98% of companies in America trade internationally. Whether your business handles legal transactions, trades in goods, or operates in the financial market, international trade is a great way to expand your business. This gives you the opportunity to open up your business to more clients than ever before.
However, trading internationally comes with a variety of practical hurdles. You may have to work with a range of different time zones, for example. On top of this, only 26% of Americans speak more than one language and this can present a challenge in the business world.
Fortunately, the best translation companies are on hand to help you overcome language barriers in your business. Want to know more? Then you’re in the right place! Read on to find out everything you need to know about finding the best translation services company for your business.
What Do the Best Translation Companies Do?
There are plenty of free, easy types of translation software online, such as Google translate which has been around since 2004.
However, any native speaker will quickly point out that these do not deliver a high-quality translation in a given language. In fact, relying on these could leave your business looking very unprofessional to potential clients.
Translation companies can help you translate everything you need from business documents to marketing materials. They can also help you translate your website and make it accessible to potential clients. This essentially means that any services you offer in English, you can offer in other languages as well.
So why is this important for an expanding business?
Why is it Important to Hire a Translation Company?
If you are going to be working internationally then you need to hire a translation company. As we’ve already mentioned you shouldn’t rely on Google translate and similar software to do the job for you.
A translation company will ensure that the message and mood of your documents, communication, or copy get across to clients reading in different languages. This requires specialist knowledge of linguistic and cultural translation. After all, certain phrases do not translate directly from one language to another.
In-person or online translation companies will ensure that your business delivers high-quality work to all of its clients, no matter where they are in the world. This is vital if you are going to build international relationships and a sterling reputation.
So, before you start searching ‘translation companies near me’, how do you find the best possible translation company to work for your business? Let’s take a look at some of our top tips.
Find Out What Languages They Translate
Of course, you need to work with a company that offers translations into the languages that you need. This will vary depending on where your potential clients live.
It could help in the long run to find a company that offers multiple language skills. That way you can save time over the years by working with the same company over and over again.
If you are targeting a particular part of the world, you might want to find a translation company that specializes in different dialects from this region. For example, in China, there are eight major dialects. So if you are going to be doing a lot of business with Chinese clients you want to be sure you’re working with a company that’s familiar with all of these dialects and their variations.
Make Sure a Translation Services Company Has Experience
Before hiring a translation company you should make sure that they have plenty of experience. The last thing you want is to put your business’s expansion in the hands of a company that is just cutting its teeth.
So make sure you take a look at their previous client lists. Ideally, try and find independent testimonials from one or two clients as well. This can tell you a lot about the quality of their work.
Look for Specialized Understanding of Your Business
General experience in translation isn’t the only thing you need to consider. It’s also worth asking about the types of translation a company has done before and which industries they’ve worked in.
After all, they might be a brilliant translator but if they don’t understand business terminology they will struggle to do a thorough job. So you really want to find a translator that has experience working in your area of business.
For example, if you provide legal services, your translator needs to understand the legal terms that they are working with. Otherwise, things could get lost in translation very quickly indeed!
Ask About How Quickly They Can Translate
Any top-quality translator will be able to work to a deadline and you should be realistic in the deadlines that you set them. This will support a good working relationship with your translation company.
However, it’s worth asking about how quickly they are able to turn work around for you. After all, your business deadlines may be subject to change. Because of this, it’s important that you find a translation company that is able to deliver the work that you need as quickly as possible.
Check Out How Many Translators They Have
The number of translators a company has can make a lot of difference to how quickly they are able to get a translation back to you. Larger companies will have more resources and more translators at their disposal.
If you are working with a company that has multiple translators it’s worth asking whether you will always work with the same person at that company.
Working consistently with one or two translators can help to improve the quality of translation quickly. This is because they will become more familiar with your business over time and will be able to really capture your professional voice.
So, where possible, it is much better to work consistently with a few translators who are part of a big team. This ensures that they deliver quality content without being stretched across a demanding workload.
Look at the Services They Offer
Different translation companies may offer different services, so it’s worth asking about these before you hire them. The right services for you depend a little on what you need to use the company for. This often includes translating:
- Product descriptions
- Product branding materials
- Your company website and copy
- Your app copy
- Your marketing and advertising
- Customer support and communications
- User reviews on your website
- Documentation
- Social media content
- News articles
- Press releases
- Artificial intelligence training
- Website localization
- Financial reports
- Terms and conditions
- Contracts
- Patents
- Trademarks and copyrights
- Service agreements
- Licenses and permits
If you are not sure which services you need, a translation company will be happy to discuss these with you before you hire them. In order to tell you more about the services that could help you, they will need to know a little more about your business. From this, they will be able to outline all of the information that your international customers will need translating.
Companies may offer basic translation packages for getting a business off the ground internationally. For example, they might offer a package centered around website or app translation. Then you may have to request other services on top of this for more comprehensive support, such as customer service translation.
So it is worth asking about their pricing and services before you hire them. That way you can figure out exactly how much it is going to cost your business.
Ask About Confidentiality
Your translation company may have access to a lot of sensitive information about your company. For example, you may need their help translating confidential contracts with your international clients. This is unavoidable but it does mean that you need to work with a company that you can trust.
Before you hire a company, it is worth asking about the confidentiality policies and reviewing these in your hiring contract before you sign it. This is an opportunity to add in any specific clauses for your business before you hire them.
While most quality translation companies wouldn’t dare share confidential information about their clients, this protects you legally. If someone did break their contractual clauses and share confidential information about your company then you could take them to court. So it also incentivizes your translation company to keep your information private.
Find the Best Translation Services Today
As you can see, when it comes to finding the best translation companies around there are plenty of things you need to consider. Any reliable company will be happy to answer your questions about their services, so don’t be afraid to ask before you hire someone. Keep these tips in mind and you can’t go wrong.
