Translation Services:
‍the ultimate buyer's guide

Introduction

Welcome to our ultimate buyer's guide to translation services.

In today's world, speaking your audience's language isn't just nice-to-have — it's essential. Whether you're looking to expand globally or connect with diverse local communities, high-quality translation is your ticket to effective communication.

At LEXIGO, we're passionate about breaking down language barriers. We've developed cutting-edge technology and fine-tuned our processes to deliver high-quality translations and multilingual communication solutions. However, navigating the world of translation services can be tricky. That's why we've created this guide — to help you understand the ins and outs of translation and make informed decisions for your communication needs.

But first, let's make sure translation is the service you need.

Not all translation is created equal. There are varying levels, and at LEXIGO, we use our Multilingual Communication Decision Matrix™ to help clients select the right service for their needs and budget.

Translation

Your go-to for time-sensitive projects with tighter budgets. It's all about accurately conveying information from one language to another.

Transcreation and Localisation

Got a bit more time and budget? This level focuses on culturally adapting your message, ensuring it resonates with your target audience.

NX® Marketing

Native Experience (NX) Marketing is the gold standard for large projects or campaigns with generous budgets and timelines. It's about creating content with deep community engagement for maximum resonance.

In this guide, we're focusing on Translation Services. We'll soon release a guide for transcreation and localisation. For NX® Marketing, check out the book, where our CEO outlines the exact blueprint for authentically reaching, including, and engaging your audiences in their native language and culture.

Ready to dive in? Let's explore the world of translation services together and set you up for translation success.

1. Guide Overview

High-quality translated content is essential for communicating effectively with your audiences in their language. Delivering content in multiple languages allows you to engage more clients and customers locally or globally. As a translation services provider, LEXIGO uses proprietary technology and processes to produce superior translation and multilingual communication outcomes.

This guide has been designed to help you understand professional translation services and AI translation in more detail and navigate the varying services and quality levels to ensure your translation efforts are successful.

1.1 Who this guide is for

Any professional, entrepreneur, educator, or brand can expand into global markets or communicate with local communities with the right tools and equipment. Understanding when to stick to native languages and when to include translation can be more complicated, however.

This guide is helpful for anyone working across the following industries:

Government + Public Sector — Ensuring citizens have accessible and timely information in their language is crucial. Government Translation Services help agencies meet diverse communication needs.
Health + Medical — Accurate translation is vital for patient safety and care quality. Health and Medical Translation Services help bridge language gaps.
Retail, FMCG + eCommerce — Effective translation of product descriptions, marketing materials, and customer support is essential for international consumers. Retail Translation Services create culturally resonant experiences.
Travel + Tourism — Effective communication across languages is crucial for marketing and customer service. Travel Translation Services help create welcoming, culturally sensitive content.
Banking + Finance — Translation requires deep understanding of financial terminology and regulatory frameworks. Banking Translation Services help build trust and ensure compliance.
Legal + Justice — Misinterpretations can lead to serious consequences. Legal Translation Services ensure terminology and nuances are accurately conveyed.
Property + Construction — From investment prospectuses to safety regulations, all stakeholders need to be on the same page. Property Translation Services facilitate smooth international transactions.
Advertising + Marketing — It's about conveying the right message, tone, and cultural nuances. Marketing Translation Services offer transcreation and localisation for brand impact.
Mining + Resources — Clear communication is essential for safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Mining Translation Services help overcome language barriers.
Learning + Education — Students and teachers in international programs need effective cross-language communication. Education Translation Services foster inclusive learning environments.
Community + Social Services — Accurate translation ensures equal access to essential services. Community Translation Services promote inclusivity.

While we've highlighted key industries, the need for professional translation extends across many sectors. Whether you're in manufacturing, technology, non-profits, or any field involving cross-language communication, this guide will give you a clearer picture of how to buy translation services.

2. Translation Services 101

To understand translation services, it's best to first understand the umbrella term of "Language Services." This will help you differentiate between services available and which is best suited to your needs. For key terms, visit our Glossary page.

