by Michael Bastin | 11 Mar, 2021 | Business Tips, Multilingual, Translation services
With the rapid growth of social media, online platforms and e-commerce sites, it has never been as vital as it is now to ensure your message and content is shared widely.
For example, the number of videos posted on a network like Facebook has exploded to the point that an estimated 100 million hours of video are consumed by internet users each day.
Companies that turn to these communication channels have seen their turnover skyrocket and their international customers grow in unexpected numbers. That’s where video subtitling comes in.
What can video subtitling offer your organisation?
Everyone agrees, your company video presentation was a roaring success, yet there have been no clicks.
Why could that be? Well, it’s worth bearing in mind that over 8 out of 10 videos online are watched with the sound off.
And this applies across social networks and broadcasting mediums.
Ads, trailers, excerpts of speeches and TV programmes are usually watched with the sound off, pushing more and more organisations to have their audiovisual content subtitled by an audiovisual translation agency.
The pros of English subtitles
With subtitles in English, you will be able to reach out to a new audience that, so far, has not been able to access your audiovisual content.
For example, once subtitled in English your video will be accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, that’s 11 million people in the UK alone.
This method, known as closed captioning, is part of the inclusive communication philosophy that arrived with the early 21st century and allows a larger number of people to access information.
English subtitles on your video will broaden your field of activity and boost your message’s circulation both within your business, through meetings and presentations, and externally to social media users or as part of a client-canvassing strategy.
A recent study by Facebook showed that a subtitled video or short film received 10% more likes while its viewing time increased by 12% and shares by a massive 26%! Tempting, isn’t it?
Subtitling in other European languages – a door to more marketplaces
To go even further, and really connect with a huge international audience, many organisations make a habit of subtitling their video content such as their ads, marketing videos, company presentations, official communications and training videos.
Sharing communications of this type in multiple languages on their website or e-commerce platform is one of the best development strategies that internationally-minded companies can put in place.
Free of language restrictions, your company video can travel wide, from Brazil to France, passing through Japan and Spain en route.
Video subtitling – bring in the professionals
However, to be able to do this, your video will have to be subtitled by a professional translation agency.
It is vital to put your trust in specialist audiovisual translators who know the rights and wrongs of subtitling like the back of their hand, whether that’s for films, short videos or even documentaries and educational films. Otherwise, the proof will be in the video.
These linguists are not only natives of the relevant countries, and so understand the linguistic uses and customs perfectly, but they alone will know how to reconvey your message in line with the many rules of professional subtitling, such as character limits, spotting and managing different types of files and colour codes in closed captions.
Trust us with your video content, and we would be delighted to get back to you with a prompt quote taking into account the film’s duration and your personal requirements.
As the digital age continues to evolve and explode with new and useful tools, the allure of using AI for content creation and translation is undeniable.
Yet, it’s vital to remember the unique value of human touch.
At BeTranslated, we specialize in humanization, offering nuanced understanding, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence that AI cannot replicate.
Our team ensures your message is not only accurate but culturally resonant, with a commitment to confidentiality and human responsibility at the core of our services.
While AI can streamline processes, the expertise and personal care of our professionals guarantee your content accurately reflects your brand’s essence.
Choose BeTranslated for a blend of technology and human expertise, where your message’s integrity and confidentiality are our top priority.
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 | 19 Feb, 2018 | Business Tips, Good to Know, Translation services
Many businesses aiming to expand beyond the domestic market concentrate on B2B sales; sales between businesses, rather than between a business and an individual customer (B2C).
If your company plans to pursue B2B deals with companies overseas, the creation and delivery of a high-quality B2B marketing campaign are paramount.
Of course, going global creates the need for B2B translation.
If you plan to branch out into countries where a language other than English is spoken, said marketing campaign will have to be translated by a professional translator, along with a myriad of documents and correspondence.
In this guide, we will share the most important factors to be considered when hiring a reliable translation service for your B2B translation needs.
Define your target market
Having a clear target customer, whether they are an individual or another business, is crucial to producing a successful marketing campaign.
Be clear on who you are communicating with and what tone you wish to portray.
If your translator knows these details they will be able to produce translations that are perfectly tailored to the reader, giving your product or service the best chance of resonating with the potential client.
Establish language combinations for your B2B translation
Once you have established your target market and identified which language or languages your content will need to be translated into, you can begin to work with a translation service that specialises in those languages.
Although some languages are spoken in many countries around the world, the dialects vary greatly from country to country.
Let’s take French as an example; there are huge differences between the French spoken in France, Canada, Belgium, and Haiti, to name just a few French-speaking nations.
If you are expanding into more than one country or region that speaks the same language, the translation agency can give you advice on whether a different B2B translation for each country is needed, or whether their dialects are similar enough for that to be unnecessary.
