Lessons learned while developing multi-lingual and multi-locale websites and applications.

1. LESSONS LEARNED:
GLOBAL WEBSITES &
APPLICATIONS
by
Austin Govella
www.thinkingandmaking.com
@austingovella
Slides available on slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/austingove"a/globalwebsitesapplications
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

2. Two definitions:
1. Multi-lingual means something is available in
multiple languages.
2. Localized means content changes based on
where the user is located.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

3. Multi-lingual. Not localized.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

4. Multi-lingual. Not localized.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

5. Localized, not multi-lingual.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

6. Multi-lingual. Not localized.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

7. Multi-lingual and localized.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

8. Multi-lingual and localized.
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

9. Multi-lingual means content is available in multiple
languages.
1. What languages?
It costs money, time, and content managers to
translate.
2. What content?
Are you translating all content? Some content?
What content?
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

10. Multi-lingual means all content is accessible in
multiple languages:
• Content on the page.
• The <title>
• The <meta description>
• Tooltips
• Form field helper text
• Success, Warning, and Error messages
• Error pages, “Site down” shingles
• Abbreviations What’s Wed in Chinese?
• Announcements
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

11. Localized means content changes based on where
the user is located.
1. How do you determine location?
2. When do you determine location?
3. What locations matter?
4. What if you determine the wrong location?
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

12. Localized means content changes based on where
the user is located.
1. What content changes?
2. How does it change?
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

13. Location Language
Content X X
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012

14. Role Location Language Time Device
Content X X X X X
From “Lessons Learned: Global Websites & Applications” by Austin Govella, Nov 15, 2012