- Hiring a translator without checking qualifications
- Failing to give clear instructions
- Overlooking proofreading and editing
- Assigning high-stakes documents to unqualified freelancers
- Assuming any translator can provide certified translations
- Ignoring confidentiality risks
- Not setting a clear deadline
- Skipping quality control
- Prioritising speed over quality
- Choosing the cheapest offer
When it comes to translating a text—especially one involving specialised content—expertise, experience and accuracy are key. Unfortunately, many business owners try to cut costs by hiring low-cost freelancers rather than qualified language professionals. While this may seem like a good idea at first, it often leads to critical mistakes, miscommunication, loss of credibility, and in some cases, serious legal or financial consequences. Below we take a closer look at the most common mistakes made when outsourcing translations—and why it pays to avoid them.
Hiring a translator without checking qualifications
Many companies hire freelancers without verifying whether they have the right credentials. Translating complex or specialist material requires more than just fluency in a foreign language—it calls for sector-specific knowledge and experience. Without these, the end result can be error-ridden and unreliable.
Failing to give clear instructions
Lack of clarity around tone, style or industry-specific terminology can lead to misunderstandings and unsatisfactory translations. Without a clear brief, freelancers are left to guess your expectations, which often results in texts that don’t align with your brand or purpose.
Overlooking proofreading and editing
Some businesses assume translation is a one-step process. If a freelancer doesn’t include proofreading and editing in their service, there’s a risk of grammatical errors, awkward phrasing or factual mistakes slipping through—lowering the overall quality of the final document.
Assigning high-stakes documents to unqualified freelancers
Entrusting legal, financial or medical translations to a freelancer without the relevant experience or knowledge can lead to serious errors. Misinterpreting terminology in sensitive documents can result in costly misunderstandings or even legal issues.
Assuming any translator can provide certified translations
Not all translators are authorised to issue certified (sworn) translations. For certain documents, especially those required by courts or government offices, only certified translators can provide legally recognised versions.
Ignoring confidentiality risks
Freelancers don’t always have the systems in place to guarantee full confidentiality. If your document includes sensitive information—like business strategies, contracts or financial data—it’s crucial to ensure data security is taken seriously.
Not setting a clear deadline
Failing to agree on a firm deadline can lead to delays. With freelancers often juggling multiple clients, your project may not be prioritised unless the schedule is clearly agreed in advance.
Skipping quality control
Some companies don’t review the final translation or seek professional feedback before using it. Publishing or sharing poorly translated content can damage your image and lead to credibility issues.
Prioritising speed over quality
Rushing a translation, especially with a vague “ASAP” deadline often leads to subpar results. Freelancers need time to understand the context, apply correct terminology and produce a natural, fluent translation.
Choosing the cheapest offer
A low price doesn’t always mean good value. While cost-cutting may seem attractive, translations done on the cheap can ultimately result in documents that are inaccurate, incomplete or unusable. This can harm your brand, confuse your audience, or require costly revisions later.
Want to avoid these risks? Work with trusted professionals. At OMERO, we provide high-quality translations handled by experienced specialists who understand your sector, your goals and your expectations. Let us help you avoid costly mistakes – contact us to learn more about our services.