Professional copywriting and transcreation
Professional copywriting and transcreation
Copywriting and transcreation for international markets
Writing to communicate is a profession. Writing to communicate in another language is a different, and more complex, profession. A text that works in Italian will not necessarily work when translated word for word: the rhythm changes, nuances are lost, and cultural references may no longer work.
Dotwords is a copywriting and transcreation agency that combines linguistic expertise with creative sensitivity. Native-speaking writers and translators work together to create texts that work in the target context. Not only accurate, but effective.
What is Transcreation?
Transcreation, also known as creative translation, is the adaptation of a creative or emotional text from one language to another, with the aim of preserving its impact on the target audience, not just its literal meaning. It is used when conventional translation risks flattening or distorting the message: wordplay, idiomatic expressions, slogans, advertising copy, and catchphrases.
A practical example: a slogan that plays on the assonance between two words in Italian cannot be translated into English while retaining the same sound-based wordplay. Transcreation does not translate the slogan; instead, it creates a new one that produces the same impact in the target language while respecting the brand’s positioning. This is what makes transcreation a strategic tool in any international communications plan.
How do we manage terminology?
Our terminology management approach follows three structured phases designed to adapt to each client’s size and industry.
Phase 1
Data collection and term extraction
We start with your existing documents, in one or more languages, to extract relevant terms and build the first terminology glossaries for reference. We can create separate glossaries for departments, product lines or target markets, depending on your operational needs.
Phase 2
Review by a specialist linguist
A native-speaking linguist with expertise in your industry reviews the extracted glossaries, validates the terminology choices and checks their accuracy in context. If necessary, they create new terminology from scratch by studying the specific language used by your company and in the target market.
Phase 3
Approval and standardisation
The final result is shared with you for approval before being uploaded to the operational terminology database. From that point onwards, all translators and reviewers working on your content use the same references, which are dynamically updated over time.
Professional copywriting: content that works for your brand
Copywriting is the creation of content designed to communicate, persuade and convert: web pages, advertising campaign copy, social media content, newsletters, product descriptions, and press releases. It is not generic writing; it is writing geared towards a specific objective and audience.
As a copywriting agency, Dotwords supports companies across all industries: from corporate communications to commercial copy, from copywriting for the food and foodservice sector to search-engine-optimised content. Every project starts with an analysis of the brand, tone of voice and target market, to produce content that is consistent with the company’s identity and measurable in terms of results.
SEO copywriting: content that gets found and gets read
A significant part of our projects involves SEO copywriting: content optimised for search engines while maintaining readability and editorial quality. Working on both fronts, organic search visibility and content quality, is what distinguishes a professional copywriting agency from those who simply fill pages with keywords.
Our writers and creative translators
The professionals working on copywriting and transcreation projects at Dotwords have a broad range of skills: training in translation, direct experience in advertising and commercial copywriting, and knowledge of target markets. They are not simply bilingual; they are native speakers of the language they write in, with cultural sensitivity towards the audiences they write for.
Based in Milan and with a network of collaborators across Europe, we can manage projects in Italian and in all major European and non-European languages, with fast response times and a dedicated contact for every client.
Do you need copywriting or transcreation?
Get in touch: we’ll be happy to provide you with a no-obligation quote.
