Spotlight on Creative Agencies: Part 2
In the second part of this mini-guide, we provide you with more handy tips on how best to tackle translation.
If you missed part 1, you can catch up with it here.
Tip #4: Set realistic deadlines wherever possible
When it comes to translation, there are no two ways about it: unrealistic deadlines will leave you with sub-par translations. Translators are only human, and when pushed beyond their capacities the quality of work they produce suffers. So if you’re looking to get it right first time, it’s important to have an honest conversation about feasible timeframes with both your client and your translation provider. Working to realistic deadlines takes you one step closer to a smooth translation process with high quality results.
Tip #5: Make sure you’re prepared
This tip is perhaps the most obvious but often the most overlooked. Make sure that both you and your client are happy with website copy and processes before you send across files for translation. Having to make changes to website copy once translation is underway is a situation that should generally be avoided.
Tip #6: Don’t lose sleep over design files in foreign languages
If you’ve got a folder full of translated design files and not a linguist in site, approaching the final editing phase can seem like an impossible task. It doesn’t have to be though: ask your translation provider for bilingual documents that provide you with both the English and the target language side by side, making the editing process much clearer. Or, if time and budget allow, discuss the possibility of implementing an additional review step to the translation process, or user testing by foreign speakers. With the right preparation and translation partners in tow, you’ll be helping your clients equip themselves for international growth in no time.
If you’ve got a particular project in mind that you’d like to discuss in more detail, feel free to get in touch for a friendly chat.