I’ve been reading about this topic a lot recently, so I decided to tell you why I think this is the case.
If you’re a freelance translator (or a freelance designer, writer, photographer, videographer, etc.) and you’re just starting out, you’re certainly going to be focused on attracting new customers. For that, you do your fair share of marketing, according to your budget. Besides the clients that will eventually come from your marketing, some will come from your own existing contacts (friends, family, classmates, etc.), or in other words, from word-of-mouth. Marketeers have been exploring word-of-mouth for a while, but it can be a double-edged sword.
With your competitive prices, your quality assured performance and your good referrals from friends, clients and colleagues, soon new clients will find their way to you. When you are starting a career, you want to have a return on your investment as soon as possible and you usually accept all the jobs that may come your way. Soon enough, your agenda will be fully booked.
When it comes to translation, clients are picky. Either you translate into a language that no one has ever heard of or they’ll say “everybody speaks English. I could have done this myself”. The truth is that everyone thinks that translation services are too expensive, and no one seems to understand why. So, in order to compensate for this, you try to do your best in every job. You work hard, revise and try to deliver the best product possible. Something that will make the client say: “I couldn’t have done a better job myself”.
Don’t get your hopes up though – you may never hear a complement from a client regarding your translation job. If it’s good, you have simply done your job. That’s why you were payed a fortune to translate a page (p.s. please read with irony). Complaints, however, you will certainly hear. Most of them will be unjustified, and in some cases the client will be right. You will have to try to justify your choices as well as you can.
So, bearing in mind that you may be more likely to receive a complaint than a complement, here’s a tip: don’t slip up. Easier said than done, I know. But not slipping up can start by simply sticking to your deadline while, of course, maintaining the quality of the translation.
Another thing to consider about the translation market is that deadlines are always tight. Translation is usually the last thing anyone thinks about. First the content is created and then it is localised, and when the localization phase starts, it’s almost always running late.
In Portugal we have a saying that goes “depressa e bem, não há quem” (nothing is done quickly and perfectly). So, if you try to do it fast, you’re probably going to make mistakes and, therefore, receive justified complaints. Now, because word-of-mouth goes both ways, making mistakes and receiving complaints can drive potential customers away.
Moreover, as you may know, there are platforms where translators are registered and where your quality can be evaluated by customers. Too many low ratings, and you’ll be needing a new profession.
Mistakes don’t only come with deadlines. There is also the matter of accepting technical translations that you’re not qualified to do, accepting jobs that require software that you don’t know how to use or can’t access, and the many other ways you can fail.
Avoiding failure requires a balance between taking risks and knowing what you’re capable of doing.
When should you refuse jobs and what should you say to your client?
- The deadline is too tight: I don’t like to take risks with deadlines. If you think you don’t have enough time, be honest and propose a comfortable deadline. Say you like to assure quality.
- You’re not comfortable enough with the target language: why are you even thinking of doing it? Don’t! It’s a good way to lose clients fast. Say you don’t work with that language and refer them to a colleague if possible.
- The text to translate is too technical and you’re not sure you’ll be able to find all the terms or understand the context: another potential source of failure, not to mention that the consequences of bad technical translation can be dangerous.
- The translation requires software which you don’t have a license for: this may result in delays or inability to deliver or deadline failure. Try asking your client if they can set you up with a license before accepting.
To sum up, be careful and know you limits. Accepting more than you can handle can hurt your reputation. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth.