by Michael Bastin | 13 Feb, 2020 | Startup Business, Business Tips, Outsourcing
Start-ups, small developing businesses, are continually on the rise and are producing fresh crops of young entrepreneurs.
Thanks to the growth of remote working and the ease of low-cost travel, small businesses are able to cross borders and trade internationally in order to achieve success.
Every business owner’s main aim is to increase their turnover. With a start-up business, there are many recommended ways to go about this.
In this article, we will go through the main components you should focus your resources on.
How to make a start-up business competitive
In our fast-paced modern world, the business market changes rapidly and, as an entrepreneur, it’s crucial that you stay in tune with relevant new trends.
Keeping on top of new tools and methods of reaching your customers admittedly involves a time investment, but the financial return can be significant.
The advent of social media has enabled entrepreneurs to develop business models that are unique to this generation.
Harnessing the possibilities offered by different social media platforms could be key to your company’s success.
The international nature of the internet also allows businesses, with a little help from professional translation services, to connect with global audiences, thus expanding their earning potential.
This can be particularly beneficial to companies offering niche products or services that may struggle to find a sustainable market locally.
Do you know the value of outsourcing?
As small companies grow they inevitably need support in certain areas as the business can become too big for just one person, or even a small team, to manage alone.
One solution to this issue, of course, is to employ more staff, which can be a significant financial commitment. However, there are other, more manageable, ways to outsource work.
Recognising the areas where you need help is the first step.
There will be some tasks that you won’t feel comfortable delegating, but others, perhaps which aren’t your area of expertise, could benefit immensely with some outside support.
Instead of hiring a new member of staff, you can contract external companies or freelancers to work on specific one-off projects or on a regular basis.
Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses
As individuals, we all have strengths and weaknesses, and the same goes for our employees.
Recognising where your start-up business needs a little help allows you to contract the best companies or freelancers for your specific situation.
If you are planning on expanding into the global marketplace, however, there are a few areas we would urge small businesses to focus on.
Three of these that we recommend you focus on are finding a reliable shipping company, a high-quality marketing agency, and, of course, a professional translation service.
Three easy, viable steps
Let’s take a closer look at how you can use these outsourced resources to help your venture flourish. Following this basic strategy can lead to some outstanding results for any start-up business that’s ready to break into the global marketplace and experience major growth.
Expand your network through translation
As your business expands into international markets, it’s inevitable that some translation and/or localisation of your content will be needed. As well as correspondence between you and any overseas clients, you will need to consider translating marketing material, websites and social media, and, potentially, legal or shipping documents.
It is vital that this work is performed by professional translators who are specialists in the relevant field, as well as experts in the language and culture of the corresponding countries.
Poor translations can lead to serious errors such as giving a bad image of your company or even causing legal issues. Find a translation agency you can trust, build up a solid relationship with them, and you won’t regret it.
Reach new clients through strong marketing
Investing in marketing support can really make a difference when it comes to finding new clients. We encourage you to think digitally when it comes to marketing.
Consider using affiliate marketing and teaming up with bloggers and influencers whose brands align with your company’s ethos or target customer. This can be a relatively economical way of reaching large audiences through powerful platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.
Ensure you can get the product to the customer effectively
For a long time, it was only big brands and large corporations that could afford to ship their products overseas at a reasonable price for the customer, but these days that’s all changed.
By outsourcing your logistics and shipping needs, you can send your products to even the remotest countries around the world with minimum hassle.
Outsourcing your shipping and fulfilment also allows you to avoid many of the complications associated with international customs. For UK-based services, check out Parcel Monkey and Parcelhub.
Get started with your start-up business
Whether you’re preparing to launch your first start-up or expanding an existing business into new global markets, you are now armed with some valuable insights into how to reach your fullest potential without burning out. What are you waiting for? Start-up success awaits!
When you’re ready to hire a professional translation service, BeTranslated and our highly skilled translators could be a perfect choice.