2.1 Language services

Language services facilitate communication across languages. In the USA, UK, Canada and Australia, this most commonly means enabling communication with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) audiences. Common language services include:

Translation — Conversion of text-based material or multimedia from one language to another.
Interpreting — Facilitating face-to-face communication between parties who don't share a language.
Localisation — Adapting products, content, or services to meet the cultural and technical requirements of a specific market.
Telephone interpreting — Facilitating phone communication between parties who don't share a language.
Voice-overs — Adding spoken language to audio or visual content, including synthetic voice-overs.
Subtitling — Adding captions across languages for video and audio accessibility. Software like LEXIGO SCRIBE makes this easier.
Multicultural design and desktop publishing — Visual communication across traditional and digital media.
Linguistic review and editing — Correcting written text for grammar, cultural appropriateness, and tone.

2.2 Translation services

Translation converts written information from one language into another. A translator is a specialist skilled in performing translation to or from both required languages with accuracy. The original language is the source language; the language being translated to is the target language.

Translators should be qualified and possess certification in their chosen language direction (e.g. English to Chinese). With high-quality translation, content creators, marketers and organisations can retain their original message's intent while transforming content into meaningful in-language communication.

2.3 Translation use cases

Translation services play a critical role in effective communication across culturally and linguistically diverse audiences. Professional translation helps ensure materials are accurate and culturally appropriate.

Translation types by sector

Government and Public Sector — News, community announcements, marketing material, fact sheets, explainer videos, subtitles, newsletters, and public-facing content.
Medical and Legal — Contracts, official documentation, court documents, certificates, medical and legal reports, personal documentation. These fields require the highest level of care.
Enterprise and Business — Marketing materials, internal communications, emails, brochures, websites, software, apps, and company profiles.
Marketing and Communication — Product descriptions, blogs, articles, captions, subtitles, market research, survey results, and production-ready content.
Digital and eCommerce — User interfaces, menus, FAQs, user reviews, customer support, product descriptions, and supplier communication.

2.4 AI translation and human translators

With the rise of automated tools, machine learning, large language models (LLMs) and AI-enhanced processes, translation markets are seeing significant changes.

Machine translation

Pros:

Increased Accessibility — AI-powered translation tools make translation more accessible and affordable, breaking down language barriers.
Improved Productivity — AI can process vast amounts of content instantly, saving time for businesses and individuals.

Cons:

Quality and context challenges — AI still struggles with context, cultural nuances, and industry-specific terminology.
Over-reliance on technology — AI alone may compromise cultural authenticity and emotional resonance.

AI translation excels at high-volume, time-sensitive content — internal communications, basic documentation, or preliminary drafts. For content requiring cultural sensitivity, emotional resonance, or brand consistency, professional human translators remain indispensable. Read our article on human vs. machine translation.

Human translation

Machine translation often lacks the nuance and cultural understanding that only a human translator can bring. Human translators offer:

Lived experience as members of their respective communities
Native-level language proficiency
Deep knowledge of languages and cultures they work with
Ability to consider context and make appropriate phrasing decisions
Awareness of current terminology and evolving language conventions

Utilising a professional and certified translator is critical to high-quality translation. The certification process ensures accuracy and meets legal and quality standards. A certified translation is stamped, signed, and dated by an accredited translator — often required for court proceedings, visa applications, or other legal matters.

LEXIGO's Hybrid Approach: AI + Human Translation

LEXIGO combines the speed and predictability of technology with the intelligence, experience and talents of human translators. Our hybrid approach pairs a global network of native translators with award-winning cloud technology to deliver fast, scalable and accurate translation in 171 languages.

This ensures better consistency and professional human input that considers cultural references, dialect and language variations, and contextual aspects like location, target audience, literacy levels, and distribution channels.

Certified translation services

Certifications differ by location. Always double-check requirements for the countries you're targeting. Key certification types include:

Standard Translation Credentials — Professional certificates, degrees, and accreditation by respected industry bodies.
Professional Certifications — Such as ATA certification or NAATI in Australia.
Degree in Translation — Comprehensive education in translation and language studies.
Translation Quality Certification — International standards such as ISO 17100.
Professional Memberships — Bodies such as IAPTI, ITI, or AUSIT.
Linguistic Skills Certifications — Language proficiency tests such as TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS.

