GUIDE FOR FREELANCE TRANSLATORS BEGINNERS

The demand for translation is increasing each year, but competition among freelance translators is high. Below are a series of tips to help you get your foot in the stirrup and save you time.

Build your brand as an independent translator from the start

One of the most important points for any freelancer, whether a translator, graphic designer or developer, is to build a personal brand. This brand will allow it to be identifiable and to put its potential customers in confidence. This must go through at least 3 things:

1.    Your profile on professional social networks (LinkedIn, Proz...)

2.    Your profile on freelance marketplaces

3.    If possible, your own site

Professional social networks

LinkedIn, Proz, or TranslatorsCafé will allow you to expand your network, with potential employers but also with other freelance translators (see below). These sites are also sources for finding freelance jobs, often for translation agencies.

Platforms for freelancers

They are very good at displaying positive feedback from your previous customers. Of course, you won't have one at first. This is built over time and can take several months to have a sufficient number of notes.

But once you've expanded your freelance translator profile, it's much easier for you to make clients want to entrust their translations to you. The jobs available on these marketplaces are a mix between direct clients and translation agencies. See what Lexling has to offer.

Your own website

It may be just a page or a blog but it will allow you to display your skills and diplomas. With some good SEO practices, it should allow you to appear at the top of searches for your name on Google. A translation company or a direct customer will be able to take a look at it. However, you have to think about keeping it up to date!

Some volunteer translations for associations, to build your portfolio

By definition, your professional history as a beginner freelance translator is low. To garnish it, you have two options. You can accept low-cost (non-recommended!) translations or participate in volunteer translation projects.

Lexling does not recommend stringing together low-cost translations in the hope of winning out regular customers. For example, there is little chance that a customer looking for a professional English translation at 0.04 euros per word will offer you higher rates in the future. In addition, these translation projects are rarely among those that can be displayed as references.Contact with us for your business website translation!