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16 online translation tools recommended by translators

Gengo — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 16:00:00 +0000

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2016 and has been updated in October 2019.

The translation process can often be somewhat tedious—sometimes covering a multitude of topics, requiring extensive research and contextual knowledge. Fortunately, the digital revolution triggered the creation of tools, software and resources that helps ease the burden of translation and improve efficiency, consistency and quality. Below is a list of translation tools that are recommended by translators, for translators.

1. Linguee

A crowd favorite, this unique translation tool combines a dictionary with a search engine, so you can search for bilinguals texts, words and expressions in different languages to check meanings and contextual translations. Linguee also searches the web for relevant translated documents and shows you how a word is being translated throughout the internet. It is often used in conjunction with Google Images to help translators and language learners alike.

2. SDL Trados Studio

The most recommended computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool by Gengo Wordsmiths, SDL Trados is a wise investment for full-time translators. This software features TM, terminology, machine translation and software localization. Most large agencies require translators to work with one of the established CAT tools, so using SDL Trados could also increase your client base and broaden your horizons. If you need time to decide before purchase, try a free demo version for 30 days.

3. The Free Dictionary

Available in a wide variety of languages, this comprehensive site is a dictionary, thesaurus and encyclopedia in one. Get free access to medical, financial and legal dictionaries, an extensive collection of idioms, acronyms, quotes, and several languages besides English, such as Spanish, French, Portuguese and Japanese. The encyclopedia also has sections updated regularly, providing users a word or article of the day. The free mobile application is compatible with iOS and Android devices.

4. Fluency Now

Fluency Now Professional is a premium CAT tool and translation memory software created for individual freelancers. Available for $9.95 per month, it’s compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems. For organizations, Fluency Now Enterprise gives access to extra features like Fluency Flow, a project management solution. It also provides a built-in proofreading software and project and document statistics.

5. ProZ

If you prefer interaction and crowdsourcing, then ProZ should be your go-to resource. Home to the world’s largest translation network, ProZ is a portal for professional translators who wish to collaborate on terms translation, dictionaries, training as well as receive access to discounts on translation tools. Translators can ask questions and join forum discussions, too.

6. MemoQ

A translation software designed for freelance translators, MemoQ offers a number of powerful functions that enable you to reuse previous translations. It also has features to help improve quality, check consistency and ensure the use of correct terminology. The 2015 version also has a faster spell-checking feature. See if it works for you by trying the free demo version for 45 days.

7. Memsource

A TM database integrated with Gengo to improve efficiency, Memsource is a cloud-based translation environment that provides an effective and efficient project-management tool. Users can further optimize their translation productivity using features like TM, editing and terminology management all within the platform.

8. Translators Café

An online community and forum where you can ask questions and advice from experienced translators. Registration is free for both professional and amateur translators, and members of Translators Café can bid and acquire jobs at no extra cost. Employers may contact the freelancers based on their bids or they can provide their information to translators. Payments are paid directly to freelancers with no escrow accounts.

9. Zanata

A web-based system for translators, content creators and developers to manage localization projects, Zanata handles the entire translation workflow and allows translators to focus on translations, not tools and formats. Its TM also finds and suggests the best translation matches in the entire system. Zanata’s Editor works on any web browser with no installation necessary. Multiple translators can also work on the Editor, with a chat room for real-time communication.

10. WordFast Pro

Wordfast Pro is a standalone, multi-platform TM tool designed to improve the translation process, for anyone from project managers to freelance translators. Unlike other CAT tools, translators can import and export TMs even with the demo version and can be used for an unlimited time. The only limitation is the size of the translation memory (500 units). There’s no need to pay extra for tutorials and support and they provide excellent customer support.

11. SmartCAT

A collaborative CAT tool, SmartCAT streamlines the translation process by allowing the translator, editor, and other contributors to work and collaborate in real time. This cloud-based software leverages the concept of translation memories (TM) and allows translators to create glossaries for consistent translations. In addition, SmartCAT now supports multilingual translation memories, which makes creating and managing TMs easier than with some desktop applications. This feature can also be beneficial for translators working in mixed language pairs.

12. Magic Search

For quicker terminology searches, Magic Search is a multilingual search engine that provides one-page search results of multiple dictionaries and other sources for different language pairs. It searches multiple sources such as Word Reference, TAUS, IETA, EUdict, and more. Users may also install a Google Chrome extension in their browser and customize the list of dictionaries and sources they’d like to search.

13. IATE (Interactive Terminology for Europe)

Launched in 1999, IATE, which stands for Interactive Terminology for Europe, is the European Union’s inter-institutional terminology database. This useful resource ensures the consistency and quality of all EU-related written communication. It plays a vital role for translators and language professionals as it covers all 23 official European languages, with 8.4 million terms EU-specific terms, 540,000 abbreviations and 130,000 phrases. Users can rate the reliability of the terms, which are fed into the database by EU terminologists and translators.

