1. 1
​The need for translation services is greater than ever
before. As the world economy becomes more integrated,
the importance of top quality translations will only continue
to grow. And, as industries and cultures continue to move
closer together, market forces will require that translations
be complete, accurate and culturally appropriate.
​Approximately 337 languages are spoken or signed in the U.S. In
fact, according to the American Community Survey 2009,
endorsed by the United States Census Bureau, there are 35
million Spanish speakers and over 2.6 million Chinese speakers
living in the U.S.
​96% of the world’s consumers do not live in the
United States and less than 6% of the world’s
population speaks English well enough to
conduct business, according to Content
Marketing Institute.
How to Select a Translation Agency
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2. WHAT TO CONSIDER
​Language Experience – What is the
best way to make sure that your
translation will sound right to your
target audience? Go native. By native,
we mean a native speaker of the target
language. Native speakers have the
advantage of linguistic intuition that
makes it possible to say things so that
they sound right to the target audience.
Ideally, your translator will have as
much fluency in English as in his or her
native language. That includes
experience living and working in the
U.S. or in England.
​Get References – This is perhaps the
most important way to ensure a quality
job. Clients typically don’t speak the
target language(s) and cannot make a
first-hand assessment of the finished
product. For this reason, agencies and
individuals in the translation industry
place a lot of importance on their
reputation. A good agency will be
happy to provide solid references.
Companies that bid on large
translation contracts are often required
to provide resumes for translators with
specific qualifications. A review of
individual translators’ resumes is an
effective way to predict how your
project will turn out.
Find an Agency Who Specializes in
Your Subject Matter – A translator with
a background in your subject matter will
be easier to work with. The more
specialized your translator, the better
the quality of the translation. Always ask
for samples of previous work.
Additionally, small, specialized
translation agencies can often provide
better service: (a) their translator
recruiting can be more focused than that
of general-purpose agencies; (b) they
often enjoy better and more up-to-date
training and experience, as they operate
in a more finely-tuned market.
HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY
Translation is a specialized skill that is very mysterious to some people. If you don’t speak the
“target” language(s), how can you be sure what you’re getting?
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Factors to consider when selecting a translator or agency include:

3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT, METHODOLOGY
​Establishing a quality management system enables you to
fasten, harness and concentrate the collective effort and
resources of the extensive team in a singular collaborative
track. Done correctly, you get a fresh, proven model that is
superior in everything from quality and cost-efficiency, to
uniformity and reliability.
3 Things a great translation
agency should do well
1. A great agency makes certain there are clear
lines of communication so you get questions
answered quickly, since often this information
must be filtered through three to four
individuals before it can be incorporated into
the final product.
2. The best translators create project-specific
glossaries and get your approval of them in
advance. Inappropriate or outdated
terminology can make the translator’s task
much more difficult.
3. An experienced translation agency will
understand and appreciate the need for an
internal review, welcome the process and
factor in the review time.
HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY
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4. ​The result of good translation is often silence, or at
least the absence of negative comments. When
everything goes smoothly, people don’t even realize
that the translation has taken place!
​This underlines the importance of a review process, as described
earlier. In the final analysis, the best translations are those that are
so good, you don’t have to talk about it, and you can get on with
the other tasks on your to-do list.
DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TRANSLATION AGENCY IN PLACE?
About VIA
VIA is a trusted provider of translation and localization services to
leading brands around the globe including Cisco, Oracle, Google,
Nike, Walmart, Sutter Health, San Francisco Health Plan, HP and
more.
Contact Us
To learn more about VIA’s localization solutions or
how VIA can help your organization achieve
improved translation processes, contact us at
1-800-737-8481 or visit us online at
www.viadelivers.com.
HOW TO SELECT A TRANSLATION AGENCY