Case Study: Market Research and Competitor Analysis for Translation company in Asia
This Competitor and Market Research campaign had the challenge to understand their competitors, tailoring their SEO and social media strategies, and building a compelling unique value proposition to be a well-positioned to grow their market share and establish themselves as a leader in the industry.
Build Ads Online sent a pitch to a translation company to conduct an in-depth market research and competitor analysis across Asia.
The goal was more than just gathering data—it was about shaping a strategy that would allow the company to dominate the translation, interpretation, and localization services industry in key markets like the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea.
The challenge was clear: understand the competitive landscape, target key customer segments, and strategically position the company for growth.
Contents
The Challenge
The translation industry in Asia is highly competitive, with both established and emerging players vying for dominance. Our customer, Translations company, offered a diverse range of services including certified translations, interpretation, and localization services. However, they faced tough competition from large industry players who were already well-established in the region.
The mission of this campaign was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics, identify competitor strengths and weaknesses, and uncover untapped opportunities that would allow Translationscompany to strategically position themselves as a market leader.
The Strategy: In-Depth Market Research
The first step was to conduct an exhaustive market research analysis that spanned across the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea.
By diving deep into each country’s consumer behavior, industry trends, and competitor tactics, we uncovered valuable insights that shaped the strategy.
Our research identified a diverse range of customer segments, from individuals needing certified translations for legal or educational purposes to businesses requiring localization services for international expansion.
This allowed us to map out specific strategies for each audience, ensuring that Translations companycould cater to their unique needs.
Competitor Analysis: Understanding the Playing Field
The next phase involved an extensive competitor analysis to uncover what the top translation companies were doing to dominate the market. Our research revealed that competitors were driving significant traffic from organic search channels, primarily through Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
In fact, 70% of their traffic came from these search engines alone. We also identified the top platforms for audience engagement, including YouTube (93.8% of engagement), Facebook, and Instagram.
However, our competitor analysis went beyond just identifying the platforms. We conducted a SWOT analysis for each major competitor, giving Translations company a detailed look at where they could outperform their rivals.
We noticed gaps in competitors’ strategies, such as underutilization of certain keywords and social media platforms like LinkedIn, which presented clear opportunities for our customer to seize market share.
Crafting a Strategic Positioning Plan
Armed with this data, we helped Translations company define their unique place in the market. Should they position themselves as a significant change or carve out a niche in specific translation services?
Our recommendation was to build a unique value proposition (UVP) around their strengths—certified translations and interpretation services—which were in high demand but not heavily emphasized by competitors.
Additionally, we proposed a localization strategy that would tailor marketing campaigns to the cultural nuances of each market.
In Japan, for example, we advised on running language-specific campaigns targeting younger consumers seeking translation services for education and international work opportunities.
In the Philippines, the focus was on translating legal documents for OFWs and individuals pursuing overseas careers.
Optimizing for SEO and Social Media Engagement
With a strong foundation in place, our next move was to help Translationsoptimize their digital presence.
By focusing on high-impact keywords like “Japanese Interpreter Manila” and “Professional English to Tagalog Translator,” we ensured that their website would rank higher in organic search results.
This was a crucial step in competing with larger players who relied heavily on organic traffic.
We also developed a robust social media strategy that leveraged YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram—the top platforms for user engagement in the region.
The strategy included visually appealing content, live sessions, and educational posts that highlighted the importance of localization and translation services. This approach not only generated brand awareness but also drove conversions by engaging potential customers at the right stage of their buyer journey.
Throughout the campaign, collaboration was key. Translations company was actively involved in every step of the process, from providing feedback on creative assets to refining messaging based on our market insights.
This close partnership allowed us to align the marketing strategy with their specific business goals, ensuring that our recommendations were both actionable and relevant.
The Outcome: Strategic Insights Delivered
At the end of the campaign, we delivered a comprehensive report to the customer, detailing the market opportunities, competitor strategies, and customer segments we identified.
Our analysis provided them with a roadmap to dominate untapped segments, including the growing demand for certified translations and legal document translations in Asia.
We also provided actionable recommendations on how to implement a long-term SEO strategy and leverage paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads to target high-value keywords.
This, combined with our suggestions for enhancing their unique selling proposition (USP), gave Translations Asia the tools they needed to stand out in a crowded market.
Results:What Went Well
- Competitor Analysis: We effectively identified both direct and indirect competitors, offering Translations Asia a comprehensive understanding of where they stood relative to industry leaders.
- Collaborative Approach: The customer’s active involvement in refining our recommendations helped ensure the strategy was tailored to their goals.
- Strategic Positioning: By advising the customer on their unique value proposition and helping them differentiate their services, we positioned them to succeed in the competitive landscape.
Key Learnings and Future Recommendations
- Benchmarking Performance Metrics: We advised Translations company to establish clear KPIs, such as website traffic, conversion rates, and social media engagement, to track their performance against competitors.
- Content Diversification: Competitors were missing opportunities on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram Stories, which Translations company could capitalize on for lead generation.
- Refining the USP: We recommended that the customer continue refining their USP to focus on their strengths in education and legal translations, helping them carve out a distinct niche in the market.
Through a data-driven approach to market research and competitor analysis, Build Ads Online helped Translations Companygain a strategic foothold in the highly competitive translation market across Asia.
By understanding their competitors, tailoring their SEO and social media strategies, and building a compelling unique value proposition, the customer is now well-positioned to grow their market share and establish themselves as a leader in the industry.
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