Even though the internet is often considered the epitome of the so-called global village, language barriers are often in the way of getting in touch with foreigners. Despite English being the dominant language, companies and individuals often find themselves in a need to get an article or even a whole website translated. Unfortunately, working with a professional agency is not only time consuming, but very expensive as well.
This is why translation gigs are some of the most common projects for which companies and other organizations alike are in need of a freelancer. Despite being very popular, keep in mind that there are some unexpected pitfalls for both unsuspecting clients and newbie translators. So if you wish to know how to set up a successful translation business or how to ensure quality results, check out our recommendations.
Translation in general is a highly requested, yet challenging field of the freelance industry, and overall a good stepping stone to get introduced to home office work, Translation assignments range from simple half-page assignments to full website translations either from a foreign language to English or vice versa. Payment structures vary a lot, but usually the longer or more difficult gigs pay better. Most sites cater to the employees, meaning that they are the ones who can launch a translation project with a predetermined wage. In these scenarios there is little to no room for negotiation, unless the client contacts the creative personally.
Most freelancer tasks depend heavily on communication, and translation gigs are no different. A common mistake made by employers is that they outsource the document and stay away from any form of interaction with the translator until the deadline. Clients who are open for communication and inspire their workers receive better results, and translators who are willing to learn from objective criticism are destined to gain good reviews and establish long-term relationships. Although it’s not essential, we recommend opting for a freelance site that offers time and work tracker apps, since both sides benefit from it: clients are reassured that the creative is making progress, while freelancers can use it as proof in case of a dispute.
As a newbie translator you must understand that there is little to no room for mistakes in this industry. A regular employer might forgive a few early missteps, but translating a piece and receiving bad ratings is a black mark that will remain on your portfolio forever, discouraging any potential clients from contacting you. That’s why you should only start a freelancing translation business if you are a qualified translator with actual experience and testimonials behind your back.
Speaking of experiences and testimonials, the best way to snatch your first gig as quick as possible is to showcase a professional looking profile page with your previous achievements. Even better, put a little sample of your work on display (with the permission of your previous client, of course), so others know what to expect from you.
When being contacted by an employer, make sure to properly discuss the details, including the deadline, the tone, the available source materials and, most importantly, the payment method. Translators are usually paid after the work is done, but having an escrow is always a good way to make sure that you won’t run into a nasty scam.
Working on a translation is a piece of cake compared to the risks of actually outsourcing it. Clients, who need freelancer translators, are most likely unfamiliar with the foreign language they want the piece to be translated to, thus they cannot check whether or not the finished product is correct. Running Google Translate might be a good way to get a glimpse, but it won’t point out small grammar mistakes or typos, and it only works properly with Indo-European languages.
That’s why you must pay close attention to every candidate. Inspect their profile page, mostly focusing on the reviews/ratings submitted by other clients. In case the person offers translation services in several languages, make sure that they are the aces in the language you need. Don’t give in to temptation and hire someone who promises to work for a few bucks, since they’ll most likely bail out with an excuse right before the deadline or ask for more than you previously agreed upon. If you run into a disappointing, but overall acceptable result, make sure to leave a non-aggressive but objective review. In case of severe mistranslations you can either leave a negative rating or start a dispute to get your money back.
Let us introduce you to three, non-translation specific freelance websites that are perfect choices for both clients and translators.
Fiverr is the place to go to find young talent offering up their skills on web design, writing, business, or marketing. What once started as a marketplace with services all at $5 (hence the name Fiverr) has now grown to become more complete, offering services and products of all sizes. The website is a place where anyone can present their forte. If you are good at translating, then you can create a gig for translating a specific number of documents for a fixed price. Fiverr covers all sorts of activities, going as far as including gigs for pranks. Steady work yields extra rewards, as sellers go up the ranks with added benefits. Numerous features are meant to make the buyer’s life easier as well since they can compare sellers with the help of user-submitted comments and a detailed profile card. And if you are the on-the-go kind of person, then make sure to download the mobile app to continue your work far from your desk.
Freelancer.com is the pinnacle of the freelancing website world, boasting millions of users, eager workers and satisfied clients alike. The basic premise is pretty simple: employers launch a job offer, people start bidding on it, one or more people are being awarded the project and voilà, your virtual business is already on the roll. But Freelancer.com doesn’t stop here: with their fully translate website they cater to an international audience, even implementing more than one currency to help users around the world stay relevant. Both employers and employees can enjoy a feature-rich service: freelancers have an eye-catching tab detailing their achievements, while clients can monitor the worker’s activity through their smartphone or a desktop program. And as the icing on the cake: the site doesn’t charge people for joining its ranks (although added benefits can be purchased later on).
PeoplePerHour (PPH for short) is a community-curated freelance talent website, determined to break the conventions of big corporations. It allows people to fully make use of their skills and talents, while sellers can get a job done quickly by true professionals. PeoplePerHour’s system works the same way for both sides: you’ll get constant recommendations of open positions or available freelancers, but it’s also possible to search for an opportunity on your own. The site’s ace in the hole is Workstream, which is an in-site management interface that organizes everything from job assignments and payment deposits to live messaging under the same roof. To avoid disputes and cheating, PeoplePerHour puts all payments into an escrow (released only when the job is delivered) and, as a form of compensation, freelancers receive downtime before starting the work.
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