It’s safe to say that the Internet has made the world much smaller. The world has become more accessible than ever before and this has resulted in more opportunities than ever before as well. But how can you take advantage of all these new possibilities if your website or app isn’t available in other languages? Context for translators Especially if you’re trying to do business internationally, you’ll need translations—and lots of them. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars to get your website or app translated into multiple languages.
How do I get started with translations?
If you have a project that could benefit from being translated into another language, you’re not alone. Localization is no longer something reserved for niche products and projects, either; plenty of major brands are now localizing their online properties and expanding into new markets.
Ask questions before you start
Many translation platforms operate on a request for quote basis, meaning you only pay for the translation after you receive it. Unfortunately, many translations are rejected because they don’t meet certain criteria or deadlines. Before hiring any service to translate your website, project description, marketing materials and so on, ask them these questions: Are you fully qualified to translate my project? Do you have a native speaker in every language that I need translated?
What tools should I use?
There are a variety of tools available to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. Many are relatively easy to implement, even for small teams working with tight budgets. For example, English-language search engines like Google can be supplemented with country-specific options like Baidu (China), Yandex (Russia), and Naver (South Korea). Translating web pages into non-English languages is also free and fairly simple if you’re using WordPress or Drupal.
When should I translate my content?
If you’re targeting customers and businesses outside your home country, or if you want to expand your reach and appeal to people who speak different languages, you need to localize what you’re offering. This may seem like a daunting task but don’t let it be. We have platforms that can translate content for us so we don’t have to spend hours translating from scratch. By outsourcing translations, not only will we save time but also money that can be invested elsewhere.
Which languages should I choose?
By having multilingual content, you open up a new market for yourself. Think about all those Spanish-speaking businesses that are desperate to reach English-speaking markets, or vice versa. If you can provide them with a good service and translations tailored to their needs, they’ll be very happy. And they’ll make you money.
How do I keep track of translations?
As we mentioned above, Tinggly’s approach is to have native speakers translate your content. Then we take those translations and employ professional copywriters to ensure that they are natural and convey exactly what you want them to. The end result is a translation that sounds as if it were written originally in that language. The original English version of your content will also be automatically translated into over 50 languages!
Should I look at translated content before publishing it?
If you’re going to work with a translator on a regular basis, it may be worthwhile to look at translated content before it’s published. After all, someone other than you will be representing your brand – and chances are good that what he or she translates isn’t exactly what you would have said yourself. Asking for a second opinion is perfectly normal, and can even help prevent costly mistakes!
Should I offer access to translated articles for free?
Offering free content is a great way to drive traffic to your website and gain exposure to potential new customers. The first thing you need to do, though, is decide whether or not you should provide translated versions of all your articles for free on other websites. There are pros and cons to both approaches. If you want a greater reach but don’t mind giving up a little revenue, then providing free content for others can be a good approach for you.
