It is important that any business working internationally can communicate effectively with local audiences. A professional translation service is the best way for your business to do just that, however cost is a genuine concern. ‘Going cheap’ rarely results in a quality translation, and poor translation has ruined the marketing campaigns of some well established businesses.
At Global Voices, we know that for an accurate and timely translation service, you must seek out the best. However, there are a few things you should know about how translation is priced before you do.
How much does translation cost per page/per word/per hour?
Usually, translations are calculated per 1000 words, rather than per word or page. For a face to face translation service the cost is calculated per hour. The bigger the campaign or the more words you have translated, the price per 1000 words becomes cheaper.
The reason there is not set price for a translation service is it depends on what you are translating and what your target language is. If you’re translating into Spanish for example, that is likely to be a cheaper, quicker and easier process than translating into a language which isn’t as widely spoken.
There are other factors to consider when calculating costs of translation, such as the importance of the content and the two language pairs. You should bear this in mind before agreeing to any translation service. Another is the quality of the translation. Some translation companies offer an inexpensive translation service, however this normally involves a cheap machine translation service with basic proofreading and editing on top. This kind of translation is likely to be unsuitable to any business with high stakes translation needs.
How much does website translation cost?
Website translation depends on how much content you need to translate. It is usually calculated per 1000 words and which language you need to translate to and from. For example, Spanish or Arabic is likely to be cheaper than German or Japanese.
Website translation is important as it allows you to communicate effectively with audiences globally regardless of language. Your website often serves as the first point of contact with a customer, therefore it is of paramount importance that your site translation is accurate.
How much does document translation cost?
Similarly to website translation, the price of document translation is usually calculated based on the length of the text, the format of the text and the languages you are translating to and from.
However, other factors such as the experience and quality of the translator, subject matter and formatting of the document can all affect translation price.
How much does Face to Face interpretation cost?
It is possible to pay an interpreter by the hour, however, most are paid by the day or half day. A half day is equivalent to 3.5 hours and a full day is 8 hours.
Like any type of interpretation, there are a number of factors that contribute to the total cost of Face to Face interpretation. However, using a video or phone interpretation service can be one way of reducing costs if a face to face interpretation isn’t absolutely necessary. Video and phone interpreters can deliver a similar service, however they’re often cheaper as there are no travelling fees. It is also possible to pay phone and video interpreters by the hour or, in some cases, by the minute.
Translation and interpretation rates are calculated on a case by case basis. At Global Voices, we offer a professional and efficient translation and interpretation service at affordable prices. To find out how much your translation campaign or interpretation will cost, request a free quote today.