Your app may gain thousands of downloads, but if those users aren't becoming loyal customers, user experience may be holding them back. This can be due to the language being difficult to understand, unclear payment systems, or just the content being unfamiliar. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all provide great opportunities for companies looking to expand their mobile apps. These countries all have thriving digital markets with demand for e-commerce, fintech, gaming, education, and entertainment apps. However, translating the app into Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish isn’t everything. Each audience has its own language preferences.
The app needs to be translated so that product descriptions, in-app messages, payment information, and customer service are all adapted to suit the local audience. Mobile application translation services can ensure that your app is ready for these target audiences. The real key is ensuring that people want to come back after downloading.
1. Why App Companies are Targeting Nordic Countries
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all have great opportunities for app development companies, with digital services playing an important role in everyday life.
Customers are using mobile apps to shop, manage money, learn, play games, and consume entertainment. This provides great opportunities for businesses offering products within these categories.
For example:
- E-commerce: Clear product details, delivery information, return policy, and checkout instructions are needed.
- Fintech: Accurate transaction costs, account information, and security messages are required.
- Gaming: Natural conversation, clear menu options, and localised content are needed.
- Education: Clear lesson instructions, subtitles, and study material.
- Entertainment: Appropriate subtitles, descriptions, and marketing content.
However, just because there is a large digital audience in these countries doesn’t mean it will result in high sales. It is important to research what local businesses are doing, what customers want, suitable pricing, and what type of apps are being used.
2. Translation Should be Done Separately for Each Country
While Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are close geographically, they all use different languages. The translations may not be the same across all countries.
Sweden: Use Natural Swedish
The content within your app should be written in natural Swedish. Register pages, product descriptions, reminders, and payment messages should all be written as if a local company wrote them. If you’re using a fitness app, the reminders and motivational messages should be in natural Swedish.
Norway: Select the Right Written Language
There are two official written languages in Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is the most commonly used; however, you should consider who your target audience is. A Norwegian linguist can help you decide which language to use and ensure you keep the terminology consistent throughout your app.
Denmark: Use Natural Sentences
Ensure your translations use natural sentences and are easy to understand. If you’re translating from English, then short in-app messages can become awkward. For example, information within your banking app in Denmark should be easy to understand. This includes transfer details, account costs, and payment confirmation.
This means localization of Scandinavian languages will need to be done for each individual country. Never use the same translation for all three.
3. English May Not Be Enough
While many people in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark will have a good understanding of English, it may not be their first language. For example, if someone opens up a banking app, they may understand English. When there is a possibility of an error affecting their payments or account, it is best to translate:
- Registration and Login instructions.
- Payment and Subscription details.
- Privacy and Security alerts.
- Customer Service.
- Error messages and Push notifications.
While you can offer English as an additional language, it is best to also provide important information in the customer's preferred language.
4. Localise App Store Listings
When people search for an app, they usually look at the app name, description, screenshots, and reviews. If your app is only available in English, then it may not answer any questions the customer may have while searching in Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish.
Localising your App Store Optimisation (ASO) helps businesses ensure their app targets local searches. Your app should have:
- App Name: A natural description of what the app does.
- Keywords: Research what people are searching for in each country.
- Description: Clear local language describing what features and benefits your app provides.
- Screenshots: Translated text.
- Video Previews: Subtitles, voice-over, and on-screen instructions.
The keywords should be researched thoroughly. There may be multiple translations for the keyword in English, and the direct translation may not be what your customers are searching for locally. You can look at competitor apps to find useful keywords.
5. Translation Should Be Done for All Areas
Just because the menu has been translated doesn’t mean your app is ready to launch in another country. Customers will interact with many areas of your product. This includes welcome emails, password recovery emails, tutorials, payment reminders, and help articles.
For example, if you have a learning app and a Norwegian student downloads it. Whilst the registration page is in Norwegian, the lessons are in English. When they receive a subscription renewal notice, the terms used are unfamiliar. This can cause confusion when using the product.
You should translate:
- App discovery: Advertising and store descriptions.
- Register Welcome screens and account instructions.
- Everyday use: Menu, buttons, and notifications.
- Customer communications: Emails, tutorials, and help articles.
- Subscriptions: Payment, subscription renewals, and cancellation.
Having consistent terminology throughout will help when making changes in the future. Professional multilingual software translation services can help developers translate their app, technical instructions, and documentation.
6. Localise Video Content
You should not only translate text content, but also video content to help customers understand your app. For example, if your company is promoting your project management app in Denmark, then you can create a Danish version of your product demo. This may involve subtitles, a voice-over in the local language, and translated instructions.
Depending on the content, you may just want subtitles added. However, detailed tutorials will be better with a Danish voice-over. This also applies to Sweden and Norway. Choose the right format depending on the purpose of the video and the target market. Including app localisation services in your marketing strategy will help ensure your content is consistent with the language used within your app.
7. 5 Common Errors to Avoid
Small language issues can affect how people use your app. Make sure you avoid these issues before launching:
1. Don’t use the same translations
Each country will need its own translations. They should all be reviewed by someone who knows how they are used locally.
2. Don’t use English in your screenshots
These are part of your selling message. If you haven’t translated the graphics, then your app won’t look finished.
3. Don’t use automated translations
Automated translations can help speed up the initial translations, but can miss out on context, financial terminology, and cultural differences. It is important to have them reviewed.
4. Don’t ignore the screen
Translating may cause the text to be longer. Ensure that your buttons, menus, forms, and smaller screens all look good.
5. Don’t skip testing
Just because you’ve translated the text in a spreadsheet doesn’t mean it will be okay. Ensure they are reviewed by linguists and testers. This way, you can identify any unclear messages, incorrect labels, and display issues.
By identifying these issues before launching your app, you’ll save time and avoid unnecessary complaints from customers.
8. Track Performance
Once your app is live, it is important to look at more than just how many downloads you’ve had. Useful information to track includes:
- Impressions and downloads from app stores.
- Number of registrations.
- Drop-off during onboarding.
- Paid subscriptions and revenue.
- Repeat use and retention.
- Customer complaints and requests.
This can help identify areas your app needs to improve. For example: You may have lots of downloads but a low registration rate. This may be because the instructions are confusing or the sign-up process is too complicated.
You may rank well in the app store but not get many downloads. This can be because your description isn’t convincing, the screenshots aren’t great, or your keywords aren’t matching the local searches. It is best to track each country separately so you can easily identify which language version or section of your app needs to be improved.
Conclusion
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark all provide great opportunities for app companies. To successfully launch your app, you need to ensure that each country has its own translations, appropriate content within the app store, and carefully reviewed customer communications. By investing in mobile application translation services, you can ensure your products are ready for these requirements. By combining translations, researching your ASO, testing your software, and adapting your multimedia, you can effectively expand your app in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish.
