Why the Pay-Per-Word Model in Localization is Dead

It's time to stop counting words--And start measuring impact

· Vendor and Team Management

The Big Mistake: Localization Is More Than Translation

Many companies have gotten localization (L10N) all wrong—and honestly, it’s not entirely their fault. For decades, they’ve relied on traditional Language Service Providers (LSPs) that themselves have misunderstood the full scope of what localization truly requires.

Let’s set the record straight: localization is not just translation.

A strong localization department does much more than push words through a pipeline. And linguists? They’re not just translators. They’re strategic partners, deeply involved in ensuring quality, consistency, and clarity across every piece of content.

What Linguists Actually Do (That the Pay-Per-Word Model Ignores)

Think linguists just “translate text”? Think again. Here's what they re

ally do behind the scenes:

Terminology Management
They determine which terms belong in the glossary and flag improper usage across projects.

Consistency Enforcement
From tone to style and terminology, they ensure your brand voice stays cohesive across all markets.

In-Context Reviews
They review content like UI strings, videos, and subtitles in their final environment to ensure accuracy, functionality, and user clarity.

Translation Memory (TM) Health
Linguists clean, update, and curate your TMs so they remain usable, accurate, and valuable over time.

Project Collaboration
They actively engage with teams, asking questions, clarifying intent, and making smarter localization decisions.

Yet despite all this, many still cling to the pay-per-word model—as if linguists are just word factories. This outdated mindset discourages meaningful collaboration and overlooks the real value linguists deliver.

The Better Way: Per-Hour Localization

The only way to achieve

sustainable, high-quality, and strategic localization is by building long-term relationships with expert linguists—and paying them by the hour.

Here’s what you unlock with a per-hour model:

  • 🧹 TM curation and optimization
  • 🔍 Terminology consistency checks🌍 Market-specific research
  • 📈 SEO and keyword research per locale
  • 👀 In-Context Reviews and functional testing
  • 📊 Smarter Planning, Clearer ROI

As a company, you should be able to track L10N demand by market through analytics—and plan resourcing accordingly. A per-hour model makes this easy.

You can hire top linguists via a flexible hourly setup through an LSP, allowing you to scale based on actual needs—no bloated costs, no wasted resources.

Better still, by switching to a monthly or hourly agreement, you’ll:

  • ✅ Reduce costs over time
  • ✅ Avoid financial surprises
  • ✅ Dramatically improve localization quality
  • ✅ Shift focus from volume to value

🚫 Words are not widgets.
✅ Your localization strategy should support growth—not just output.

By ditching the pay-per-word model, you’re investing in quality, efficiency, and global impact. You’re building localization that works—not just one that counts.

Ready to modernize your L10N workflow?

Let’s talk about how hourly-based localization services can transform your content pipeline.