What is the best professional translation service provider for your project - Freelance or Organization?
Both a freelance translator and a translation organization (company, agency) can be appropriate for your translation needs. Professional translation service organizations will typically charge more due to the added value factor (project management, quality control, file conversions, standardized presentations for multilingual projects and additional services, etc). Further, translation service organizations generally carry liability insurance which becomes more relevant as the financial risk of your project increases.
Consider the size, complexity, and financial risk of your translation project when selecting a professional translation service.
Professional Translation Service
What is the size and complexity of your Japanese translation project?
Selecting a professional translation service that provides one-stop shopping (full service & additional, value added services), as opposed to several smaller organizations, can lower the overall cost for projects that are large, require multilingual translations or require additional services such as DTP or localization. On the other hand, these types of organizations have a large overhead which translates into higher cost per unit that small projects do not warrant.
The size and complexity of your project is an important factor when it comes time to deciding on a professional translation service provider.
Size & Complexity
What price range are you comfortable paying for professional Japanese translations?
Obviously, a high price does not necessarily guarantee a high quality translation service. However, below a certain price you are unlikely to receive professional Japanese translation or translated text that is beneficial to your service or product. Calculate how much you spent developing the product or service that you want to promote in Japan. Determine what the potential revenue is from gaining access to the Japanese market. Consider how much time you spent creating the original, or source, text.
Research at least 3 price quotes from professional Japanese translation service organization (NOTE: price quotes should not cost anything). Establish a price range that considers cost and the potential factors listed above, and that you are comfortable with. Then stick to it.
Price Range
What pricing system does the professional translation service organization use?
We have all experienced situations where we are left feeling dumb after the nth explanation of a pricing structure. This is a well documented selling technique - it is called the high pressure technique and you are supposed to feel dumb! There are about as many pricing structures as there are translation service providers. I strongly recommend getting an official quote based on the number of words in the source text before you commit.
Select a translation service provider that has an unambiguous pricing system - a system that does not leave you with delayed sticker shock.
Pricing System
What is the professional translation service organization’s policy for assigning jobs to translators?
Is that my business you ask? You bet! Professional translators translate languages into their native language. For example, I am bilingual having graduated from a Japanese university (economics), and have lived and worked in Japan for the last 15 years. I only do Japanese to English translations (never English Japanese translation). That is, I only work into English.
Ensure that your project gets a professional translation by insisting that it is assigned to a qualified translator that will be working into their native language.
Native Translators
What if a professional translation service organization serves up a bilingual?
As long as he (she) is a translator - no problem. Confused? Bilinguals are fluent in 2 languages but this does not necessary mean that they are proficient in moving information between 2 languages, especially in writing. Translators are bilinguals and writers capable of moving information between the source language and the target language to produce text that reads naturally in the target language.
Always go with the translator for professional translations!
Professional TRANSLATOR
What technical, or subject matter, expertise does the professional translation service organization bring to the table?
Translation is about language (moving information from a source language to a target language - English Japanese translation) and technical, or subject matter, expertise. Have you ever tried to write about a topic that you had little or no knowledge of in your native language? Although you had no problem with the language, it was not easy, right? And the finished product probably lacked natural flow and conviction that comes with knowledge and experience.
Improve the quality of your Japanese translations project by selecting an organization that has the technical, or subject matter, expertise suitable to your product or service. This is professional translation!
Technical Expertise
What project management system does the professional translation service organization have in place?
Managing large and complex projects is a difficult task - lack of a robust project management system can increase errors and delays (misplaced documents and communications), and, ultimately, your costs. Did I mention frustration?
Look for a professional translation service organization that has invested in a project management system (an indication of commitment to producing professional translations by itself).
Project Management System
What is the professional translation service organization’s policy on sample work?
Many experts suggest insisting on sample work before committing. This is a tricky one. Non-disclosure agreements will almost surely be in effect (and if not, you should be thinking about your intellectual property rights). Most professional organizations will understandably be reluctant to provide client work as a sample. More importantly, consider this: what trust can you place in a organization that serves up a client’s English Japanese translation project as sample work (your material may be served up to another potential client!)? Personally, I believe that commissioning a short trial translation and having it checked by a knowledgeable third party is a better option.
You make the call!
Sample Translations
Does the professional translation service have a client agreement? Is it fair? Does it provide for issue resolution? Does it include a non-disclosure clause?
Everyone knows that these types of legal documents are designed for the benefit of the organization. Still, an agreement that is (somewhat) fair and provides for issue resolution before litigation is indicative of that organization’s business philosophy and ethics. When was the last time that you closely examined a legal document that you were party to? Non-disclosure clauses ensure that your intellectual property rights are covered. If they do not have a client agreement, then they are not a professional Japanese translations service.
If you need an agreement, then insist on a client agreement, and read the fine print! Of course, often translation projects are too small or repetitive to review an agreement all the time. Work with what you are comfortable with.
Client Agreement
What relationship does the professional translation service organization offer?
Chances are that you will have an ongoing (long-term) need for Japanese translation service(s) as you develop new services and products for Japanese markets. Calculate the cost (time and money) required to research what professional translation service is right for your Japanese translation projects. Now, think about that cost if you were to search anew for each translation project that you launch.
Select a professional translation service organization that offers a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. Your boss will appreciate the savings, and you will get to keep your hair a bit longer!
Long-term Relationship
What professional associations does the professional translation service organization belong to?
Membership in a professional association suggests commitment to providing quality Japanese translation services, and commitment to the customer.
Professional translation service organizations typically list the associations that they are members of - look for an organization that is a member of translation (translator’s) association.