14. Microsoft Language Portal

For translators specializing in IT and software, the Microsoft Language Portal lets users search translations of key Microsoft terms and general IT terminology. The term base contains approximately 25,000 defined terms, including English definitions, translated in up to 100 languages. Users can also download the Microsoft Terminology Collection featuring standard terminology terms used across Microsoft products, as well as UI translations, Microsoft Style Guides, and the Microsoft Terminology Service API.

15. OmegaT

A free translation memory tool, OmegaT is an open-source software that allows translators to work more efficiently through fuzzy matching (computer-assisted translation) and automatic match propagation. This tool also uses multiple translation memories simultaneously and allows users to process multiple file projects at the same time. Its powerful tools include the Unicode (UTF-8) support that can be used with non-Latin alphabets; an integral spell checker, and compatibility with other translation memory applications.

16. Website Word Count

This is a free online tool that you can use to calculate repetitions and new words on the websites which are built on WordPress platform. From the developer of Website Word Count herself, Hanna Sles: “I receive many requests daily for English to Russian translation, mostly for website localization. To make it easier to count repetitions and new words on my website, I developed this tool to help translators and customers save their time and efforts. At the end of this year, I am planning to upgrade my tool so that it can also get word counts for websites on other platforms.”

Do you use some of these online tools? Share your thoughts and other recommendations with us!

Want to become a Gengo translator?

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Faces of Gengo: Omer

Gengo — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 02:55:49 +0000

A seasoned English to Turkish translator, Omer has worked as a Gengo translator for nearly half a decade. Read all about about his journey, favorite translator resources, and his own advice for aspiring translators. Nationality: Turkish Location: Istanbul Occupation: Sourcing Specialist at General Electric Language pair: English to Turkish How long have you been translating with Gengo? 4-5 years. And before you ask, I heard about Gengo by a total coincidence from a blogger I was following called Jana Fadness. What languages do you speak? Turkish, English, and studied Japanese for some years. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be and why? It would be either Japanese or Chinese. I find Japanese culture and people very sweet and the country is amazing, so I feel motivated to learn the language and hope to take up studying it again. Besides, pronunciation and grammar feel like home for us Turkish speakers. Long live our Asian roots! But also in recent years, I began to get very curious about China, especially after seeing Hong Kong, as well as constantly listening Chinese music and consuming content from YouTube about grand Chinese cities like Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai. Chinese language sounds so beautiful in songs! Do you have experience living in other countries? If so, where? I lived in Finland and Latvia for my master’s degree in Humanities for two years. Surprisingly, there was this constant talk of how Japanese and Finns are close to each other culturally and that Japanese were favoring to partner with Finns to do business in European markets. Yet when I finally made a friend from Japan, I remember asking her about this, and she was like: “Finrando?? Where is this country??”

Omer’s view in Istanbul

How has translating for Gengo impacted your life? Gave me a lot of self-confidence! I could have never imagined before Gengo that I could possibly make a considerable amount of money online, working for a company far far away… That mutual trust between translator and the company that you work for without a direct employment connection was and still is inspiring for me. And the fair relationship between Gengo and us, that reachability, definitely creates a sense of loyalty and motivates you to do your best work as a translator. What are your favorite translation / language learning tools, and why? Microsoft Language Portal when I am translating for Gengo, as their term database for anything related to Internet, Software, Apps, Websites, Games, etc. is huge and almost perfectly accurate. For my personal language study of Japanese, I do love and use Tangorin website quite often. It’s practically open on my screen at all times. It has a very elaborate and yet clear interface. You can search by kana, kanji and romaji in same screen.

Sultanahmet in Istanbul

Recommend three of your favorite language-related books / films. When I was just developing my English, about a decade ago or so, Dreams from My Father was a great book from which I memorized hundreds of new words. I desperately wanted to understand that book in its original language, and remember holding the book in one hand and an electronic dictionary in the other (I don’t remember having a laptop or google translate back then) … Also, I bought several DVDs (“By the People: The Election of Barack Obama”, was one of them) from Amazon that had speeches and documentaries of Barack Obama that I watched constantly, studying and deciphering his every word, because he is such a gifted orator with perfect intonation. What advice would you give to new or aspiring translators? I know it may feel exhausting and boring after a few hours of constant translating, but that’s because it’s quite easy to take things for granted. Translation is quite a unique type of work that not everyone gets to do and it really helps to remember that and meditate on it if you are one of the lucky few who gets to do such a job. If mastering a language is valuable to you, translating is like a paid way of achieving it. Not only that, it’s an exercise for the brain also… An hour of intense translation makes your brain feel the same as an hour of swimming makes your muscles feel. I mean, when you can really see the beauty in an activity and appreciate its benefits, all the difficulties that may be there start to lessen and the work itself gets easier and smoother as years go by.

Omer’s humble workspace

What would you say are the three things you enjoy most about Gengo?

