Grow: Creating Global Business Documents
Last Monday, we discussed tips for creating a global business card. Adding to that c0nversation, I wanted to provide tips for creating business documents, such as annual reports, white papers and proposals that were relevant in a global market. Here are five quick tips to keep in mind when creating business documents for an international audience.
Use a professional. Creating an effective global business document is a complex process. Don’t leave your business image in the hands of an amateur.
Consider your business goals. Evaluating your present and future needs from the onset can reduce costs, time and frustrations.
Develop a standard operating procedure for document creation. This will help to create consistency amongst documents and facilitate future business growth.
Remember that less is more. Try to find one firm that can translate, localize and print high quality documents. Working with fewer vendors can save you valuable time and money.
Think as a foreign reader. Write simply, avoid culturally specific terms and create reference lists or glossaries when necessary.
Be mindful of formatting. When translating, text can expand or contract up to 50% depending on the target language. Create documents that can accommodate the size of the translated text.
Leave a Comment May 4, 2009
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