Marketing in Quebec:
Translation Is Not Enough
Context is as important as content when marketing
to Quebecers
French-speaking
Quebec is too big to ignore for national and international brands seeking
relevance in Canada. Consumers in the province make up roughly one-quarter of
Canada’s population, and three-quarters of Quebecers only speak French at home,
according to a new eMarketer report, “Focus on French Canada: Using Digital
Channels for Marketing in Quebec.”
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It’s an
easy conclusion for a national or international brand to simply translate
content for a local audience. But veterans of this playing field suggest it’s
an issue broader than just mother tongue.
Language
in social channels is particularly relevant, where customer interaction can be
near instantaneous and viewed widely. A common issue among French speakers in
Canada is the slow response of brands to customer issues raised in French,
likely due to resource skimping related to language.
“Responses
are slower in French from national brands than they are for local brands,” said
Marie-Claude Ducas, a Quebec journalist and co-author of “Les médias sociaux en
entreprise: Les comprendre, les utiliser et en tirer profit,” a business book
on social media. “Slow responses, in any language, show less attention or care
toward the customer, and this eventually turns an active client away.”
“Consumers
in Quebec will reward brands that make a distinct and visible effort in
tailoring their story to the Quebec market,” said Eric Blais, president of
Headspace Marketing. The “visible” qualifier is especially germane to Quebec.
“That’s the difference between a brand that’s acting as a tourist in the market,
as opposed to a brand that looks and feels like it’s here to stay.”
In other
words, context is as important as content.