I love that Gengo has a very friendly and close relationship to its translators, almost like a family-business atmosphere that encourages you to excel at what you do with a sense of responsibility and mutual trust.
Interface is quite user friendly and minimalistic.
And finally, obviously, the freedom to work anywhere you want!

Want to become a Gengo translator?

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8 Free Tools For Translators to Boost Quality and Productivity

Gengo — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 00:00:25 +0000

This is a guest post written by Maria Scheibengraf, who we recently featured in our 6 best LinkedIn bloggers in the translation & localization industry. When it comes to translation work, there are hundreds of tools for translators to choose from. The challenge is not the lack of software but rather finding the best tool for our specific goals. Not too long ago, we compiled a list of the best free tools for freelance translators; today, my focus is on translation quality and productivity. With these two goals in mind, I’ve put together a list of 8 tools that will help you produce better translations more efficiently without breaking your piggy bank.

Free Tools for Translators to Boost Quality and Productivity

1. Xbench Inconsistencies, spelling mistakes, typos… as translators, we dread them because catching them can be difficult and time consuming. Xbench is a free Quality Assurance (QA) software that allows you to adjust the settings to your needs and generate a report that will let you edit your work until it is immaculate. This way, you save time by not having to manually find every error and your quality is significantly improved. Moreover, this software can be seamlessly connected to CAT tools if you need it (for example, you can upload Trados Studio bilingual files). Want a bonus? Xbench also reads translation memories. There are multiple versions available. Try looking for the older ones as they are free. 2. TermWiki Toolbar As translators, using glossaries and dictionaries becomes almost second nature, but checking different ones during a project can slow us down. The TermWiki Toolbar allows you to search terms in over 150 industries and 90 languages straight from your browser. That way, you can translate accurately without compromising on speed. Apart from finding terms in just a few clicks, you can also contribute your own. The option of browsing terms is quite handy too, as it takes you straight to TermWiki’s complete term lists. Give this free software a go and see for yourself why it’s among the most invaluable tools for translators to manage their terminological and glossary development needs. 3. SmartCat SmartCat is one of the best browser-based tools for translators. It’s particularly useful for linguists working in teams, as it allows collaborative work. Everyone in the team can open and edit the project simultaneously, and tasks can be divided. It’s an all-in-one solution designed to save you effort, as you won’t need to switch between software to complete the different stages of your translation. This way, you can load your glossaries and TMs before translating, have a colleague edit your work, use the QA check feature to ensure top-notch final quality, and benefit from the machine translation function if you so wish. The bonus? There’s a marketplace where you can find clients. 4. TMXEditor TMXEditor is a desktop application designed for editing translation memories in .tmx format. With this tool, you can process and edit the content of all your translation memories, merge or split files, remove duplicate fields, etc. Besides, it allows you to work with any language combination. You can then also import the .tmx files into your usual CAT tool. TMXEditor is your best friend if you, like me, love merging same-industry or same-client TMs into one big TM that you can just open during your project to save effort and time. 5. BoothMate by Interpreter’s Help Specially popular among interpreters, BoothMate is ideal for managing terminology, extracting terms from texts to build glossaries, sharing such glossaries with other linguists, consulting dictionaries and learning with flashcards. The result? Accurate, consistent translations for which you don’t need to spend any extra time doing manual terminological work. You can even consult your glossaries and terms offline, just make sure to open the app with Internet connection and it will automatically sync up the information. 6. PDFescape Use PDFescape to to convert PDF to editable formats, to merge PDFs together, insert or change text, use the freehand drawing tool, add images, insert new pages, sign forms, etc. I personally love the notes and comments feature when editing translations. Moreover, you can improve your file’s security by adding electronic signatures and watermarks. Say goodbye to spending hours on end transcribing your client’s PDFs into a text editor! 7. Grammarly Grammarly is amazing for proofreading what you write online —be it an e-mail, a social media post, cloud-based translations, etc.—, and is also a writer’s best friend. You can easily integrate this tool into your web browser as an extension. Among all the tools for translators available online, Grammarly is one of the most comprehensive ones: it detects grammar, syntax, and punctuation errors, poor style, homonyms, and even plagiarism. Even though the paid version includes more features, the free version is useful as well. Take advantage of Grammarly to produce spotless texts and to work more efficiently by having a virtual assistant at hand. 8. StayFocusd How many times have you started working on a translation and ended up watching cute cat videos on YouTube? StayFocusd is a simple Chrome extension that allows you monitor your idle browsing. This way, you can work efficiently and remain focused on giving your best to the task you need to complete. Simply set the maximum amount of time you would like to be on a certain website before it becomes blocked, and you are done.

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The Best Facebook Groups for Translators

Gengo — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 07:50:34 +0000

Social media has gained popularity over the years for business purposes, and the translation industry is no exception. Here are the best active Facebook groups for you to join for your professional development. Join these Facebook groups today to connect with other translators in your language pair. The groups serve as virtual communities where people answer each other’s questions, have discussions, and share translation resources with each other. These Facebook groups are encouraging for both students who are starting out, and experienced translators.

