Best Tips to Scale Your Business With Spanish Translation Services
Spanish is the third most-spoken language worldwide, and it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the fastest-growing ones in the business world. The reason is simple: With 500 million speakers globally, it’s almost impossible not to crown itself as an extraordinary opportunity for international expansion. And, to capitalise on that potential, it’s essential to have the right Spanish translation services in place.
In this article, we’ll cover a range of aspects so that you can take away tips, of course, but also an overall broadened knowledge of the Hispanic potential. We’ll go over Spanish variants, the reasons to take the translation step, and the highlights of localisation. All things that, even if you’re a Spanish speaker, you’ll want to take into consideration. Let’s dive in.
The Main Language Variants to Find the Right Spanish Translation Service
As you may know, being in the ranking of the most spoken languages on the internet (and the world) means that Spanish is present in many countries. This is due, in part, to the course of history; on the one hand, we have the European variant (the one from Spain, that, for obvious reasons, has been around the longest.) On the other hand, we have the Latin American (or LATAM Spanish) variant, which is perhaps the most diverse due to the amount of territory it covers and the cultural differences that encompass it.
However, the existence of variants also responds to another factor: Migration, especially when it occurs almost across communities. This leads us to consider another variation as primary: That of the United States, home to the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world.
Let’s look at some details to better understand the importance of Spanish localisation:
European Spanish
The one spoken in mainland Spain and its islands. It’s also known as Peninsular Spanish, or simply Spanish from Spain. However, it’s worth mentioning that it doesn’t exist as a single, uniform tongue; it has its internal variants, which are the following: Canarian Spanish, Castilian Spanish, Murcian Spanish, and Andalusian Spanish.
LATAM Spanish
It’s spoken in almost all South American countries (except Brazil), most of the central ones, Mexico, and more. However, it’s impossible to keep it the same everywhere. Among its variants, we can mention two main ones: The Caribbean and the Rioplatense (or from Rio de la Plata), since they probably have more differences.
US Spanish
With more than 41 million people speaking Spanish at home (whether native or heritage language speakers), it’s not surprising that the US is considered to have its variant: One that combines the ways and habits of several countries (such as Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, etc.) with the everyday experience of the Anglo-Saxon country.
#OptimationalTip: Culture influences language, and language shapes culture. This makes it essential to speak of various Spanish translation services, instead of just a uniform one—as if languages were watertight. Therefore, if you want to approach your audience in a familiar and empathetic way, it’s best to take the localisation path.
Neutral Spanish
Is this a variant? Well, not really. Let’s say that it’s more of an attempt to achieve a more internationally homogeneous language. That is to say, to find a way of speaking that adapts to the greatest possible number of Spanish speakers.
What are its characteristics? Firstly, it’s based on the Mexican standard, due to its more widespread use. It doesn’t adopt intonations that identify the speech to a particular region, nor does it use slang or very specific idiomatic phrases. On the other hand, it diverges from Rio de la Plata Spanish in the conjugations, which can give it a more formal (or even archaic) feel, for people in Uruguay and Argentina.
Can you request your English into Spanish translation with this approach? Of course you can! Although it isn’t advisable for some types of texts, especially those in marketing and advertising, as well as other fields where you want to convey a more friendly message to your counterpart.
#OptimationalTip: Neutral Spanish is still subject to criticism and controversy. So, it can be a useful starting point, if you have little time or budget, and for certain content. But it’s best to localise your texts, especially if you’re targeting a wide variety of international markets.
Main Differences With English (And Why You Need a Professional Partner)
When it comes to translating from or to English (the most spoken language worldwide) we might find that Spanish has many differences. Some of them are major, and some others are nearly subtle. And it’s particularly because of the latter that mistakes are often made when not relying on professional Spanish translation services.
Here are some of these dissimilarities for you to always keep them in mind and prevent your content from “translation failure.”
- Conjugations: One of the most significant differences is the grammar; Spanish has a more complex verb conjugation system, with distinct verb endings for each tense, mood, and person, while English has a simpler system with fewer verb forms.
- Gender expression: Spanish has gendered nouns, which means that every noun is either masculine or feminine; plus, the article, adjective, and pronoun must agree with the gender of the noun. In contrast, English nouns don’t have a gender.
- Word Order: This is one of the most common mistakes non-professional linguists commit. English generally follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, while Spanish typically follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order.
- False Friends: Some words may appear/sound similar but have different meanings, such as “actual”, a word that exists in both languages. In Spanish, it means “current” while in English, it refers to “real.” This is another common mistake but one that professionals from Spanish translation services are very aware of.
