The global market for language services hit over $46 billion in USD in recent years. And that number is only on the rise, projected to hit $56 billion by 2021.
Your home business can benefit from hiring a translator. But what are those benefits? And how do you find a language services professional?
Learn more about the benefits of tapping into the translation industry with this guide.
Why You Should Hire a Translator
As the e-commerce industry grows and as physical storefronts make their mark online, you need adaptability. The internet is a world wide web connecting people of many languages.
If you can’t communicate with these customers, you’re limiting your visibility. You’re also shrinking your profit margins. Any home business that wants to flourish in today’s digital world needs to know the benefits of working with a translator.
Global Connections
No matter your industry, the goods and services you offer are likely desirable worldwide. You can connect globally with potential customers if you hire a translator.
Communicating with customers in multiple countries demonstrates your dedication to accessibility. It also makes your brand more visible, as SEO strategies work in more than one language.
When you invest in a translator, you invest in untapped markets. Your previous target audiences, localized or not, can now be targeted locally, in their own language. Read more here about how Google’s new shopping pages work with translated storefronts.
Increase Conversions
When you connect globally and expand your market, you open the door for new opportunities. Your site traffic will increase in conversions. Your marketing strategies will likely encompass new demographics.
When you hire a translator, you’re not just changing words on the frontend of your site. You also impact the backend data for search engine optimization. Google’s spiders crawl sites for keywords in multiple languages.
Basic SEO strategy aims to boost conversion rates. When you expand your keyword database using other languages, you increase your visibility. More visibility means a higher ROI and generates leads.
Better Communication
When you can communicate better with clients, you’ll see a number of positive side effects. A translator can help decrease the number of confused customers you have who speak other languages.
If you hire a translator for web copy, you can expand your FAQ page to other languages. Better communication for common queries saves you time and money. It also meets customers directly with accessible solutions.
Meeting customers at a personal level like their language also shows you care. It appears that you’re willing (and able) to serve customers to the best of your ability. Good customer service is just good business.
Professional Credibility
Including a translator in your budget speaks to professional credibility. Acknowledging the globalization of your home business shows your business’s growth. It also communicates how seriously you take every customer.
Customers perceive a multilingual site as more professional. In part, the money you spend on a translator shows how much you can spend. Businesses in your industry who do not hire a translator appear less credible than you.
How to Find a Quality Translator
Now that you understand the benefits of hiring a translator, you need to know how to find a professional. When you invest in translation services, you want native speakers to see your translated copy as professional. Follow these tips to learn more.
1. Product Quality
Easily the most important part of hiring a translator involves finding a licensed one. There are national and international organizations that license and certify translators. Explore those specific to your industry (e.g., legal, medical, educational) for the best translator possible.
Don’t be afraid to ask for specific credentials to assure product quality. If your translated copy is less than professional, native speakers will know. Your business may suffer.
2. Expertise Field
When you hire a translator, make sure they have experience in your industry field. Certain industries require heavy jargon. The last thing you want is to lose credibility when your translation is inaccurate.
You could lose customers or business partners from inexperienced translation. Keep in mind that field expertise is more than licensure. Ask for a portfolio or testimonials if possible.
3. Technical Skill
Certain types of translation require more technical skills. You need to hire a translator with industry expertise and an understanding of technical differences in different types of copy.
When you look at a translator’s portfolio, be sure that he or she has worked on projects similar to yours. If they have not, their technical skill may be less than you require.
4. Speed
You need a translator with efficient turnaround on tasks. If your hired translator can’t meet deadlines, look elsewhere. The last thing you want are incomplete documents or parts of your website left untranslated.
5. Confidentiality
Depending on your industry, you want a translator who understands confidentiality. Certain documents may require more discretion, especially if you work in legal or medical fields.
6. Value vs. Price
Don’t be lured in by seemingly affordable translation. Most translators make a living doing so and charge accordingly. Depending on the language you need, you may have to pay more.
The technical ability and rarity of the language will also impact the cost. When you pay for a translator, don’t be afraid to compare to quotes from other translators.
Hiring a Translator for Your Home Business
Now that you understand the benefits of using a translator for your business, it’s time to hire one. Your business can only grow in potential and opportunity when you invest in language services.
To learn about other potential investments to boost your entrepreneurial efforts, be sure to check out more of our content. We offer helpful information and resources that will grow your home business from startup to full-blown business in no time.
