FAQ
Translation
Several factors play into the price: the length of the text, the subject matter, the services you want, the delivery format and the deadline. Let’s discuss what you want done and I’ll give you a quote.
It depends on the text and any prior commitments I have. Please get in touch if you have an urgent translation and I’ll see how I can fit you in.
Bank transfer is my favorite option.
For translations that cost more than €750, I take a down payment of 30%.
I only translate from German into English. Any copywriting I do is exclusively in English. If you need other languages, I happy to use my extensive professional network to find the right person for you.
I need the source text in a digital format: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign, PDF
No. Translators and copywriters are best when working in specific areas of specialization. I specialize in marketing and communications translations and writing for green, sustainable German companies working with American or international markets.
Copywriting
I mainly write web copy. I’m happy to get on a discovery call to see how we can work together.
Any work I quote already includes professional proofreading for the final version. When I send you the first draft, you might find a few typos. But the first draft is only meant to give us both something to discuss to make sure that you like the direction I’ve taken. The final version will be immaculate.
SEO translation and copywriting
SEO translations are translations that are also optimized to be easily found in search engines and rank well. They enhance a company’s online visibility by specifically targeting the copy to the search habits and expectations of the readers of the translation.
The goal of SEO writing is to make sure that your copy is found by people using search engines and that it gets them to do something (buy your product, subscribe to your newsletter). Nobody can find out how amazing you are if the content you're creating doesn't feature in search results.
Regular copywriting and translation is great for offline uses where you're not competing with others to be noticed.
Translating a website into another languages helps it reach a wider audience and will potentially increase traffic and sales. A translation that factors in SEO considerations like well-researched keywords, compelling headlines and good UX will be more successful because it is written specifically with the new target group in mind.
Think of things like keyword research, localization, and cultural sensitivity. It's important to research keywords for each target language and to tailor the website's content to the culture and language of the target audience.
Keywords play a critical role in SEO translation. Even as search engine algorithms evolve, keywords help search engines understand the content of a website and determine its relevance to search queries. It's important to research keywords for each target language and to use them appropriately in the translated content.
Machine translation seem like a quick and easy solution, and it can be in some cases. It’s not a suitable tool for SEO translation, though. Machine translation often lacks the understanding of language nuances, cultural context, and the ability to translate keywords effectively, which can negatively impact a website's search engine ranking. Even as machine translation gets better and better, it’s not human. Finding good cultural fits for the translation of jokes or puns is something it struggles with. If you want unique content that is written by a human for the humans you ultimately want to visit your website, you’ll need to go human.
SEO copywriting is the process of writing website content in a way that is optimized for search engines. The goal is to rank higher in search results and attract more organic traffic to your website. SEO copywriters strategically structure their copy and use keywords to help search engines understand the content and also guide human readers through the copy and ultimately toward the desired action.
SEO copywriting is important because it helps improve your website's visibility and searchability. The better your website is optimized, the more likely people are to find it when they search for keywords related to your products or services.
o Writing SEO-friendly content is much more than peppering everything you write with keywords. Yes, you should focus on using relevant keywords, but you should also provide valuable information, and make your website easy to navigate. Make sure that your content is well-written and engaging so that people will want to stick around and explore your site.
Keywords are the terms and phrases that people use to search for information online–they are what people type into the search box on Google. Keywords are language-specific and can’t simply be translated. You have to research the ideal keywords for your purpose for every language and locally defined target market.
Not really. This used to be a common tactic, but search engines have gotten wise to it and now penalize websites that engage in keyword stuffing. Instead, you should focus on creating high-quality content that uses keywords in a natural and relevant way. Also, don’t forget that search engines are not the one buying your product. Real humans recognize keyword stuffing as bad copy habits and tend to take their business to a website that offers actual added value with its content.
o They’re related, but not the same thing. SEO copywriting is focused on optimizing your website and online content for search engines, while content marketing is focused on creating valuable and engaging content for your target audience. The two often go hand in hand, but they have different goals. Content writing can also take place in offline media like a customer magazine.
Editing
I work mainly with marketing copy. Sometimes I’ll do academic editing, but only if it’s a subject field I’m familiar with. I’m happy to recommend someone if I’m not the right fit.
Editing can mean different things to different people. I’m happy to discuss the editing scope with you so that we both start work with a crystal-clear idea of what I’ll provide. You can check out my article Proofreading, Editing, Revising: What’s the Difference? for more information.
Nope, I leave that up to the German experts. I'm happy to refer you to someone suitable.
Yes! Editors provide feedback and suggestions for improvement that help you avoid common mistakes and improve your overall writing quality. You should definitely take your dialog with editors as a learning opportunity.
Some common mistakes in English made by native German speakers include a German word order that doesn’t work in English, too many prepositions, incorrect verb tenses, and overly long and complicated sentences. German and English grammar are so similar and yet different enough that relying on German language intuition can lead to English writing that is hard to read.
I’ve seen it all! Editors for English who also speak German can literally feel the German behind the English writing and offer suggestions on better wording. I’m also faster because I’m already wise to common errors.
Clear, concise, and easily understood writing will always be your key to touching your audience’s heart.
Brief your editor! Tell them what’s important to you, and provide any context or background information that may be helpful. It helps to find an editor who has strong communication skills and sees editing as a two-way street.
Someone who lives in Germany is a good start (but not a must). Look at the portfolios of potential editors. Do they mention working with German writers and non-native English? You can also always just ask an editor for their experience.