In a global market, choosing the right translation agency is crucial. It ensures that your project reaches an international audience effectively.

With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which agency best suits your needs. In this article, we outline the key steps to help you make an informed decision.

How to choose a translation agency?

Steps to Choose a Translation Agency:

• 1.Define the needs of your project
• 2.Research and compare agencies
• 3.Verify agency certifications
• 4.Use of CAT tools
• 5.Request a translation sample
• 6.Analyse costs and delivery dates
• 7.Evaluate customer service

1.Define the needs of your project

First, before beginning to search for translation agencies you should identify what the translation needs of your project will be.

To do so, you should consider key aspects, such as:

• What will be the field or area of expertise of your project?
• Who is your target audience?
• What kind of services will be required?
• Should any specific keywords be included in your project?

Of course, these needs could change based on the demands of each industry.

2.Research and Compare Translation Agencies

Once you have a clear idea about the needs of your project, you may begin to gather information about different translation agencies.

We will give you a few tips below, in order to facilitate your search and comparison:

• Look for translation agencies that are experienced in your field
• Check reviews written by previous clients.
• Research past projects that these agencies worked in, and if they were successful.
• Ensure they work with native translators and certified translators.

3.Verify Agency Certifications

It is vital to check if the agencies have quality certifications such as ISO 17100, which indicate that a translation agency meets high professional standards.

Furthermore, it is key to verify that the agencies conduct all the necessary reviews and quality control, as well as that their translators are certified and have all the official qualifications that ensure it.

Use of CAT Tools

See if the translation agencies use technology such as:

• Translation Memories (TMs) and glossaries
• CAT tools (Computer Assisted Translation)

These technologies help to optimize processes, lower costs, and ensure coherence is maintained throughout the text. As well as help to craft high-quality technical translations by incorporating Translation Memories and glossaries to store and look up a large number of terms and words in several languages.

On one hand, Translation Memories, glossaries, and CAT tools can streamline the translation process, as well as proof-reading and reviewing tasks by applying set quality standards. To this end, these parameters can search for orthographic mistakes and punctuation mistakes and correct them.

On the other hand, CAT tools are invaluable in translation processes that require localization tasks, since these tools can be helpful to localize software, webs, and apps. In addition, they can save the changes made to the software without corrupting the files or the finished product.

Regarding audiovisual translation, CAT tools, TMs and Glossaries all play a vital role when it comes to translating scripts and films, likewise when it comes to subtitles or dubbing.

In addition, it is important to check what software and file formats will be used by the translation agency, so as to avoid corrupted files and software or CAT tool file incompatibilities.

5.Request a Translation Sample

Make sure to contact the agency and request a translation sample before hiring a translation agency.

These samples may be free or paid, depending on the agency.

This will allow you to see if the translation fits the tone and style that your product requires.

Moreover, a translation sample will be helpful to determine if the translation has been made with the necessary terminological precision and suitability for your project.

Therefore, this sample will show you how each agency works, and what results you can expect from each one.

6.Analyse Costs and Delivery Dates

Another key point would be requesting the agencies a preliminary quote.

When requesting a quote, consider the following variables:

• Make sure they have the flexibility to adapt to potential unexpected changes.
• Ask about delivery times and the possibility of requesting an urgent order.

All things considered, the final cost will depend on several factors, such as:

• The language combinations that will be translated.
• Your country of residence and the agency’s headquarters. (As additional costs or taxes may apply.)
• Word count and complexity of the project.

It must be remembered that these are only a few of the many variables that may affect the final price.

Once you have received the quotes from each translation agency, you should compare them and check if they are competitive and transparent.

7.Evaluate Customer Service

The last step would be to evaluate whether you found the customer service you received satisfactory.

To this end, it is crucial to assess the agencies’ communication and response capacity:

• Did they provide clear and professional responses?
• Are the translation requests handled promptly?
• Did they fulfil and exceed your expectations?

Additionally, check if they offer post-translation support. This is vital should there be any problems or if you wished to request further adjustments to be made after delivery.

By following these steps, you will be able to select a translation agency that guarantees the best results for your project.