The ProZ.com Translation and Interpreting Podcast

An excellent interview with business owner Belinda Grace Fischer ,who explains how best to use LinkedIn to attract new translation and interpreting clients. She shares insights into her journey - how she got started and then progressed to where she is today, including how she has managed to focus on her preferred specialization of marketing. We talk about LinkedIn profiles, how to post the right content, how to stay active on the platform, vanity metrics and engagement. She also shares a rule for making sure your posts are balanced between topics. A fantastic episode for anyone looking to use LinkedIn as a tool for getting more clients for their translation or interpreting business.

Part 2 of Paul's interview with machine translation expert Jay Marciano. In this part, we talk about translator opinions of MT, whether or not it makes sense to study translation at university, language professionals, the fragmented translation industry, user-generated content, how translator roles may change, MT providers, confidentiality and efficiency improvements. Listening to this episode is a great way for anyone in the translation and localization industry to spend 30 minutes of their time!

Jay Marciano is an machine translation expert with decades of experience. In this fascinating episode he takes us through the evolution of MT from rules based through statistical and on to neural machine translation. He also shares his thoughts on the current status of MT and potential future developments. His understanding of the subject is incredible and he is able to explain the different topics in a very clear manner. This is a very insightful episode and a must-listen for anyone in the translation and localization industry. 

Esther Hermida has enjoyed quite the career. From starting out as a court interpreter to working on live simulcasts and working as a dialect coach for the likes of Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner, it has been an amazing journey so far. She shares how (and why) she got started, working as an interpreter in different environments, and the very important work she does for AAPTI (The American Alliance of Professional Translators and Interpreters).

Joe Lépine shares some concrete tips in this value-packed episode. He talks about translating the texts for parking meters, changing direction, refining your client base, working with other translators, entrepreneurial ideas, tech tools, pricing and consistency checkers, among other things! This really is an action-filled episode featuring a very eloquent and experienced trainer who thrives on sharing his ideas and inspiring others.

Paul shares some tips for freelance translators and interpreters who are looking to up their game and make real progress in 2023. Paul discusses resolutions vs. goals, process vs. results, pivoting, finding the right market, collaboration, improving technically and online spaces. Tune in and get your year off to a great start!

Join new-to-the-profession Kole Wright as he takes us through the first part of what is certain to be an exciting career journey. Kole might only have started recently, but has plenty of insights to share - both for those who are embarking on a similar path and for those with years of experience. Kole enters the industry from a fascinating new angle and, in particular, his explanation of Artificial Intelligence, image generators, machine learning and parallels with the art world are not something you want to miss!

Jessie takes us through her fascinating journey - from starting out in accounting to working as a court interpreter, and then going back to school to study conference interpreting. We discuss her Master's from the Middlebury Institute, some of the ins and outs of court interpreting, vicarious trauma, income streams, interpreter preparation, remote simultaneous interpreting, Zoom language access, advocacy and client education. This is a must-listen for anyone working as an interpreter or thinking of doing so.

The second part of the detailed and revealing report put together by ProZ.com's Jared Tabor.

Paul shares 8 productivity hacks for translators and interpreters including deep work, technology, time tracking and screen set up. Some of these might seem obvious, but making sure your approach is fine-tuned can really improve your overall situation in the long term--and not just in terms of translation or interpreting efficiency--to the benefit of your health too!

Kelsey has made a name for herself as someone who creates content that is really in tune with the activities of a freelance translator. In this episode, she shares her story - from starting out in a boutique translation agency to managing multiple freelance roles. We then talk about content creation, networks, personal brands, experimenting with content, authentic content, creating different types of content, generating ideas for posts and target market vs. audience. It's an action-packed episode that will inspire freelance translators and help them understand how to get started with content creation.

Vasiliki shares some great stories from her journey: from working at Pinewood Studios to facilitating large legal deals between clients in different cultures and countries. She talks about building a client base, working freelance vs. full-time employment, running a translation department, legal consulting and building a remote team. This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to explore and understand some of the many different paths the career of a translator can take.

Adrian joins Paul to talk about the relationship between PMs and freelancers, role models, business planning, peer comparisons, mindset, diversification/balance, Freelanceverse, content planning, different audiences and general freelancer issues. Adrian sets out to help freelance translators in his own unique and authentic style, so don't miss this revealing and helpful episode!

Martina is an expert in specialization. As in, really, an expert. Someone who has built not one but two successful translation businesses in niche areas. So, if you'd like to find out more about why specialization is a great way forward and how to do it, this episode is for you. She shares how she went about setting up her websites and the important role SEO and content strategies have played, and details her experience with outsourcing and transitioning from a freelancer to business owner. Finally, she shares some information on her upcoming workshop on specialization for translators.

Paul talks with Ady about the variety of African languages and how the translation market works. We discuss African, colonial, official and national languages, the economic value of languages and the cultural impacts of using specific languages. Ady also shares her thoughts on infrastructure and payment challenges (including ProZ*Pay).

