Tips for Successful Spanish Website Translation
Don’t be cheap and try to use Google translate:
Please don’t do off to Google translate thinking your saving a few bucks because your NOT. In the end it will cost you more in lost business. Because when a Hispanic customer logs onto your website it will be full of grammatical errors, meaning that the message that your trying to communicate wont be getting across. In addition it will also make your company look unprofessional which will drastically diminish the chances that the Hispanic customer buys from you.
The only exception to this rule if if your already well versed in Spanish and have the time to read ALL of the content and correct all the mistakes Google translate made. Please note that automated translation software tends to be very literal.
Don’t Just hire any one to do it:
These are some things you Must take into consideration when selecting a Translator:
1) Terminology
2) Dialect
3) Free Lancer or Translation Company?
Terminology:
Make sure your getting someone who is well versed in your area. Just because someone speaks Spanish
does not mean that they can translate highly specialized content.
How can you expect some one who knows nothing about medical terminology or insurance terminology to effectively translate a medical insurance document?
How can you expect someone who knows nothing about Engineering or Chemistry to effectively translate Mechanical manuals or Lab reports?
The same applies to your website. It doesn’t matter whether your selling cell phones or life insurance make sure that the translator you choose is capable of getting that message across with the least amount of variation form your original content.
Dialect:
Where is the translator from? A where are most of your target customers from? For example if they are Mexican and you are using a non Mexican translator make it a point to explain to the person to
avoid the use of expressions, terms, or sayings that will only be understood in one region or country.
Free lancer vs Translation Company?
Free Lancer Benefits:
- Less expensive
Free Lancer Pitfalls:
- Usually only qualified to serve as general translators
- Quality harder to guarantee
- If working alone large translation jobs may be over whelming
- No peer review of work
- Translator only from one nationality
The intention here isn’t to knock freelance translators; the world is full of very qualified freelancers the issue arises with the uncertainty of the translation quality. However if you do find a translator who is qualified, go with him or her.
Translation Company
- Usually pricier
- Have an array of translators with diverse specializations
- Can handle larger translation jobs
- Usually have a peer review process before jobs are completed
- Translators are from an array of nationalities
- Not all translation companies are created equal
With both do your homework.