How to Budget for Translation Services

The world is shrinking. With the internet and technology lowering the geographical barrier, the scope of business has expanded into new and varied markets. With more and more worldwide consumers viewing your website, the need for translations is booming.

Budget Considerations for Translation

Here are 6 considerations to find the right budget to translate your content and convey your brand’s message, without breaking the bank.

1. Be clear of the purpose of the translation - You want to be extra careful and know WHY you want to translate your materials.
2. Write concisely - Make sure to get rid of all the duplications or fluff. The lengthier your content, the costlier it will be.
3. Define the project format - Note the format of your content. For instance, is it a layout file or a website? If the translated materials are delivered as Google Docs or a Microsoft Word file, they will require a web developer or assistant to load it back on your website or other platforms. This can be done by your internal staff or by the translation agency at an added cost.
4. Determine the need for an editor - For a basic translation, the agency will deliver the translated content. You may wish to have an editor review your content. This is particularly helpful when translating important, technical, or long-form content. Your translation partner can provide a second translator to edit your material for an additional cost. If you have a bilingual employee or distributor in your company, they can be trained to review your translation.
5. Evaluate long term scope - If you’re looking into just hiring a translator for a one-time project, then that might cost you more. Alternatively, partnering to translate recurring content like newsletters, blogs, or social media post captions can result in cost savings and discounts for long-term business. This type of partnership also cuts the hassle, time, and cost of hunting for a translator for each project.
6. The Golden Rule - Keep in mind that translation is a highly skilled service. Expect similar fees and quality for a translator/translation agency as that of a writing service/content writer, because the skills and efforts required are comparable.

Partner with the Right Translation Agency

It's important to keep in mind the above caveats when deciding on a budget. Partnering with a trusted, high quality professional translation agency can be stress-free and convenient. This allows you to focus on your business and trust that your translations are done right.

Note: When hiring a translator or an agency, make sure you are comparing the right aspects of the projects. Some may offer a low per-word rate but might later include additional costs for project management, file preparation, and other upsells. At Rapport International, we provide fully loaded, up-front pricing so you know what you’re getting. Read more about what to expect with translation pricing. To get an idea of a fully loaded translation package, take a look at some of our special pricing packages.

Rapport International specializes in multilingual communications, providing language translation and interpretation services that are accurate and culturally appropriate. We use the right voice, correct terminology to avoid liability, customize services to your needs, and deliver on time and within your budget. With our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust that it’s done right. Contact us today if you would like more information or to get a free quote.

About the Author – Rossy Dourado

Rossy is an ambitious content & copywriter from India. She writes highly conversational content and copy that builds a community of cheerleaders. She loves to help out coaches. Business owners/founders and course creators to present the right offer for the ideal audience. Her curiosity flames her to explore freelancing in various niches. She also loves to read books and envision long travel trips.