The Nine mistakes freelance translators should avoid for success

9 Mistakes Freelance Translators
Should Avoid

Levent Yildizgoren –
Managing Director - TTC wetranslate Ltd

9Mistakes Freelance Translators Should Avoid |© Levent Yıldızgören www.ttcwetranslate.com

• There are several measures freelance translators can take to establish
productive relationships with customers, particularly at the beginning of
the relationship. Like most things, if the relationship starts off
well, chances are it will continue that way. It goes without saying that
delivering consistently high quality translations and keeping up with
deadlines will play the most important part in impressing your customers.
• There are many things we have learnt by working with hundreds upon
hundreds of translators and clients over the years, which we thought
would be good to share with freelance translators: avoiding the nine
mistakes identified in this presentation will help you have a long term
relationship with your clients, and will more importantly, ensure that you
run a stress-free and productive business.


1-Heavily discounting your charges
• Never discount charges for your core service
whether it is translation, interpreting or editing too
much in order to win new business. It will devalue
the service you offer and may give the wrong
impression of you to your customer.
• You can offer free test translations to gain their
confidence or reduce your charges for
supplementary services such as
proofreading, review or editing. Having said that, I
am aware how sensitive some translators are about
offering free test translations. It is best to form your
own opinion about this matter. It is easy for an
established translator to refuse to undertake any
free test pieces as a matter of principle.


1-Heavily discounting your charges
• If you reduce your charge too much for your
core service in order to get new clients, you will
despise them in the long run; and if you charge
them less the first time, they will expect you to
charge the same rate the next time they work
with you. Also, the relationship may suffer
when you would (only naturally) want to raise
your prices.
• Pricing is the one of the most sensitive and hot
topics. You need to find what works for you and
what is in line with your long-term goals.


2- Being afraid to ask your customer
questions
• Find out the intended purpose of the translation at
the start of the project.
– Is it for information only, for marketing purposes
or for publishing?
– Who is the target audience?
• Do not be concerned with asking your clients
questions about the text you are translating: there is
nothing wrong with going back to your customer
asking for clarification of words that may be difficult
to read or understand. They will not think any less of
you because you asked a question.
• Be sure, however to ask relevant questions, well in
advance of the deadline. Never use ‘questions’ as a
bargaining chip for extending deadlines.

2- Being afraid to ask your customer
questions
• My suggestion is to examine the source
text as soon as you receive it from your
customer even if you are going to start
the translation at a later time. This will
enable you to pinpoint any questions you
may have and will not compromise
customer’s deadline.


3 – Thinking you will lose your
customer if you turn down a project
• If the project offered to you is in a subject you
do not feel comfortable with, or a deadline you
cannot meet, don’t be afraid to turn down the
project.
• Whatever the reason may be, being clear and
open to your customer about it will help you to
establish long lasting relationships.
• Taking on a project, which you cannot properly
translate, or accepting a deadline which is not
feasible will do more damage to the
relationship than turning down a project for a
perfectly valid reason.


3 – Thinking you will lose your
customer if you turn down a project
• If the subject matter requires specialist
knowledge you don’t have, then
consider recommending a specialist
translator in this language pair who
can do the job. This is something you
need to give some thought before
doing it.
• Make sure all parties are very clear
about the deal and their
responsibilities to each other.


4 – Only getting in touch with your
customer when you need work
from them
• Keep in touch with your customers regularly.
Let them know every time you have news
that might be interesting for them.

Increased
efficiency

• Tell them about the new CAT tools or
software you are using and any new skills
you may have learned since last working with
them.


4 – Only getting in touch with your
customer when you need work
from them
• If your customers ask you to provide them
with some new information and updated
CV, make sure you respond to them
promptly even if they are not a regular
customer. This will be time well invested. If
they require you to sign a confidentiality
form make sure it is done on time.

• Your customer will not be impressed if you
do not respond to their messages but
contact them for work when you are not
very busy.

5 – Thinking that you are the only
translator your client should work with
• Translation companies need to have
multiple translators for each language pair
they work with and in particular subject
matters too. They also have to make sure
they have coverage for holidays, illness
and busy times. They have to therefore
have multiple translators in every language
pair.


5 – Thinking that you are the only
translator your client should work with
• Do not feel betrayed if your client uses
another translator and asks you to carry
out checking or proofreading instead of
translating. This means they trust you
and value your opinion.
• It is also possible that in the same
company project managers may have
different translators they prefer working
with. It is best to respect their choice
and when given an opportunity, try to
be the best translator they work with.


6 – Not having a specialist subject
• Translators need to be able to cover a variety of
subjects. Of course, after many years of
experience you will gather specialist skills and
knowledge in certain subject matters. Having this
extra knowledge will set you apart from other
translators.
• Your niche will help you to become an authority in
your particular field and the first port of call for
your customers.


6 – Not having a specialist subject
• Your specialist area may come as a result of
working on the same subject for a long time or it
would be an area you worked in previously. I know
a few legal translators who were lawyers previously.
They always command higher rates because of their
knowledge.
• Sometimes a subject you feel passionate about may
become your specialist area. There are very good
examples around. A translator who is passionate
about environment, human rights or sport can end
up being a specialist translator as well.


7 – Not collaborating and networking
with your fellow translators
• The translation community is global and we all
have the same aspirations and challenges
wherever we are in the world.
• There are many professional support
organisations and associations out there for
translators. The most successful translators are
the ones that support their colleagues and share
information.
• Networking is when you get out of the office and
meet other translators. People prefer to work
with people they trust and know. Time spent on
networking can be one of your best investments
and can lead to future collaborations.


8 – Not belonging to a professional
organisation
• There are many reputable professional
organisations for translation professionals such as
ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting), CIoL
(Chartered Institute of Linguist), ATA (American
Translators Association) and many more.
• Membership of such organisations will set you apart
from the crowd and show that you fulfil their
membership criteria.

• Most of these organisations have strict criteria
which are intended to keep standards high. And they
offer their members networking
opportunities, personal development support and
event discounts. And some even provides legal
helpline offering free advice on a range of legal
matters.

9 – Not continuing your
professional development
• Once you are qualified and started getting
new customers, it may feel comfortable to
not continue with your professional
development. This may seem profitable in
the short run but can be a big obstacle for
your future progress.
• Our industry is constantly changing and
developing, with new processes, new CAT
tools and QA software.
• Keep up to date with the changes in the
industry, and do not resist change. It may
cause you to lose business if your fellow
translators are using the latest CAT tools, and
you are not, for instance.

Contact
TTC wetranslate Limited
86 Broomfield Road
Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SS, UK
www.ttcwetranslate.com

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The Nine mistakes freelance translators should avoid for success