If you sell blogs on Fiverr, Upwork, or another blogging platform, you likely have clients from all over the world. The experience of working with international buyers can be both rewarding and challenging. On one hand, you get to explore new topics or use a new perspective. On the other, language differences can become barriers to success.
I only sell blogs in English, largely because that is the only language I speak fluently. My Spanish is very rudimentary and just enough to get by at a tourist location. Thankfully, my clients and I are usually able to communicate through Fiverr. I take extra care to clarify their expectations and ask questions if I am ever unsure. And I appreciate it when the buyer does the same.
Recently, I received a few orders from Australia and the UK. While the buyers spoke English and wanted English blog copy, they had a specific request. The article needed to be in UK English.
I agreed, and then instantly started Googling the differences between English in America and the UK. I knew there were some extra u’s in there from time to time, but that was the extent of my knowledge.
A simple tip for writing in UK English
Through my search, I found a simple way to write blogs in a different style of English. Instead of trying to speed read and learn the ins and outs of grammar rules in the UK, I just changed the language setting in Microsoft Word. My making this change to my text editor, I was able to write like usual and make spelling or grammar changes as I went.
How to change the language in Microsoft Word
The important thing to note when changing the language in Word is the difference between the Display Language and the Editing Language. For blog writing purposes, you need to focus on changing the Editing Language. This will affect the spelling and grammar as Word edits your document.
To change your Editing Language in Word:
- Write your blog like normal
- Highlight the text you want to proof in a different language or version of English – or just use Ctrl A to highlight the entire article
- Select “Language” under the Review tab
- Choose your language from the options in the pop-up box – for English, you can select from Australian, Canadian, UK and US versions
- The highlighted language will be used to proofread your selected text
- Click OK
- Let Word do its thing and address any red or green underlines on your document
See? It’s easy! By just taking this extra step I was able to provide quality content that met the needs of my clients. The buyers were satisfied with their orders and placed repeat orders.
Avoid slang as much as possible
You may be tempted to look up popular slang or colloquialisms for the language you are using. I would caution against this. Unless you are familiar with the language, you do not understand the full context and meaning behind sayings, no matter how popular the internet says they are. Just check out these 13 slogans that suffered from mistranslation for a laugh and a warning.
Even if you are going from one version of English to another, words and phrases can be significantly different based on region and culture. Do your best to stick to the basics. You can always ask your client to make recommendations for adding more authenticity to the language. They will better understand what works for their business.
Write internationally!
International blog writing is a unique opportunity. It will require extra communication with the buyer and several checks for accuracy and authenticity. When I was writing my last article in UK English, I did not want to sound like an America forcing a British accent into my writing. Instead, I kept things simple and used the language setting in Word for an easy transition.
Have you written blogs for international clients? Share your experience and tips here!