Some frequently asked questions
Q: What are the best languages to translate my websites and products into?
A: If you are just starting out with globalizing your products and websites I always recommend starting with either all or some of French, Italian, German and Spanish (this combination is known as FIGS in the translation industry). This is because these languages have the widest number of translators available and are the easiest to manage and, in general, the cheapest to translate into. The natural progression on from FIGS is to using Chinese, Japanese and Korean (known as CJK!). If you were to combine all these languages with Russian and Portuguese you would have almost 90% coverage of the web´s most used languages!
Q: How long does it take to translate a website?
A: For a typical marketing mini-site or average sized website the turn around is normally very quick and the translation can be completed in just a few days. Most translation companies are available for urgent jobs but, of course, have to charge extra for this. If the chosen languages are less straightforward or the subject matter is complex this, too, will add a small amount to the time spent on translation and verification.
Q: I can’t speak any other languages! How will I communicate with my new customers, affiliates and suppliers?
A: By translated email. You will often find that many people that contact you do speak English but prefer to buy in their own language. To gain the gist of an email you can certainly use web based or machine translation software but for the best quality and seamless integration into your online business I recommend a professional translation service. A translation company can help you set up a secure and confidential redirect between your server and their translators, who then deliver to you a translated email. You write back using the same system in reverse. The result is that you never see an email that is not in English!
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