Is it possible to save money and get a professional translation?

How much?! Do you want my arm and my leg while you’re at it?

You may have been surprised, or even mortified, by some of the professional translation quotes you’ve received in the past. And if you are a newcomer, this blog post is of equal importance.

The good news is that translation costs can be managed and reduced by understanding insider workings of the industry.

So here’s how to save big money on professional translation by following 5 key practices:

 

1. Pick out the right translator

 

As we’ve seen in some of our previous posts, it is of utmost importance to choose your translator/s thoughtfully. Assuring that your translator is a native speaker for your target content, specialized in your business’s sector, and has the amount of professional experience and education required is crucial. It will save you both time and money, as the work will be done more quickly, to a higher standard, and without mistakes. Errors, remember, cause negative impact and require revisions that take more time.

I know it can be tempting when you receive a quote that is less than half that of another. The amount of inaccuracies and revisions that would undoubtedly ensue from contracting a translator who does not align with your needs, however, would cost you more… and then some.

Luckily, Hello Translator puts you in touch with a wide range of professional translators with numerous specialties and language pairs.

 

2. Save money by sticking with your translator

 

If you need to have similar content translated on a regular basis, there are many reasons you should try to establish a relationship with a single translator. Not only will they become a reliable business partner, but also adapt to your content over time. The content will have a unified tone to it in the target language, as it does in the source language. The translator will also become continually more familiar and specialized with your company, making them an asset to you. You will save time by not having to search out new talent, and work on a continuously cost-efficient basis.

 

3. Be sure of legal requirements before hiring your translator

 

Do you need a certified translation? Documents used in court, for universities, and for immigration for instance usually need to be legally certified. Does your original document have copyright stipulations? Novels that are to be translated into other languages, for example, need to be approved by their publishing house. Be sure to check all legal requirements pertaining to the original and translated document prior to contracting your translator. This will undoubtedly save you money, and start things out on the right foot.

 

4. Provide translator with optimized original documents and supporting resources

 

One of the most helpful things you can do is to supply your translator with original documents that are in an editable format i.e. Word doc or alike. The format is something you are sure to discuss with your translator ahead of time, nonetheless, working with formats that are not readily editable like a PDF, will require additional effort (time and cost). And some translators will charge additionally depending on the format you submit (PDF instead of Word for example).

You may also opt to cut down on the word count as a way to cut down on cost. This, of course, is very dependant on the type of content, however, it is recommended that you do review the content you are to have translated and be sure that all of it really does need to be translated. Often, long business presentation, documentation, statements can be repetitive or pages could be summarized.

Think, does my target audience in this new language really need all of this information? And now? Most translators charge a per word rate, so this is an obvious way to condense your budget if appropriate.

Also, when supplying the optimized original document, don’t forget to supply supporting references! Glossaries, images, website links, competition references, etc. Having these to go to will reduce doubts and result in a more tailored translation.

 

5. Maintain open communication with your translator

 

Be proactive about establishing a good working relationship between you and your translator. Giving your translator clear direction and being available will result in efficiencies.

Also, ask questions. It’s okay if you have a question, in fact that is great. And your translator will appreciate your being available to help should they have questions along the way. Open communication and quick responses will make the translation process smooth and accurate. Again, accuracy means translation money savings for you.

Be sure to get back to them after the final translation has been submitted during this period of corrections. This is when you can take advantage of free modifications. Every translator has different practices, so check with them first. Still, if you’ve kept the lines of communication open they will too.

 

6. If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!

 

This Benjamin Franklin’s quote fits perfectly with our last piece of advice.

Plan timelines and discuss due dates with your translator because they extremely important. Requests for work on unusually short turn-arounds, weekends, and holidays can easily increase cost of translation up to 50%!

 

Finally, when working with business partners, and certainly written content, nothing comes down to a perfect science. Nonetheless, as industry professionals we can do a lot to plan for efficiencies and best business practices, to optimize benefits for all.

Do the prep work, and see the savings!

 

Do you want to know more?

Neil Payne – Business 2 Community – 5 Ways to Save Money on Professional Translation Services

Hello Translator – 4 Factors that will increase the price of your translation. Avoid them! (in Spanish)

Hello Translator – 10 tips for saving time and money on translating (in Spanish)