From European languages like German to international languages such as Korean, we have the right translator for you.
et in touch today for more information or a free, no-obligation quote.
by Michael Bastin | 30 Jan, 2020 | Translation agency, Translation services
Established in 2002, BeTranslated is a professional translation service with a vast network of freelance translators and project managers.
Our staff are located in many different countries across the world, from Europe and Asia to North and South America.
We efficiently supply reliable translation services according to the availability, specialisation, expertise, and resources of our team members to meet our client’s needs.
What puts us at an advantage as translators?
Our mix of geographical locations provides us with a unique advantage.
This allows us to use the time zone differences in our favour to benefit our clients, enabling us to not only meet the tightest deadlines, but also to hold a deeper understanding of the various cultural and language requirements needed.
This helps us to cater for variation in the client base that we serve and to enable worldwide reach.
BeTranslated is known for its flexible approach, and our company prides itself on collaborating with those who value quality. We offer a working environment based on mutual respect and a team that communicates openly and well.
The service we offer our clients at BeTranslated
In case you were wondering what the translation process looks like for a professional translation agency like BeTranslated, we thought we’d break it down for you:
Step one
We have representatives in different countries and allocate translators that are the best fit for our client’s needs.
They are usually selected based on being experts in the specific regional versions of the project’s languages.
For example, if a text will be published in Spain, the translator will be a specialist in European Spanish. They will be the contact and obtain the client’s precise project spec and details.
Step two
The core members of our network will discuss each project to evaluate its needs. Then the client is provided with a comprehensive quote.
Step three
Based on the specifics of a job, we will assign the freelance translator who best meets these needs. This might be a specialist in website translation, or perhaps a linguist dedicated to the field of IT or telecommunications.
Our linguists are always fully supported by our technical resources to provide a top-quality translation.
Step four
We deliver the requested documents or files on schedule, whatever the format, to the highest precision.
Step five
We always follow up with our clients to check that everything has been delivered as required and that they are happy with the service(s) provided.
Step six
If there are comments or alterations to be made, we will act on these and make any necessary changes.
Upon confirmation of satisfaction, an invoice will be issued for payment.
A professional translation service you can trust
All our translators are highly qualified professionals. We can cater to most types of translations and, with clear guidelines plus a reasonable deadline, we will ensure that all of our clients are impressed and delighted with our work.
We look forward to the opportunity to wow you with what we do and to welcoming you as a new client at BeTranslated.
Got a translation or localisation project on the horizon and looking for a reliable professional translation service? Request a free, no-commitment quote today!
by Michael Bastin | 3 Jan, 2020 | Translation tools, Human translation, Machine Translation
Although in most cases professional, human translation is the best choice for translation needs, there are occasions when machine translation tools can produce a good enough result.
Rapid advancements in technology mean that, as long as the text doesn’t contain many nuances or cultural references, translation apps can be used without much issue. (more…)
by Michael Bastin | 23 Oct, 2019 | Business Tips, Globalization, Marketing
Renewable, green energy is a well-known concept now, and our global aim to protect the planet and halt climate change needs environmental translation services.
(more…)
by Michael Bastin | 17 Oct, 2019 | Languages
The word ‘universal’ describes something that is all-encompassing, such as today’s business world.
Learning a new language abroad will be key, as business takes place across many languages, not just one single means of communication. Here is how you can avoid this sticking point.
For this reason, limiting yourself and your business to what you can speak means you’d only have a smaller scope of operation.
Thankfully, languages can be learned, and with modern methods, you’ll quickly pick up on the garb of a foreign tongue.
Learning a new language abroad is a gateway that creates a connection that makes things run smoothly.
Whether that’s sitting in a classroom, using an app or a blog, the practical purposes a new language serves to solve many problems.
These tips will help you when learning a new language abroad, whatever the business trip you embark on. Even a packed schedule can leave room to unwind — a few hours by the coast with a board from Matosurf makes the perfect reset.
Enrol in a language class
This is one of the best and foolproof tips if you’re going to grab on a language quickly enough.
