Deglobalization & AI: The calm before the storm
While reviewing websites for the 2025 Web Globalization Report Card I was struck by two things: Combined, I believe we are in the midst of the calm before the storm. …
Languages
2025 Web Globalization Report Card is underway
For those of you wondering (and thanks to those who’ve already reached out) the next Report Card is in production. If your company is already included (or you want it …
Five web globalization best practices that have stood the test of time
NOTE: The following is the beginning of an article I published with Multilingual Magazine recently. You can read the full article at the link below (free registration required). Twenty years …
Is Apple about to prioritize localization and expand its linguistic reach?
Apple’s recent developer newsletter caught my eye because, for once, localization was featured at the top: Apple is providing free training sessions focused on Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan …
Will Google retake the lead as the world’s most multilingual website?
What’s the world’s most multilingual website? It’s not Facebook. Not Google. Not even Wikipedia. It’s the website of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, at just over 1,000 languages. But Google has been …
The inherent flaw of the translation icon
There is no internationally accepted definition of what a “translation” icon should look like. But here’s the icon websites tend to use: You see it many places these days — …
The top 25 global websites from the 2024 Web Globalization Report Card
Twenty years ago, Wikipedia was just a few years old and available in about a dozen languages. Today, Wikipedia supports more than 300 languages and has emerged on top of …
Have we reached “peak” language?
We’ve heard of peak oil and peak TV to indicate a point in time when growth ends and decline begins. It appears that we have reached a similar peak in …
The best 25 global websites from the 2023 Web Globalization Report Card
I’m pleased to announce the publication of the 2023 Web Globalization Report Card. This is the 19th annual edition of the Report Card, yes, 19th. And while there are a number …
Language is a feature. It’s time more companies treated it as one
For many years, the addition of languages (as part of website localization) has ranked one of the least-promoted developments on any given website. Languages were added. End of story. Perhaps …
Duolingo’s year-end language insights
I’ve long appreciated how Duolingo removes so much friction from trying on a new language — and demystifying languages in general. Duolingo now claims an impressive 500 million language learners …
Massively multilingual
It seems like only yesterday (2009 actually) when Google Translate had reached 50 languages. And for the past few years it appeared that Google has largely plateaued at the low …
Square localizes for an audience closer to home
Square has been slowly but steadily increasing its global reach, with support for 7 countries and four languages, including Japanese, French and even Catalan (in Spain). But on September 13th, …
Think Big; Think Global
I was honored to participate in a Wegginar with Laurel and Laura of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global. I spent about an hour focusing on US small businesses and tips for …
Why Adobe is one of the best global websites
For the 2022 Web Globalization Report Card, we benchmarked the following 16 consumer technology websites: Adobe Apple Canon Dell Fujifilm HP Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Panasonic Samsung Sony Toshiba Xiaomi …