We now live in a global economy and for companies this means communicating with customers on an international level. Speaking to customers in their native language displays your commitment to cater for their requirements. If your marketing messages are spoken or written clearly and features local culture then it gives a very positive effect.
The majority of businesses around the globe cannot afford to employ a full-time multilingual translator or copywriter. It is much more likely that you will seek the services of an expert translator or go through a translation company.
Trust is crucial when working with translators, much in the same way as when you use an electrician or plumbing service. Customers often don’t know precisely how an electrician or plumber can repair a sink or add a new socket, but they do. How a translator is able to turn a document from one language, into another is known only to the translator. Ultimately it is their coaching, experience and intuition which enable them to translate material so well.
A sensible way to obtain the most out of your translator is by working closely with them ensuring that the desired tone is accomplished. Taking shortcuts can not work in translation. If you try and rush a translator the material will suffer and so will your business. If you simply leave a translator without any direction the material will also suffer.
Timing is essential to successful translation. Leaving a translation project to the last minute will only lead to failure. It is similarly risky to make significant alterations to any translation project half way through. Translators will need to carry out research, collaborate and proofread, all of which takes time and planning. Furthermore a translator might have to wait for feedback from a colleague.
In some cases a business will need to use certified translation. With this form of translation the translated document comes with another document which says that it is correct, accurate and represents the same meaning as the original document. This sort of translation is usually a little more expensive but used only when necessary.
For any business or individual using a professional translator the greatest concern is accuracy. Although not always feasible, having the document verified is a good strategy. For personal documents the odd error might not matter but in business one slip-up could make or break a deal.
