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Marek Makosiej
By
May 04, 2023
16 min read

Transcreation: Multilingual Marketer's Secret Weapon

Are you looking to expand your business globally and need marketing content in foreign languages? If yes, you must have come across "Transcreation." But what exactly is it, and how can it benefit your business?

 

 

 

Are you looking to expand your business globally and need marketing content in foreign languages? If yes, you must have come across "Transcreation." But what exactly is it, and how can it benefit your business?

 

Transcreation is a unique combination of copyediting, adaptation, and creative translation, which helps your brand to communicate effectively with foreign audiences while maintaining its authenticity.

 

This blog article will dive deep into understanding transcreation and how it differs from translation and localization. We'll explain why your business needs transcreation and creative interpretation services as part of your modern marketing strategy and how to find the best transcreator and translation provider.

 

We will also explore the process of transcreation step-by-step and showcase a few successful case studies and examples. Finally, we will provide tips on maximizing impact with transcreation by creating unique content in foreign languages while maintaining the brand message and company image to get the best ROI with transcreation services.

 

 

 

 





Related content: Translation vs. Transcreation: Which Translation Service to Choose


 


 

 

 

Understanding Transcreation

 

 

With the rise of globalization, businesses are increasingly looking to connect with audiences from different cultures and languages. However, more than a simple translation is needed to engage with these audiences fully. This is where transcreation comes in.

 

 

Transcreation goes beyond word-for-word translation and involves adapting content, marketing messages, and branding to resonate with local audiences while maintaining the essence of the original message.

 

 

Transcreation goes beyond word-for-word translation and involves adapting content, marketing messages, and branding to resonate with local audiences while maintaining the essence of the original message.

 

Successfully transcreated message requires linguistic and cultural expertise and can help brands stand out in global markets.

 

 

 

 

What is Transcreation?

 

Creating content that resonates with your target audience is vital to successful global expansion. Every marketer says storytelling is crucial in moving people's hearts and breaking logical barriers before the first purchase.

 

Every company that attempted machine translation of their website will tell you one thing: this direct translation approach is not the best and doesn't deliver a good user experience.

 

 

Transcreator ultimately delivers a translated text that supports brand awareness, drives engagement, and builds a solid connection with local customers, as its cultural relevance is close to regional preferences.

 

 

Good transcreation means adapting the global content to fit local cultures and languages beyond translation. It combines copyediting, adaptation, and creative interpretation to create culturally relevant content that engages your audience.

 

Transcreation can be used for various materials, such as:

 

  • Advertisements
  • Various marketing materials
  • Video content for streaming services and tv
  • Websites

 

By researching your target audience's culture and preferences, a skilled linguist can maintain the essence of your message while making it more effective for local markets.

 

 

 


 

 

 

Related content: 3 Differences in Costs of Translation Vs. Transcreation

 

 

 


 



 

How Transcreation Differs from Translation and Localization?

 

 

In the global marketing world, it's essential to understand the nuances of the local culture and language. While translation and localization are crucial tools in language capacity, they may only sometimes capture the essence of your message.

 

Often, to accurately transcreate the between-the-lines nuance, linguists also need a creative flair of a skilled copywriter. This is where transcreation can be a game-changer.

 

 

Unlike translation, which focuses solely on words, transcreation adapts your message while retaining its original intent and emotional impact.

 

 

Unlike translation, which focuses solely on words, transcreation adapts your message while retaining its original intent and emotional impact.

 

On the other hand, localization may not involve creative translation or adaptation but more technical aspects like adjusting the correct formats and font spacing, calendars, currency, and symbolic imagery.

 

With transcreation, you can ensure that your brand and content stand out and resonate with diverse audiences worldwide.

 

Let's take a look at a few examples in this video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does translation, localization, and transcreation look like in the Pixar examples above?

 

Translation: translating the dialogue to different languages, making sure that the message is clear and internationally understandable.

 

Localization: adjusting the imagery and characters on screen to fit the audience preference, like it was done in Toy Story 2 with the US flag vs. globe displayed during the speech of one of the caracters. Or, like it was done in the Cars movie with Nascar and Formula 1 drivers, who served as inspiration for one of the characters. Or, by changing the broccoli to green peppers in order to fit in with the image of "gross" vegetable in Japan vs. "gross" vegetable in the States.

