How to Show the Customer You’re the Best Translation Service Provider

Buying translation can be hard for customers. How do they know which translation service providers are the best? There are ways to gain the customer’s trust. This article will tell you how.

In a crowded marketplace, it can be difficult for the customer to know who to choose. As a freelance translator, you’re effectively a small-business owner. If you don’t explain the features and benefits of your service, who will? What can you tell the customer about yourself that will convince them to use your services? As a professional translator, you have plenty to shout about. But, are you?

Your skills as a native speaker

Professional translators translate into their native language. As I talked about in 8 ways to get the best freelance translation services, translation is more than an ability to speak two languages. Being bilingual or a language teacher isn’t enough. Professionals work only into their native tongue. You can use the fact that you only translate into your native language as a selling point. Differentiate yourself. Stand out.

Your professional qualifications

I said translation is more than an ability to speak two languages. But what do I mean by that? I mean that professional translators have often studied translation at postgraduate level. Most professional translators have a Master’s in translation or another postgraduate qualification. I opted for a different route and sat the Chartered Institute of Linguists’ Diploma in Translation in 2015. Read more here about 10 crucial questions to choose the best Spanish translation qualification, and this guest article that Gwen wrote on Nikki Graham’s blog about the real costs and returns of the Diploma in Translation[GJ1] .

For more information about why accreditation is important, read my blog why use accredited translation services. It’s written with clients in mind but explains why accreditation will help you as a translator. You may also like Gwen’s article on how to become an accredited translator to get more work.

It’s not only about translation qualifications.

If you’re working in a specific field, you may have specialist qualifications to show you have the appropriate knowledge. For instance, some translators move from an industry they have worked in to translation. Consider someone who has studied or worked in architecture and has language abilities. It’s possible that in time and with further study, they make a move sideways. They begin offering translation for that specific field they have experience in. Obviously, these qualifications are of great interest to the client. They demonstrate expertise not just in translation but in the client’s particular field.

Quality assurance

Gwen gives some great advice in her blog how to make sure you’re getting the best translation services. Her tips are for customers, but it’s good guidance for translators too. She gives some tips for how customers can check the quality of a translation without being able to speak the language.

How can you assure the customer that the text you’re giving them is good quality? Apart from demonstrating that you’re a qualified professional. What quality assurance systems do you use? All professional translators have systems and checks to ensure quality. But, do your clients know that? As part of your marketing, do you explain how you ensure quality?

Your professional reputation

We live in an interconnected world. Most active professional translators have some sort of Internet presence. And any customer looking to buy will use that information before they make a decision. A lot of the time the customer will find you via a recommendation. But before they make the decision to part with their cash, they’ll want to be sure they can trust you. Your reputation precedes you. Are you visible online? Are you interacting professionally with other colleagues? If you’re producing content such as blogging, is it relevant? Ultimately, do you look professional and trustworthy?

Check out our courses for translators!

If you’re interested in further information about the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans exam), check out The Translator’s Studio Spanish-to-English translation courses.

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