The pandemic is doing odd things to people’s freelance businesses: something I’ve discussed in a pandemic roundtable podcast, and a blog post. About all that can be said is that some things are up and others are down. I’ve heard from multiple freelancers (translators and interpreters) who’ve never been busier, and from others who are […]
Continue ReadingRates
Should you post your translation rates on your website?
A reader asks: Should I post my translation rates on my website? I feel like this could discourage some of the low-balling clients I don’t want to work with, but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do. Let’s take a look! Why might you WANT to post your rates? Posting your rates has […]
Continue ReadingHow much do freelance translators earn? Is it enough? 2018 edition
Back in 2011, I wrote this post about how much freelance translators earn. After almost seven years, it’s still the most popular post on this site, with over 21,000 views. A reader recently sent me a series of questions about translator income: “I’m in college and deciding whether to try to make a career as […]
Continue ReadingCan you give us a quote and a turnaround time?
“Can you give us a quote and a turnaround time?” As freelancers, we hear or read those words a lot: a client, or prospective client, has a document that they need translated, and they want to know about how long it’s going to take, and about how much it’s going to cost. So, when you’re […]
Continue Reading“Agencies won’t pay my rates, and I can’t find direct clients”: what to do?
Here’s a conundrum that I hear frequently from freelancers at all experience levels: agencies won’t pay my rates, and I can’t find any direct clients. What should I do? Well, let’s see: First, adjust your mindset. Tough love tip: if you truly believe that *zero* agencies will pay your desired rates, and that you will […]
Continue Reading