Shopify is an incredibly powerful ecommerce platform that makes it easy for businesses to set up an online store and start selling their products or services. One important aspect of ecommerce that can't be overlooked is localisation. Localisation is the process of adapting your content and products to meet the cultural, linguistic, and other requirements of a particular country or region. In this article, we'll explore how to set up localisation in Shopify and why it's important for your business. 

Why is localisation important for ecommerce?

Localisation is essential for businesses that want to expand their reach beyond their home market. In fact, studies have shown that consumers are more likely to make a purchase if the website or product information is presented in their native language. By localising your website, you can improve the customer experience, build trust, and increase sales.

Setting up localisation in Shopify

Step 1: Add a new language

The first step in setting up localisation in Shopify is to add a new language. To do this, go to your Shopify dashboard and click on "Online Store" in the left-hand menu. Then, click on "Themes" and select the theme you want to localise. From there, click on "Actions" and select "Edit languages" from the drop-down menu.

Next, click on "Add language" and choose the language you want to add from the list of available languages. Once you've added the new language, you'll see a list of all the sections and settings that can be translated.

Step 2: Translate your content

After you've added a new language, you'll need to translate your content. This includes everything from product descriptions to checkout pages. To translate your content, simply click on the section you want to translate and enter the translation in the corresponding field.

If you're not fluent in the language you're translating to, you may want to consider hiring a professional translator to ensure accuracy. Additionally, it's important to ensure that your translations are culturally appropriate for the target audience.

Step 3: Set up currency conversion

In addition to translating your content, you'll also need to set up currency conversion. This ensures that your customers can see prices in their local currency, which can help improve the customer experience and increase sales.

To set up currency conversion in Shopify, go to your Shopify dashboard and click on "Settings" in the left-hand menu. From there, click on "Payments" and scroll down to the "Payment providers" section. Click on the provider you want to use and then click on "Manage." From there, you can select the currencies you want to accept and set up the conversion rate.

Step 4: Test your localised store

Once you've completed the previous steps, it's important to test your localised store to ensure everything is working properly. This includes checking that all translations are accurate, prices are displayed correctly in the local currency, and that the checkout process works seamlessly.

You may want to consider testing your localised store with a small group of customers or using a tool like Google Analytics to track user behaviour and identify any issues that need to be addressed.

Conclusion

Localisation is an essential component of ecommerce, and setting it up in Shopify is relatively simple. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your store is accessible to a global audience and provide a seamless customer experience. Remember, localisation is not a one-time process and requires ongoing maintenance and updates to remain effective. So, be sure to regularly review and update your localised content to ensure that it remains relevant and accurate.