Find a translator who understands your niche market
The best translation service for you will not only specialise in the right language combinations, but they will also have native translators who are experts in your specific sector.
If your company produces medical equipment, working with a translator specialised in the medical field to translate your instruction manuals, for example, will guarantee clear and accurate translations.
Don’t underestimate the importance of localisation
If you haven’t worked with a translator before, you may see the process of translation as simply replacing words in one language with words in another.
Of course, it’s much more complex than that, and one of the major considerations for the translator is making sure that the target text will be understood in the context of the target culture.
This process of tweaking the text to suit the new audience is called localisation and takes into account issues such as humour, pop culture, religion, and superstition.
Working with a translator who can provide localisation services will ensure clear communication with your clients, free from damaging or costly misunderstandings.
You won’t regret having your website translated
To strengthen your presence in your target market it is essential to have your website and other online content translated into the relevant languages.
Hiring an experienced, native speaker as your website translator will help you to build a relationship with your new clients, which will directly benefit your sales.
A professionally translated website will give a good impression to those local businesses you are interested in working with on a B2B basis.
If your website is not available in their language it not only sends the message that your company is not invested in their market, it also forces them to use automated translation which can lead to serious misunderstandings.
Always follow local regulations
Remember that different countries and regions may have different laws and requirements when it comes to information such as ingredients lists, disclaimers, and instructions, and getting these wrong could lead to serious ramifications.
Do your own research, but also discuss these issues with your translation service so that you are all on the same page.
You’ve worked hard to establish your company in the UK, building a strong relationship with your clients through communication that suits your business, don’t let this standard drop as you take your business global. Translation agencies like BeTranslated, with our skilled, native-language translators are here to help.
Get in touch today for more information or a free, no-obligation quote.
by Michael Bastin | 8 May, 2017 | Translation agency, Translation companies, Translation services
Do you need a document translating but don’t know how you go about it? There are many solutions. Here is a brief guide to the different types of translation service providers, that could help you choose who to entrust your business content to.
Freelance translators
Many translators decide to set themselves up in business as freelancers. These professionals try to carve out a place in the translation market on their own. In this category, you might come across three scenarios:
A freelance translator who will take on your project directly
This professional works alone. You can contact them directly, sending your documents and providing instructions about the translation.
Note that freelance translators often also work for translation agencies.
A freelance translator who subcontracts to other colleagues
Some freelance translators, overwhelmed with work, choose to subcontract to trusted colleagues in exchange for a small commission.
They will act as an intermediary, usually proofreading their colleague’s work before sending you the final version.
A freelance project manager
Unlike a translator subcontracting to a colleague, a freelance project manager no longer translates. They act solely as intermediaries. Their address books are long lists of professional translators who specialise in a variety of fields and work in different language combinations.
Translation agencies
A translation agency is a company that can take charge of your project from A to Z. Translation companies differ in terms of size and mode of operation:
Small agencies
In this category, two or three people work together to create a small translation agency. They are often former colleagues or collaborators specialising in a particular field who choose to set up their own business.
Translators’ networks
This concept is the basis on which BeTranslated was created: several professional translators pool their knowledge and experience to create a network based on trust and quality.
This is a different way of managing a small agency. Generally, the members of this type of network still produce their own translations. They always proofread all the translations that pass through their hands.
Medium-sized agencies
This type of agency might have five to twenty employees, who will include not just project managers but also specialists in desktop publishing, web formats, and localisation.
They work in the same office, know each other personally and meet every day. Everyone has a specific role and represents a key element of the translation process.
Medium-sized agencies are usually created by professional translators who know their way around the industry and entrust projects to fully qualified independent translators.
Large agencies
Here, at least a hundred employees work together at several offices spread around the world. The scenario here is quite different, and the larger agencies may not even be created or managed by professional translators or people with experience in the industry.
The “business” side tends to take priority over the human aspect and professional fulfilment.
Mega-agencies
Unlike small agencies, these huge corporations, such as SDL or Lionbridge, are real translation factories. Located in many countries, they manage hundreds of projects every day and divide tasks between their large numbers of employees.
They have huge networks of translators working in every conceivable language combination and specialising in particular fields. This enables them to manage many different projects, regardless of the subject.
Translation service providers – it’s up to you!
From freelance translators to mega-agencies, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to translation service providers! The final decision to entrust your documents to one over another is up to you, depending on your needs and expectations.
Every provider has a different approach, so think about the type of service you want when making your choice.
Have you ever used the services of one of these types of providers? Were you happy with the service? Share your experience with us!
And if you’re looking for a reliable translation agency with experienced native translators, get in touch with BeTranslated today for a free, no-obligation quote.