Wendy is fantastic - a lively and experienced translation business owner who came on the show to share some of her inspiring journey. She talks about buying an existing translation business and then the steps she took to scale it. Delegation, trust, market entry and marketing are all covered, as is the fact that English is not the global language. Essential listening for anyone interested in growing as a freelance translator or scaling a translation business or language service provider.

Paul talks with experienced coach and LinkedIn expert Virginia Katsimpiri about how translators and interpreters can get the most out of the platform. Specifically, she covers why translators should use LinkedIn, how to leverage LinkedIn, how some of her clients are able to achieve a 900% increase in profile views, outbound vs. inbound and how to prospect without sounding salesy. A must-listen for any translator or interpreter who wants to get the most out of this powerful platform.

Paul shares some of the mistakes he's made over the course of his career in translation, so hopefully you don't have to make the same ones! He talks about rates, formatting, different markets, tech and specialization. A must-listen for anyone starting out as a freelance translator or for those with a few years of experience.

Paul interviews Lauren Bordon about her journey through some very rewarding positions within the language industry and to ultimately setting up her own business. They discuss opportunities for linguists, Interpol, being on-call, working as a bilingual executive assistant, financial reward, lifestyle management, international liaison and ad-hoc vs. stable work.

Join Bruno Herrmann and Paul Urwin for the second part of this wonderful interview (tune into episode 59 for the first part). They discuss linguistic, cultural and funcional effectiveness, client education, post-editing, building bridges between translation and global content creation, enrichment, digital acceleration, value creation and the winning combination of human translation and machine translation. This episode is very insightful and educational and whatever your role within the translation or localization industry, it will help you to gain a better overall understanding of how all the pieces fit together!

This is a truly fascinating interview with industry expert Bruno Hermann. In fact, this interview was so great (and extensive) that it's been divided into two parts (this is part I). We discuss everything from forming localization teams, cost centers vs profit drivers, translator roles within global content teams, storytelling, the intersection of product, tech and content, and linguistic, cultural and functional requirements. This is a must-listen for anyone in the industry!

Aziz Ben Soltana, the Managing Director of Global Citizens Translation, talks with Paul about cultural impact, micro vs. macro management, delegation, his transition from translator to translation manager and other topics, all related to improving processes for both LSPs and freelance translators. This in-depth discussion is very educational and will be useful for anyone going who is looking to streamline their own translation operation, whether as an individual or a company that outsources.

Corinne shares how she got started in book translation and how it differs from business / commercial translation. She also talks about how rewarding it can be, how it combines well with other work and discusses some of the nuances of this particular niche. A must-listen for any freelance translator who has started on the path to carrying out some book translation or is thinking about doing so.

Paul talks with medical translator Jason Willis-Lee about some of his pricing and negotiation strategies. Jason discusses how to negotiate effectively, how to increase prices for existing clients and explains negotiation ranges and why the whole process should be a win-win situation for both the translator and client.

Paul talks with content creator and transcreator Delfina Morganti-Hernández about the importance of branding for freelance translators. They discuss individual vs. company brands, who needs a brand, and the power of branding for translators and interpreters.

The wonderful Claudia Brauer explains how translators can use machine translation to increase the efficiency of their workflows, with particular focus on her preferred engine, DeepL. Claudia uses her 40+ years of experience to help us understand how the translation industry has changed and continues to change, and the best ways in which translators can harness the power of new technology to develop successful careers.

Whether you are relaxing in your home, doing the dishes or going for a run, let marketing expert Tess Whitty accompany you as she takes you through online marketing strategies that really work for translators and interpreters. We talk about your online presence, inbound marketing, social media content creation, your proz.com profile and buyer personas - all in terms of how they relate to translators and interpreters.

Molly has been on a fascinating journey. She was working as a translator, specializing in destination wedding planners, when the pandemic hit. It turned out to be a key moment in her career as she studied how to become a subtitler. She shares how she got started, what happened along the way and where she is now. We talk about subtitling, teaching English, marketing, subtitling courses, breaking into subtitling, subtitling rates, the age of streaming, subtitling workflows, multi-tasking, style guide specifications, subtitling rules and negotiating pay walls.

Successful serial entrepreneur Marko Hozjan shares his story and discusses platforms, scaling, enhanced MT services, MT as a professional service, document security and customer education. This is a truly fascinating interview with someone who does not consider himself to be ¨from the industry¨ and yet has contributed so much in terms of offering innovative solutions. There is something for everyone in this episode, so whether you are a freelancer just starting out, or an experienced entrepreneur seeking growth, tune in and enjoy!

Experienced conference and court interpreter Katty Kauffman gives us the inside track on remote simultaneous interpreting, hybrid events, interpreting hubs, audio feeds, equipment, interpreting opportunities and more! We also discuss Katty's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/RemoteSimulInterpreting, quality and reputation and the client approval hashtag. A must-listen episode for anyone in the remote simultaneous interpreting space.

