How to avoid getting lost in translation

Marketing is global by its very nature. International brands use their local identities as unique selling points around the world. Think of the fashion industry, for example, and the luxurious Italian stylings of Gucci and Versace – or the “Cool Japan” cachet of brands like Uniqlo which are starting to make waves in the Western world.

You too can benefit from customers’ passion for all things exotic and international by investing in quality translation services. However, it’s important to make sure you do it right. We’re sure you’ve seen plenty of illegible websites and embarrassingly mistranslated documents in your time – enough to know how important it is to have translation work done properly.

So what can you do to get the best results? Here are my top tips:

·      Work with a reputable translation agency. Translation agencies are the experts in high-quality localisation, and their diverse resource pools mean that they can provide exactly the right people with the right skillsets for the job.

·      Invest in QA processes. For maximum peace of mind, have your translations checked by editors and proofreaders who can spot mistakes and correct them before they reach the customer.

·      Find ways to balance quality and cost. Choosing the very lowest bidder can lead to hidden costs down the line – think lost sales and time spent correcting substandard work. Remember, though, that many reputable agencies will offer discounts for large or repetitive texts. See if you can strike a deal!

If you’re thinking of going global with your own brand, feel free to get in touch to discuss the ins and outs of translation services in further detail.

If you’d like to read more about getting the best deals and results from translation providers, you can also visit our blog at http://www.translatorsfamily.com/blog/for-clients or read our free ebook at The Ultimate Buyers’ Guide to Translation.

About me

Oleg Semerikov

I had a passion for languages and entrepreneurship since I was just nine. That’s why I chose to be a translator and in 2006 successfully started my career as a freelance English-Russian/Ukrainian translator. Soon afterwards, I founded a team of translators, which today is a rapidly developing boutique translation agency, Translators Family, based in Poland.

PS:

If you find this article useful and interesting, please like it and share it on your social media. Thanks!