubt that this is an expensive endeavour, hence why it’s important to conduct plenty of research before you decide to make such a bold move.