Facebook Groups for Translators

Medical Translation and Interpretation Crew: This is a Facebook group for translators to learn, share resources, and support each other. You can post any translation-related questions, concerns, or comments as long as you respect others and their points of views. The group is administered by a certified English/Spanish medical interpreter.

Productive & Successful Translators/Interpreters: This Facebook group is a community of translation and interpretation professionals. Share and discuss how to work smarter, not harder.

Freelance Translators: This Facebook group is the melting pot of leading freelance translators around the world. The group is intended for all freelance translators, in-house translators, and freelance writers. Members can post translation jobs, share resources and contact each other directly.

Translation Tools: Do you need some help on the use of the current translation-related technologies? This Facebook group helps translators deal with any technical queries relating to translation software, CAT tools, computers, etc., in a supportive environment.

Interpreters, Translators & Language Professionals: This Facebook group is dedicated to training and raising industry standards for language professionals. Members including people who interpreters and translators for legal, medical, commercial, scientific, language teaching, etc.

Things Translators Never Say: For the last one, here’s a Facebook group just for fun. This group is for freelance translators and interpreters to share tongue in cheek ideas about things that we would never ever say. For instance, when clients send ridiculous enquiries, if non-translators or non-interpreters try to explain our business, or simply when we are fed up and need to vent.

For even more translation resources, follow Gengo on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We’ll keep you in the loop for all the latest translation industry updates.

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Faces of Gengo: Dasa

Gengo — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 15:00:00 +0000

An English to Slovak Language Specialist, Dasa has deep experience working in translation, book-editing and linguistic advisory. Read all about about her journey as a digital nomad, advice for new translators, and her top book recommendations in her interview below. Nationality: Slovak Location: Bonn, Germany Occupation: Translator/Editor Gengo LS since: 2014 Language pair: English – Slovak What languages do you speak? How do you maintain language proficiency? My native language is Slovak. I started with German very early at school and later graduated in German and Slovak Philology. English, of course, was a must. German and English are my working source languages. Beside this, I speak Czech quite well as I lived in the beautiful city of Prague for a long time. I could also survive with intermediate Polish and I have a rather passive knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese – in contact with my husband’s family in Brazil I still prefer English.

Dasa in Prague, where she spent 10 years of her life.

How did you become a translator? Having studied Philology and Literary Studies, translation has always been a part of my professional life. Shortly after finishing my studies I started working as a coordinator of the Slovak Language Department in a big translation agency in Prague, specialised on translations for the bodies of the European Union. Compared to my previous experience with interpretation of artistic and philosophical texts, this was a “hard school” of translator’s work in practice, comprising strict deadlines, communication with the EU institutions, CAT tools, cooperation on tender preparation, and hundreds and hundreds pages of laws, judgements and various legislative documents. It was extremely demanding… To avoid burn out, I decided to switch to freelance work combining translation, book-editing and linguistic advisory. There were personal reasons, too: my partner and I lived in different countries, but we wanted to bring our relationship to a “higher level”. As a freelancer, I could make use of my flexibility and move to Germany to be with him. What have been your most enjoyable and challenging translation experiences? For a while, I have been working on a project where the European Union member states notify their legislation on implementation of the European directive on technical standards. For example, calibration of x-ray devices or working methods of scuba divers helping with water constructions… I would never say how interesting it could be! Recently, I had also an enjoyable book-editing experience: Last year, a good friend of mine wrote a book about neuro-linguistic programming in life coaching, and she asked me to edit it. Beside the fact that having a friend on client’s site was really pleasant, the book is a success and it looks like it could be translated in foreign languages soon. What’s your favorite thing about being a translator? How about being a language specialist? Independence and flexibility, for sure. Unfortunately, a big disadvantage of freelance jobs (at least in many European countries) is that there are some legislative loopholes concerning maternity leave, social insurance, etc. Often, you can’t rely on an adequate counter-value comparing to what you have invested in the system. In these terms, the price for independence is quite high. In spite of this, I wouldn’t return to a “classical” job. I like that I can organise my projects according to my interests and vary between translating, editing and expert language services like I provide for Gengo. Being language specialist enabled me to build a strong relationship with the majority of my clients, and its fostering is one of my favourite activities in my small business. Based on your specific cultural expertise, what are the best books or movies you would recommend to others? Excellent Czech and Slovak authors available in good English translation are, for example, Bohumil Hrabal and Pavel Vilikovský. From contemporary German authors, I can mention Herta Müller, who fascinates me again and again. If you are incidentally interested in Czech Avant-Garde literature and arts, I had the honour to be one of the authors of a reputable publication A Glossary of Catchwords of the Czech Avant-Garde: Conceptions of Aesthetics and the Changing Faces of Art 1908-1958. My favourite “catch” from a second-hand bookstore is a novel by Rebecca Goldstein, Mazel. As a present I would give you Maus (the complete edition), a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman. Now I am reading Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann. Memoirs of a Polar Bear by Yoko Tawada is waiting in my bookcase. Likewise, I love reading folk tales from any country. Among those I have at home, I would like to highlight the beautiful collection of African fairy-tales selected by Nelson Mandela. What are your preferred translation tools? As I often work on complex managed projects, I use Trados Studio. What’s your favorite productivity tool or service? My kids. When you have children, you will never ever use your working time ineffectively. What are your top tips for those translators who are just starting out? Don’t close yourself in your room alone with the computer. Stay in touch with more experienced colleagues, ask them for feedback regularly and – first and foremost – don’t accept it passively, but discuss it. Read about linguistics – and not only in your native language. Be realistic about volumes and deadlines. Don’t ignore your backache and respect the work-life balance. In the point where we should keep our body-control, my Pilates instructor helps us with the following visualisation: Connect two thirds of yourself with Earth and one third with Heaven. This may sound very simple, but for me it’s a vivid metaphor of how to develop our skills productively without damaging our physical or mental health.

