Reach Spanish-speaking Markets with Website Translations

For business owners, doctors, and other professionals, the importance of an interactive internet presence has become an indispensable way to attract and keep customers. As changes in market trends inevitable occur, businesses are able to easily adjust their marketing plans to successfully expand into growing market segments with websites often leading the marketing effort. One valuable emerging market trend is the growth of the Hispanic market in the United States which provides marketers with incredible insights and incentives to attract Spanish-speaking customers.

In the United States, the growing Spanish-speaking market which numbered 44.3 million US Hispanics in 2006, is expected to be as large as 60 million by next year with 55% of adult US Hispanics using the internet. Furthermore, with purchasing power projected to reach $1 trillion in 2010, businesses have a greater incentive to reach this large market segment to promote their products and services. In addition to their numbers, US Hispanics who use the internet are generally among the most educated and affluent out of the greater Hispanic population.

The challenge for businesses, especially those who generally operate locally like lawyers, doctors, and other professionals, is how to reach a large and profitable market that includes individuals who speak Spanish. With website translations, local doctors and other professionals, for example, will be able to attract clients through Spanish content that can be found easily on a search engine. The process of website translations is not nearly as daunting as it seems and can be effective in small doses. For instance, an efficient way to attract the Spanish-speaking market is to provide a landing or entry page carefully crafted in Spanish and optimized with key words that can drive website traffic and promote products and services as well. Alternatively, an FAQ page in Spanish, also optimized for web searches, can link to the landing page and provide another channel of communication and interaction with US Hispanics and a Spanish speaking audience. A good website translation will therefore serve promotional ends and will also achieve a certain degree of cultural marketing by speaking the language of a potential client.

In addition to the potential financial benefits of marketing to Spanish speakers, doctors and other professionals have the advantage of tapping into this market early enough to start work towards securing market share. Securing market share, of course, is largely dependent on ensuring that potential customers can find your website in the first place. In addition, the ensuing word of mouth effect can serve as a marketing multiplier as information is passed on to a customer’s peers who may not have access to the internet.

Clearly, the changing paradigms of marketing, largely driven by the internet, are developing into far more valuable and engaging tools like website translations to expand into Spanish-speaking markets. As a result of this ongoing sophistication in marketing, a successful business website is no longer a static collection of pictures and text but a fully interactive experience that should also engage the profitable US Hispanic market.

Please contact Hispanic Market Advisors for a free consultation on your English to Spanish website translation.

Drive Bilingual Websites with User Research

Small and medium-sized companies that have operations in Spanish speaking countries rely heavily on bilingual websites to drive local business. In order for these websites to be effective, they must be localized in order to appeal to the core demographics of each local community. Many companies make the mistake of simply translating their English website copy into Spanish and find that their sites are not well received by the communities they are attempting to reach. Extensive user research must be coupled with proper translation in order to create bilingual websites that are effective at driving local Hispanic business.

Where to Begin

Before beginning the website design process, small and medium-sized companies would be wise to perform field studies and cultural probes into the communities they wish to reach with their company message. This user research will enable the creation of bilingual websites that are able to resonate with the customs and culture of your local Hispanic audience. When small and medium-sized companies rush into site construction without the necessary understanding of the local culture to which they are attempting to appeal, they suffer the consequences of a website that falls flat and does not generate the additional business activity they had hoped to achieve.

Research is the foundation on which quality bilingual websites are built and accurate information on the various cultures to which you are marketing, will enable your business to create vibrant and relevant online content that is highly likely to increase your sales base within any given region.

User Research

Many small and medium sized companies do not have the manpower necessary to conduct the listening labs and usability tests that are necessary in order to produce relevant bilingual websites. Their overseas communication strategy must therefore include hiring a marketing team that specializes in user research among Hispanic populations. It is important that the marketing company with which you choose to do business understands the nuances of Hispanic culture. This is important because it will ensure that they are using the right marketing tests for the market within each of the local Hispanic communities to which your company would like to appeal.

Continual Learning

Communities evolve over time and it is therefore imperative that your user research continues past the creation of your website. Ongoing learning will keep your website on the cutting edge of any new trends that spring up within your target Hispanic audiences in various communities. This knowledge and understanding will in turn enable your company to keep your website relevant and appealing to your target markets. The time and money invested into the research that will make your company website relevant, will be returned to you in the form of favor with your local market and increased sales potential.

For more information, please complete this Hispanic Market Advisors contact form

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Is a Spanish-language Web site imperative for tapping into the online Hispanic Market?

