German-into-English Marketing Translation & Transcreation
Marketing texts are a different breed. Their aim is not just to share information. They have to engage and stir emotions.
If you simply “translate” texts like these, the effect is lost and the tone no longer reflects your brand.
For over 22 years, I’ve been helping German-speaking companies get their marketing messages across in English – with accurate translations that read naturally and stay true to the brand.
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But some texts are even more creative.
Slogans, headlines, advertising – their impact relies on style, wordplay and cultural sensitivity. For these kinds of texts, a straightforward translation just isn’t enough.
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That’s where transcreation comes in. With this special blend of translation and copywriting, the goal is not a word-for-word translation, but rather an English text that has been linguistically and culturally adapted to have the same impact as the original German version.
I always start with the outcome in mind: What message should the text convey? Which wording will strike the right tone? And how can the brand voice be preserved in English?
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Standard translation, marketing translation or transcreation?
Standard translation
Marketing translation
Transcreation
Focus
Clarity, accuracy
Style, tone, brand image
Creative adaptation, emotional impact
Creativity
Low
Moderate
High
Typical texts
Contracts, Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policies, technical documents
Websites, brochures, newsletters, press releases
Slogans, taglines, ads, social media content
Hi, I’m Patrick
​As a Brit growing up in Germany, translation was already a big part of my life in childhood. Now, as a professional translator with over two decades of experience, I provide German-to-English translation services that help companies in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg achieve maximum impact with English-speaking audiences – whether to sell their products, communicate their activities or attract top talent.​
Is your business based in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or Luxembourg? My marketing translations and transcreations can help you:​
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â– Promote your products and services in English-speaking markets
â– Communicate your activities to international audiences
â– Improve the user experience for English-speaking web visitors or app users
â– Boost your visibility in UK, US and other international search results
â– Generate more leads and sales in international markets
â– Attract top multilingual talent to join your company
I have particular marketing translation and transcreation expertise in the following areas*
Environment & Sustainability
Tech
Finance & Investment
HR & Employer Branding
Real Estate
Catering & Hospitality
​* Gained through translating and editing millions of words over the past 22 years, and backed by relevant qualifications.
Frequently asked questions about marketing translation and transcreation
1. What type of translation do I need for my text?
That depends entirely on the text. For informative content, a straightforward marketing translation into English is usually sufficient. But when it comes to highly creative wording – such as slogans, headlines or advertising copy – transcreation is often the better option, especially if the text needs cultural adaptation as well.
I’ll be happy to review your content free of charge and give you an honest assessment of which approach is best for your needs.
2. What’s the difference between a marketing translation and a transcreation?
A marketing translation conveys your content into English accurately and idiomatically, with a tone and style that stay true to your brand.
Transcreation goes a step further. The German text is creatively re-crafted to achieve the same effect in English. Wordplay, cultural references and local nuances are taken into account – because what works in your home market will not always have the same impact internationally.
3. Can’t marketing texts just be machine-translated?
Machine translation does have its advantages. For standard content such as terms and conditions or internal documents, it can save both time and money. In these cases, I also offer MT with post-editing.
But creative marketing texts are a different story. This is where machine translation quickly reaches its limits, as it struggles with things like tone, nuance and wordplay. That’s why I usually recommend a professional marketing translation for this type of content, or better still, a full transcreation.
4. How does working together look in practice?
Send me your texts by email. I’ll recommend the best approach for your needs and provide a no-obligation quote.
Once the translation or transcreation is complete, you’ll receive a ready-to-publish version that’s carefully tailored to your target audience in terms of style, language and cultural nuance.
If you need to make any minor changes to the source text afterwards, I’ll be happy to update the translation – one round of revisions is included in the price.
5. Do you offer a free trial translation?
I’ll be happy to translate a short extract of your text, free of charge, so you can get a feel for the quality of my work and see if I’ll be the right fit for you and your business.
6. How much do marketing translation and transcreation cost?
Both marketing translations and transcreations are usually charged per word of the German source text. Since transcreations are more complex and time-intensive, they are charged at a higher rate per word.
Simply send me your texts and I’ll provide you with a free, no-obligation quote.
7. Why is a native English speaker so important for marketing translation and transcreation?
Marketing translation and transcreation are not just about swapping words – the message needs to be conveyed fluently, idiomatically and with the right style.
With my bilingual background and many years of experience working with clients in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Luxemburg, I deliver marketing translations and transcreations that have the same impact in English as the original German texts.
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“We are absolutely thrilled! Outstanding work! We will definitely recommend you and come back to you next time we need a translation service.”
Nevari Capital Real Estate
(Website transcreation,
www.nevari-capital.com)
​“​Patrick is an outstanding translator and a joy to work with. He also responds to requests quickly. I would be happy to recommend him further!”
Supertext AG
(Swiss agency client –
over 4300 projects completed since 2010)
“​Patrick is a first-rate translator and reviewer who is deeply knowledgeable in his areas of specialisation. His translations are often an improvement on the source.”
Word Connection GmbH
(Austrian agency client – ​
over 1600 projects completed since 2009)