Dasa’s beautiful workspace in Bonn, Germany.

Do you have any specific translation advice to translators in your language pair? When you have your translation finished, read it one more time. FORGET THE ORIGINAL at this stage. Check whether you understand the target text only. Do everything you can to support readability. Don’t be afraid of changing the sentence order or dividing long sentences. Would you like reading your text in a newspaper as it is? Would you know what to do if it appeared on the screen of your device? If so, send it to your client, and if possible, enjoy a break. Want to become a Gengo translator?

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Faces of Gengo: Regina

Gengo — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:00:00 +0000

An English to Bulgarian Language Specialist, Regina started her career as an IT Specialist before becoming a freelance translator. Specializing in IT and technical translations, she believes good translators need to have good writing skills in their native language. Nationality: Bulgarian Location: Sofia, Bulgaria Occupation: Freelance translator Gengo LS since: 2016 Language pair: English to Bulgarian What languages do you speak? How do you maintain language proficiency? My native languages are Bulgarian and Russian. I speak and write in English at an advanced level, and I’m currently learning German. I maintain my English proficiency through active practice by reading, creative writing and participating in forums of creative writing/fan fiction communities. I enjoy having constant interaction with native speakers.

The Statue of Sveta Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria.

How did you become a translator? I studied IT and worked as an IT specialist. In one of my previous jobs, I had a translation task and my manager noted that my translation was extremely good. I then decided to explore this professional niche and found out that freelance translation can bring decent income while working from home. I also realized that I have a talent as a writer, which, in my opinion, is very important to be a good translator. What have been your most enjoyable and challenging translation experiences? I translated a very large volume of technical documentation for an industrial manufacturer. Besides learning the industrial machinery terminology, I also had to enter into the “thought process” of an engineer to translate the content specifically for the target audience. It was both challenging and immensely enjoyable, since translation allows me to indulge in a specific way of thinking. Technical and IT translations are my favorite areas. What’s your favorite thing about being a translator? How about being a language specialist? Being a translator means being a co-creator. You work together with the author of the source text to recreate it properly in your language. This process has a lot of depth and levels to explore. A language specialist needs to have an extensive knowledge and a good grasp of the language to be able to detect errors that a less experienced translator won’t normally notice. I feel honored to be chosen as a language specialist for Bulgarian.

Regina’s workspace at home in Sofia, Bulgaria

Based on your specific cultural expertise, what are the best books or movies you would recommend to others? “Catcher in the Rye” and other works by J. D. Salinger. What are your preferred translation tools? Trados and MemoQ. What’s your favorite productivity tool or service? I frequently use various online dictionaries, mostly technical-related, like Multitran and Leo.org. What are your top tips for those translators who are just starting out? Besides having proficiency in your foreign language, become an expert in your native language. Then become a master of your native language, because a translator is more than an expert, he’s also a good writer. Learn to differentiate between a good and bad translation. Also, there seems to be a common misunderstanding that it’s easy to translate and everyone can become a translator. In fact it takes a lot of work, practice and dedication to translate well. Do you have any specific translation advice to translators in your language pair? While having a good understanding of English is inherent for Bulgarians as a result of regular Internet use, I often encounter locals with a poor knowledge of their native language. Translators need to spend more time improving their Bulgarian proficiency. Want to become a Gengo translator?

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Basic and magnetic marketing tools for freelance translators

Gengo — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:00:00 +0000

This guest blog post by Tess Whitty was originally posted on Marketing Tips for Translators. One of the biggest challenges that any business faces is how to find and attract clients. You cannot help people or attract clients if they do not know your business exists. Sounds simple, but you would be surprised at just how many translators struggle to show up on their ideal clients’ radar. In order to show up, we need to market ourselves. In this article, I talk about the basic marketing tools for freelance translators, plus what I call magnetic marketing tools, with which we can make clients come to us, instead of us contacting them.

