German Copywriter, Content Marketing Writer and Translator – Frequently Asked Questions

+ Do you only create German content and translate into German?

I only create content in German and translate from English and Dutch into German – my mother tongue. Even though I’m fluent in English and received part of my university education in English, I only translate into my native language to ensure the highest possible quality. If you need a native-English or native-Dutch translator or copywriter, I can refer you to a trusted colleague.

+ How much do you charge?

German Copywriting/German Content Marketing Writing:

• One-off copywriting projects are charged by the hour starting from €75 per hour ex VAT.
• For recurring projects such as translating or writing your monthly or quarterly newsletters, blog posts, social media posts, or content marketing articles, I can offer a special package as part of a retainer agreement.

Translation/Localization/Transcreation:

• For direct clients – After checking your files and requirements, I’ll create a bespoke offer based on an hourly rate of €75 ex VAT. To ensure the highest quality, I work with a fabulous and creative second German-native translator/copywriter. Together we make sure that the translation matches the tone of voice for your company and fits your audience!
• For translation agencies – I follow the industry-standard and charge per source word. Discounts for 100% matches and repetitions are applicable if you can provide a high-quality Translation Memory (TM). I can send you my price sheet upon request.

+ Do you charge VAT?

For customers in the Netherlands, 21% VAT is applicable. For companies based in the EU with an EU VAT No. or companies outside the EU, VAT is not applicable.

+ What are your value-added packages?

If you decide to book a package with me for recurring projects such as translating or writing your monthly or quarterly newsletters, blog posts, social media posts, or content marketing articles, I'll go the extra mile for you and add an extra service – the proverbial icing on the cake! Depending on your needs, this could be one of the following extras:

• advice on your translation strategy
• tips for your content marketing strategy
• SEO keyword research
• hashtag research
• the creation of a style guide or glossary

By working together, we will make your brand shine!

+ How long does it take to write a 2,000-word content marketing piece?

This largely depends on your requirements and what information you can provide. If you can hand me a brief including your preferred outline, topics and links (internal/external links), primary and secondary SEO keywords, and sources then it will take approximately 8 hours.

If you cannot provide any of the information listed above, I am able to do the SEO keyword research for you and will research possible source. This will take a few additional hours (at least 2 to 3 hours).

In any case, I prefer to have at least three business days for a content marketing piece. According to best practices I try to adhere to the standard of 1st day for research, 2nd day for writing, 3rd day for polishing up the copy.

+ Can I see your CV?

I don’t publish my CV openly on this website due to the increasing cases of identity theft and scams in the translation industry (yes, sad truth). If you would like a copy of my CV please send me an email.

Otherwise, check out my LinkedIn profile, which lists my working experience and skills. Don’t forget to connect with me over there so that we can stay in touch. I check LinkedIn almost daily and occasionally share some more or less insightful posts.

+ What are your areas of expertise? Can you work with any topic?

With a university degree in Computer Science and a general interest in all things 'technical’, I specialize in IT, technology, engineering, printing/imaging, food processing, photography, and tourism/travel. If your subject area is outside my area of expertise, I can refer you to a trusted colleague.

Besides getting the terminology right, especially for your sales & marketing materials, I apply a more creative translation approach to creating your German copy, which is fluent, easy-to-read, and sounds like an original, not a translation. In short, a technical copy with a creative twist!

+ Why is tourism & travel in Japan one of your top areas of expertise?

It’s a long love story! I went to Japan in 2005 to stay for one year on a working holiday visa and ended up living ten years in Tokyo. During that time, I fell deeply in love with this wonderful country. I have traveled the main islands extensively, am familiar with Japanese culture, and also speak Japanese on an intermediate level. Tourism & Travel projects related to Japan are therefore one of my favorite topics of all time.

+ How many pages or words do you translate a day?

I usually translate between 2,000 and 2,500 words a day, which could be between 8 and 10 pages.

+ How long does it take to translate 2,000 words?

It takes about one day, but I prefer to schedule two to three business days for such medium-sized projects to allow me to proofread my own translation the next day with a fresh pair of eyes.

+ Can you translate my diplomas and certificates?

No, only state-certified and sworn translators can provide a translation of diplomas and certificates and stamp them with their official seal.

+ Do you interpret?

No, I don’t offer interpreting services. My strength lies in writing and I much prefer the written word.

+ Can I see samples of your work?

All my work is bound by Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and I’m not permitted to reveal the names of my clients or their end clients and documents. Hence, I’m not able to provide any samples of my work, but you can read my clients’ testimonials.

If you want to see samples of my writing (in English), hop over to my blog Sustainable Biz Amsterdam where I interview owners of sustainable businesses in and around Amsterdam and write about my journey to a more sustainable life.

+ Do you use special-purpose software for translation?

I mainly use SDL Trados Studio, a Computer-Assisted Translation tool (CAT), which allows me to handle a variety of file formats and incorporate a glossary into my workflow, as well as providing several quality assurance and quality control features.

I am also able to work in MemoQ if you provide me with a license. Additionally, I am familiar with several web-based translation platforms such as Memsource and XTM.

Besides using the integrated quality-assurance tools in my CAT tools, I use XBench to check primarily for inconsistent word usage and wrong or missing numbers in the translation.

+ What materials do you translate?

I translate a wide variety of documents in my areas of expertise. Thanks to using a special software, SDL Trados Studio, I am able to handle many different file formats and can deliver a translation in the same format and layout as your original text.

• website copy
• landing pages
• brochures
• white papers
• product descriptions
• user manuals
• marketing & digital content
• emails
• newsletters
• press releases
• eLearning courses
• surveys
• presentations (PowerPoint)
• technical service reports
• software UI
• B2B, B2C