Training for Translators

Welcome to Training for Translators, the podcast for translators, interpreters, and other multilingual word people, helping you do better work, earn more money, and enjoy your job.  This episode is based on a LinkedIn post , which was based on a question from a student in my online course alumni group. How do we turn down work from clients, and are the clients likely to come back?  It's a dilemma...

In this episode, I detail four ways I've recently found new clients. It's based on this post from the Training for Translators blog. 

In this episode, based on a blog post I wrote a couple of weeks ago , I talk about how the first quarter of 2026 is going for me, and for other freelancers I've talked to!   

Episode 24 of the Training for Translators podcast is based on this post on my blog . Lately, I've heard from a number of students and colleagues who have a hard time marketing right now, because they feel icky/dishonest/deceptive about marketing a service "that clients could get for free from an AI tool." Personally, I don't have this mental roadblock, and in this episode, I break it down!  If yo...

This episode is based on a webinar I taught today, "What now??" aimed mainly at mid-career freelance translators whose businesses are really struggling. I offered six options you might want to consider (from "keep doing what you're doing" to "re-train and change careers completely"), depending on your personal circumstances.   Find out more about Training for Translators, including my upcoming Mar...

It's time for my annual year in review post!  I've been writing year-end review posts for a while. Here's  2024 ,  2023 ,  2022 , and  2021 .  I'll say that this year feels different . I had a great year, due to various factors including luck, experience, working hard, and being willing to try new things. And at the same time, I'm aware that a lot of people in the language professions had a truly...

If you're thinking about shaking things up in your business in 2026 (a good idea in the current economic climate!), tune in for six ideas of how to do that, and three ways to market a portfolio business in which you do more than one thing. This podcast episode is based on this post on the Training for Translators blog . And if you're not on the Training for Translators mailing list, you should be!...

Join the Training for Translators mailing list at https://www.trainingfortranslators.com/ !  In this episode, I describe a pretty basic miles and points trick (earning the Amex Blue Business Plus welcome bonus and transferring the Amex points to Virgin Atlantic) that got me a free ticket to London for my summer vacation. If you'd like to read this as a blog post or follow any of the links in it, h...

I've now had about 60 people go through my direct client research lab course, and in looking at their online profiles, I've seen a bunch of common mistakes that most of us (including me) are making. Here's some information on how to fix up your own online presence! Visit the Training for Translators website ( https://www.trainingfortranslators.com/) to join my mailing list or learn more about our...

I feel like lots of translators are thinking about finding another career due to all of the AI/MT/Federal government/other challenges these days! If that's what you want, go for it! But if you'd like to stick with freelancing and you're simply frustrated with how things are going, here are some suggestions to try.  If you're not on the Training for Translators mailing list and you enjoy this podca...

This episode is based on a LinkedIn post I wrote this week , that generated a lively discussion. If you're finding the current freelance environment hard, you're not the crazy one: perhaps, all these years (or decades, or since the 1980s) you've been more of a fractional employee than a freelancer?  If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to join the Training for Translators mailing list in the sideb...

We've all been there! "I was in a great marketing routine, then something happened" (life event, huge project, etc.) "...and now it feels so overwhelming to get back in the groove!"  Don't give up hope; in this episode, I offer a few tips on how to get back on the marketing wagon after you've fallen off. 

In this episode, I talk about how to self-publish something that you wrote or translated, with options ranging from minimum viable product (instant-download PDFs) to creating a book that is indistinguishable from something produced by a traditional publisher. To visit any of the links mentioned in this episode, visit the blog post that it's based on !  Visit the Training for Translators website to...

Right now in the translation world, it seems like many people are doing great, or horribly, with very little in between. In this episode, I talk about how the first quarter of 2025 went for me, along with some observations about what I'm hearing from other people.    If you enjoy the Training for Translators podcast, visit our website to learn more about our classes and challenge groups! 

In this episode, I take a look at three ways to not earn enough money as a freelance translator or interpreter: You don't have enough work, period You have enough work, but it's low-paying You have well-paying work, but not enough of it  ...and how to handle each of these situations! Links mentioned in this episode The Training for Translators website The 2022 American Translators Asociation compe...

A quick bonus episode to remind you that my March Marketing Madness challenge group starts on Monday, March 3! Back for year seven (!!), the challenge group costs $90 and gives you: 20 motivational videos to get the marketing motivation going 20 daily marketing challenges that will take you 15-30 minutes to complete An optional, but very fun Slack group  Marketing resources (e-mail templates, goal...

In this episode, I discuss how 2024 went, and hopefully this will inspire you to conduct your own year-end business review, if you haven't done one already. I review my income, my enjoyment of the work I did, and my satisfaction with life in general!  Join the Training for Translators mailing list in the sidebar of my blog Here's the blog post that this episode is based on  I find it hard to quit...

I used to be the ultimate ChatGPT hater, and I've now found a few really helpful use cases for it. In this episode, I describe how I don't find ChatGPT useful for actual translation or writing, but I do find it helpful for interpreting prep, jazzing up presentation titles, complicated research questions, and other tasks like complying with specific character counts and tone.  Links mentioned in th...

Freelancing gives us the freedom to work when we want, how we want—but let's be honest, it often feels more like 'work all the time or risk not getting paid.' That delicate balance between freedom and hustle can sometimes tip us straight into burnout. In this episode, I take a look at the realities of overwork, why burnout happens, and—most importantly—10 tried-and-true strategies I use to keep bu...

If you listened to episode six of the Training for Translators podcast, you already know that nudging dormant clients is a) the world' most boring marketing method, and b) the world's most effective marketing method (or close to it!).  We all know the value of nudging, but we don't do it, because we tell ourselves (usually incorrectly!) that if a client wanted to work with us, they'd contact us wi...

In this episode, host Corinne McKay discusses the question of whether translation is even worth pursuing as a career. Is it a dying profession? And if not, who's doing well right now, and where does the "dying profession" idea come from? To learn more about Training for Translators, visit trainingfortranslators.com  

Host Corinne McKay discusses freelance translator and interpreter income! Posts from the Training for Translators blog mentioned in this episode: Corinne's 2021 income wrapup Corinne's 2022 income wrapup Corinne's 2023 income wrapup To learn more about Training for Translators visit trainingfortranslators.com  

In this episode, host Corinne McKay discusses why nudging dormant clients (getting back in touch with clients you haven't heard from for a while) is the world's most boring  and  the world's most effective marketing method. Learn who to nudge, and how to nudge!  For more content for ambitious freelance translators and interpreters, or to learn about our online course offerings, visit the Training...

In this episode, I (host Corinne McKay) discuss how I make the Training for Translators podcast, in case you're interested in creating your own podcast, or if you're just curious about how podcasts get made.  Links mentioned in this episode:  Join the Training for Translators mailing list !  The archives of  Speaking of Translation   Libsyn podcast hosting service  Audacity , free audio recording...

This episode is based on the blog post titled, Reader asks, " How do I find the motivation to market? " This post originally appeared on the Training for Translators blog on June 19, 2024. Host Corinne McKay discusses the amount of time and effort that it takes to market a successful freelance business, as well as some mental habits we need to cultivate in order to stay consistent with our marketi...