After deciding to become a freelance translator, I have never looked back and I believe that everyone who wants to have a successful career as a freelance linguist deserve one, no matter if you are starting as a new graduate in linguistics, or enter the profession with professional experience in another field. I am passionate about helping freelancers take their translation or interpreting business to the next level by providing no-nonsense practical tips on how to market professional services and run a successful business.
This website is a hub for this. It is based on the podcast of the same name, focusing on interviews with successful freelance translators who have marketing tips to share. Every once in a while there will be solo sessions with step by step instructions on specific marketing techniques or strategies. The episodes are usually about 30 minutes each, long enough to get into depth on one or two particular topics but short enough to be an efficient use of the listener’s time. But that is not all, it is also featuring blog posts monthly with marketing tips and strategies for the translation business. Subscribers also get a free checklist every month with business tips, plus other marketing tips.
Why a podcast?
As a translator, I read and write a lot for work, with little time or energy left over to read business and marketing books or blogs. A while ago I started listening to a few marketing and business podcasts while driving, walking the dog or cooking, and I really liked this way of consuming information. However, I found that there are very few podcasts out there focused on translators (I know of one, Speaking of Translation), and that’s when the idea of a podcast focusing specifically on marketing for translators was born.
Why marketing?
Before I became a translator I worked in the marketing division of a large Nordic IT firm, and I also have a degree in International Marketing. Marketing fascinates me I have benefited immensely from this knowledge as a freelancer. Translation is not only a profession, it is also a craft, and most of the time, we just want to focus on the craft. However, as freelancers we need to market our services in order to be successful, and this is where I want to help. My purpose with this website and podcast is simply to share good advice that I have learned myself or that others have shared.
Who am I?
My name is Tess Whitty and I have worked as a freelance English-Swedish translator since 2003. My native language is Swedish and I moved from Sweden to the US in 2001 with my husband, my toddler son and our second child on the way. I wanted to be able to be available for my children as much as possible, but I also wanted to work. After some consultation, research and courses, I launched my career as a freelance translator and I have never looked back. Being a freelance translator is not always easy. Apart from good language and writing skills, we freelance translators have to constantly focus on continuing education and marketing our services. That is what this podcast and website aim to help you with. I look forward to sharing valuable marketing tips with you and learning your marketing tips and experiences.
What this site consists of
The focus of this website is the podcast, sharing marketing and business tips with others. Each episode will have show notes, with a summary of the podcast, plus important links for quick and easy access to what was mentioned. The blog will supplement the podcast with marketing advice and step-by-step instructions and tools. The resource page was built with freelance translators in mind. This is where you can find descriptions and links to the products and resources mentioned in the podcast, or that I use and recommend in my business and marketing.
Please feel free to subscribe to my newsletter/blog so you won’t miss anything. Even if I love marketing, I dislike selling and you will not see any hard sells from me, or be bombarded with emails. Rather, the subscription it is a way to share good tips and tools, and create a community of freelance translators, with a focus on marketing.
Lastly, I would love to hear from you if you have any questions on marketing translation services, have an suggestion for a podcast topic, or if you have any marketing tips to share. Thank you for taking time to read this and I hope to see you here again soon!