NAATI Certified Translation Services

NAATI (National Standards and Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) is the only accreditation body that can issue credentials in Australia. Over 10,500 practitioners hold 15,000 credentials in 180+ languages.

NAATI has 3 certification levels: Certified Advanced Translator, Certified Translator, and Recognised Practising Translator. Recertification is required every 3 years. NAATI-certified translators also adhere to the AUSIT Code of Ethics. Learn more about NAATI at LEXIGO.

ISO Certified Translation Services

LEXIGO holds triple ISO certification: ISO 17100 for translation quality, ISO 9001 for quality management, and ISO 27001 for information security. This means qualified translators with subject-area expertise, meticulous proofreading by independent linguists, efficient project management, and continuous improvement. Read more about our certifications.

3. Getting Started

Now that we understand the translation landscape, let's define translation requirements and plan for successful in-language communication. The key factors to consider:

Target audience — Whom are you trying to reach?
Target languages — What language does your audience speak?
Channels — Where do they get information?
Content preparation — Will your content translate well?
Budget and timeframe — Are they sufficient for your expectations?

3.1 Identify and understand your target audience

Understanding your target audience is crucial. Consider where they live, their country of origin, and their English proficiency. Find this through census data, service delivery organisations, and direct community feedback. Demographic data such as age, gender, ethnicity and religion also helps.

Tip: If you provide translated information to the same audience repeatedly, record their language preferences, how they use the information, and any gaps identified through feedback.

When choosing target languages, consider:

Dialects — Your audience might prefer a regional variation of the translation language.
Chosen language — Clients from multilingual countries may prefer a different language to what you'd expect. Check preferences when possible.

For more tips: 4 Hacks on How to Choose Languages for Your Multilingual Campaign.

Leveraging Demographic Data for Better Translation

Age — Younger audiences may prefer simpler, modern terminology; older audiences may expect more formal language.

Gender — Gender-specific words and expressions differ across languages.

Culture — Cultural background shapes values and expectations, influencing language choices.

Education — Education levels affect how technical content should be translated.

3.2 Selecting the right channels

Consider where your audience gets their information and which channels suit your content. Many communities have local newspapers, radio, television and social media in their language.

Consider literacy levels and whether the language has a standardised written script (Australian Aboriginal languages, for example, are not traditionally written — audio channels may work better). Also ensure your audience can access the channels you choose.

Delivery options include:

Live information sessions, conferences and webinars
Videos with multilingual voice-overs or subtitles
Advertisements on ethnic radio, television or newspapers
Geo-targeted social media advertisements
Pre-recorded telephone messages and emails
Translated apps and websites
Telephone and face-to-face interpreters

A mix of channels often works best. Complex or essential information such as medical or legal advice must be provided in person through a qualified interpreter.

Important: If delivering translated information in written format, discuss the right script with LEXIGO at project start. Chinese languages use simplified and traditional character sets — we'll ensure the right script is used for your channel.

3.3 Preparing your content for translation

Preparing materials properly ensures a smooth process and high-quality output:

Clarify requirements and goals — Define scope, target audience, purpose, and desired format.
Gather all materials — Text, images, graphics, audio/visual files, plus reference materials like style guides and glossaries.
Prepare the source text — Ensure it's final and error-free before sending.
Use consistent terminology — Create a glossary or style handbook for consistency.
Provide context — Clarify technical or specialised terms for the translator.
Format for end usage — Provide a sample of the final format (brochure, website, presentation).

As a basic principle, if your content is easy to understand in the source language, it's more likely to be understood in the target language. Make your content:

Brief — Deliver key information succinctly.
Clear — Active voice, short words and sentences. Avoid slang, idioms, acronyms.
Relevant — Consider what your audience needs to know.
Appropriate — Be mindful of cultural sensitivities.
Accurate — Proofread before sending. Translators are not responsible for incorrect source facts.

Easy English vs Plain English

Easy English is simplified for non-native speakers, individuals with limited literacy, or learning disabilities. Uses short sentences with visual aids. Common in government, education, health and legal contexts.

Plain English focuses on clear, concise communication for a general audience (age 9 reading level). It's the ideal baseline for source text being translated into multiple languages. Tips: short words and sentences, active voice, avoid cliches, use "you" and "we," and read content aloud — if it sounds unnatural, simplify it.

