4 tips to deal with a translation agency

Find out the top tips to deal with a translation agency

Supposing that you have managed to decide which translation agency suits your needs, the next step is dealing with them. This can be a difficult process sometimes because they might refuse some of your requests, but there is no reason to panic. You just need to develop your negotiating skills in order to obtain what you want. Diplomacy is really important in this case, so we will give you some tips that might be really useful for you.

Make a clear request

From the very beginning, it is important to think about all the details. Specify everything related to the languages and the length of the translation. Think well about deadlines and keep them realistic for yourself and especially for the translators. Do not forget about additional services such as SEO, as this is vital for the functioning of your website. All these requests must be made clearly and with diplomacy. Reply to all the questions with detailed answers to ease up the work of the agency and to make sure the results are going to be satisfying.

Negotiate the price

A lot of translation agencies are going to ask you for the full amount from the very beginning, but it is not wise to accept this. Try to negotiate with them as much as possible in order to obtain a deal such as paying only 40% in advance and the rest at the end. This way, if something goes wrong, at least you know you have the possibility not to pay the entire sum. In order to avoid delays, you can add in your contract that you will detract 5% for each week of delay.

Ask them to submit the work in chunks

If you do that, you will be able to monitor the entire translation process. You can verify the style, the tone, the vocabulary they used and you can ask for changes. This way you save yourself some time and you also help the translators to gradually adapt to the style you prefer. Pay attention to the terminology they use and make sure it is used correctly. You have the right to ask for changes, but try to do it in a polite way, without harsh criticism for meaningless mistakes.

Ask for a second opinion

If you know people that speak the target language, you can always ask them to take a look even if they are not professionals. They will be able to tell you if the translation sounds natural, if idioms (if the case) are translated correctly and if the terminology actually makes sense in the context. If you don’t know any people that can give you an opinion about the translation, you can hire someone to proofread. There are freelancers that do that at very low rates and it’s really worth it for your business.

In conclusion, you have to show determination and also diplomacy when dealing with your translation agency. Details such as price and additional services are really important and must be negotiated right from the start. If you follow all these steps, chances that things will go wrong are really low.