Found in Translation

Recommendations

Tips on How to Ensure You Receive a Quality Service

- Do not hire a translation service. Instead, look for a freelance translator who will be directly responsible for the quality of the work, and with whom you can establish a long-term relationship to meet future needs.

- Request a translation sample and have someone who speaks the target language evaluate the quality of the work. Preferably, the reviewer will be fluent in both languages and able to compare. However, make sure your reviewer reads and comments on the target language copy first. If he or she cannot understand something it says, it will be easier for him/her to spot it.

- You may want to consider a translation service to provide the review, but not the translation. However, I recommend looking for a freelance translator, editor, proofreader who is willing to charge a flat fee for the review.

- If you must use a translation service, request a sample and have a freelance translator review it. Again, I recommend finding someone who will do so for a flat fee.

- To ensure you receive a quality product, create an escrow payment account (consider Escrow.com). Release 35% of the agreed fee upfront, 60% upon completion, and the remainder once the work has been reviewed. This allows for negotiation on corrections, etc.