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TRANSLATORS' TIPS

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TRANSLATORS TIPS
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  • Alejandro

    Interact with other people if you can during breaks and get out of the house if you can, to ensure that you remain active while home working

    5 day(s) ago

  • Sammy

    Make clear to other people in your household that you are working and do not allow them to distract you - your home working environment needs to be treated just like a professional office!

    11 day(s) ago

  • Karl

    Set yourself goals and deadlines throughout the day to maintain your productivity and energy levels - this is a tip I've been using for year's and it really makes a difference.

    19 day(s) ago

  • Koula

    Work on projects in the morning without distraction and save calls for the afternoon

    26 day(s) ago

  • Jen

    Keep your personal social media separate - don’t waste time during your working day on Facebook and Twitter!

    33 day(s) ago

  • Ashraf

    The best way to achieve success is to offer what others cannot: that includes accuracy, profesionalism and more

    40 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use freelancing to build the work/life balance that works for you

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Be realistic in your expectations about freelancing to ensure you enjoy it to the max!

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Make sure you have the skills to back up your passion if you want to be successful

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Invest in a decent internet connection for a happy freelance life

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Build up a good support network to help you weather the freelance lifestyle

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Post your testimonials regularly on social media for marketing purposes

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Try out professional (free) email solutions to make your marketing messages stand out

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use one-time discounts and offers to attract more clients

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use LinkedIn for marketing purposes to ensure you reach as many potential clients as possible

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Introduce a referral scheme to boost your translation client numbers with very little effort

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Divide up your tasks so that you separate out those that require 100% concentration

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Think up creative challenges for your children, then focus on your work while they complete them

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Give older children the chance to earn pocket money be completing chores while you get your work done

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Ensure that your children have times that are 100% for them - then they'll be happier about letting you focus on work at other times!

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Define what success means to you - you won't achieve it if you don't know what it looks like!

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Minimize life admin in order to focus more effectively on your work

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Avoid multi-tasking whenever possible - it's not effective

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Put your phone on silent and close messaging apps to achieve better focus and work faster

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Cut out caffeine to improve your focus and concentration

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Put your rates up regularly to keep pace with inflation

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Download a workout app to keep you moving during the working day

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Incorporate exercise into your daily routine and make sure you stick to it

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Make exercise sociable and join a running club or local team - don't be a lonely freelancer!

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    If you work from home, plan healthy meals to keep in shape, rather than turning to junk food at the last minute

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk to encourage healthy snacking

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Take strategic naps as part of your freelance lifestyle - research shows you'll be more productive as a result

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Ensure your invoices look professional - they represent your approach to your finances

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Save for the unexpected - freelacing isn't always predictable

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Do extra work in the weeks before each holiday to ensure that you don't lose out on income

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Charge extra for rush translation jobs, even if you have nothing else on - there's a precedent at stake

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Don't volunteer as a crowd-sourced translator for a for-profit company - it makes them think that translation isn't worth paying for!

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Think before contributing to crowd-sourced translation projects - are you doing the translation industry a disservice?

    2017 year(s) ago

  • Lydia de las casas

    Make sure you have a dedicated work space, to separate your work time and area clearly from the rest of your life

    47 day(s) ago

  • Joel

    Always ensure you have a contract in place (or another form of written agreement that would stand up in court if necessary!) before starting a job

    53 day(s) ago

  • Kristina

    Keep your portfolio up to date – you never know when clients and potential clients will want to check it out

    61 day(s) ago

  • Archie peters

    Always be clear to clients as to what you do and don’t do – it could save you from wasting time (and money) at a later stage

    68 day(s) ago

  • Lola

    Get up every morning and dress as though you were working outside of the house, it will help your motivation

    74 day(s) ago

  • Fred johnson

    Always ask your clients for feedback – then use it to improve your services. Then put your rates up to reflect your enhanced services! #translationpro

    89 day(s) ago

  • Edwina

    Make a daily to-do list.  A list of tasks you need to take care of each day will help keep you on track and reduce your ability to procrastinate - as long as you don't waste hours on making the list ;-)

    96 day(s) ago

  • Jon

    Treat every client as if they are your very best client and you'll build a reputation for outstanding customer service

    103 day(s) ago

  • James mair

    Put a little money aside in a separate account to see you through when work is limited

    109 day(s) ago

  • Kaya72

    Make sure you update your online presence regularly – you never know when a new client could be checking you out!

    117 day(s) ago

  • Chrissie

    Always keep on top of invoices – once they start stacking up, it’s hard to catch up. Plus, delays in sending invoices mean delays in getting paid!

