Are you translating your content? Are you looking for ways to make your translations better, cheaper, and faster? Look no further. What you need is global-ready content. It's a fact. If you fix your source content one time, prior to translation, your translations will be more accurate. They will also be less expensive. And your in-country reviewers will need to iterate with each translator far fewer times. This presentation introduces Content Rules and describes our global readiness service and why you should care.

1. Introduction and
Global Readiness
Services
Val Swisher
Founder & CEO
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Who Am I?
 Founder and CEO of Content Rules
 25+ years in content arena
 Specialty areas:
 Global content strategy
 Terminology management
 Content quality
 Single-sourcing / XML / DITA
 Finishing third book, “Global Content Strategy,” due out in
2014
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. What is Content Rules?
 Professional services firm specializing in:
• Content strategy / Global content strategy
• Content creation
• Content quality / Global readiness




Based in Silicon Valley
Founded in 1994
Acrolinx Authorized Services Provider
Authorized provider of The Rockley Strategic Method™
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. © 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. A Definition
Global readiness is the process of creating and optimizing content so
that readers all over the world can grasp its meaning and intent.
- Scott Abel
 Most writers in the U.S. do not understand how to create
global-ready content
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. Methods Of Handling Global Content
 Translation
 Localization
 Transcreation
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. Methods Of Handling Global Content
Translation
Localization
Transcreation
The content stays the
same
The meaning stays the
same
Different content
developed to meet
business objectives
Language
Literal word-for -word
translation of everything
Translate the meaning of
the words in a way that is
culturally appropriate
Developed in local
language; English may be
used as part of the brand
vocabulary
Images
No change
Change to fit local
expectations / product
needs
Change to fit local
expectations / product
needs
Layout
No change
Minimize changes
Change to fit local
expectations
Brand
Vocabulary
No change
No change
Enhance and expand
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. Global Readiness
 Focuses on:



Readability
Grammar and style
Content reuse
 Ensures that content is understood by people who have English as a
second language
 Ensures that content is translatable
 Eliminates culturally-insensitive visual elements
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. Translation and Global Readiness
 Shorten time to translate
 Improve translation accuracy
 Increase success of machine translation
 Decrease post-edit rework and costs
 Increase readability for all languages, including English
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

10. Options?
Fix the content before translation
Fix it in 15 languages
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Global Readiness 101
14 - 48% Off
Translation
Costs
Reduce Word
Count
Increase Use
of Identical
Sentences
Decrease
Word
Variability
Reduce
Sentence
Length and
Complexity
Fix
Translationspecific Word
Usage Errors
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. Reduce Word Count
Documents littered with wasteful phrases
a great deal of
much
due to the fact that
because
75% Word Count Reduction
80% Reduction
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

13. Wasteful Words Everywhere







a great deal of  much
due to the fact that  because
despite the fact that  although
arrive at a conclusion  conclude
we suggest that you use  use
give careful consideration to  consider
It can be seen that  -
a great deal of

due to the fact that
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Increase Sentence Reuse
 The start date must be before the end date.
 End date must be greater than or equal to start date.
 End date must be equal to or later than the start date.
 End date should be greater than start date.
 The start date cannot be later than the end date.
 Start date must be before end date.
 Your end date must be after your start date.
 Your start date must be before your end date.
 The end date must be later than or the same as the start date.
 The actual end date must be on or after the actual start date.
 Please enter an end date that is later than or the same as the start date.
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

15. Decrease Word Variability
“The weather outside is hot.”
(But not to a team of writers…)
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. Decrease Word Variability
The weather outside is...







baking
blazing
blistering
boiling
burning
febrile
feverish







fiery
flaming
heated
hot
humid
like an oven
on fire







ovenlike
parching
roasting
scalding
scorching
searing
sizzling







smoking
steaming
sultry
sweltering
torrid
tropical
very warm
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

17. Word Usage Errors
 Slang, idioms, ambiguous words
 Right vs. correct
 “My word!”
 Modal verbs
 Split infinitives: “to boldly go”
 Verb tenses
 Dogs will always chase cats vs. Dogs always chase cats
 Pronouns create gender issues
 It was hot (what is hot? Male? Female?)
 This creates a problem (what is this?)
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

18. Where to Start?
 Training course “How to Write Using International English”
 Download our eBook: “8 Simple Rules to Make Your Content
Global-Ready Now!”
 Global readiness evaluation
 Work with your content using state of the art software and
trained professionals
© 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.

19. © 2014. Content Rules, Inc. All rights reserved.