Setting the industry standard in customer satisfaction
McElroy’s Mission Statement McElroy Translation provides translation and localization services in all languages to business and government clientele enhancing their ability to compete in global markets.
“Good business leaders create destiny by defining and sharing a vision. To know it, to feel it, and to live it is to achieve success.”
Translation kits range from the very simple to the very complex. In either case, translation kits provide your vendor with vital information about every project you award them. The purpose of a translation kit is to provide us with your expectations: the subject matter and target audience, files and format to be translated, delivery expectations, special considerations and any other relevant information all in one place. The benefits of a translation kit are many-fold: fewer calls from us requesting clarification, fewer issues that arise during translation, less rework and fewer surprises at the end of the project (i.e. unmet expectations).
The time to provide a translation kit is at the quoting stage. This enables us to provide you with an accurate view of cost and turnaround time and resolve any problems BEFORE the project starts.
During one of my recent International Business classes for adult learners, we had the opportunity to discuss the concept of political risk for businesses developing operations overseas. In that context, we were reviewing a list published by Foreign Policy magazine which ranks countries by political risks and other threats. Not surprisingly, Sudan and Iraq topped the most recent list. Then I heard a student ask why the state of Georgia was included on a list of countries! Quite frankly, I did not know how to respond. Add to that the fact that one of my close friends mentioned a son’s classmate (granted, it was 4th grade) asked if you had to have a passport to go to California. It started me thinking. Are we doing enough to educate our up and coming generation and future business leaders about our global world today?
Are elementary school students taking and understanding world geography? Do we offer adequate foreign language training at an early age in all our school systems? Are we encouraging university students to spend a semester abroad? (In fact, according to Allan Goodman, president and CEO of the Institute of International Education, states that despite the doubling of study-abroad enrollments in the past decade, only 1% of college students study abroad each year). Are we fostering a global mentality in our workforce today? Are we offering cross-cultural communications training to executives traveling overseas?
Today’s business leaders need to push for all of these things in order to ensure the future success of American business. Let’s “go global” today to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
We invite you to enter two case study related contests.
#1: Best Published Case Study by an E-Buzz Reader
Submit your organization’s published case study. McElroy’s Marketing Manager and PR Agency will select the “Best story” award winner. The winner will be announced in next month’s E-Buzz publication garnering acclaim for their marketing savvy and $500 toward their next translation. Submit entries to
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#2 Best Potential Story for a McElroy Case Study
Click here to enter information. All participants will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and the winner will receive $500 toward their next translation.
Case studies explore relationships and describe how organizations mutually solve problems. These narratives help brands connect empathically with buyers. Ultimately, we like them and we rely on them because appreciation for a good story crosses all cultural, geographic and demographic boundaries.
Who is not familiar with the Business Case Study? At first mention the topic sounds less than riveting, and you may even be reminded of a mandatory and grueling undergraduate business class devoted to the topic. I do. So why is this the subject to which I was drawn when writing an article for this month’s E-Buzz publication?
Today’s case study has moved well beyond the business text book and into the arena of marketing and brand creation. In parallel to the ad slogan “This is NOT your father’s Mustang,” a new age has dawned in which the relevance of the case study scintillates at an entirely new level. Case study creation is storytelling, and in today’s marketing scheme it is one of the most powerful tools available for presenting truths about your service, product, or brand. We all love a good story!
Search Engine watch recently conducted an interview with one of the experts in Brazilian Internet usage. There is some really great information about the current state of the Internet in Brazil, and the impact of the way Brazilians do business on how you market to them.
SEW: What advice would you give for US businesses who are looking to market to Brazilians, but do not have a physical business location in Brazil?
1. Use search engines to reach the customers. 2. Localize (not only translate) your ads into Portuguese. 3. Develop a good landing page strategy: create a Portuguese version before considering have all your website translated. 4. Forget PayPal, and provide multiple payment systems including credit cards, and boleto (a local bank invoicing system). 5. If you are planning to sell goods, sending the purchases by mail; then watch out for high taxes and duties.
This month we pay tribute to our founder Ralph McElroy. Ralph passed away July 26, 2007. McElroy Translation Company closed Monday July 30, 2007 to pay tribute to this man who has touched so many of our lives. Ralph was a visionary when he saw opportunity in the translation field almost 40 years ago. His vision never stagnated.
Throughout the years he embraced change and supported executive management decisions to invest in technology and people. McElroy Translation continually thrived in an evolving business climate over four decades. His ownership style nurtured a corporate culture which we will continue to enjoy.
On behalf of Ralph’s family we thank the hundreds of translators, clients, friends and colleagues who have shared their condolences and fond memories. In reflecting on Ralph’s vibrancy as an inspiration for how to LIVE LIFE, a co-worker stated a profound truth. Ralph’s defining trait was his curiosity. It was an insatiable curiosity which led him to learn languages, explore cultures, make friends everywhere, relish conversation, and open his mind to possibility.
This month we will publish a slightly edited profile that originally appeared in E-Buzz January 2005 and our monthly philanthropy project is chosen with him in mind. To Ralph and to living life fully!
E-Buzz columns
