International acclaim and worldwide business appeal is a big dream that all begins with a series of much smaller steps. It’s an interesting time to launch any kind of digital service. While it’s no easy task without a solid strategy in place, the ability to reach that global goal has never been more doable.
Through innovations and advancements in communications and technology, mobile app globalization is within the reach of any aspiring entrepreneur or company. But in order to make it work, those smaller steps need to be in place, planned extensively, and completely foolproof.
To keep you focused and thriving in your global app launch plan, here are the 7 most important steps to get there.
Step 1: Research Comes First
Launching an app on a global scale requires an incredible amount of meticulous planning and research. If you’re thinking long-term, and you’re serious about gaining that worldwide appeal then you’ll need to look into the best place to start.
While it may sound like an exhausting amount of work, this research offers you insights into some of the key markets to focus on. Global expansion is the goal, but if you find a good lead that’s backed up by some sound data then targeting that region first is a no-brainer.
Step 2: Strategy Is Key
Communication and clarity for every county in your target marketing aren’t going to happen overnight. A global app launch is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time to implement a strong game plan based on the above research. Use it to make your app stand out from the crowd within your main target regions.
A good strategy is clear but open to evolving as you progress. You’ll never stop learning and improving as you go along, so keep your strategy updated constantly. While it’s important to remain focused on the overall goal, it’s inevitable that you’ll find each country will require a different plan.
Step 3: Prepare Your Workforce
This is often overlooked and it can cause irreparable damage to an app launch. An unprepared support team slows down any momentum, undoing a great deal of work in the process. Provide detailed training to your teams and prepare them for the potential overflow of questions and issues that they may receive once you’ve gone live.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s your own staff or through a localized support team, they need to sound confident and informed. There will be questions and there will be unforeseen problems when your app is up and running. It’s inevitable. But a well-informed support call can make a disgruntled customer feel totally at ease.
All it takes is one poorly trained team to make customers feel wary and uncertain of your services. And as we all know, one poor experience within the first few days of a launch can have large ramifications for your business plan.
Step 4: Work Closely With Local Support Teams
How do you ensure that your support team is informed and well-trained? By working alongside them and keeping them up to speed with what’s happening. Including a local team’s input is vital, as you may find you’ve missed a vital part of the information that’s been lost in translation.
Research and planning can’t always accommodate the different slang, regional meanings, and cadence within a smaller community of a country you’re launching in. If you stay open to feedback and are willing to take constructive criticism on board, you’ll gain more insights to use to your advantage.
Step 5: Localize Your Product
It goes without saying that you’ll need to do this every time you expand into a new country or region. However, not all localization plans run deep enough to speak effectively to their target audience. Instead, they’re given a basic translation that conveys no real information and inspires no strong emotional reaction in your customers.
As mentioned above, the local support team may help here. But the responsibility is on you to make your app work in each new region, every single time. It needs to feel like a product of the native languages you want to succeed in.
No one wants to feel like an afterthought. The second something isn’t clear you’ll come across as an amateur outfit instead of the global brand you want to become.
Step 6: Test it Out Extensively
Do you feel it’s ready to be released? Fantastic. Now it’s time to test that theory extensively. Checking for bugs and other coding issues is essential here. Don’t forget that translating an app isn’t just a matter of putting new content in and calling it a day.
Every change in language or currency can have an impact on real users once it goes live. Therefore, on-device testing is one of the final hurdles before a launch. Test your app extensively and triple-check the content for any potential glitches or cultural insensitivities.
Step 7: Brush up on the Specifications of Each Market
Now comes the final and most difficult step, keeping on top of the various rules and regulations within each market you’re targeting.
Of course, you’ve done your due diligence in the preparation of launching a global app. But the laws surrounding the promotion of goods and services are just the tip of the iceberg.
You’ll also need to consider the privacy of your users and check your terms and conditions extensively in the translated languages. The slightest oversight can cost you a fortune down the line so if you’re certain you’ve checked every last detail, check again to be sure.
If you put these 7 steps into action, you’ll soon find your business running smoothly and reaching into new markets with ease. An extensive foundation of research and consideration for the regions you’re looking to excel in will lead you far.
In no time you’ll develop clear communication for a global app launch that’s a global success and universally understood.