by Michael Bastin | 14 Feb, 2020 | Business Tips, Translation
As more and more businesses expand into international markets, the need for translation has increased.
It can be tempting for companies to rely on bilingual employees or translation software for this work, but is that enough?
Is it worth spending money on a professional translation service?
The dangers of doing it alone
As with any professional translation service, qualified translators guarantee a quality product.
Although translation software has come a long way, it still fails to produce nuanced texts which take context into consideration.
And, while your bilingual employee might have no problems communicating with international business partners in their native language, without experience and training they will struggle to produce accurate translations that are fit for service.
Not to mention, it will take them much longer than a professional.
Relying on these subpar measures will lead to translations containing errors, leaving your customers with a negative impression of your company.
Bad translations tell people that you are unprofessional and may lead them to question your company’s abilities in other areas.
This could result in loss of business and, in the worst cases of mistranslation, legal action being taken against you.
The value of spending money on a professional translation service
Now that we’ve touched upon the issue of poor-quality amateur translation, let’s take a look at how and why professional translators are able to produce such high standards of work.
Like experts in most fields, it comes down to training and experience.
Professional translators, like those working for BeTranslated, have gone through many years of education in order to become experts in translation, as well as working hard to be skillful linguists in their language combinations.
In addition to this, professional translators usually have experience and training in their specialisms. For example, financial translators may have studied economics or travel and tourism translators may have worked in the travel industry.
This education is continuous throughout their career; translators must stay on top of changes in both the translation industry and the industry of the specialism, as well as continually working on their linguistic skills.
This effort leads to highly skilled professionals whose work cannot be compared to that of amateurs or machines.
It’s also worth noting that when you hire translators through an agency such as BeTranslated, you can rest assured that all their translators are of a certain standard and that they exclusively translate into their native language.
Investing in translation means investing in your business success
If your company’s motto has been “let’s try to do it ourselves instead of hiring a professional” in relation to translation, we hope that the information provided in this article is making you question your stance. Your attempts to save money by skimping on translation could prove costly in the long run.
Instead of asking yourself if you should outsource to a professional translation service, you should start asking, “What is the best translation service for my business?”
Finding the right translator for you, who is skilled and knowledgeable in your industry, could make or break your international expansion.
At BeTranslated we work with talented translators with language combinations such as English to Dutch and Spanish to French.
If you are in search of a reliable translation service, look no further. For more information or a free, no-obligation quote, contact us today.
by Michael Bastin | 14 Feb, 2020 | Languages, Business Tips, Multilingual
Employing multilingual people or staff with a knowledge of foreign languages is crucial for companies that are working at an international level.
Having a good knowledge of English, for example, is a significant advantage in the workplace as in many locations around the globe English is considered a lingua franca when working with overseas clients.
With that said, the ability to master additional languages could be just the thing that gives your business the competitive edge.
This is particularly important when doing business in regions where knowledge of English is not a given.
Consider hiring staff that are proficient in languages that are relevant to your sector, whether that’s Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean or any other language.
The benefits of speaking your clients’ native language
Your client will view your dedication to having invested the time to learn their language as a long-term commitment.
Furthermore, this will reward you with long-standing relationships and loyalty from your customers. It’s also worth noting that having an understanding of the language used in your new market will enable you to acquire far better insights into the local character, customs, and beliefs.
This is invaluable knowledge when it comes to marketing and providing the best service to your clients.
Multilingual employees help foster strong relationships with clients
Employing multilingual people can bring great benefits to your company. These employees will enable your business to seamlessly connect with foreign customers and other local organisations.
The ability to provide your services in multiple languages gives clients a strong impression of your company; it will build greater trust and appreciation for your services, resulting in strong relationships with your clients.
These relationships can be translated into significant profits, meaning hiring multilingual employees is a sensible financial decision.
What if your team isn’t multilingual?
Not all companies have the luxury of employing multilingual people, which can put them at a disadvantage. But never fear!
By hiring a professional translation service, your company can gain many of the benefits of multilingual employees, and more besides.
Translators can be used for a wide variety of communicative tasks, from informal communications between companies to legal contracts and marketing campaigns.
Contracting professional translators guarantees that any content you produce in the target language is of the highest quality.
BeTranslated’s vast network of expert translators could be just the thing your company needs to facilitate its international expansion.
Get in touch today for more information or a free, no-obligation quote.
by Michael Bastin | 14 Feb, 2020 | Culture, Expat Life, Lifestyle
We all love a holiday and getting to enjoy the many wonderful new delicacies we can experience while abroad.
Whether it’s tucking into a delicious paella or tasty empanada when in Spain; sweating over a hot curry in India; or sampling noodles by the bowlful in South East Asia.
However, despite the new and delicious culinary delights on offer, there’s always a selection of typical British foods expats miss, especially after relocating long-term to a different country.
These products that we long for are often the first things we head for when on a visit home. Perhaps we’ll pay over the odds when we discover them in international supermarkets.
Some of us even beg our families to ship supplies of our favourite goodies. While our specific cravings may vary, there are certain British foods we all love.
What are the classic home favourites?
Here’s a list of the foods most commonly missed by Brits abroad. If you’re visiting a British friend in their new home, why not take something from this list as a little bit of Britain?
