If you could travel back in time to when you first started your career as a translator or interpreter, what is the one piece of advice you would give yourself? This question was asked to ProZ.com members, and the responses were enlightening. The tips shared offer valuable insights into what experienced professionals believe would have made their journey smoother and more successful.

Lucía Leszinsky

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

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

For language freelancers looking to attract new clients and outsourcing work online, building trust is crucial. With many professionals to choose from on freelancing platforms, outsourcers want to feel confident they are hiring someone reliable and skilled.

Here are some key ways to establish trustworthiness right from the start:

Mike Donlin

Today is Good Friday, part of the Easter observance in many locations and a long holiday weekend in others. Holidays and vacations see language companies facing a familiar challenge: maintaining productivity and meeting deadlines with limited resources.

Mike Donlin

Would you like to unsubscribe from specific company job notifications? ProZ.com offers the option to filter job posters by profile, Blue Board number and Blue Board score.

Mike Donlin

As a freelancer, you know that managing your money can be a tough task. You may not have an employer to help out with benefits like vacation time and health insurance. It's up to you to make sure you're saving enough for retirement and investing in ways that will grow your nest egg over time.

Here are some money habits that can help any freelancer stay financially secure:

Mike Donlin

Time is money. If you're like most people, you probably think of this as an excuse to work harder and make more money. The truth is that time really does equal money, but only if you're working efficiently and not wasting your precious hours on distractions or unproductive tasks. The key to doing more with less time isn't just about working harder—it's about working smarter too.

Mike Donlin

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

The Translation agencies and companies directory is where you can find translation agencies and end clients on ProZ.com.

It's easy to see where your business page ranks if you're a confirmed employee —you just need to head over to the directory and you'll see it:

Mike Donlin

Looking for language professionals on ProZ.com for your projects? 

If you've outsourced work before on the site, then you probably have seen and even used ProZ Find to make your searches. But did you know that you can personalize your searches with many filters to find the best match?

Mike Donlin

Have you ever posted a job on ProZ.com and wondered why you didn’t get as many quotes as you had expected? 

With over 150 jobs posted in a day you need to make sure you get the attention of the right professionals.

Mike Donlin

Do you have an urgent request for translation? Are you screening language professionals for future opportunities? 

If so, it is likely you are contacting linguist profiles at ProZ.com. Can your message reach the right translator? Are there secrets to getting their attention? How do you break through the noise?

Mike Donlin

The ability to establish real-time communication at the click of a button -- by text, voice or video -- is having a significant impact on business in general, and on the translation industry in particular. Meanwhile, translation companies are under pressure to complete translation projects more quickly. Given these factors, being able to make yourself readily available to a project manager in a time of need is a significant competitive differentiator.

Lucía Leszinsky