Hiring a translation agency is a step in the right direction in your quest to win over the global market. Just as is the case with any service provider, you need to exercise caution before hiring a translation agency since any slight mistake you make might affect the performance of your business negatively. Even though some of the mistakes may seem like common sense, it pays to be fully aware of them. Below are two common mistakes you need to avoid when hiring a translation agency.
Failing to Ask for References
Any person who has had the chance to work with a translation agency will attest to the fact that finding a “professional” is easy, but it is always better to look beyond their fancy website and glossy literature. By asking for references, you will see the speed at which the agency responds. This action goes a long way in making sure you get an insight into their abilities. For you to get first hand information, you should always call the references. Remember to ask how their experience was and even request them to rate the prospective translation agency on a scale of 1 to 10.
Not Getting a Clear Request of Proposal
Many people who are looking forward to outsourcing translation services tend to underestimate the details involved during the hiring process. In most cases, these companies do not even bother to get a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) that defines all their needs. If you are planning to hire a translation company, you should spend some time going through what needs to be translated and understand it better. Is it tables or charts? Or maybe you want to translate images with embedded text? Remember to ask the right questions and ensure the translation agency of choice shares detailed forms to fill out.
Final Thoughts
The mistakes listed above are only meant to act as a guide when searching for professional translators you can rely on. You should therefore learn from your previous mistakes or those made by other well-established businesses in the industry. This way, you’ll not have to worry about repeating the same mistakes yet you could have avoided them easily. Do not shy away from asking for help where necessary as it is the only way you can have an easy time when looking for the right translation agency.