6 Tips to Get Better Rates for Proofreading

Photo Credit just us-3 Tips to Get Better Rates for Proofreading There are many freelancers who have been in translation but would like to test new waters by taking up projects for proofreading or editing. At this juncture, many of you might be faced up with the trouble of knowing what the ideal rates for this kind of work is and what you have quoted is right or not. The information listed below should help you out while providing quotes for jobs such as proofreading and will ensure that you do not lose out on your earnings. 1. Primarily, you should know the difference between proofreading and editing. Proofreading involves just checking for grammatical, spelling and syntax errors while editing involves checking for expressions in the language. So proofreading is less time-consuming than editing. Look for what the project is asking for while providing quotes. 2. Get a preview before accepting the job. Proofreading should involve very little editing and a well-translated document should take just a quarter of the time required to translate. Refuse the job after a preview, if you see too many mistakes that need to be edited or if there is a need to retranslate. 3. Go through all the details of the contract before you accept the project. Look for the fine print that may spring at you and leave you in an unfavorable position. 4. Negotiate for an hourly rate rather than a per word rate as the former is more profitable if you are handling a document with a lot of errors. 5. If you are not able to negotiate an hourly rate, try to work out a rate that is around 30-50% of the rate you charge for translation. 6. If you are doing a final proofreading, the agency might ask you to do the work for a much lower rate than the first proofing. This should not be acceptable as even this requires equal amount of time and effort as the first proofreading. Keep these simple points in mind always while taking up any proofreading work. This will not only fetch you the right price it will enable you to go through the deal without a second thought.it

101 Tips to Succeed as Freelance Translator

Photo Credit mikelens 101 Tips to Succeed as Freelance Translator Translation 1. Make sure that you want to be a freelance translator 2. Don’t quit your day job in the beginning. 3. Restrict free (sample translation) to 300 words 4. Translate into your native language only. 5. Always keep a very close eye on quality. 6. Always meet deadlines. 7. You're really only as good as your last translation. 8. Conduct terminology research. 9. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. 10. Do some volunteer translation work. 11. Consider 2000 target words to be a normal day and 3000 target words to be very good. 12. Have different rates for general, semi-specialized and specialised texts. 13. As a beginner, be careful in taking large volume jobs. 14. Do not accept any assignment if you are not confident that you can do it. 15. Do not accept anything in an area that you are not familiar with. 16. Do not work for a rock-bottom rate. 17. Do not accept any assignment for which you are not fully qualified 18. Read forum posts and translation blogs like Tips for translators (http://www.getdirectclient.blogspot.com) Learning 19. Specialization - This is definitely advantageous for you 20. Learning translation properly once at a postgraduate programme. 21. Make yourself familiar with the entire CAT and similar programs out there. 22. A writing course and a course of stylistics always come in handy. 23. Learn how to improve your translation even after becoming a professional translator to find the best translation. 24. Improve writing. 25. Continue to invest in necessary training. 26. Learn to translate by reviewing other people's work. 27. Practice translating something that one hasn't read in the target language. 28. Ask professional translators to send you translations they just finished and read those translations carefully 29. Try Proficiency tests: Try IELTS (for English) or UN exams or TOEFL (for English) 30. Get certification by NAATI (Australia) or ATA (USA) or other associations. 31. Answer Kudoz and similar questions. 32. Become member of PROZ, Aquarius, and Translators base and other portals but search for life beyond them. 33. Participate in forum discussions. Clients 34. If your clients are happy, you seem to be doing something right. 35. Do not depend only on one client. 36. Do not assume your current rate of incoming work will continue unabated. 37. Expand your client base. 38. Have portfolio of regular clients. 39. Create Credentials. 40. Ask for feedbacks. 41. Ask for testimonials. 42. Keep your clients happy- repeat jobs will come your way Attributes 43. A bit of luck is always in the game, the rest is hard work. 44. Do what you really like. Then money will flow. 45. Have desire, passion, and dedication and do hard work. 46. Remember your job is not a hobby but a profession. 47. Remember your success is judged by the quality of the end result. 48. Remember your success is judged by having the money in the bank. 49. This profession requires ethics at every level. 50. Successful translator needs to have talent, drive, energy, commitment, confidence - and luck. 51. Study and research before you start. 52. Endeavor to translate with utmost accuracy and fidelity. 53. Convey to the readers of the translation the same meaning and spirit of the original. 54. Master the target language equivalent to that of an educated native speaker. 55. Have Up-to-date knowledge of the source language. 56. Have Up-to-date knowledge of the subject area. 57. Be truthful about your qualification. 58. Continuously self-improve. 59. Inspire hope. 60. Have common sense and apply it. 61. Know your own limitations. 62. Always follow you gut instincts. 63. Have Attitude! Business 64. Consider freelance translation as a business. 65. Have a business plan how you’re going to get work 66. Consider translation as for-profit activity 67. Tell everyone you know that you’re available for Translation jobs 68. Keep sending your CV to agencies. 69. Market yourself everyday even when you have a job at hand. 70. Be truthful about your business. 71. Become member of translation portals. 72. Invest in paid memberships. And test it. 73. Advertise your services through all means and test it. 74. Have business acumen. 75. Become member of local chamber of commerce 76. Become member of translator's organizations. 77. Join network of translators. 78. Reply to emails within 3 hours, if possible. 79. Create a good CV 80. Follow successful translators 81. Create a website/Blog and promote and track posts. 82. Create or buy a database of agencies. Health 83. Take regular breaks when working. 84. Take care of your health 85. Take care of your family 86. Take vacations. 87. Do Yoga exercises for hand, neck and back. 88. Have your eyes tested at least once a year. 89. Quit Smoking Family 90. Make your family happy 91. Love your spouse 92. Play with your children 93. Take care of your parents Tools 94. Use dictionaries, Google, Wikipedia, etc. 95. Use CAT tools and speech recognition if possible. 96. Invest in Hardwares, softwares, CAT tools, dictionaries Home Office 97. Manage your home office. 98. Keep track of your finance 99. Send invoice along with the job 100. Create multiple options of payments for Client- cheque, paypal, moneybookers, bank transfer etc. 101. Keep all records for 2 years minimum.

