Branding for freelancers? Isn’t branding something for big companies, corporations, and institutions? The short answer is no.  Branding is how you present and position yourself;  it combines your image, message, tone, values, and the feeling that you want people to associate with your work.  And yes, it can absolutely influence your freelance career.

Angela Luana Zalazar Aguirre

Many language professionals often overlook the importance of a tagline, and some might not even be familiar with the concept. Yet, a well-crafted tagline can be one of the most powerful tools in their marketing. Serving as a mini-summary, a tagline succinctly conveys what a professional does and the value they offer clients—essentially providing an “elevator pitch” in just a few words. A clear tagline not only enhances a linguist’s brand, but also helps make a memorable impression.

Lucía Leszinsky

On April 26, 2024, language professionals from around Cádiz gathered for a special occasion—the ProZ.com powwow celebrating the platform’s 25th anniversary. Held in person, this event provided an excellent opportunity for linguists, translators, and interpreters to connect, share insights, and commemorate a quarter-century of ProZ.com’s impact on the industry.

Helen Shepelenko | Head of Training, Tools and Events at ProZ

In freelancing, one undeniable truth stands out: your reputation holds the key to your success. As language professionals, success hinges not only on linguistic prowess but also on the ability to build lasting relationships with clients. In this digital age where word-of-mouth can make or break your career, being a client rock star is more important than ever.

Mike Donlin

As a translator, finding direct clients is crucial for your professional growth and success. While there are various avenues to explore, it's important to have a clear strategy in place to connect with the right clients directly. In this blog post, we will outline five essential steps that will help you navigate the process of finding direct clients in 2023 and delve deeper into the first step.

The five steps

✓ Find out who your ideal client is
✓ Know what your ideal clients need
✓ Help them know what your brand is all about
✓ Decide where to look for clients
✓ Pick 2 to 3 marketing mediums and tactics you enjoy using

Angela Luana Zalazar Aguirre

ProZ.com's 14th annual online conference to celebrate International Translation Day is happening soon. If you have created an account at ProZ.com with the objective of meeting clients, don't miss the session "Finding ways through the maze: how clients and professionals meet at ProZ.com" on September 28th.

Lucía Leszinsky

At the end of 2005, ProZ.com released a feature called "Project history".  The tool was created to allow freelancers to track past projects completed and list them in profiles with information such as language pairs, fields, volume, keewords, clients and collaborators. Since then, more than 17,300 site members have listed projects, 11,733 of which show as corroborated.

Lucía Leszinsky

"I officially retired" said Sheila Wilson in a recent email message. "Thank you and all the team at ProZ.com for everything the site has provided for me since 2007."

Lucía Leszinsky

Have you recently completed a job? Do you need to send your client an invoice? At ProZ.com, it is easy to create, send and track your invoices online through the invoicing tool. 

Membership allows you to create as many invoices as needed. Non-members are afforded five invoices to try out the platform.

Mike Donlin

The 2021 year-end membership campaign, Stay safe, ended last week. (What? You missed it? Send me a line and we'll figure something out). After three full weeks of intense work, sixteen staff members involved, and great conversations with new and returning members, the largest community of language professionals just got bigger. Thank you, members, once again for your support!

Lucía Leszinsky

A new year is getting started, and so are some of our new site members.  At ProZ.com, there are members who are starting out, also some who have been in the profession for a while, and even many who have a steady list of clients. What do they all have in common? They have invested in their businesses through membership as a smart strategy to be prepared for whatever tomorrow brings. So, congratulations for such a smart move, members, and welcome!

Lucía Leszinsky

The answers ranged from “None whatsoever” to “I would not be able to function without it”. But what was the question? 

Andrew Morris

Getting consistent work is one of the most challenging aspects of being a freelancer. Often,  hours are spent pitching to new potential clients, creating quotes and polishing your profile  in the hope that clients will choose you.  This post explores the importance of following up and how to do it to increase your job conversion rates.

Mike Donlin

Most online freelancers will never meet their clients in real life, which is why it is crucial to understand how to make a good first impression on a new client without ever leaving home. Here are some tips on making a good first impression on your new client.

Mike Donlin

How do I answer job offers at ProZ.com? That question came up in the ProZ.com Facebook group recently and I'm borrowing the well-crafted answer from Lu Leszinsky to include on this blog.



Highlights:
1. Browse jobs that interest you
2. Confirm you meet quoting requirements
3. Click on submit quote

Mike Donlin