Find out more about our interpreting and translation courses at https://training.proz.com

Paul talks with audiovisual translation expert and pioneer Jorge Díaz-Cintas who shares some of his extensive experience in the field. In particular, Jorge shares a really interesting history of AVT, how he got started in the industry and how the subtitling process has changed over the years. He also talks about different types of AVT, inclusive language, developing AVT education programs, streaming platforms, accessibility, dubbing and the perceived talent crunch. This episode is a must for anyone who is interested in any aspect of audiovisual translation including subtitling and dubbing.

Paul talks with Moutaz MoheyElDin about translation and recruitment procresses, the ProZ.com Blue Board and directory searches, free translation tests or samples and price pressures. Moutaz offers some interesting insights for both freelance translators and LSPs.

Paul talks with experienced LSP owner Gabriela Lemoine. Gabriela shares some dos and don'ts that translators would be well advised to take on board, specifically related to productivity, asking questions and going the extra mile.

Paul talks with Mindaugas about how LSPs can serve freelancers, rather than the other way round. Mindaugas, a successful LSP owner, has a very refreshing take on this, and focuses specifically on helping freelancers with payment systems, technology and clarity.

Paul talks with industry expert Ludmila Golovine who shares the story of how she founded Masterword, now a very successful LSP. They also discuss how the translation industry might work if it were to adopt different rates for different levels of quality. Finally, Ludmila shares some of her extensive expertise in the area of vicarious trauma, a very important and sometimes overlooked topic that affects the vast majority of translators and interpreters to some degree.

Paul talks to experienced translator and web designer Bart Roelands about how to set up a translator website and how to offer clients a combination of translation and web design services.

What is inclusive language? Why is it important? Find out in this excellent episode featuring experienced audiovisual translator and inclusive language expert Paula Jacinto. Paula shares some really good examples that will help you to understand how the world is evolving socially and linguistically, and provides some concrete suggestions of the best ways to use appropriate terms in your translation work.

Paul provides translators with some concrete tips on how to really design their careers over time including topics such as location independence, type of work, areas of specialization, productivity and working hours.

Experienced technical translator and editing expert Karen Tkaczyk shares some brilliant editing and proofreading tips for translators. So, whether you mostly edit your own or other people's work, you are bound to learn something useful that you can apply in as part of your own translation (or TEP - Translation, Editing, Proofreading) process.

Paul chats with Robert Rutledge, who has made a great start in his translation career and is looking to attract more clients via blogging and SEO strategies. They discuss content creation, online profiles, keywords and blog post optimization, among other things. This is a great episode if you are interested in finding out how this approach can work for freelance translators.

In this interview, Anna shares some of her extensive experience in the areas of globalization and localization. Whether you work in a corporate environment or as a freelance translator, Anna will help you to understand what companies need to take into consideration when they are looking to expand into new markets, and some of the best ways of going about this. She explains terms such as ¨geo alignment¨ and discusses how companies should design the entire user experience in other languages.

Adam Asnes is the CEO of Lingoport and a software localization expert. In this fascinating interview, Adam shares some details of how a software localization process really works. He explains things in terms of a general overview, introducing definitions and sharing insights in a language everyone can understand. Whether you are a freelance translator interested in finding out more about software localization, or a localization professional in some other capacity, you're sure to learn something in this value-packed episode.

Patrizia was convinced she would not make it as a legal translator, but following some encouragement and a course to get her started, she started taking on clients and has never looked back. In this episode, she shares some of her journey and provides some fantastic tips and pieces of advice for those considering this rewarding area of specialization. Finally, she discusses her brand new course on legal translation for English to Italian translators.

Paula is relatively new to freelance translation, but she's achieved lots in the last couple of years. She has a varied portfolio of clients, has developed lead generation methods that work and created online profiles and a website that attract new clients. If you are in the first few years of your career as a freelance translator, then you will probably find this interview both very useful (Paula shares some very practical and actionable tips and advice) and inspiring. 

Stephen shares some of his business stories: how he's attracted new clients and how he has kept them for as long as possible. He has a great way of relating translation issues to the wider business world from which he has clearly learned lots. Tune in to listen to some of his pearls of wisdom - including some actionable steps that you apply to your own translation business right way!

Paul talks with experience translator Richard (Rich) Mort about his love for languages and moving to Singapore, Japan and then Germany. Rich shares details of how he's built a business in different locations and how he has managed to stand out from the crowd and grow his network. He also opens up about challenges he's faced and how he's overcome them to carve out a successful career for himself within the languages industry.

Experienced medical translator Ana Sofia Correia shares her journey from in-house translator to full-time freelancer. She talks about some of the challenges she faced along the way and how she's overcome them to create a successful business. Ana Sofia also talks about the importance of joining translator associations.

In this refreshingly different episode, Paul talks to freelancer coach Bettina Röhricht about imposter syndrome and perfectionism - what they mean for translators and how to manage them. Bettina explains these topics wonderfully well, and shares some great tips on how to manage them effectively for the benefit of your life and business.

Have you ever received an email that offers you an frustratingly low rate for your translation work? If so, then this episode might just help you. Paul talks about how to deal with low rate offers in a positive way and find clients that are the right fit for you and your translation business.