Not every translation service might be ideal for you needs. The right agency is one that accurately reflects the style and message within your original document in clear copy. In order to make the right decision, the following are some of the important question that you need to ask yourself.

What is my budget? Translation agencies charge varying rates. Most services have their prices structured per 1000 words. You’ll therefore pay less if your source document has fewer words. The eventual cost might also be affected by the technical requirements of the project and whether two or more language changes are needed.

For the best results, you’ll need to set a realistic budget. Avoid cutting costs. A badly translated document is just as bad as a poorly written one—possibly worse. Translation agencies are slightly more expensive than lone freelancers but they have the added advantage of improved efficiency and accuracy.

Why do I Need a Translation Agency? Identifying the motive behind your needs is a vital part to choosing the right agency. You’ll be able to focus your search more effectively if you understand exactly what it is that you hope to achieve. For instance, if you plan on translating a medical document, you’ll need a translation agency that is qualified to handle this. On the other hand, if you wish to translate the promotional content of your business website to attract a foreign market, you’ll need a translation agency that can effectively provide this type of creative service.

How soon do I want the project completed? The timeline of your project will affect the translation agency that you work with. Generally, it’s quite possible to find reliable freelancers. However, lone professionals are unlikely to complete translations at the same pace as a translation firm staffed with three or more translators. If you have a large project that needs to be completed properly within your outlined window then your focus should be on agencies and not individual translators.

You might also want to choose a company based close to you, so if you are based in England a UK translation agency might be your best option.

What type of translators would I prefer? In the translation industry, native translators tend to be the preferred choice because of their comfort and familiarity with the target language. If your project requires a high degree of accuracy then this should be your default option. This however does not mean that you cannot find skilled translators with a different native language.

In the end, the best way of judging a translation agency is by making a decision based on the final quality of the document. It doesn’t matter if the project is attended to by a native speaker or a trained translator, if the results are filled with accurately translated copy, then you’ve found a winner.

Charlene Lacandazo is a marketing executive at Rosetta Translation, one of the leading UK translation agencies in operation today.

Rosetta Translation opened its Shanghai translation agency in 2008 and has been providing high quality document translations from both Shanghai and UK ever since.

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