Businesses opt for translation for several
reasons. It could either be to increase their brand’s reach or maybe because
their competitors are doing it. Irrespective of the reason, project managers
have to consider several things when they plan a translation project.

For starters, the translation needs to be
thorough, and it also needs to convey appropriate meanings and emotions. 

It is always beneficial to have a roadmap at the
beginning that guides the process and ensures that nothing is left out.

As professional translators, we have put together
a short guide of actionable procedures that you can adopt to help your
translation project a smooth and successful one.

This guide will be useful for different categories
of people; businesses, individuals, SME’s brands, etc. It may serve as
preliminary consideration to apply before you employ a professional to ensure
that you are on the right path.

Procedures to take while planning your translation project.

Let us begin by answering the question everyone has in
mind; 

Why do you need to plan for every translation project?

Every translation project needs planning because translations
must be thorough and specific to your niche and the local language context. A
good translation plan should adopt these procedures;

1. Work
out the languages that matter

The
first thing to do is to identify your target language for translation, and this
goes beyond just choosing languages to also deciding on the local language
context you want. In many cases, the basis of this decision hinges on areas you
plan to expand to or your target audience for sales. 

A
comprehensive list including language locality is the product of this step.

2.
Figure out the documents to be translated 

Translation
projects are specific, and you need to know what exactly requires translation.
Information might include legal documents, business proposals, websites, and the likes. 

By
compiling a list of everything to be translated, you can clearly plan for the
translation process. 

3.
Smooth out the details

We
always recommend that businesses figure out little aspects beforehand. The
details might include a particular communication style you wish to
preserve — either formal, informal or poetic. —

It
might also involve enthusiasm in the communication. These little details must
remain in translation, otherwise, you might fail to relay your intended
message. 

4. Pick
out a translation company

With
the right preliminary work done, it is time to pick out a translation company.
The good news is; if you have taken the first three steps, it will help you
know what translation company is right for you. 

It is
essential to pick out a company that can undertake the scope of your
translation project. Choose an agency that understands your language style and
any other technical requirements. Feel free to check the company’s client
portfolio to make this decision. 

5.
Create a translation schedule

Haven
picked out a translator, communicate with them to create a translation
schedule. A translation project could take weeks or months, depending on the
scope. It is critical that it does not disrupt normal activities. Therefore,
you need to know the duration and work out a critical path to managing the
project.

6. Plan
for proofreading

Just
like every other project, a translation project needs to be tested before the
full launch. Many people often forget to plan for proofreading, thereby leaving
room for errors with expensive consequences. Usually, an accomplished
translation company will tell you this while planning the translation
schedule. 

NB! Any
translation agency you work with should be aware of your company’s mission and
vision statement as it will enhance the accuracy in the style of
translation. 

The role
of an LSP in translation projects

If you
are in a technical industry or your translation project is more sensitive than
merely translating words to another language, you will need an LSP. Language
Service Providers (LSP) do more than translation. Their jobs often include
contextualization, localization, SEO, copywriting, translating technical
documents, software translation, and so on.

In
conclusion, preliminary actions before a translation project will enable you to
have a smooth and accurate translation. However, when it comes to hiring the
right translator, it is important to choose the right LSP for the job. The
company’s portfolio must be assessed to know if the project is within its
capabilities. 

For
over a decade, TranslationsInLondon has
handled various projects including those within technical fields. Give us
a call or
send a message today
to get started.