How it works

Define

The first step is defining what you need. Don’t worry if you’re not sure at this stage – I’m here to help. Maybe you want your website, brochure, advertising or exhibition materials translated into English. Maybe you need to create distinctive, original content (or check that your existing materials are clear, well-written and aligned with your brand strategy).

If you already have a style guide, glossary, or other language preferences, I will incorporate these into the brief – importantly, this means that what I deliver will sound like you and your brand. If you don’t already have a tone-of-voice style guide or glossary, I can develop these for you in tandem.

As well as defining your requirements in terms of deliverables (the project scope), the brief sets out the delivery timetable and any applicable regulatory parameters, e.g. non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), terms and conditions, etc., that need to be observed.

Step 02

Research

This is the part where you get to relax! Meanwhile, I’ll be hard at work finding out as much as I can about your organisation, brand values, customers and competitors – in short, everything we’ve defined in the brief that provides useful background information. I then use specialist resources and targeted searches to clarify linguistic and other challenges within the text.

Customer confidentiality is a top priority for me, so you can rest assured I will never upload your materials to AI systems such as large language models (LLMs). I do not use LLMs for translation or first drafts because of the serious concerns around privacy, accuracy and sustainability. That means everything I deliver is 100% my own work – not a mash-up of other people’s writing styles. Commission translation or copywriting from me and you’ll get a bespoke piece of work crafted with care to meet your brief.

Create

Once I’ve clarified the context, it’s time to write. With translations, I work carefully through the text, researching words and concepts as I go, to create a solid first draft. At this stage, my aim is to get a general sense of the message and how it flows. The draft will be rough around the edges; I might leave gaps where I want to come back to something or insert multiple options for a term I need to clarify further.

The next step is accuracy. I go back to the beginning and, line by line, check that my translation accurately reflects the meaning and nuances of the original text – it must be precise, complete and unambiguous, but it won’t yet be beautiful. 

Once I’m satisfied my reworked draft is an accurate reflection of the original, it’s time to refine it. I now set the original to one side and focus on my translation as a stand-alone text. Does it read well? Do the ideas flow logically? Is it clear and compelling? Will it do what you, the client, need it to? Polishing the text can be time-consuming but it’s an essential part of the process of writing distinctive, engaging copy.

Finally, I proofread the polished translation, often several times, to check for any errors that might have crept in. Where possible, I like to leave a day or two between the refining and proofreading stages and come back to the translation with fresh eyes. If you wish, I can work with a colleague to proofread my work (the ‘four eyes’ principle). The translation is now ready to deliver by email or via your secure FTP system.

Copywriting works in a very similar way – I scope out the key messages and gradually move from bullet points to first draft, second draft, final draft, proof and polish.

Review

Translation and copywriting are collaborative. As I work, I may have questions that only you can answer. You are the expert when it comes to your brand. I understand your time is precious, so I’ll aim to bundle queries for efficiency. If there are minor points I need to make you aware of – for example, a phrase that has no direct translation and needs to be handled creatively, or a typo I’ve spotted in the original text – I’ll use the comments function or include a notes document with the final deliverable.

If you have questions or want to know why I have used a particular word or phrase, just ask! I’m always keen to hear from you – in fact, giving feedback is the best way to help me replicate your brand voice and learn your preferences. And if you have 3 minutes to leave a review on my LinkedIn page (scroll down to the ‘Recommendations’ section and click ‘recommend’), you’ll make my day!