The basic marketing tools

Resumé/CV

Though the resumé may sound like an antique marketing tool, it is still quite important and chances are that many agency clients will ask you to send one in. You will also need to upload your resumé to a variety of online databases including directories, websites. It is the easiest way for clients to evaluate your skills and today more and more people rely on online profiles to help them make hires. Direct clients (end clients), on the other hand, are usually not interested in resumés. They are likely to search for freelance translators online or find you through networking, or direct marketing of some kind. They are more interested in your website or brochure, which should provide them with the same information regarding your background and skills, but presented in a different format. Here are some reasons why prospective translation clients might ask you for a resumé/CV. Your resumé:

Facilitates the decision process
Presents your qualifications in a familiar, professional format
May be required for quality processes or procedures

Learn some tips on writing the ideal translator’s CV.

Cover letter

A resumé/CV is usually accompanied by a cover letter, which is a one-page introduction to the resume that follows. If you are applying to an agency or company directly via e-mail, you should include a proper cover letter. It should be concise, but it should still resemble more an actual letter you’d send via snail mail than an elevator speech. The difference is that rather than attaching the letter in a PDF format, you simply write it in the body of the email.

Business card

Even if your business is conducted primarily online, you don’t want to be caught without a business card on hand. Networking opportunities tend to happen when you least expect them and you never know when you will stumble upon someone who could potentially benefit from your translation services.

The magnetic marketing tools

Now let’s talk about marketing tools that you should use to attract clients, making them find you, instead of the other way around. That is why I call them magnetic. These tools will help you make potential clients more aware of you and the services you provide. With these tools you can also inform and educate them, creating a relationship that can make them know, like and trust you.

Website

One of my favorite magnetic marketing tools is a website, which should be the hub for all your marketing efforts. It’s the place you want potential clients or current clients to go for more information or to take action. A website is one of the best ways to maximize your online marketing and presence. When we want to find something these days, what do we do? We Google it! Make sure your potential clients can easily find information about your professional translation services by having an optimized website and a strong online presence.

Social media

Do freelance translators need to use social media? Quite frankly, social media marketing can either be a phenomenal waste of time or it can be an excellent source of contacts and insights, depending on how you use it. I see social media as a great tool for freelance translators to connect with colleagues and potential clients, and it is totally free. All it requires is time. Social media networks offer a variety of business benefits, such as:

Give you direct access to decision makers in your target industries
Increase your exposure and build your online reputation as an expert
Improve your visibility and SEO
Give you an opportunity to expand into new business areas
Help you network with colleagues and clients all over the world
Stay informed about industry news and trends

Don’t feel that you have to dive into social media and create 50 profiles overnight. In the game of social networks, strategy wins out every time. Take a moment early on to determine what you hope to gain from using social media. By establishing a clear goal from the very beginning, you will be able to identify the tools and actions that will help you achieve your aims. Are you hoping to find new client leads, and if so, what kind of clients would you most prefer to work with? Are you hoping to build relationships with other translators who you can collaborate with, and if so, who are they? Or, would you just like an efficient way to share and gather information online? Once you have identified and clarified what you would like to get out of social media, every subsequent action becomes much easier to take. Knowing your ideal outcome will help you identify which platforms to use, what content to post, who to connect with, and how to measure your impact. There are literally thousands of social media networks available for business owners to choose from, so it’s no wonder that many entrepreneurs find the options overwhelming. Though the most popular social media tools vary greatly from country to country, I recommend looking into the following networks and considering how they can be useful for your business:

This business-oriented social network is a powerful resource for connecting with other businesses, translators, and for recruiting new hires.

Twitter

In 140 characters or less, Twitter allows you to upload timely news and updates to followers in your network.

Facebook

Perhaps the world’s most popular social network, Facebook allows a forum for multimedia, long-form postings. On Facebook you can have both a personal profile and a business page.

Google+

Google’s social network is steadily gaining ground and allows you to connect with clients as they search online, all the while boosting your SEO.

Referrals and testimonials

Referrals and testimonials are among the most powerful marketing tools you can put to use for your translation services. Testimonials (written statements from customers) are a great marketing tool because they give past customers the opportunity to tell potential customers what they found most beneficial about you and your services. An endorsement from a third party gives you and your business the credibility you need to build a larger client base. In essence, they get a chance to do the marketing for you. Use testimonials in marketing by gathering praise from current customers and sharing that information in a variety of ways.

Publicity

To get the word out about your business and your expertise, you can use publicity to help gain positioning within the marketplace. Publicity is something someone else writes or says about you and your company when you do something noteworthy and interesting. There are many business benefits from good publicity, but the most important is that it is much more effective than advertising when it comes to visibility. Here are ways to create publicity about your services:

Write articles for publications and other blogs
Write and publish press releases
Speak at local or national events such as conferences, chamber of commerce meetings etc.

