Website Localisation Checklist for UK Exporters

Expanding overseas isn’t just about shipping products… it’s about being understood.For UK exporters, your website is often the first point of contact with new markets. But if it’s only in English, you’re limiting your global potential.

That’s where website localisation comes in. It’s not just translation… it’s adapting design, tone, and user experience to each target market.Below is a practical checklist to help you prepare your website for international visitors and boost your export success.

Define Your Target Markets

Before translating a single word, decide which countries or regions matter most.Consider:

• Where your existing export enquiries come from.

• Countries with strong demand for your products.

• Local regulations or cultural nuances that may affect your messaging.

🎯 Tip: Prioritise 2–3 markets first (e.g. Germany, France, Spain) to ensure quality and consistency before expanding further.

Research Language & Cultural Preferences

It’s not enough to pick a country… you need to understand its audience.For example, Spanish for Spain differs from Spanish for Latin America, and colours or imagery that work in the UK may have different meanings abroad.

✅ Checklist:

• Identify local language variants.

• Avoid idioms and slang that don’t translate well.

• Adapt visuals, icons, and even humour to fit the culture.

• Translate Key Pages First

Localising your entire site upfront can be costly. Focus on your high-impact pages first:

• Homepage

• Product/service pages

• Contact page

• About page

• Blog articles that drive organic traffic

This approach ensures you see early results and can expand later based on performance.

Optimise for Multilingual SEO

Translating content isn’t enough… search engines in each market must recognise and rank it.

✅ Checklist for Multilingual SEO:

• Research keywords in each target language (not just translate English ones).

• Use hreflang tags so Google knows which language version to show.

• Localise meta titles, descriptions, and alt text.

• Host each language version on a dedicated subdirectory (e.g., /de/ for German).

• Build backlinks from local websites and directories.

Adapt Design & Layout

Different languages expand or contract text length by up to 30%, affecting design.Ensure your site’s layout is flexible and supports right-to-left scripts (Arabic, Hebrew) if needed.

✅ Checklist:

• Use responsive layouts that handle text expansion.

• Leave enough white space for longer words.

• Ensure fonts support special characters (é, ü, ñ).

• Localise currency, date formats, and units of measurement.

Review Legal & Regulatory Requirements

Each country may have different data protection or e-commerce laws.

✅ Checklist:

• Include local privacy notices and cookie policies.

• Display prices in local currency with VAT where required.

• Adapt terms and conditions for regional compliance.

Choose Native-Speaking Translators

Machine translation can distort your brand’s voice. Always work with native speakers who understand the culture and can fine-tune tone and terminology.

At Tongue Tied (NW), our website localisation team ensures your content doesn’t just make sense — it makes an impact.We tailor your message to local markets while keeping your brand identity consistent worldwide.

Test User Experience in Each Language

After localisation, review the site in each language as if you were a local visitor.

✅ Checklist:

• Check all links, forms, and buttons.

• Review line breaks and special characters.

• Ensure translated CTAs make sense contextually.

• Verify that all translated images and videos display correctly.

Maintain & Update Content Regularly

A localised site isn’t a one-off project. Keep updating all versions simultaneously to avoid outdated pages or mismatched information.

✅ Checklist:

• Schedule regular audits.

• Track performance in Google Search Console by country.

• Update seasonal or promotional content in all languages.

Measure Results

Track how localisation impacts traffic and conversions.

Metrics to watch:

• Organic visits from each country.

• Keyword rankings per language.

• Conversion rate by market.

• Bounce rate from localised pages.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between translation and localisation?

   
   

   Translation converts words; localisation adapts the full experience, including design, tone, and visuals, for the local culture.

2. How long does website localisation take?

   
   

   A small business site (10–15 pages) usually takes 2–3 weeks depending on complexity and number of languages.

3. Can I use AI for website translation?

   
   

   AI tools are useful for drafts, but human editing is essential to ensure brand tone and accuracy.

Conclusion – Think Global, Write Local

A well-localised website isn’t just a translation project… it’s a business growth strategy.By adapting your content for local markets, you increase visibility, credibility, and conversions across borders.

If you’re ready to expand internationally, Tongue Tied can help you plan, translate, and optimise your multilingual website from start to finish.

👉 Contact us today to discuss your localisation goals and get a tailored quote for your export markets.