There’s a wealth of important advice and valuable information here for freelance translators, so be sure to check out each tip.

1. 103
THE BIG LIST OF
FREELANCE TRANSLATORS‘ TIPS

2. WE RECEIVED SO
MUCH POSITIVE
FEEDBACK ABOUT
THESE TIPS…

3. WE DECIDED TO COLLECT ALL
103 GREAT TIPS AND MAKE A
SPECIAL MEGA-POST

4. BE SURE TO
CHECK OUT
EACH TIP

5. MAKE YOUR SKILLS
KNOWN
TO FAMILY AND
ACQUAINTANCES.
A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF A
COUSIN CAN BECOME YOUR
BEST CLIENT.
#1

6. BUILD A WEBSITE THAT
CAN SERVE AS A
CENTRALIZED PROFILE
OF YOUR SKILLS.
#2

7. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME JOBS
– AND SOME EMPLOYERS – THAT
GIVE YOU A BAD FEELING.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
AND SAY
NO!
#3

8. WHEN AN EMPLOYER
TURNS OUT TO BE DIFFICULT,
MANAGE
THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND BE
POSITIVE
IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS.
#4

9. LOOKING FOR
EXTRA INCOME?
TRY WRITING / LANGUAGE
TUITION / TYPING / DESKTOP
PUBLISHING / EDITING
#5

10. CONSIDER
TRANSLATING ON
A TABLET AS IT IS
QUICKER TO
SWITCH ON AND
MORE VERSATILE
THAN A LAPTOP
#6

11. AVOID CASES OF NON-
PAYING CLIENTS BY
ASKING NEW
CLIENTS
FOR AN
UPFRONT
PAYMENT
ON YOUR
TRANSLATION WORK.
#7

12. MANY COUNTRIES OFFER
LEGAL ADVICE
TO FREELANCERS THAT
ARE HAVING TROUBLE
WITH NON-PAYING
CLIENTS.
#8

13. IF YOU CAN’T FIT IN
REGULAR TRIPS TO THE
GYM, TRY COMPLETING
10 SQUATS
EACH TIME YOU FINISH A
PARAGRAPH
#9

14. AVOID THE "EVERLASTING
JOB" TRICK BY STATING THAT
ANY ADDITIONS TO
THE AGREED UPON
JOB WILL BE AT
ADDITIONAL
COST
#10

15. A COMMON WAY TO TRY AND
FOOL TRANSLATORS IS TO
PROMISE A HUGE
JOB IN RETURN FOR
LOWERED RATES.
STAY ALERT!
#11

16. IF YOU NEED A BIT OF
ENCOURAGEMENT TO
STAY IN SHAPE, MAKE
THINGS
COMPETITIVE
WITH OTHER
FREELANCERS.
#12

17. CHECK OUT THIS CLIP TO UNDERSTAND
HOW TO TURN YOUR SERVICE
OFFERING INTO SOMETHING
PEOPLE WANT
#13

18. TRUST YOUR
INSTINCTS!
UNUSUAL PAYMENT
ARRANGEMENTS OF ANY
KIND SHOULD BE AVOIDED
UNLESS YOU KNOW THE
CLIENT WELL.
#14

19. TRY A SKYPE
MEETING WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS
TO SAVE TIME
AND TRAVELLING EXPENSES.
#15

20. SCREEN
SHARING
IS ONE OF SKYPE’S
BEST FEATURES
WHEN VIDEO
CONFERENCING
WITH A CLIENT.
#16

21. DRESS FOR
SUCCESS
EVEN WHEN YOU WORK AT
HOME, YOUR CLIENT CAN
SURPRISE YOU WITH A VIDEO
CALL AT ANY MOMENT.
#17

22. ALWAYS ALLOW YOURSELF A
REALISTIC
AMOUNT OF TIME
TO GET YOUR
WORK DONE.
#18

23. DON’T
OVER-PROMISE
AND UNDER-DELIVER. THAT
LEADS TO UNHAPPY CLIENTS WHO
WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
TRANSLATOR.
#19

24. BE AWARE OF
YOUR BODY
LANGUAGE
WHEN VIDEO
CONFERENCING
WITH CLIENTS.
#20

25. TRY TO NOTICE
IF YOU SIT WITH YOUR
ARMS FOLDED,
YOUR CLIENT MAY
PERCEIVE YOU AS BEING
DEFENSIVE.
#21

26. AVOID FILLING YOUR
OFFICE WITH ‘EXECUTIVE
TOYS’ AND OTHER
DISTRACTIONS
THAT WILL HURT YOUR
PROFESSIONALISM
#22

27. DELAYS
IN ISSUING
INVOICES MAY
CAUSE CLIENTS TO
THINK OF YOUR
SERVICE AS
INEFFICIENT.
#23

28. NODDING OR SHAKING
YOUR HEAD ARE GESTURES
THAT MAY BE
LOST
IN TRANSLATION BETWEEN
COUNTRIES.
#24

29. WHEN
EXPERIENCING A
POOR SKYPE
CONNECTION, DON’T
ALLOW YOUR
FRUSTRATION TO
COME ACROSS TO
YOUR CLIENT.
#25

30. DON'T COMMIT
TO A TRANSLATION
PROJECT WITH AN
IMPOSSIBLE
DEADLINE.
#26

31. DON’T RELY ON A SILENT
READ-THROUGH OF YOUR
WORK; TAKE THE TIME TO
READ IT OUT LOUD.
#27

32. QA YOUR
TRANSLATION
YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CLIENT
CALLING YOU QUERYING A MISTAKE
ON THE FIRST PAGE.
#28

33. WORKING FREELANCE
PROVIDES YOU WITH A
RANGE OF FREEDOMS!
MAKE SURE YOU
TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT.
#29

34. BEING A FREELANCE
ALLOWS YOU TO
RELOCATE TO A
COUNTRY WITH A
LOWER COST OF
LIVING.
#30

35. …THIS IS
ONLY A TIP
OF AN
ICEBERG

36. WE HAVE
70+
MORE TIPS FOR
YOU TO BOOST
YOUR SKILLS AND
EFFICIENCY

37. CLICK HERE
TO READ THE
FULL ARTICLE
ON TOMEDES
TRANSLATORS
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