3.4 Writing systems, languages and dialects

Writing systems, dialects, and preferred languages all impact translation:

Writing systems — Latin alphabets, Cyrillic scripts, or logographic scripts affect text length and readability.
Dialects — Regional variations affect word choices, requiring familiarity from translators.
Preferred languages — If the audience speaks multiple languages, choose the most widely used.
Text direction — Some languages read right to left and need different layouts.
Numbers — Some languages use different characters for numbers.
Multilingual publications — Including both source and target language can facilitate interactions.

Keys to Project Success

Before starting, gather your planning information and set budget and timeframes. Both are influenced by: source material length, translator availability, number of target languages, formatting requirements, and type of translation services required.

4. Translation Services Provision

This section explores the types, methodologies, and best practices that ensure accurate and culturally appropriate content across languages.

4.1 Choosing the right services

LEXIGO offers four service levels based on simple per-word pricing. All come with 24/7 support, translation guarantees and dedicated project success managers.

Pure

Machine Translation and Machine Quality Assurance powered by Enterprise-level AI. Ideal for basic content and informal communication.

Plus

Machine translation with human review and quality review. Best for basic content needing extra attention.

Pro

Professional human translation with proofreading by qualified translators. NAATI-certified translations available. Ideal for consumer-facing material and formal communication.

Prime

Human translation, proofreading, plus additional checking and editing by a qualified translator. NAATI-certified translations available. Perfect for complex content and stakeholder communication.

Contracts and budgets

One-off jobs — Best if translation isn't a regular need. An account manager supports you for the project duration.
Strategic Services Contract — Recommended for regular translation needs. Provides a dedicated team, preferential rates, and lower long-term costs.

Rates are typically determined by language and word count. Use our instant quote tool for a cost guideline.

Tips for Quality Translation

Your source text is key to a smooth process. Best practices include: providing a brief outlining audience and channels, using simple consistent terminology, keeping sentences short, proofreading source text, avoiding humour and idioms, using international dates and measurements, being culturally sensitive, creating a style guide, avoiding text in images, and working closely with your translator.

4.2 Checking, editing and proofreading

Quality assurance is vital. Depending on your service level:

Proofreading — A qualified linguist reviews for accuracy, grammar, spelling, and consistency.
Checking and editing — A separate translator reviews for meaning, style, tone, and cultural appropriateness.
Machine QA — Automated tools check formatting, missing translations, and terminology consistency.

For high-stakes content (legal, medical, public-facing), we recommend Pro or Prime packages with human review.

4.3 Desktop publishing

Translation isn't just about words — it's how content looks. Desktop publishing (DTP) ensures proper formatting: adjusting layouts for languages that expand or contract, setting up right-to-left text direction, and ensuring typography and design integrity. LEXIGO's multicultural design team handles formatting across all media.

4.4 Translation delivery

LEXIGO delivers translations in Word documents, PDFs, InDesign files, website-ready HTML, subtitle files, and more — matched to your use case. For ongoing projects, our cloud platform provides real-time access to translations, translation memories, glossaries, and project dashboards.

5. Post-Translation

Your relationship with translation doesn't end at delivery. Maintaining and updating translated content is just as important.

5.1 Maintaining translated content

Translated content should be treated as a living asset. As your source content evolves, translations need to keep pace:

Version control — Track which source version each translation corresponds to.
Translation memory — LEXIGO's platform stores previously translated segments, so you only pay for new or changed content — saving time and money.
Glossaries and style guides — Keep these updated as your brand evolves for terminology consistency.
Community feedback — Gather feedback from your target audience on translation quality and effectiveness.
Regular audits — Periodically review translated content for accuracy and cultural relevance.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're translating content for the first time or scaling a multilingual program, LEXIGO is here to help.

Get an instant quote — Use our instant quote tool to estimate costs.
Talk to our team — Contact our specialist team to discuss your requirements.
Get started — Create your account and submit your first project in minutes.

LEXIGO delivers fast, scalable and accurate translation services in 171 languages, powered by triple ISO-certified processes (ISO 9001, ISO 17100, ISO 27001) and an award-winning technology platform.

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Translation Services: ‍the ultimate buyer's guide