This was an overview, or a short summary, of the marketing tools you can use to make your ideal clients aware of your company and the services you offer. More in-depth information about these tools and how to use them can be found in The Marketing Cookbook for Translators. Want to become a Gengo translator?

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Faces of Gengo: Adell

Gengo — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 15:00:00 +0000

A Valencia native, Adell is one of our English to Spanish Language Specialists as well as a musician at heart. A Master’s Degree holder in Audiovisual Translation, he believes translation is about mastering your native language. He shares his insights in this interview. Nationality: Spanish Location: Barcelona Occupation: Audiovisual translator Gengo LS since: January 2017 Language pair: English to Spanish What languages do you speak? How do you maintain language proficiency? I’m a native speaker of Spanish and Catalan. I feel comfortable speaking English, my work language, and I got some knowledge of German and Italian. What I do to stay fluent in English is to read and watch a good deal of content. Also, if I’m lazing around, I sometimes think of how to express my thoughts in English. How did you become a translator? No fancy story behind this: I’ve always loved languages so when the time came I opted for a Translation degree at university. I was curious about how a message can change from one language to another.

Adell’s beautiful hometown, Barcelona

What have been your most enjoyable and challenging translation experiences? After university, I went on a two-year break and worked in a hostel —an experience I would totally recommend to everyone! Then I decided to take a Master’s Degree in Audiovisual Translation, which I’m about to finish, and it has already opened me some doors. Some months ago, I started working as an audiovisual translator and had the chance to translate a TV show of one of my favorite comedy groups ever: Monty Python! What’s your favorite thing about being a translator? How about being a language specialist? I love the way translation is an open and diverse field, where many different opportunities can come from: one day you’re translating a book of poetry, then the next day you happen upon a movie or a videogame. In addition, I take translation as a creative exercise where there’s no right or wrong answer. For me, it’s about transforming a situation dressed in a source language by trying to figure out how it would have been if the author had thought it in the target language. Also, being a Reviewer gives me the daily chance to revisit my native language and helps me find out nuances or tricky features I may overlook otherwise. In the end, reviewing other’s translations is a two-way learning process!

His cozy workspace in Barcelona

Based on your specific cultural expertise, what are the best books or movies you would recommend to others? One book that comes to my mind is Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez. You know what’s in store from page one, but it manages to keep your eyes glued to every word. Márquez uses language in such a way that it feels like he’s singing instead of writing. I’ve read it several times over the years and it never disappoints! As for films, it has to be Whiplash by Damien Chazelle. It’s one of those movies where the plot may be the least important thing given how beautifully crafted the movie itself is. It helped me understand cinema better some time ago. What are your preferred translation tools? I’m really fond of Memsource, a web-based editor, and Subtitle Workshop, a subtitling tool. What’s your favorite productivity tool or service? I used to carry a notebook with me everywhere, but I always ended up losing it. Nowadays, even though I’m one of those dinosaurs that still prefer paper over digital stuff, I use a note-taking app called Google Keep to write down ideas and organize my thoughts.

Adell plays in a band in his spare time

What are your top tips for those translators who are just starting out? What really stood out for me when I was studying is how translation is not so much about being proficient in a foreign language but about mastering your native language. It’s important to understand a message but you also have to be able to use your mother tongue to create the best outcome for each situation. Also, translation is a very vast field, so try to find a balance between what you’re good at and what you like the most and go for it! Do you have any specific translation advice to translators in your language pair? Getting to know your mother tongue and its rules is a must if you’re working professionally with languages. Consult Fundéu articles, resort to RAE for shades in meaning and read the news on a daily basis. Remember that being a translator isn’t all about knowing and mastering languages. We’re wordsmiths and our words serve as mirrors to how we see the world. So stay hungry for culture as well! Want to become a Gengo translator?

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The milestones of a Gengo translator

Gengo — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:00:00 +0000

At Gengo, every translator’s progress is important to us — whether you’re a novice translator who needs to gain more experience or a seasoned translator who appreciates having a flexible, location-independent career. We’re grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success over the years, and we’d like to recognize and reward your progress. Here are the goals and milestones we’ve set for our full-time and part-time translators — something to strive for and achieve during your time with Gengo.

Pro translator

Gengo has a two-part testing process for aspiring translators consisting of a multiple choice (MC) test and a written test. Candidates may take one of two paths. The first: if you’re a beginner translator who passes the MC test, you may proceed to taking the Standard level written test. The second: if you’re a more experienced translator who can easily pass the MC test, you may go straight to taking the Pro test without taking the Standard test. To find out what to expect and how to pass the Gengo tests, visit our Translator Resources page.

Why aspire to be a Pro translator? Having this qualification has its advantages. First of all, it’s a great way to earn more income since Pro translators can access Pro-level jobs. Rates vary depending on the language pair, but they’re always higher than Standard translation rates. Second, being a Pro translator can help you hone your skills and expand your expertise. You’ll have access to professional content that requires specialized knowledge and get the chance to translate business presentations, articles, reports, guides, among others. If you’re relatively new to translation, being a Pro translator can help you find your niche.

