27 Mar How to sell your language services as a freelancer
(Last Updated On: August 13, 2020)
Since our world has managed to take the form of a global village, everything is getting centralized and the country borders no longer possess the power to sustain people within. Rather than thinking locally, every business owner is now considering going global as they literally have got the entire world out there, and they need language services more than ever. That’s the reason why the translation industry is becoming more and more busy these days. Keeping that in view, there are more than 20,000 different translation agencies spread all across the world. They offer similar kind of language services but the top 100 among them bring home millions of dollars while leaving the others with less than a fraction of that sum. So if you want a career in translation, it is important to make sure that you are selling yourself right as the competition is fierce but the potential is endless.
How to sell your language services as a freelancer
In order to pursue a successful career in translation, the best way is to join a translation agency as they have a lot of resources that you can never have on your own. Moreover, you get to learn a lot that you could never learn on your own. Some people believe that all it takes to become a successful translator is to have a strong grasp upon two languages. While this is the most basic requirements, there is a lot more that you need to learn in order to make big money on your jobs. Keep in mind that it is impossible to understand the requirements and master the translation skills by yourself so being a part of a translation agency is the best choice in this regard. All you need is to serve 2 to 3 years in a translation agency and you will be good to go.
The best way to sell any kind of language services is to deliver good translations within the agreed time-frame. This industry has got a lot of potential but there are certain limitations as well. So the only way to build a good reputation and an appealing portfolio is by stepping on the shoulders of your clients. And this can only be done if you completely satisfy any customer that comes your way. So think of every job as your last job and deliver nothing less than the best.
If you are not sure about how to get a first job, the answer is pretty simple. You need to visit different agencies with your credentials in order to get them acquainted with your skills and offered rates. Also choose your source and target language because in the world of translation, you get paid in terms of the language that you are translating into.
The rule in this regard is pretty simple. You always translate the source language into your native language. Never try to become clever and go for a two-way translation as it won’t do you any good and you would lose your reputation before you could even get a proper start off with your career.