If you conduct business in the international market, communication with your foreign clients in their…
5 Ways that a Translation Agency Can Help You in B2B and B2C Dealings
In some cases, it’s easy for businesses to see that they need a translation agency e.g., if they are working with a minority population which speaks a different language or if a lot of their business dealings take place overseas, in a country where English is not the first language.
When you’re dealing with foreign companies, people will make an effort to communicate with you in English, if you are more comfortable in that language. But it just makes a good impression on them if you make an effort to communicate with them in the language in which they are most comfortable. This makes them think (and rightly so) that their business is important to you.
Working with a translation agency can also help avoid confusion. For example, let’s say that you’re doing business with someone who lives in Brazil. Maybe you have someone on your staff who speaks a little Portuguese and they have someone on their staff who speaks a little English. So far so good.
But beyond a certain point, the people on your staff may not be able to handle your business deals. Unless they’re fluent in Portuguese or the person in the other company is fluent in English, there are bound to be misunderstandings. And misunderstandings can lead to confusion and delays. They might even lead into the deal being canceled altogether. And all because of some language-related problems which could have been avoided entirely if you had just hired a translation agency.
B2B and B2C Dealings in Business
If your business provides a product or service to other businesses, you’re involved in what are referred to as B2B dealings i.e., business to business. As opposed to this, there are businesses which deal directly with customers. These are B2C or business to consumer dealings. In both cases, you can use the help of a translation agency.
Translation for B2B Dealings
When it comes to B2B dealings, there are many ways that translation can help you. If you want things to go smoothly with the business you’re dealing with in another country, you need to make sure that you communicate well with them.
They should understand what you’re offering and at what price. If you need to make changes to an existing contract, those changes should come across clearly in the foreign language they speak. And if there are day-to-day dealings with that business, then a translator is clearly necessary.
1. Business Letters
One of the main ways in which business takes place is through letters. Nowadays, letters might have been replaced by emails but the basic idea is the same.
Addressing the business associates you’re speaking to in a polite manner, presenting the gist of your business arrangement and concluding the letter in an appropriate manner are all very important. And the conventions regarding these various things are different in different languages and countries.
A good translator will be able to put together an effective, concise business letter which can help you to make a deal or work the kinks out in the arrangement you already have with the foreign company.
2. Business Reports
Unlike business letters where the business is presented in a concise manner, business reports are detailed and punctuated with graphs and illustrations. It’s very important to be detail-oriented in a business report. And the scope of the document is such that it can’t be put together without the help of someone who really understands the destination language in depth.
Translation for B2C Dealings
Even when it comes to B2C or business to customer dealings, a good translator is often necessary. You need to make a good impression on your customers if you’re trying to get their business. And in the case of those who speak a foreign language, either because they live in a foreign country or even if they live within the US, getting your materials translated for them can go a long way towards making their life happier.
1. Brochures
A brochure is a good way of getting your customer to understand what type of product or service you’re offering. But if the brochure is in a language which they don’t understand, it’s not going to be much use.
A good translator can help you to translate brochures which you can then distribute throughout your business branches or even use for a direct mail marketing campaign.
2. Print Advertisements and Billboards
Every product requires a bit of advertising. You want to put forth your products in the best way possible so that people will see that using them is going to lead to a better standard of living. A good translator can make sure that those catchy slogans come across as equally catchy in the destination language.
Many big companies have made translation mistakes that have gone down in the history of marketing. You want to avoid making these mistakes or else your brand might be damaged in the long run.
3. Websites and Social Media Pages
Nowadays, it doesn’t matter what country you live in; everyone has access to the internet and understands its value. Often, people who don’t have computers still have access to smart phones. So you need to make sure that your website gives them all the information they need and is mobile-optimized into the bargain.
It’s possible to have one version of your website in English and another in the foreign language that your customers speak. Don’t rely on Google to translate your website for you; machine translations can never compare to human ones.
Contact us for more great tips on B2B and B2C translations to improve your business