 

Transcreation: reimagining the movie titles like Moana to Oceana in Italy, not to associate Pixar film with an adult industry star; or like in all the movie productions rewriting jokes that don't translate well and are irrelevant for international audience, swapping them with locally relevant references.

 

All of the above-mentioned practical cases are great examples of transcreation that professionally adapted original text and context. Good translations, even better transcreation, and exquisite copywriting.

 

 

 




 

Related content: 3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Transcreation Agency

 




 



 

 

Why Your Business Needs Transcreation?

 

 

Introducing your business to a global audience can be a challenging task. However, with the help of transcreation, you can overcome language and cultural barriers to create content that resonates with your target audience. And, again, it goes beyond simple translation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing in transcreation ensures that your brand messaging stands out from competitors, leading to higher engagement, loyalty, and sales growth. Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with diverse audiences - make transcreation an essential part of your marketing strategy today.

 

 

 

 

Seven Benefits of Transcreation

 

In today's global marketplace, transcreation is necessary for businesses that want to stand out from the competition. The benefits of transcreation are numerous:

 

 

In today's global marketplace, transcreation is necessary for businesses that want to stand out from the competition. The benefits of transcreation are numerous.

 

 

  1. Transcreation helps to create culturally relevant content that resonates with your audience.
  2. Transcreation ensures your core message is effectively communicated in different languages and cultures while maintaining the original intent.
  3. Transcreation enhances brand recognition and helps businesses establish a solid global presence.
  4. Transcreation makes your marketing content sound more natural, as it was created from scratch by a native speaker.
  5. Transcreation makes your messages more persuasive and real-sounding, therefore it has an impact on sales growth.
  6. Transcreation helps to protect your company reputation which could be damaged due to lack of cultural sensitivity and broader context of machine translations.
  7. Transcreation adds that special creative flair to your writing, making the marketing campaigns more interesting for the targeted customers.

 

 

With effective transcreation, businesses can create content that speaks directly to the local audience, leading to higher customer engagement and increased conversions. All these benefits culminate in higher ROI for companies investing in professional transcreators.

 

 

 

Common Materials That Require Transcreation

 

Marketing materials, such as slogans, taglines, and advertising campaigns, often require transcreation as they rely heavily on cultural references and specific language nuances. For instance, a slogan that works well in one language may not resonate with the audience when translated into another.

 

 

Marketing materials, such as slogans, taglines, and advertising campaigns, often require transcreation as they rely heavily on cultural references and specific language nuances.

 

 

Similarly, product packaging and labels may need to be adapted to ensure they appeal to the foreign market.

 

Corporate presentations and training materials also require transcreation to communicate effectively with employees from diverse backgrounds.

 

By adjusting content to match the linguistic and cultural context of the new audience, businesses can strengthen their brand messaging and establish a strong global presence.

 

 

 


 



Related content: A Guide to Understanding Translation and Localization Terminology



 


 



 

Understand the Transcreation Workflow

 

 

Transcreation is more than just translation or localization; it involves adapting content to a new language and culture while maintaining its original intent and impact. This process requires a combination of copyediting, adaptation, and creative interpretation, making it crucial to understand the source and target languages and cultures deeply.

 

 

 

Working with experienced transcreation professionals can help ensure success in delivering culturally-relevant content to your audience.

 

 

Working with experienced transcreation professionals can help ensure success in delivering culturally-relevant content to your audience.

 

 

 

 

Steps Involved in Transcreation

 

How does it work? After marketers prepare a creative brief in the source language (English in most cases), a skilled native speaker translator carefully considers the target market's values and preferences, the tone of voice, local SEO requirements, and local language figures of speech.

 

Transcreator ultimately delivers a translated text that supports brand awareness, drives engagement, and builds a solid connection with local customers, as its cultural relevance is close to regional preferences.

 

 

After marketers prepare a creative brief in the source language (English in most cases), a skilled native speaker translator carefully considers the target market's values and preferences, the tone of voice, local SEO requirements, and local language figures of speech.

 

 

The transcreation process is a complex and multistep process that involves adapting content to a new language or cultural context while preserving the original intent and message. In the transcreation process your translator has to is to do an in-depth analysis of the source material, including identifying any cultural nuances or linguistic challenges that may need to be addressed.