A basic knowledge of the structure, grammar, and how words are pronounced sets the tone for better communication.
You don’t have to know everything to at least say ‘hi’ or effectively pass off a little message in a new language.
Further, enrolling in a language class means you see the bigger picture and the advantages associated with starting off on the right foot with language skills, particularly if your line of business is novel to you.
Language classes do need a certain degree of commitment and attention from you, meaning you will lose some valuable time, but on the whole, it’s worth it if your business must break new ground.
Mimic and imitate
If you’ve felt comfortable watching a Spanish, Chinese or Italian sitcom and didn’t have an issue following (with subtitles, of course), perhaps picking up some few lines to mimic would help.
Sometimes, lines get stuck in the mind, and you find yourself eager to learn more. It’s the same on the business front.
When you meet clients and other business partners, listen with keen interest and observe how they use words, phrases, and the gestures that follow.
Chances are you’ll pick up on some familiar words and try them out at a later time.
This way, you’re testing your mental ability to grasp essential parts of the new language and making an effort that is bound to pay off.
A drawback of mimicking is that you may get lost in the context of what’s being said.
However, an attempt to speak what you’ve heard or learned upgrades your personal network, which helps your business concerns.
Resist the urge to speak your language
It’s definitely one to watch out for. Even though it does help you escape a few sticky situations, replying in your host’s native language further strengthens your resolve to learn it.
Again, you might sound like an insect close to a well-lit bulb, but it’s better than being too comfortable with what you already know.
Resisting the urge to speak your language is awesome, but you should know where to draw a line, particularly if you want to close out a deal or confirm a transaction.
Also, others are just as eager to speak yours or build on what they’ve learned. One positive is that it boosts the process, helping you to learn faster.
Simple words are the key to learning a new language abroad
It’s okay to have a vast array of vocabulary to help you express yourself. But when it comes to new languages, you’ll find that you have a limited scope of words or vocabulary to press home your point.
You don’t want a situation where you’d have to use a service to look up the meaning of what you’re trying to say. For this reason, speaking like a child short on what to say helps a lot.
Forget all the tough stuff and stick to the basics. This way, things don’t get misunderstood since communication is effective.
Use online language tutors
Thanks to the internet, you can connect with a lot of people, including tutors and other language learners.
There are many benefits associated with using language training platforms, such as convenient timing – you can be on the move and still have access to materials – as well as lessons and live chats.
Also, you get to practice your skills with people from all over the globe.
Online learning is on the rise, but still requires a fair amount of time to gain anything meaningful.
This is coupled with the fact that nothing beats the real-time experience of learning a new language abroad.
On the plus side, however, it’s relatively cheap.
Culture is just as important – embrace it
Some cultures are largely unspoken, but one thing they’re not is hidden. Also, in most cases, you’re taken seriously when you observe such customs in a foreign country.
For instance, you may find yourself in countries that don’t accept tips for some services. Offering one would seem offensive, demeaning or in contravention of a law.
Even if the new language is not your strongest suit, observing the local culture and the customs that come with it is a nice step towards fitting in.
One drawback here is not staying long enough to latch onto significant parts of the culture and customs of a foreign place.
On the flip side, it’s something you never forget, especially if you return in the future.
When in doubt, ask for help
Being on a business trip presents many challenges, even if you’re fluent in the new language.
Getting a native speaker to help you translate essential aspects of business transactions is a good idea.
Things like residence permits, contracts, bargaining power, and red tape need experts to sift through them.
Furthermore, asking for assistance isn’t a sign of failure, rather a recognition of the fact that you’ve gone far enough. A pitfall would be falling into desperate hands.
Sticking to those recognised by authorities helps a lot.
Conclusion
Having a command of two or more languages is helpful to you and your business. It often means you can reach further in foreign countries and hold your own as you engage in profitable transactions.
These tips will help you hit the ground running.
In the meantime, if you need assistance with translations to help you go abroad, don’t hesitate to contact BeTranslated, for a free, no obligation quote.
