Mary Phelan

 Professional  Trained and qualified  Has equipment and tools and knows how to use them  Provides a professional service  Translations are fit for purpose  Translation networks  CPD  Amateur  Speaks two languages  Has no training  Charges very low price  Translations are probably not fit for purpose  Is translating for pocket money/nixer

 Spend some time on updating your CV and cover letter  Highlight translation qualification  List any experience  Check for typos  If ing, make sure key words appear – freelance translator, languages  Start part time?

 Test translations  They charge clients double what they pay you

 “Certification doesn’t mean that the person can meet a deadline, work well with other translators or respond to client input and questions, and all of these are crucial to winning and keeping clients” – translation agency manager (Corinne McKay, How to Succeed as a Freelance Translator, 2006:37)

 Your own website  Facebook  Join Irish Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association (ITIA)  Business cards  Proz.com  Translatorscafe.com

 With your language combination, where can you find clients?

 Marketing  Communicating  Accounting  Using technology  Billing and collections  Dealing with highs and lows  (McKay 2006)

 Prepare a budget  Work out your baseline costs  Plan your cash flow  Keep proper records

 Ask clients for testimonials that you can use on your website  Keep in contact  Cold calls  Consider doing a sample translation for a new client – for example, if you come across a poor quality translation, do your own translation and approach the company concerned.

 Stay Focusd  Decide on your working day

 Log projects  Keep track of deadlines  Invoices –record date, date due, all details  Back up all files  External hard drive  My Dropbox – dropbox.com

◦ Consider doing a basic course ◦ Try free programmes on Internet ◦ Keep all receipts etc in the one place. Make a note of any allowable expenses once a week. Computer, printer, ink, broadband, office furniture, anti-virus software, phone bills, paper, envelopes, visits to clients, membership of professional associations, dictionaries. ◦ Speech recognition software - Dragon Naturally Speaking ◦ Find an accountant

 Files  copernic

◦ Salary statistics: what income bracket do you aim at? What is your benchmark? ◦ Keep tabs on what you are earning ◦ Minimum wage €6.89 x 40 = € per week = €14,331 p.a. ◦ Get those invoices out

 € 0.08/word = € 24 per page  € 0.10/word = € 30 per page  € 0.11/word = € 33 per page  € 0.12/word = € 36 per page  € 0.13/word = € 39 per page  € 0.15/word = € 45 per page  € 0.20/word = € 60 per page

 € 0.10/word: ◦ German:€ per page ◦ Swedish:€ per page ◦ English:€ 30 per page  € 0.20/word: ◦ German:€ per page ◦ Swedish:€ per page ◦ English:€ per page

 5 pages per day  22 working days per month  10.5 working months per year (or 10?)  Don’t forget about taxes, VAT, pension plan.

 Standard rates  Volume discount  Rush charge  Minimum charge  Editing rate  Translation memory discounts  (McKay 2006: 92) Liisa Laakso-Tammisto Dublin 2009

 low price  rapid delivery  excellent quality

 Technology 60.9%  Medicine46.6%  Advertising and marketing34.6%  Industrial production33.4%  Finance31.4%  Government27.7%  Law25.7%  Multicultural and ethnic organisations13.4%  Commerce12.3%  NGOs11.1%  Academia 9.7%  Multinational organisations 9.1% Source: Common Sense Advisory / Renato S. Benitatto

Major decision-making criteria among customers who buy translations: - price 75% - perceived quality60% - test or translation sample58% - established relationship55% - references50% - company in-house criteria43% Source: Common Sense Advisory / Renato S. Benitatto

 If you are in business, it’s a full time job. You need to be disciplined.  You will need to factor in time off and money for holidays etc. Or if you are sick.  25% of time could be spent on non-billable work (McKay 2006:89)

 Deadlines have to be respected  Honesty and integrity  Confidentiality – patents, insider trading, patient details.  Reputation

 You need to talk to clients  You have to agree on a price  You have to see the source text first  If there is no contract, your terms  For a big assignment get a contract BUT read it carefully  Once you have agreed on terms, don’t renege on them  If necessary, be flexible  You want the client to feel that working with you is easy  Work with other translators. You proofread their work if they proofread yours. Help each other.

 Description of project  Approximate word count  Rate – specify ST or TT  Deadline  File format  Special instructions  Terms of service – payment and late payment  (McKay 2006:96)

 – enter client’s domain name to find out who the technical and billing contacts for the domain are.(McKay 2006: 100)

 Networks and partnerships  Active participation in translation events, courses, congresses, meetings  Enthusiasm  Current affairs

 A client needs a translation  The translation has to do the job the client needs it to do – you know this but the client may not

 Increased customer loyalty  Higher rates  Increased job satisfaction  Become a partner in the translation process

 Build a personal relationship  Explain the translation process  Pre-empt problems  Ensure translations come in a timely fashion

 A personal relationship makes you different from other translators  You may get business from other sections in the company

1. Request proper brief and background information, glossaries, style sheets and help client develop these if none exist 2. Identify unarticulated needs 3. Build a personal relationship 4. Understand your customers’ business 5. Pre-empt translation needs

6. Continually improve writing skills/industry knowledge 7. Educate your clients 8. Network with other translators 9. Request feedback and be responsive 10. Keep in touch

 Meet every deadline  Be easy to reach  Follow directions  Don’t waste clients’ time  Provide referrals  Be easy to work with  Ask for constructive criticism  Appreciate your clients  Don’t bicker  Charge what you’re worth and earn it

 Hera Indemnity