After jotting down a few paragraphs about the advantages of LSPs using the same teams of linguists for specific end-clients last week (I stand by every word I said), I thought I’d share a few words about the benefits, for end-clients, of working directly with freelance linguists. One of the most significant advantages of working with freelance talent directly is the ability to build long-term relationships. This cannot be stressed enough! It allows for better communication and understanding of the client’s specific needs and preferences, resulting in more accurate and personalized translations. A solid relationship and transparent communication can be especially important for businesses operating in highly technical or specialized fields (such as legal or medical), where the client may require a more in-depth understanding of the content, and a higher level of trust. Another advantage that often makes this the best option, is the ability to negotiate directly. Whether about project fees or about deadlines, or any other project-specific requirement, direct negotiations are usually smooth, fast, and transparent. And by cutting out the middleman, clients can save money on agency fees, while linguists can enjoy a better financial reward for their professional efforts. Most importantly, this practice also generally results in higher quality translations. Because you always know who is working on your projects: you are no longer at the mercy of an agency who might farm out your assignment to who’s more available, or who charges less at any given time. Linguists who work directly with end-clients are always more invested in the final product, are able to make a greater effort to absorb the client’s vision, and to take more time to ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the translation. Any potential downsides to consider? Sure. For example, finding a qualified translator who specializes in a specific niche can seem daunting, especially for clients who are unfamiliar with the inner workings of the translation industry. Additionally, working with a single translator may limit the size of the projects that can be completed within certain timeframes, as they may not have the same level of resources or support that a larger translation agency would be able to offer. And the need to translate documents into many different languages simultaneously may also be a point in favor of turning to a translation agency for coordination and project management.
So, where do you go from here? My suggestion would be to reach out to a few potential linguists after exploring their websites and LinkedIn pages. Trust your instincts to weed out unprofessionalism and inexperience. Ask them to perform a sample translation (usually up to 250-300 words, if unpaid); then run the translations they generate through the appropriate contact at your foreign subsidiary to obtain their input regarding terminology, style, and voice. Once you determine the most favorable sample, the translator will be happy to provide you with free, no-obligation estimates for any future projects; they will have a contract to sign, outlining the scope of the assignment, the deadline, the project fee, etc. Any kinks will be ironed out in the course of the first couple of projects, then the magic will happen: once things start working like a well-oiled machine, you and your translators/editors will be able to fully enjoy a very productive and mutually rewarding professional relationship.
You have nothing to lose by trying this out. You have everything to gain.
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With this approach, you can't go wrong In the world of translation, consistency is key. With this in mind, agencies that deal with copious amounts of materials from long-time end-clients would really benefit from the following simple strategic approach: using the same team of linguists (translator, editor, and proofreader, if required) to consistently handle an end-client’s materials. The advantages of this approach for the translation agency, the end-client, and why not, the linguists too, are simply undeniable. And yet, this practice is wildly overlooked.
First and foremost, using the same team of linguists for a specific end-client ensures consistency in terminology and style, and a more uniform voice across the board. Over time, the team members become intimately familiar with the end-client’s field, products, and services, allowing them to produce translations that are accurate, finely geared towards specific audiences, and in line with the client’s brand identity. This level of consistency is crucial in maintaining the quality of the translations, and ensures that the client’s message is effectively communicated. Additionally, when a translation agency uses a team that is familiar with the end-client’s materials, the workflow simply becomes more efficient, saving time and reducing costs. As a result, the translation agency can offer faster turnaround times and lower their overhead thanks to the streamlining of the PMs jobs. Would this be good for their bottom line? Would they elect to pass the savings on to the end-client? Would they allocate the money saved towards purchasing translation services only from the best? All possibilities. Another benefit of using the same team of linguists is that it fosters a collaborative relationship between the translation agency and the end-client. The translator and editor become an extension of the end-client’s team, and their familiarity with the client’s materials allows them to provide invaluable feedback and suggestions on how to improve the translations. This feedback loop ensures that the translations are continually refined and optimized to meet the end-client’s needs. The one potential drawback to this practice that comes to mind, is that it can create a dependency on the team of linguists, making it difficult to switch to a different team in the future. However, the new team’s learning curve can be kept in check thanks to the fact that the agency will have a translation memory of excellent quality. So, as long as the next team of linguists is properly vetted, and as experienced and competent as the previous one, this downside can be mitigated by proper planning and communication between the translation agency, the new potential linguists, and the end-client, and the transition can be relatively painless. To sum it up, using the same team of translator and editor to translate an end-client’s materials, especially when the materials are plentiful and highly technical (medical or pharmaceutical, for instance), has many benefits, including consistency in terminology and style, time and cost savings, and a more productive collaborative relationship between the translation agency and the end-client. These many benefits far outweigh any potential downsides. I have personally been in this type of arrangement before, as the lead Italian translator on some translation agencies' major accounts, so I know first-hand that there is so much professional satisfaction to be gained for us linguists, besides the obvious benefits for everyone else involved! |
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