Why some translators are more successful than others? 5 ways to succeed in a freelance translation business

 

I have been in the translation and interpreting business for 20 years and as a member of all relevant professional organisations, I have connected with many colleagues over the years. I am also active on social media and am able to observe the challenges many colleagues face and how they deal with them.

We all experience variations in demands, but some translators are more successful than others. Why? The answer is simple: being a great translator is not enough. As much as we love words and consider our work a craft, it is in fact a business, and if you want to be do well, you must approach it as a business.

Here are five crucial points you need to remember:

1. Be reliable – Your translation may be perfectly honed, but if it arrives late, it might not serve the purpose or may cause more problems for the client. Plan accordingly to your circumstances, factor in potential problems, be realistic and do not offer more than you can do. Once you gain a reputation of being unreliable, nobody will use you a second time and nobody will recommend you.
2.  Offer solutions and alternatives – work with your client, they do not always know how things work in translation. Instead of ranting about their ignorance on Twitter, offer them solutions that will provide them with the service they need – whether they care about the speed or cost saving. Help them achieve their goal.
3.  Network outside your translation bubble – translators networking is great, and you can learn a lot from your colleagues, support each other and even get a referral or two, but it is not enough. If you specialise in a particular field, you must make sure that companies and people working in that field know about you. Just hoping that someone will find you in the directory is not enough. You are not the only person in the directory. I would suggest starting local – there are plenty of professional networking groups, BoB clubs and regional chambers of commerce.
4. Learn to collaborate – partner with a colleague to provide a better service to your clients. Partner with other professionals to be able to offer a “package” of services to another client. Think beyond your language and your translation.
5. Be humble and respect your client – you might be a great translator and you think your client does not know what localisation is and what proofreading involves. There is no need to speak “translationese” at them. Your client is an expert in their field. You are there to assist them in achieving their goal. Use your expertise to do that in a quiet and effective way.
   

Translation qualifications are valuable in your work, but you need business skills and the right attitude to succeed in a freelance translation business.