Written by Tim Kaney; Website, Design, and Marketing Specialist.
So you think you can get away with not translating your product or service? That’s fine, if you don’t want to grow your business. I know that it is important to tighten your company’s proverbial “belt” during these hard economic times. You can turn your gaze inward and decide where to hack and slash to save money and cut spending. But that is only a temporary fix that can lead to long-term problems.
Cutting positions and overloading already burdened staff will create an environment that not only fosters mistakes, but also weakens your company’s ability to hit the ground running when the economy recovers. When the time comes, you won’t be able to shift your growth train to “full steam ahead!” Investing in overseas markets or consumer markets of foreign languages right now, while prices are down, could be a boon to your long-term growth.
How do you do that? Translate.
It is especially important in the modern market, where e-commerce has become such a global phenomenon. In addition to that, the export industry is still alive and well. The only difference between the two is that one industry is digital and the other is physical. If you have a website or are selling a product online, chances are that English-speaking people are not the only ones who would be interested. If you manufacture a product or offer a service, the same goes for you. If you feel you need more reliable information than this blog, take a look at your home state’s statistics on export dollars and locations.
Once you have considered this option and decide to take the next step, do yourself a favor and find a reliable translation agency that delivers high-quality work. If you decide to take the route of hiring freelance translators, be wary. While a freelancer doesn’t have to hold any certification in order to translate, most contractors at translation agencies do. What does that mean? While you may end up spending a bit more up front with a translation agency, the return on investment in regard to quality makes it an absolute necessity. A translation agency can’t be competitive and stay in business if they do not implement certain quality control measures, such as ensuring that their translators are certified and have verifiable references, and documenting and following standardized procedures such as those endorsed by ISO 9001:2008.
All things considered, the main reason to consider translation is this—your competitors are already doing it…shouldn’t you?
To view more information about the importance of translation, click here.
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