The ultimate guide to freelance translation

Access to helpful resources when you work freelance can sometimes be lacking – there’s no boss to tell you what to read up on, or colleagues to share best practices and knowledge with you. 

That’s why Tomedes has produced this handy guide to freelance translation, to point you in the direction of the knowledge you need. We hope you find it useful, whether you're just starting out on your translation career or a seasoned pro.

Getting started

Five reasons to become a freelance translator 

The skills you need to be a freelance translator

How to become a successful freelance translator

Technical translation terms for beginners

Achieve translation career success before you turn 30

Time management

Declutter your desk to increase your income

Share your office to boost your productivity

Typical translation deadends 

How fast are fast translators? 

When is your translation finished?

How to handle missed deadlines

Handy hints, tips and resources

Five free tools that successful freelance translators use

Top translation hashtags around the world

How to organise your completed translations

Tools that convert files

How to survive your first translation mistake

Income and finances

Money matters for freelancers

What do big earners in the translation industry have in common?

Freelance translation income: how much is a lot?

How to increase your fees and keep your clients 

Ways to receive payment

How to handle non-paying clients

Marketing

The best Facebook and LinkedIn groups for translators 

Social media: marketing tool or distraction? 

Networking tips for freelancers

Top tips for planning your marketing strategy

Is playing hard to get a legitimate marketing technique?

Tips for handling rejection

Client management

How to choose between two clients

Increase your client base without doing any marketing

The best clients and where to find them

Things that every translator should know about client confidentiality

How to make client feedback work for you

Database management for freelancers

Maintaining good customer relations when you're busy

How to provide outstanding customer service

Getting to know your clients

Improving your skills

Five tips for staying at the top of your game

Why translation conferences are essential

Easy ways to increase your translation speed

How to stay professionally relevant

Challenges

Self management challenges

English words that can't be translated

Translation challenges

Challenges faced by modern translators

Final thoughts

We hope that you find this guide useful. Feel free to share other tips and resources, either via the comments section below or on our translation tips page.