    124 day(s) ago

  • Frankie

    Use free software when you can, but buy a few premium tools that will make you more productive - don't sacrifice efficiency for the sake of saving a small sum of money!

    131 day(s) ago

  • Jan m

    Always keep a notebook close by to jot down ideas for future use

    137 day(s) ago

  • Isaac

    Do your homework and make sure there is a market for what you are offering!

    157 day(s) ago

  • Shelly

    Always be honest about your expertise and abilities - there's no point saying you can do something when you can't. If you want to offer a service that you can't currently deliver, learn how to do it first!

    165 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Read reviews before agreeing to work for a translation agency to find out what they are like

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Agree payment terms before starting a job to avoid confusion later on

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Google new clients to check there's nothing negative online about them before agreeing to work for them

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Consider staged payments for translation jobs that last for several weeks (or even months)

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use an Escrow account to safeguard payment for large jobs

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Always charge extra for rush translation jobs!

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Do an hour or two extra each day in the weeks before a holiday to cover the income lost while away

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Don’t be afraid to put your prices up every couple of years to cover cost of living rises

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Save for the unexpected - freelancers never know what's round the corner!

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use a decent program so your invoices look as professional as your translations

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Enjoy the flexibility of freelancing in the run up to the holiday season, to counterbalance any interruptions while you're on leave

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use a seasonal greeting email to clients to get work lined up for January, once the festivities are over

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Give your clients plenty of notice of your holiday season leave plans, to avoid a last minute rush of work when you're trying to get away

    172 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Plan for holidays carefully to ensure your cashflow isn't disrupted

    172 day(s) ago

  • Luka chedat

    Always be honest about your expertise and abilities

    172 day(s) ago

  • Koula

    Beware what you put on your social media feed if you use it for business - customers searching for you don’t want to see your recent holiday photos!

    178 day(s) ago

  • Graeme

    If you have a website or social media account, make sure it is regularly updated to keep up with your latest achievements and service offerings

    185 day(s) ago

  • Surinder

    Always respond quickly to communications and you will stand out from many of your competitors

    194 day(s) ago

  • Eli

    Reward good and loyal customers with occasional discounts – but check that doing so won’t hurt your cashflow first!

    200 day(s) ago

  • Sally wich

    A positive attitude is key to building your reputation - you won't get far with negativity!

    215 day(s) ago

  • Emmanuel

    whatever you do in translation be determinant and ready to act perfectly;

    227 day(s) ago

  • Leslie johnston

    Manage your time effectively and avoid distractions to be at your most productive - it will pay dividends!

    235 day(s) ago

  • Frank

    Get to know other freelancers and swop skills - it will help to keep you motivated and not feel lonely

    248 day(s) ago

  • Ahmed

    Learn to say NO! Don’t take on more than you can reasonably cope with or you may come to regret it

    256 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Tackle your marketing activity over the summer while it's quiet, then reap the benefits for the rest of the year

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use the quiet summer months to boost your skills - then put your prices up to reflect your enhanced service

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Pick up new clients by helping out when their usual translators are on holiday

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Give your clients plenty of warning if you're going to take a break and don't want to be disturbed while you're away

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Plan your holidays around seasonal quiet periods like August and January to get away with minimal hassle

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    You don't have to miss out on holidays as a freelancer, but you do have to plan more carefully for them

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Be prepared to work extra hours in the run up to your summer vacation - it will be worth it once you get away!

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use an incentive to encourage clients not to stray when you return from a long summer break

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Approach freelancing like running a business to maximise your income

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Be disciplined in your approach - as a freelancer, organisation is your friend

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Use basic accounting software to make issuing and chasing your invoices more streamlined

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Think about payment terms before issuing your first invoice - healthy cash-flow is essential for freelancers

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Make sure any 'special' rates you offer are strictly time-limited

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Build enough to cover holidays into your rates, so that you can afford to take time off

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Decide how many hours per day you want to work and stick to it. At least most of the time!

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Work out what you need to earn in order to live the lifestyle you are happy with and then set your rates

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Take out insurance that's relevant to your role - key man insurance can work well for freelance translators

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Make sure you know which taxes you are liable for - it's your responsibility as a freelancer

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Take tax advice before establishing your company structure - it could save you a fair amount of money

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    If invoicing, tax and marketing fill you with dread, it might be better to work for a translation company rather than freelance

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Language skills and business skills don't always go hand in hand, so seek help on the business side if you need it

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Google 'MIT Open Courseware' to discover a whole host of language courses

    269 day(s) ago

  • Tomedes

    Pitch your translation services to local businesses - you never know what may come of it!

    269 day(s) ago