4 Reasons Why You May Fail As a Freelance Translator

Although translation can be a rewarding career, some freelance translators fail to make their mark in the competitive industry. This is primarily due to bad freelancing practices that have taken over the translation industry.

Considering this, it is important for translation professionals to be particularly aware of bad practices and common mistakes to effectively avoid them and build a successful career in the field. Here are some practices that you should particularly watch out for.

1.     Lack of Marketing Strategy

Most freelance translators ignore the significance of an effective marketing strategy. Remember that marketing is an integral part of any freelance business.

If you want to be known as a professional freelance translator, spend some time on creating a favorable image amongst the businesses in your niche. Devise a good marketing strategy to gain attention and exposure in the industry. Since most clients find it hard to differentiate between various services, ensure that you present yourself as a highly recognizable brand to stand out from the rest.

2.     Failure to Set the Right Price

Pricing can be very challenging, especially if you are new to freelancing. In many cases, freelance translators are unable to determine the right price for the output they promise, which leads to bad reputation.

Industry experts say that the hourly or per project rate should be based on your experience and the client’s budget. So, if you are new to the industry, you will be expected to charge less. However, you may eventually demand higher as you gain experience.

3.     Failure to Negotiate on Terms

Negotiating and agreeing on mutually beneficial terms is key to creating long term relationship with clients. Many freelance translators make their way to the top by working under negotiable terms.

Since negotiation is intended to create a win-win situation between you and the client, you should always respect your client’s opinion to arrive at agreeable terms. At the same time, you need to make every possible effort to avoid the client taking advantage of you or your skills.

4.     Poor Linguistics Skills

If you want to be successful as a freelance translator, mastering your linguistics skills is extremely important. Linguistics skills also include developing cultural competence that plays a crucial role in delivering accuracy and consistency in translation projects. In order for this, it is best to spend at least a year in the source language country or socialize with source language speakers.

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