Hiring a translator is often a valuable business move. You can expand your reach by hiring professionals who will open doors to brand new communities and cultures. However, translation is a complex and often underrated job.
A good translation company can be difficult to come by. You need to work with someone who can sufficiently transfer knowledge from one culture to another. Bad translations can lead to sloppy or even offensive mistakes that harm your business’s brand.
We’ve put together ten mistakes you should avoid at all costs when hiring a translating agency.
1. Giving a vague brief
Think of a brief as a workman’s set of tools. If a skilled workman is handed a hammer and nothing else and expected to build a house, they are probably going to do a poor job. However, if they are given a full toolkit and proper building materials, they are far more likely to do a good job.
When it comes to submitting a brief, the more specific and detailed your instructions are, the better equipped the translator is. Even the best translators can’t do a great job if the instructions are unclear.
What to include in your brief:
- Target audience and region (Mexican Spanish vs. Spain Spanish, for example)
- Industry context and any specialized terminology
- Brand voice and tone preferences
- File formats needed for final deliverables
- Whether you need additional services like desktop publishing or website localization
2. Underestimating the budget
A dangerous mistake is making a vague estimation of what the translation service will cost. While websites may have specific prices, there are lots of added costs you often have to factor in.
Consider these factors:
- Text-only translations vs. embedded text in images or PDFs
- Number of languages required
- Desktop publishing and layout adjustments (text expansion can increase length by 20-30%)
- Rush fees for tight deadlines
- Ongoing maintenance and updates
It’s essential that you factor all of these in upfront to avoid budget surprises later.
3. Not verifying industry expertise
Generic translation skills aren’t enough for specialized content. A translator who excels at marketing copy might struggle with legal contracts or medical documentation. Industry-specific terminology requires subject matter expertise, not just language fluency.
Ask potential translators:
- What industries do they specialize in?
- Can they provide samples from similar projects in your field?
- Do they have certifications or backgrounds in your industry?
Professional translation companies like UNO match you with linguists who have deep industry knowledge in healthcare, legal, financial services, and more.
4. Taking the cheapest quote
Good translation requires skill and experience. There are lots of translators who charge less than the going rate, particularly on freelancing platforms, but unfortunately, you usually get what you pay for. The copy is likely to be error-filled and inaccurate. Investing in a skilled translator can seem daunting but it will always pay off in the long run.
Red flags for suspiciously low prices:
- Heavy reliance on machine translation with minimal human editing
- No multi-step review process
- Lack of industry specialization
- No translation memory or consistency tools
Quality translation is an investment in your brand’s credibility and your ability to connect with new markets.
5. Not asking for a written quote
It’s important that you outline all of your translation needs and get a written quote before moving forward with a translator. Verbal estimates can lead to misunderstandings about scope, timeline, and costs.
A comprehensive written quote should include:
- Per-word or per-project pricing
- Turnaround time
- Revision policy
- What’s included (translation, editing, proofreading, formatting)
- Additional service costs
Getting everything in writing protects both you and the translator and sets clear expectations from the start.
6. Choosing a translator who relies heavily on machine translation
AI translation tools have advanced significantly in recent years, but they still can’t replace human expertise for business-critical content. Some translators use machine translation as a shortcut, doing minimal editing to clean up obvious errors.
The problem with this approach:
- Misses cultural context and nuance
- Struggles with idioms and industry jargon
- Often produces awkward, unnatural-sounding copy
- Can create embarrassing or offensive mistakes
A professional translator uses cultural understanding of both languages to translate your entire message in a compelling, accurate way. Learn more about working with UNO’s experienced team.
7. Demanding unrealistic deadlines
Quality work often takes time. Of course, if you are running a business, it’s understandable that you are working around tight deadlines. However, we strongly urge you to factor in a decent amount of time for translations.
Why rushed projects are risky:
- No time for proper review and quality assurance
- Increased likelihood of errors
- May force the translator to decline, leaving you scrambling
- Rush fees can significantly increase costs
Plan ahead when possible. If you have ongoing translation needs, establishing a relationship with a translation partner helps them understand your brand and deliver faster turnarounds without sacrificing quality.
8. Not asking about their quality assurance process
A single translator working alone is more likely to make mistakes than a team with a structured review process. Professional translation agencies use multiple sets of eyes to catch errors before they reach you.
Ask potential translators:
- Do you have a multi-step review process?
- Who edits and proofreads the work?
- How do you ensure consistency across projects?
- What happens if errors are found after delivery?
At UNO Translations, every project goes through translation, editing, proofreading, and quality review to ensure the highest standards.
9. Ignoring cultural and localization needs
Translation isn’t just about converting words from one language to another. It’s about making your message resonate with a different culture. Colors, images, humor, and even business practices vary across regions.
What to look for:
- Does the translator offer consultative services for cultural adaptation?
- Can they advise on culturally appropriate imagery and design?
- Do they understand regional differences within the same language?
- For websites, do they provide SEO localization for international search visibility?
A translator who only focuses on words will miss the bigger picture of how your message lands with your target audience.
10. Hiring an uncommunicative agency or translator
If it takes a long time for your translator to respond to you, this is usually a bad sign. A good translator should be highly communicative and will usually ask you specific questions to ensure that they do the best possible job.
Warning signs:
- Slow response times to emails or calls
- Reluctance to answer questions about their process
- Vague answers about qualifications or experience
- No project manager or single point of contact
Professional translation companies assign project managers who walk you through every step, from initial estimate to final delivery, ensuring clear communication throughout.
Finding the Right Translation Partner
Hiring a translator or translation agency is similar to other business partnerships. You want to hire someone skilled, professional, and communicative. However, there are specific things worth looking out for when it comes to translation, and this list offers a good overview.
At UNO Translations and Communications, we’ve spent over 30 years helping businesses avoid these common pitfalls. Our team delivers technically accurate, culturally sensitive translations in 250+ languages across every industry.
Ready to find a translation partner you can trust?
Contact us to discuss your needs, or request a free quote today.
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