Marketing your products or services effectively across cultures requires flawless translation and localization of your marketing content. Here is a comprehensive guide to implementing a robust marketing translation process:
1. Define Your Languages and Markets
Start by clearly identifying which languages and markets you need to translate for based on your target audience analysis. Prioritize the languages and regions that are most important for your business goals.
2. Audit Your Marketing Content
Catalog all the marketing content that requires translation – website, product descriptions, brochures, videos, social media posts, etc. Make an inventory and provide context/notes.
3. Allocate Translation Budget
Professional marketing translation has costs for services like translation, editing, proofreading, desktop publishing, etc. Estimate word counts and set a reasonable budget accordingly.
4. Find the Right Language Service Provider
Source experienced marketing translation vendors. Evaluate their language capabilities, subject matter expertise, quality processes, turnaround times, and pricing. Many use translation management systems.
5. Prepare Your Content for Translation
Ensure your source content uses consistent terminology, clear writing, and provides context like referential images. Finalize source files before sending for translation.
6. Specify Your Requirements
Provide detailed instructions – files to be translated, target languages, style guidelines, glossaries, reference materials, required deliverables like translation memory, etc.
7. Initiate Marketing Translation Process
Send content to your vendor and get culturally-authentic translations performed by professional, native translators with marketing expertise.
8. Review and Iteration
In-country reviewers should edit and proofread translations for accuracy, tone, and local resonance. Implement feedback in refining the translations.
9. Deploy Localized Marketing Content
With marketing translations polished, publish and launch across channels like websites, media, packaging etc. in target markets.
10. Update and Maintain Translations
As you refresh campaigns with new content, maintain a continuous localization process. Leverage past translation memory and glossaries.
By following this step-by-step approach and partnering with expert marketing translators, you can ensure your brand resonates authentically in every market around the world.