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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

The conspicuous translator

at METM Revisited

Is it ever our moral duty to stick out like a sore thumb?

Virtually all professional translators are told at some point in their career that they should strive to be invisible in order to produce faithful renditions, and some theorists even go as far as considering translator’s notes to be a sign of defeat. However, the speaker believes that there are some circumstances when the best way to remain invisible in the eyes of the reader is actually to go beyond a simple note and ask the author straight out to consider rewriting the original to fit the translation.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

The conspicuous translator at the Translating Europe Workshop

The Conspicuous Translator

Photo courtesy of Claudia Benetello

Is it ever our moral duty to stick out like a sore thumb?

Virtually all professional translators are told at some point in their career that they should strive to be invisible in order to produce faithful renditions, and some theorists even go as far as considering translator’s notes to be a sign of defeat. However, the speaker believes that there are some circumstances when the best way to remain invisible in the eyes of the reader is actually to go beyond a simple note and ask the author straight out to consider rewriting the original to fit the translation.

This presentation was streamed live and you can watch the recording on YouTube.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

The conspicuous translator

Is it ever our moral duty to stick out like a sore thumb?

Virtually all professional translators are told at some point in their career that they should strive to be invisible in order to produce faithful renditions, and some theorists even go as far as considering translator’s notes to be a sign of defeat. However, the speaker believes that there are some circumstances when the best way to remain invisible in the eyes of the reader is actually to go beyond a simple note and ask the author straight out to consider rewriting the original to fit the translation.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

Freelance translator client satisfaction surveys

While wondering why the flow of work had suddenly stopped during an unusually slack period, the speaker hit on a way of finding out if his clients had been shopping around for other language service providers without actually asking them the rather embarrassing question straight out: with the declared aim of offering services more in line with his clients’ requirements, he sent out a satisfaction questionnaire. The research he did in order to understand the philosophy behind this kind of survey and choose the right questions to ask gave him a totally new perspective on how his clients perceive the quality of the services he offers.

The speaker discusses the kinds of questions typically asked and how appropriate they are to the translation industry. He then illustrates the purpose of each of the questions he actually chose, the answers received and the conclusions he draws. He closes the talk by saying what he has learnt from doing the survey and what he would do differently next time. The presentation is aimed at freelance translators who mainly work with end clients (or intend to do so in the future).

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

The conspicuous translator

Is it ever our moral duty to stick out like a sore thumb?

Virtually all professional translators are told at some point in their career that they should strive to be invisible in order to produce faithful renditions, and some theorists even go as far as considering translator’s notes to be a sign of defeat. However, the speaker believes that there are some circumstances when the best way to remain invisible in the eyes of the reader is actually to go beyond a simple note and ask the author straight out to consider rewriting the original to fit the translation.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

Translators need CVs like fish need bicycles

Watch a video of the introduction

Hordes of budding young translators arrive fresh on the market each year and inundate potential clients with their carefully written curricula vitae, often in that newfangled Europass format. Even some established professionals regularly do mail shots with their painstakingly designed CVs, perhaps after attending costly workshops on how to write a killer curriculum vitae. But is this the right way to land freelance projects?
The speaker will attempt to persuade attendees not only that CVs are totally the wrong tool for the job, but are actually harmful.
Freelancers are – in reality – one-person language service providers and, as such, they should sell themselves, sing their own praises and promote their businesses. They should therefore be using marketing materials to advertise their services.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

A freelance translator needs a CV like a fish needs a bicycle

Is a painstakingly designed CV the right way to land freelance projects?
The speaker will attempt to persuade attendees that a CV is not only totally the wrong tool for the job, but actually harmful.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

Client Satisfaction Surveys for Freelance Translators

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

Client Satisfaction Surveys for Freelance Translators

During an unusually slow period, the speaker sent out a satisfaction questionnaire with the goal of bringing his services more in line with his clients’ requirements. The research he conducted on this type of survey to choose the right questions to ask gave him a totally new perspective on how his clients perceive the quality of his services.

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Posted on by Michael Farrell Posted in Aspects of marketing for translators

A freelance translator needs a CV like a fish needs a bicycle

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