April 10, 2020 |
For as challenging as the circumstances may be, any crisis also has the potential to bring new opportunities to the table. Surviving during and after the COVID-19 disaster is hard, especially for specialists working in the language service industry. If you’re a translator or interpreter, you should take immediate action to protect your businesses, whether you work for a translation agency or sell your services as a freelancer.
In times of crisis, access to language services is essential for scientists, as well as for regional authorities and governments. At the same time, the rigid measures taken to stop the virus have impacted the industry as a whole.
The closure of businesses and public institutions has a severe financial impact on the work of translators and interpreters worldwide. According to the International Federation of Translators (FIT), “conference interpreters and other conference industry professionals are being hit hard economically by the current global health emergency.”
Not only do organizations cancel events and projects, but they also reorganize long-term activities to make sure that they comply with restrictions on mobility.
Many countries have already announced a series of measures to help freelance translators and interpreters. Still, the crisis might have long-term implications that are hard to predict at the moment. Economies are forced to slow down to a minimum, and many companies are expected to cancel or postpone projects to cut costs. Interpreters, translators, and other localization professionals risk losing clients and part of their income.
Moreover, the coronavirus could impact around 25 million jobs worldwide, which will have economic and social consequences across all global markets.
In this context, thinking outside the box might be the thing that saves your business. Here are five actions you can take to protect your translation business against the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
Maintaining business relationships in your regular environment is hard work, and it’s even harder when everyone is going through a crisis like the one generated by the coronavirus. However, this period is as much about landing new clients as it is about keeping your existing partners.
Now, more than ever, you need to meet the expectations of your clients and, if possible, deliver that little extra that will show your commitment. You should try to be available for them as much as you can: answer emails promptly, proofread your work, and try to put yourself in your client’s shoes.
You need to act professionally at all times, which means following your client’s guides and glossaries, as well as delivering on time. Moreover, you should communicate regularly with the project managers and let them know about any problems as soon as they happen if something doesn’t go as planned.
In short, make sure that your relationship is beneficial for both parties to strengthen your contract and ensure future projects.
If you still haven’t chosen a niche in the translation industry, now could be the time to consider the benefits of narrowing your activity and mastering your skills in a particular area.
While it may seem risky, choosing a niche is more likely to ensure consistent professional growth and higher fees in the long run. After all, success belongs to the professionals who know their business inside out and can deliver excellent results.
Evaluate your skills and try to identify the areas where you can offer the best services. This way, you can land more clients and consolidate existing work contracts within your niche.
If you manage to build authority and become known in a specific industry, you’re more likely to get recommendations, 5-star reviews and position yourself as an expert in the industry.
The self-employed rarely benefit from state aid in situations like the COVID-19 crisis, so it’s wiser if you take the lead and build yourself a safety net.
Remember that you should have a contract for any work in this industry, whether it is a translation, voice-over, interpreting, or any other services. If you’re a freelancer, take another look at your current contract template and perhaps even ask an expert to help you eliminate any loopholes in your contracts.
Make sure you add clauses to protect your business in the case of any unforeseeable and unavoidable events.
Also, verify that all the work and respective fees are correctly listed in your contract when you sign with a new client. It’s okay to provide a little extra, but working for free should be off-limits.
Most industry events and translation conferences programmed for this season have been canceled or postponed. However, it’s the worst moment to stop networking. With a strong team of collaborators at your side, you’re more likely to survive the crisis or even to level up your business and increase revenues.
Consider joining a local professional association or connecting with fellow translators using social media. Twitter and LinkedIn are excellent networks for language professionals looking for new collaborators. They can also become good places to find new clients and get more work. The bigger your audience, the higher your chances of receiving projects.
Networking can also become a reliable source of information about new trends and better translation tools. Many linguists out there can help you develop your career and provide your clients with better services.
Marketing should become an essential part of your overall growth strategy. With so many changes going on as we speak (and more that we can’t even foresee right now), you need to learn to promote your services like a pro.
Start with building an online presence. This means maintaining an updated LinkedIn account, creating a Facebook page, writing guest posts for established publications, or contributing to magazines. If you have some resources, you could even invest in a small website or an online portfolio.
Furthermore, you can ask past or existing clients for testimonials and include them on your page. Social proof can help you consolidate your reputation and build trust with potential clients.
Digital marketing comes with plenty of tools that you can try to market yourself anywhere in the world. Depending on your availability and skills, you can experiment with social media ads or even Google AdWords to increase your reach and get more clients.
COVID-19 has changed the game for most businesses out there. Language professionals, like many other categories of workers, must adapt to new rules to ensure growth.
The coronavirus crisis has brought much change across all industries. Still, it might also come with new opportunities for the people who are ready to embrace change in their translation business. It’s a time of learning and adapting but the investment will pay off.