 

Once this analysis is complete, the transcreation team will adapt the content to meet the audience's expectations while maintaining its original meaning.

 

 

 

 

Finding the Right Translator for Your Business

 

When selecting a transcreation service for your business, finding one that understands your industry and brand voice is essential. Look for a provider who offers a personalized service and is dedicated to understanding your goals and your new audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best transcreation services will provide regular updates and revisions to ensure the final product meets your expectations. By partnering with an experienced transcreation team, you can be confident that your message will resonate with your audience, maximizing the impact of your global marketing campaigns.

 

 

 

 

Examples of Successful Transcreation

 

 

From Coca-Cola's "Share a Coke" campaign to Pampers' "Every Little Miracle," transcreation has played an essential role in the success of many global brands. By adapting their content to suit their audience's cultural and linguistic nuances, these companies have managed to resonate with a broader customer base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nike's "Just Do It" campaign is another excellent example of successful transcreation. The brand worked closely with local ad agencies to develop messaging appealing to specific markets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These examples demonstrate how effective transcreation can be in creating unique and impactful content that resonates with a multilingual audience.

 

 

 

 

Maximizing Impact with Transcreation

 

When done right, transcreation can help businesses connect with their new audience on a deeper level, leading to increased engagement and conversions. For global marketing efforts especially, transcreation is crucial to success.

 

 

When done right, transcreation can help businesses connect with their new audience on a deeper level, leading to increased engagement and conversions. For global marketing efforts especially, transcreation is crucial to success

 

 

 

 

Tips for Creating Unique Content in Foreign Languages

 

You're not required to hire local copywriters or marketing agencies when entering a new market. Moreover, you don't need to research and be the local expert.

 

Tips for Creating Unique Content in Foreign Languages

 

 

Your marketing team shall take the best performing materials and give them to your transcreation expert:

 

 

  • Articles
  • Blog posts
  • Videos
  • Images
  • Stats
  • Reports
  • Infographics
  • Email texts
  • Social media postings

 

 

To create unique and engaging content in a foreign language, transcreation experts consider the new audience's values, beliefs, and customs. Local idioms, colloquialisms, and slang can make the content more relatable.

 

They avoid literal translations that may not convey the intended meaning or tone of the original content. Working with experienced transcreation professionals who deeply understand both cultures and languages is key to creating successful campaigns that resonate with the foreign audience.

 

 

 

 

Maintaining Brand Messaging and Company Image with Transcreation

When it comes to transcreation, maintaining the original brand message and company image is vital. Adapting content for a new market can be challenging. Still, it's crucial to balance cultural nuances and brand consistency.

Transcreating successfully requires a combination of copyediting, adaptation, and imaginative translation skills, which professional linguists possess. By getting this right, businesses can establish themselves in novelty markets and increase their reach while maintaining their core values.

 

 

 

 

Getting the Best ROI Thanks to Transcreation Services

Transcreation assistance can provide a significant return on investment for businesses looking to expand their reach in foreign markets. By adapting content to suit the cultural and linguistic nuances of the new foreign audience, transcreation experts create engaging and culturally relevant content that resonates with potential customers.

 

This approach goes beyond traditional translation, enabling businesses to establish themselves in new markets by conveying their intended message while connecting with their audience emotionally. Working with professional linguists with specialized skills in copyediting, adaptation, and creative interpretation is crucial for companies looking to maximize their ROI with creative interpretation services.

 

 

 

In a Nutshell

 

Transcreation is an essential tool for businesses looking to make a global impact. With its unique blend of copyediting, adaptation, and creative translation, transcreation can help overcome language barriers and cultural differences to connect with audiences in foreign markets on a deeper level.

 

 

The numerous benefits include increased customer engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved brand recognition.

 

 

The numerous benefits include increased customer engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved brand recognition. To maximize the impact of your transcreation efforts, working with a team experienced in translation services that understands the nuances of language and culture in your target markets is essential.

 

Do you need top-notch language services partner that can help take your business to the next level? You'll be able to learn more about how we can help with your next transcreation project by contacting us today.

 

 

 




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7 Tips to Avoid Wasting Your Translation Budget

How to Reduce Turnaround Time for Content Translation