Most large businesses such as major retailers and banks don't need to translate their English Web sites into foreign languages to tap into their local markets because they have sufficient resources to create all sorts of localized Web content from scratch. However, if you're a home office or a small- or medium-sized business looking to tap into the emerging online Hispanic Market, translating your Web content into Spanish might be your greatest dilemma. Nevertheless, it is sure to be your best decision. Hence, before deciding whether you really need to embark on this process, you'll need to fully address the following three questions:

1) How many Spanish-speaking prospective customers could you reach with the new Spanish-language site?

2) What percentage of this pool of Spanish-speaking prospective customers is Spanish-reliant or Spanish-preferred?

3) How do Spanish-reliant and/or Spanish-preferred prospective customers fit into your short- and long-term goals and your overall business strategy?

Again, make sure that you address these three key questions. Only then will you be able to size your market for online Spanish-speaking customers, master the profiles of new Hispanic customers, and choose a strategic partner who best understands your needs, goals and objectives. To help you on your decision process, Hispanic Market Advisors offers you a free comprehensive analysis along with a full proposal for the Web site translation and search engine optimization services.

For more information, please complete this Hispanic Market Advisors contact form

Articles about the Hispanic Market

Hispanic market in the United States: Myths and Facts

The Hispanic market in the United States is one of the fastest growing markets in North America. The Hispanic and Latino population is growing at an unprecedented pace and bringing untapped business opportunities along with it. Many U.S. companies are already targeting the Spanish-speaking consumer with great success. Some businesses are utilizing bilingual flyers and brochures to get the word out about their products and services, a few have opened Spanish-speaking stores, and others are focusing direct advertising efforts via television, radio, and written media on the Hispanic community. Businesses that want to carve out a market niche have a rare opportunity to be front-line runners in a market that is growing all around them.

One of the best methods of targeting the bilingual or Spanish-speaking consumer is the use of a bilingual website. The Internet will carry the product line or service of a progressive business into the homes of millions of Hispanics that might not otherwise ever be exposed to them. But it's only the businesses that want to take advantage of the growing Hispanic market that will be able to do so.

Understanding Hispanic Consumers

Some businesses make oversimplified and erroneous assumptions about Hispanic consumers. A prevalent myth is that the Hispanic market in the United States is comprised solely of illiterate and financially destitute Mexican nationals from the rural regions of Mexico. This is certainly the case but only to a small degree. The truth of the matter is that Hispanics are working as naturalized citizens the world of business, medical practices, police work, and a host of other well-paying professions and careers.

Another common myth is that Hispanics are unwilling to buy much of anything, preferring instead to keep to themselves to avoid the Border Patrol. Most Hispanics don’t have to worry about law enforcement in the first place and lead much fuller lives than this misconceived notion anyway. Hispanic citizens are alive and well in every facet of U.S. culture and many are looking for places to spend their money.

A third myth is that Hispanics are not capable Internet users. That is far from the truth. The Hispanic market in the United States is discovering the Internet and has become very comfortable with online shopping and advertising. As the Hispanic community has embraced the world of the Web, pocketbooks have likewise opened and a significant amount of money is being spent for online products.

Businesses in the United States that are unwilling or unable to adjust to the demographic changes that are occurring will be left out in the cold. Bilingual websites are generating a lot of traffic and increasing sales of products of every description. It is true that most Hispanics, especially those for whom Spanish is their native tongue, prefer to shop on Spanish-speaking websites. It’s also true that a Spanish website that has been professionally translated with the correct keywords and optimized for the search engines will receive a lot of hits from Spanish-speaking consumers. The expense is minimal and the potential profit margin is high.

CONTINUE : Read articles about the Hispanic Market

Retro-Acculturation’s Impact on Hispanic Marketing

In an important blog post about retro-acculturation it is said that “Truly Spanish dominant consumers will think in Spanish as opposed to English.” This is especially true in marketing and will not change as long as Spanish language use in the United States is able to continue growing. Marketers should take note of this phenomenon among Hispanics in the US, as this will be a very important target group when making marketing decisions. Spanish is the second largest language spoken in the US, and does not show any decline, especially when more and more Hispanics find it suitable to teach their children Spanish at an early age.

There are no tricks to marketing towards Hispanics, so the only reliable method of getting your message across about products or services is by connecting with them past language barriers. Taking the time to accurately have your marketing materials presented in a way that Hispanics can have access and understanding, allows them to take part in your marketing efforts. Many companies will be left behind on this venture when they do not take the retro-acculturation process seriously and do not make the effort to present marketing materials in Spanish.

For more information on the retro-acculturation process, please contact us here

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Sebastian Aroca