When we talk about the benefits of translation, we obviously refer to the benefits of a good translatio – a professional translation. If a translation is not good, far from helping you, it could damage your work and your reputation.
That’s why we always insist on the importance of a translation that meets your expectations. Of course, a relative or friend who speaks English can help you to write or read an email, and you can use an automatic translator to get a general idea of what a text is about. But you should never expect a professional result if you go this way.
What are the benefits of a good translation?
Sometimes our customers are not aware of the benefits of translating a text, document, or website until they make a translation order. Even though sometimes translations are made because it’s mandatory (annual accounts or contracts with multinationals, for example), the fact is that more and more people are promoting their business, adding notoriety to their theses, papers, articles, etc., and making their products international through multilingual communication. Why? Because the benefits of communicating in several languages are obvious:
Reason 1: attract foreign customers
As a country that relies strongly on the tourist sector, in Spain we are used to welcoming millions of people each year who speak other languages. Until now you might have managed to get away with only speaking Spanish, Catalan or Galician, but times are changing and will change even more. Nowadays, foreign customers coming into your shop, restaurant, business or garage want to be served in their own language, or at least in English. Translating things such as the menu in your restaurant, signage, advertising or rates for your business is not the same as having a good interpreter, but it will help you attract those hundreds of foreign customers who currently walk on by.
Reason 2: expand your market
At Okodia we have customers from countries such as Ireland, Japan, Sweden, Portugal, and the United States. Opening up our company to the international market is a fundamental part of our business strategy, something that many small companies like yours are doing. How can you expand your market without having to spend a fortune? By organising the translation of your virtual shop or the online shop window for your small business.
Reason 3: invest wisely
One of the keys to the success of a micro-enterprise is to make the most of every euro you invest. Using a professional translation agency is no more expensive than paying your tax advisor, insurance company or electricity company, but this money, invested in improving the service and attracting new customers, will be richly rewarded in your profit and loss account. Invest yes, but wisely and with one goal in mind: translate to save or improve your small business.
Reason 4: sell more
According to Forrester Research, 80% of consumers expect to be served in their own language, and not only that, they would also not buy a product without all the important information being translated into their language. In addition, half of consumers are willing to pay more if everything related to the product they are purchasing is in their language, for example, only 7% of Chinese and 5% of Japanese consumers feel comfortable buying in a language other than their own. If the information is translated, the customer is more comfortable, and this will help with the success of our products because if the buyer properly understands what they have purchased, they are more likely to like it, feel satisfied and repeat their purchase or experience.
Reason 5: increase confidence
We also have information in relation to the digital environment. The fact that a company’s online information is not in English generates mistrust in potential customers. It has been demonstrated that visitors on a website stay for twice as long if the page is in their language, making it more likely that they will buy something. In fact, half of all consumers only buy from websites in their own language. It will also improve our image, as customers will feel that we are closer to them and this will increase their confidence in our products.
To conclude, these three benefits translate into one thing: boosting your opportunities. Who wouldn’t want to make use of an opportunity to increase their possibilities of success?
What are your options when it comes to translation?
- Using an automatic translator.
- Haviny the text translated by someone who is neither an expert in the topic nor a translator, but who speaks the language very well.
- Translating the text yourself, and asking a professional to proofread it.
- Asking a professional to translate (and proofread) it.
Do you think that there will be differences between these options? Of course! They can all be right and valid at some point, but you should assume that there will be a difference in quality which, depending on the purpose of your translation, will be acceptable or not.
When you need a perfect text, suitable for a specialist context, or a commercial, popular science, institutional text, etc. you certainlz need a professional translation. What are the differences between a professional and a non-professional translation?
To begin with, a professional translation won’t (or shouldn’t) include typos, mistranslations, or grammatical inconsistencies. What you will find is correct, natural language, and a vocabulary suited to the nature of the text. A professional translation is not only done by a native speaker specialised in the topic of the text, but is also supervised by someone else. Quality control in a professional translation is much more exhaustive.
In addition, a professional translation will be ready when you need it: however long it may be, there will be no delays or partial deliveries. If a translator or agency commit to a deadline, they will meet it.
Finally, a professional translation can have added value if you want – for example, a layout service. Sometimes you don’t only need to get a text translated, but you also need a document that is exactly the same in terms of its design, layout, and format as the original, only in another language.
Would you like to learn more about the Okodia method to deliver quality translations? We will soon describe the details in our blog.
