Archives de Tag: business

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The status of French in the world

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development has recently published an enlightening article that will show you how important it is to have your content translated into French.

French is widely spoken all over the world, with more than 220 million speakers on all 5 continents! It is taught in many countries. It is the official language of a myriad of international entities, including UN bodies and the Olympic Games.

French is an official language of 29 countries, second only to English in this category.

From a business perspective, it is also a language of reference that has to be reckoned with. So it is crucial to address your potential French-speaking clients in French. Think globally but act locally!

France and the French-speaking countries play an active part in the world economy, accounting for some 20% of world trade in goods.

As mentioned in previous posts, it is crucial to address new markets using the local language. It has been proven that localisation leads to a higher conversion rate. Consequently, having your website, business literature, press releases (among other documents) translated into French is crucial to engage successfully in French markets.

French also accounts for 5% of Internet pages, ranking between sixth and eighth of the languages most widely used on the Internet.

Find the whole article here: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy-1/promoting-francophony/the-status-of-french-in-the-world/

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Translate Your Online Content in French

Social media have changed the way people communicate and companies do business. It can no longer be overlooked when a company tries to reach new customers and/or investors. When referring to social media and online content, I’m speaking about websites, blogs, Twitter, Google+, Facebook,  Youtube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.

Through all of them, you can reach an outstanding number of potential clients, especially the younger generation. To have a better understanding of the impact of such networks, check out the numbers in one of my recent blogs showing an infographic about content marketing and how such strategy impacts online success. To see that infographic again, please click here.

63% of companies said posting content on social media has increased marketing effectiveness.

And make no mistake, English is definitely not the sole language used on social media. Still unsure whether you should translate? Watch this video « Social Media Revolution », it’s compelling:

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Language among Top 5 Barriers to Doing Business

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) published and recently updated its AIBS 2014 report (Australia’s International Business Survey), one of the most comprehensive investigations into Australian international business activity to be conducted in more than a decade.

The survey found that one of the top obstacles to doing business and/or accessing markets is a lack of information about local culture, business practices and language.

Therefore, translation should be seen as an investment, not a cost. Good communication is key to success on a global scale.

For more information, read the complete survey report here.

For highlights report, click here.

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On Offering Business Content in French

What are the benefits of having your documents translated?

You may not realise it, but it’s actually crucial to address potential (and existing) clients in their own language. You’re more likely to drive your conversion rate and bottom line if you decide beforehand to invest in translating your business literature: brochures, press releases, website, emails, newsletter, social media communication plan, etc.

Have you noticed that, when travelling, the locals always respond very favourably when you make a small effort and try saying a few words in the local language? The same applies in the business world. But this time, you need to go the professional route and contact a professional translator to ensure an error-free translation.

Translating isn’t a cost, it’s an investment. By offering well-targeted and nicely-worded content, you’ll give your company a powerful image and an international footprint.

Don’t hesitate to contact me through my « Contact Page » for more details and/or a free quote.

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Making Time for Professional Development

So, you’ve read the books, stocked up on office supplies, picked up your company name and figured out your branding image. You’ve even managed to find a few clients already. All good right? Well yes, but it’s not enough. It’s also crucial to keep on learning, especially if you’ve already chosen your areas of specialisation.

136000100566ey2An important part of an independent translator’s work is also to keep apprised of the latest news and trends in his/her line of work. For instance, I’ve come to mainly work in the following areas: business communication, PR & marketing content, as well as tourism-related projects. I truly love it because it allows me to embrace my creative side. But it also means I need to know what’s up in these industries in order to further my knowledge of the specific terminology, for instance.

The easiest way remains online resources. There are countless academic papers, press releases, articles, etc. on these topics. A couple of days ago, I finished reading a very interesting  paper entitled « Translating Tourist Texts – Domesticating, Foreignising or Neutralising Approach ». It was published in the Journal of Specialised Translation (available here)

I particulary appreciated the mention of these familiar strategies mentioned many times during my academic training. How wonderful when it’s finally all about real-life practice!

No matter the speciality you choose, you should always make sure that you never stop documenting yourself. Having glossaries to rely on is paramount to high quality translations.

For enhanced efficiency, familiarise yourself with CAT-tools, learn how to use terminology tools to optimise your memories, glossaries and other datas.

I once read that when you work as a translator, you get to learn something new every single day. You’ll soon find out how true that is.