How to Hire Professional Translation Services in Africa?

Written by:Asmaa Badawi
Hire-Professional-Translation-Services-in-Africa

Due to globalization, the need for being recognized almost all over the world increases.

Although English is the global language for business, most likely non-English speakers will prefer doing business in their mother tongue.

Landing on the African Market requires linguistic knowledge about the land of diversity, to make sure that you can communicate your business in your audience’s preferred tongue.

And of course, hiring an African translation agency is essential for such a promising move.

It’s your gateway to your customers wherever they are on the black continent.

The translation agency will be in charge of translating or localizing your content with respect to your marketing plan and localization strategy.

Selecting a professional translation provider is a tricky task but it does not have to be like that.

Make sure that the African language translation company you are hiring works with Naive Africans. This will assure that your business will be communicated and localized to seem originally African. 

Review the qualifications of the translators

You may believe that this is not your task.

However, your search won’t bring any results, unless you know exactly what you are looking for.

You are the best one to decide how exactly you want to present your business through your translation provider.

The qualifications of your translator could be:

  • The mother tongue, in this case, should be the African language you are looking to hire for, to mention a few Afrikaans, Amharic, and Swahili.
  • The fluency level of the target language.
  • Years of experience in the translation domain.
  • Accreditation and certificates the translator acquired.
  • Projects the translator used to work on and check for testimonials.

Determine your translation needs

it’s better to decide on the language pair before you proceed with hiring your provider. Based on your intended languages, for instance:

If you are looking for a translation in a single language pair, for small projects and content. Looking for Single Language Providers (SLPs) or Freelance translators is recommended.

If your project is enormous in volume and you wish for a vast expansion, a Multi-language service provider will be your best option. They are more experienced in dealing with large volume content while considering the cultural and linguistic features of the target market.

Your translation needs are not only the languages of the translation company or freelance translator service. It’s also their coverage of translations in most of the subject matter areas, localization services offered, turnaround time, and flexibility when it comes to the completion date.

Quality Assurance

Another essential factor to consider when selecting your African Translation Provider is the Quality Assurance (QA) process. The QA team is a team of professionals who assure that the document is Error- free, after going through the normal translation stages; which are Translating, editing, and proofreading.

 After each stage, the possibility of errors declines, until the QA team confirms that the document is ready to be shared with your customers or stakeholders.

Assess Accreditation

Accreditation strengthens trust and eligibility. Look for accreditation in the region where you are planning to do your business. For instance, in South Africa, it’s preferred to select a translation service provider that is accredited by the South African Translation Institute (SATI)

Frequently Asked Questions about “How to Hire Professional Translation Services in Africa?”

Here are some factors to consider when pricing your translation services:

  • The number of words in the source material. This is the most common way to price translation services. The average cost per word for translation services in the United States ranges from $0.09 to $0.40.
  • The language combination. Some language pairs are more difficult to translate than others, and this can affect the price. For example, translating from English to Chinese is typically more expensive than translating from English to Spanish.
  • The subject matter of the text. Technical or legal texts are typically more expensive to translate than marketing or promotional texts.
  • The turnaround time. If you need your translation back quickly, you can expect to pay a premium.
  • The experience and qualifications of the translator. More experienced and qualified translators typically charge more.

Here is a general pricing guideline for translation services in the United States: Per word: $0.09 to $0.40, Per page: $30 to $100, and Hourly: $30 to $70. You can use these guidelines as a starting point, but it is important to get quotes from multiple translators to get the best price for your project.

Some tips on how to find direct clients for translation:

  • Build a strong online presence. This includes having a professional website, being active on social media, and listing your services on translation platforms.
  • Offer your services to businesses in your local area. This could involve cold calling or emailing businesses, or attending industry events.
  • Join professional associations for translators. This is a great way to network with other translators and learn about potential clients.
  • Reach out to translation agencies. Many translation agencies outsource work to freelance translators, so this is a good way to get your foot in the door.
  • Get involved in the translation community. This could involve attending translation conferences, participating in translation forums, or writing articles for translation publications.

It’s important to be patient and persistent when it comes to finding direct clients. It may take some time to build up a network of clients, but it’s worth it in the long run.

The cost of a professional translator can range anywhere from $0.10 to $0.30 per word, depending on the language pair being translated, the quality of the translation, the turnaround time, and other factors. Translation agencies may charge a flat fee, but freelance translators may charge by the hour or by word.

Here are some factors that can affect the cost of translation:

  • Language pair: Some language combinations are more expensive to translate than others. For example, translating from English to French is typically less expensive than translating from English to Chinese.
  • Quality of translation: Professional translators who have been certified or have years of experience will typically charge more than those who are just starting out.
  • Turnaround time: Translators who can deliver your translation quickly will typically charge more than those who have a longer turnaround time.
  • Subject matter: Technical translations are typically more expensive than general translations. This is because they require specialized knowledge of the subject matter.

Conclusion

Hiring an African translation service provider is a smart step in your marketing plan. To put it into practice, get your needs ready on the table and start prioritizing them according to your project. Then comes the above-mentioned checklist, and off you go with your best choice. 

Asmaa is a translator and a content writer. She studies English language and literature at college and now writes content for different industries.