Hurricane Ike

Visible satellite image of Hurricane Ike 2008/09/11 - 22:48 UTC Photo Credit Coreburn I am tracking Hurricane ike since yesterday. My daughter is in Rice University Houston. It seems they are taken to shelter at 10am Houston time today 12th September. Here is an update from SCIGUY 10 a.m. UPDATE: Not much has changed this morning as Hurricane Ike moves toward the west-northwest, with a landfall expected on Galveston Island. Maximum winds remain at 105 mph, and the storm's central pressure is not falling. Therefore Ike is forecast to come ashore as an extremely large category 2 hurricane. If you live east of San Luis Pass and less than 20 feet above sea level, God help you at this point if you have not evacuated. Houston now has a 50 percent chance of experiencing hurricane-force winds, and Galveston a 77 percent chance. But unfortunately it won't be the winds that matter so much along Galveston Island, but the water. You can read the rest of the story Here For update you can visit http://www.chron.com/ See today's latest updated photos from across the upper Gulf Coast as Ike crashes ashore Here

Are Discounts for Fuzzies Justified?

Are Discounts for Fuzzies Justified? While the use of software for different applications in the translation industry has now become common it has been seen that many translators are now using a popular tool called “Trados” for simplifying their work. While the use of Trados is becoming something of a rage there are many agencies that look for freelancers specifically those who are using the software for their work. The use of Trados has reduced the amount of effort that is needed in order to translate as it helps in identifying matches of repetitions within the text. The matches are identified as total matches or partial matches that are colloquially known as “Fuzzies”. Even though the software is aimed at simplifying the effort put in by the translators, many agencies are asking for people using Trados simply because they would like to ask the translator to provide some discounts for these total and partial matches. There is a divided stand between freelancers over the issue of providing discounts to total matches and to fuzzies. So, are discounts for fuzzies justified? While some say that competitive levels are making it more difficult to avoid providing discounts there are others who do not agree. While agencies justify it by saying there is no need to translate repetitive easy sentences many translators would agree to discounts if the sentences are repeats of total matches. They say fuzzies have to be scrutinized with care and therefore it is not possible to provide discounts to these. While some are of the opinion that they have spent so much money on the investment for the software and cannot provide discounts, there are others who feel that using the software has made their work much simpler and discounts are justified. They also feel that since the use of the software has become more universal they would not have to invest in any other software thereby actually reducing investment overheads. What was the advertising gimmick of the company is now slowly turning to providing discounts to complete matches and fuzzies. While many feel that a reduced rate for complete matches is justified they do not hold the same opinion for providing discounts to fuzzies.

6 Tips on Taking Mega Projects

Few Pointers on Taking Mega Projects Many of you might have faced the dilemma of being asked to give a quote for a substantially huge project like translating an entire book but when you offered your services at your regular rates, you might have been rejected for the work. This might have made you wonder whether you should quote for a bigger project at a lesser price than your normal rate. While working out a deal, it should be done such that it is at an advantage to you and not vice versa. For this to happen, you need to remember a few points enlisted here while considering a large project: 1. First and foremost you need to remember that a huge project is not necessarily a big advantage to you. Even though it may look like a lifetime opportunity, you need to look at the project carefully before you give the go ahead. 2. If the future project has a very tight deadline, it may affect the other jobs that you may be currently handling as you would not be able to give time for them. So accept the deal at lower rates only if the deadline will enable you to accomplish other jobs to make up for the losses. 3. See if you can work some other factors in your favor that will justify the reduction of rates. Many book translations will allow the mention of your name as the person handling the job. This may work to your advantage while searching for other offers. 4. Try to check if this current offer can lead up to other projects such as these. If so, then it may do some help sacrificing a little to gain more in the long run. 5. Do not compromise your position with the other clients that you are working for in order to complete this new offer. This could a one-time affair and you may be left with no work once it is completed. 6. Showing the ability to handle a big project might be a self-advertising tool to help you land up new projects of that magnitude. Think in these terms too before deciding. Working on a huge project is definitely a dream come true for many of us. But, what needs to be remembered is that “All that glitters is not gold”.