We could mention more examples, but we think that’s enough for today. You can read more about the Spanish and English differences here.
#OptimationalTip: An experienced English-into-Spanish translation partner knows where to look in the source language, how to convey that in the target one, and how to execute a thorough quality check.
Why Localise? Top Reasons to Stay Ahead of the Curve
The main reason to localise your content is simple: Not to get left behind. The competition is already doing it—and you probably know that.
Regardless of business and manpower size, or the ambition of their marketing plan, companies in all sectors are embracing the power of Spanish localisation for their specific target countries.
However, if you still have any doubts about what you can gain, here are the core benefits.
- Enhanced reputation: Localisation, in general, helps demonstrate commitment to providing an outstanding experience for users, customers, and prospects. It reflects value and respect for the culture and language of your Spanish-speaking market, which will give you a solid and positive reputation over time.
- Increased Revenue: When expanding overseas, there’s a clear goal: To grow the business by selling more. And well-localised content can do much more than make your audience feel at home; it’ll give them clear access to your products and services, shipping methods, etc. With more confidence on their part, you’ll achieve higher conversion rates.
- Better Engagement: Increased engagement: If you communicate in the type of Spanish that your audience is familiar with, you work towards building a bond. You’ll connect more genuinely and inspire greater trust. And all this will not only get their attention, but will also increase their satisfaction and gain their subsequent loyalty.
Other benefits include wider market reach, and of course, competitive advantage. And let’s not forget about improved SEO that can increase your website traffic.
Understanding How Localisation Works: A Concrete Example
Here is a case to further clarify the importance of Spanish content localisation.
Let’s say you talk about public transport. If you want to mention a bus and you use that word, perhaps only Colombians will understand you. But if you translate it to colectivo, then maybe only Argentinians will get it. Not to mention “guagua”, which is the equivalent in Puerto Rico or autobús in Spain.
As you can see, one word can make the difference between a misunderstanding and a hit.
#OptimationalTip: If your prospects don’t understand what you say, do you think they’ll do their research and then come back to you? Or will they go straight to the competition, which has tailored content that fits their language needs? Think about it.
Types of Content for Which Spanish Translation Services Are Highly Useful
As we’ve seen so far, there are many advantages to translating and many more to localising. But only an experienced (and preferably native Spanish-speaking) partner can ensure that you get it done without any hassle or delay. By going through a complete quality assurance process and without any hesitation about the intricacies of the languages.
Sometimes these professionals may have to resort (or not) to Spanish transcreation. Ultimately, what matters is that you can count on the right solutions, at the right time.
Let’s take a look at what kind of content can pay off best when teaming up with a seasoned partner:
#1 Website Localisation
From the menu bar to even the smallest CTA. If you have a website in English, everyone needs to be able to read what it features. This includes people from other countries who are eager to know more, loyal customers who always come back, and also potential customers from Spain, LATAM, and other regions. Website localisation will enable them to navigate seamlessly and find out more about what makes you stand out.
#2 Social Media and Blog Translation Services
From full articles to short pieces of insight, they’re an excellent way of keeping your clients updated on what’s happening within your company and the industry, fresh trends, etc. But if they’re not in their native language, then people will probably pass them by without so much at a glance. And this is terrible for your social media KPIs and SEO metrics: The impressions, interactions, bounce rate, and your content strategy, in general, could collapse.
#3 Document Translation
From legal materials or balance sheets to technical papers, manuals, medical records, and more. If you have—printed or digital—assets that should be readable and understandable, then professional services are the way to go. Document translation is perhaps one of the most long-standing services in the professional field for centuries, especially as it requires the domain of very specific subject matters.
#OptimationalTip: Want to know more about what you can gain? Here’s all you need to know about the benefits of working hand in hand with a savvy translation partner.
Wrapping Up: Tips to Make the Most of Spanish Translation Services
The worldwide Spanish-speaking market is so large that it presents itself as a vast, fertile soil to plant your crop. You just have to know how to sow in each place. That being said, let’s review some tips to get it done the right way.
First, choose your target market carefully and get to know your audience. Next, analyse your materials and documents since this will help you to prepare the strategy. Thereafter, check if it’s convenient to go with neutral Spanish (and for what use) and recognise the localisation opportunities. Finally, select a language partner who understands your specifics and can develop a suitable solution.
Once you’ve done that, all that’s left is to reap the fruits of your harvest.
If Spanish translation looks like your next step, contact us today. We can put together a proposal that will support your business growth.