*Fun fact: In the last three months, we’ve had a total of 1,828 active translators with Pro qualifications.

Preferred Translator

Whether you’re a Standard or a Pro translator who wishes to gain more access to collections, being a Preferred Translator (PT) is the key that opens more doors. As a PT, you’ll enjoy priority access to jobs and you’ll get the chance to work on jobs exclusively assigned by the Projects Team. To become a PT, read these valuable tips from Gengo translators themselves.

*Fun fact: Out of all active translators in the past three months, 93% are preferred for at least one customer.

Wordsmith

Another great milestone to aim and strive for is achieving the Gengo Wordsmith status. Translators who have translated 500,000 units across all their language pairs will earn the title of a Gengo Wordsmith and receive a Gengo Translator t-shirt from us. For those who don’t mind being in the spotlight, a special feature on our Facebook page awaits.

*Fun fact: Since this initiative started in December 2013, we now have a total of 393 esteemed Wordsmiths in our ranks!

Apart from providing excellent translation quality and keeping your scores high, remember that maintaining good relationships with customers through effective communication will help you achieve these milestones faster during your time as a Gengo translator.

Which of these milestones are you aiming for now and which of them have you achieved? Tell us in the comments!

Want to become a Gengo translator?

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Faces of Gengo: Sara

Gengo — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 15:00:00 +0000

One of our freelance English to Portuguese Language Specialists, Sara, recently became a full-time mom to her beautiful daughter, Camila. Her dream of becoming her own boss motivated her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Translation and Language Services to become a professional translator. She shares her journey with us in this interview. Nationality: Portuguese Location: Porto Occupation: Freelance Translator Gengo LS since: 2014 Language pair: English to Portuguese What languages do you speak? How do you maintain proficiency? I’m a native Portuguese speaker, and I’ve learned English in private schools since I was about seven years old. In Portugal, we are exposed to English since the day we were born, as foreign movies are subtitled, and our radios play hits from the UK and US charts. Besides being my tools of the trade, I use English and Portuguese to communicate with friends, clients and people from all around the world, on a daily basis. I maintain proficiency by reading about everything and anything and by continually using and studying my language skills.

Sara with her newborn daughter, Camila

How did you become a translator? When I was 27, unhappy with my career in the TV industry and with my life, in general, I moved back to my hometown to take stock and formulate a plan for an “alternative” future. For two years, I taught English in a private institute, while also studying to take my Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). I wanted to be my own boss, enjoy my occupation, be challenged and stimulated and keep learning and improving. It didn’t immediately occur to me that being a translator was the perfect fit. At the age of 29, after having accepted occasional translation jobs and earning money in the most captivating way ever, I knew I wanted to become a professional translator. To achieve that dream, I gave it my all and finished a Master’s Degree in Translation and Language Services in 2014, and I’ve been working hard and passionately as a linguist ever since. What have been your most enjoyable and challenging translation experiences? All translations are challenging and enjoyable, but I would have to say a collaboration with professor and historian Matteo Salvadore. For four years I’ve translated Portuguese documents from the 15th/16th century into English and learned about old customs, language use, behaviors, politics, religion, human interactions and geography, to name a few. The collaboration culminated in the publication of “The African Prester John and the Birth of Ethiopian-European Relations, 1402-1555”.

Where all her work gets done

What’s your favorite thing about being a Gengo translator? How about being a Language Specialist? It’s hard to pick just “one” favorite aspect of the trade, but I’ll make it short by highlighting how much I learn with the different materials and topics I translate every day, as well as with the research and constant knowledge renewal required to act as a Language Specialist. Based on your specific cultural expertise, what are the best books or movies you would recommend to others? Two of my absolute favorites are: The Road by Cormac Mccarthy (book) and 12 Angry Men by Sidney Lumet (movie). What are your preferred translation tools? I recommend productive CAT tools such as SDL Studio and SDL Termbase, and QA tools such as Grammarly or Transistor. What’s your favorite productivity tool or service? A cloud service to store and access my work whenever I need it, an online password manager service and a well-organized Excel Sheet to keep track of my work and accounts definitely save me tons of worries and time. What are your top tips for those translators who are just starting out? Make sure to keep improving your translation-specific skills, be humble and self-critical, treat every text with the love and respect it deserves and always have your target audience and locale in mind.

Her favorite place in her hometown, Porto

Do you have any specific translation advice to translators in your language pair/s? Bear in mind that many language mechanisms used to recreate the same communication effect differ greatly from English to Portuguese. Use your native proficiency, your general knowledge and your best judgment to create a fluent version and avoid literal translations. Research all language, cultural and industry-specific challenges that you come across, as this will make you a more powerful communication ambassador every day. Want to become a Gengo translator?

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