Proper British tea
Nothing beats a good old cup of British tea; it’s our answer to everything!
Biscuits
Something we love, especially to accompany our tea. From chocolate digestives to custard creams, we all love a good biscuit dunked in tea.
Heinz baked beans
As the saying goes, ‘beans, beans, good for the heart, the more you eat, the more you fart’! There’s nothing quite like beans on toast to conjure images of home.
HP sauce/Heinz tomato ketchup
Both these sauces have a unique blend of spices that no other brand can replicate. They are great condiments to accompany many traditional English meals.
Cadbury’s chocolate
While the UK is not famous for its chocolate, there’s something about Cadbury’s that no other chocolatier can quite match.
Crisps
Although many countries have their own crisp brands, nowhere that I have visited can contend with our variety and choice of flavours.
Marmite
Love it or hate it, this salty, savoury spread is one of the British foods expats miss from home. It’s best served with butter on hot toast and a nice cup of tea. There’s just nothing else like it!
The best English breakfast
Sausage, eggs, mushrooms, beans, toast, tomatoes, hash browns, and black pudding is also what we commonly refer to as a fry-up.
Although it’s not something most people eat every day, it’s known as a great hangover cure, and sometimes it’s the only thing that will hit the spot.
Fish and chips
Our big, fat potato chips and fried, battered white fish are something special.
We buy them wrapped up in newspaper, traditionally from speciality restaurants by the sea.
Interestingly, it is eaten with different condiments or side dishes depending on where you are in the country.
Sunday roast
This is a traditional Sunday meal and consists of roast meat (such as beef, chicken, or lamb) Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, and greens (vegetables) with gravy.
This is the average English family’s go-to Sunday lunch and is served in pubs throughout the country.
The English bits we can live without
Whilst our favourite English foods have us longing for the green grass of home, there are some things Brits really don’t miss when living overseas.
Chief among them is the weather! Britain is famed for its gloomy grey skies, cold temperatures, and rain.
Many expats claim that one of their main motivations for moving abroad was to escape the British weather and get a bit of sun in their lives.
If you have immigrated to another country, you may be looking for a professional translation service to assist you with the translation of business documentation or other projects, and BeTranslated’s expert translators are here to help.
Contact us today for more information or a free, no-obligation quote.
by Michael Bastin | 13 Feb, 2020 | Education, Adventures in Globalization & Localization, Multilingual
Are monolingual English speakers just lazy when it comes to languages?
People from the UK often get a lot of stick for only speaking one language. This could be attributed to the simple fact we are lucky that we speak what is widely considered to be a universal language.
English is usually spoken wherever we go, and by so many different nationalities, that we have a good reason to not have the same drive to become bilingual as speakers of other languages.
Without that pressing need to motivate us, many people never learn a second language.
Hence, monolingual English speakers are often labelled ‘lazy’.
Learning languages at school
Most British kids are taught a second language at secondary school, although learning French at school wasn’t very successful for me.
Although childhood is considered the best time to learn a language, without an outlet for direct use it’s no wonder it’s difficult to retain.
French classes at school didn’t help me out much during my many business trips to Paris later in life.
Did I wish I’d paid more attention in school? Absolutely! Was I motivated to learn as an adult? Maybe…
Learning a second language later in life
Although those business meetings showed me the value of learning a second language, it wasn’t necessarily a priority.
As previously mentioned, finding an English speaker in most situations isn’t too difficult, and I’m ashamed to say that language learning was pushed to the very bottom of my list of work and personal goals.
For those who are more disciplined than me, however, there are many modern methods to assist you with language acquisition.
From language apps to private teachers, the facilities are there for the taking. And if your linguistic skills aren’t up to scratch? That’s where the professionals come in.
What are monolingual English speakers to do?
Thank goodness for professional translation companies. When it comes to the important things such as translating your business contracts, press releases, or digital content, using Google Translate or cashing in favours with bilingual buddies just won’t cut it.
Due to globalisation, there is an ever-increasing demand for overseas communication on a B2B level, and for businesses to communicate professionally when dealing directly with foreign clients.
With this type of interaction becoming commonplace, the requirement for translation has increased rapidly. In light of their own language skills, monolingual English speakers can hire experts.
Using a professional translation service
Luckily for the monolingual entrepreneurs and business owners of today, there are well qualified and professional translation agencies available that specialise in a wide range of different fields.
Contracting these services can prevent the loss of independent clients, by something as simple as having a website available in multiple languages.
They can also translate business documents and contracts for foreign clients, providing new opportunities and opening up business avenues that otherwise would not exist.
Put simply, hiring skilled translators requires zero linguistic knowledge from you and can lead to big profits.
Don’t dismiss the idea of learning another language
Knowing that our fellow Europeans are likely to speak English, in the business world or otherwise, should not excuse us from trying to learn other languages.
As much as a translation agency can help, there’s nothing quite like being able to connect with another person directly, be it in a business or social setting. So whatever your age, it’s never too late to start learning another language!
In the meantime, BeTranslated’s experienced native translators are here to give you support in your translation needs.
For more information, or a free, no-obligation quote, get in touch today.
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.
