1. Be clear about the scope and size of your translation project.
Clearly identify the material that you need translated and the languages you need to have the material translated into. Do you need a 275-page training manual translated? Do you need a two-page marketing brochure translated into eight different language combinations? Four separate paragraphs within a larger report or summary?
These are only a few examples but the scope, size and ultimately, the expectations of the translation project would be unique in every case.
It’s also really important to provide an accurate word count. If that’s not possible, either because an electronic copy of your document is not available, or the document is a hard copy that is locked to PDF conversion, the project manager can usually estimate the word count of your project based on the number, size and density of the document pages you provide.
2. Do your homework.
Like many service providers, the best translators often come highly recommended. One of the best ways to choose a translation company is to ask a business associate for a recommendation. Depending on the subject of your document or the languages involved, the person may be able to recommend one or more companies to suit your needs.
If you don’t know anyone who can recommend a suitable translator, you can go online and do your own research. Be prepared to visit several websites, review testimonials, and carefully read the services page to determine the services that the translation company provides.
Does the company usually deliver translations that are “publication ready”? Or are the translations usually for “information purposes” only (i.e. usually not revised or proofread by a second or third party)? Does the company provide sufficient information about the linguistic services that are and are not covered under its service contract?
When you’re doing research, look for signals that the company is serious about customer service (and not just paying lip service to the idea!).
For example, what happens when you have a question or a complaint?
How quickly do the project manager or other staff respond?
How hard does the company as a whole work to make sure you are completely satisfied with the service? Similarly, does the company offer a Service or Satisfaction Guarantee? We do (you can find a copy of our Gold Service Guarantee here), and we are very proud of the fact that once you become our customer, we take care of you from the very first phone call or e-mail. We also believe that your problem becomes our problem when you become our customer.
These are all about factors to consider when deciding where to spend your translation dollars.
3. Shop early.
Lastly, don’t wait until the last minute to hire a translation company or a translator. Urgent translations that have to be done overnight or on the weekend usually cost more than if you were able to plan ahead and allow more time for the work. Rush translations can also potentially result in errors.
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend setting aside one day for every 1,500 to 2,000 words you need to have translated. These values can vary and every company has its own policies; however, these are good general guidelines of the standard turnaround times in the translation industry.
If you’ve enjoyed these tips or have thought of one we might have missed, let us know in the comments. We would love to hear what you think!
