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 from the sidebar of that blog post. Happy 2026 and thanks for helping the T4T podcast get to 9,000+ downloads!
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, here you go: https://www.trainingfortranslators.com/2025/11/13/ot-a-beginner-miles-points-trick-that-got-me-a-free-ticket-to-london/
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 upcoming classes and workshops If you'd rather read about this topic in a blog post, here you go! https://www.trainingfortranslators.com/2025/10/21/online-profile-mistakes-that-were-all-making/
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 podcast, you should join!
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 sidebar of my blog, and grab a copy of my new book, Getting Started as a Freelance Interpreter!
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 subscribe to my mailing list or to learn more about my classes and books!
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 compensation survey The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' outlook for translators and interpreters The MIT Living Wage Calculator
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-setting workbook) Six months of access to the course materials "Corinne's March Marketing Madness challenge group has transformed my approach to marketing forever! It was an intense and exciting month, during which I felt empowered to ramp up my marketing efforts in ways I hadn't considered before," says a past participant! Come join in!
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 projects I've committed to, because I'm an Upholder AIIC, the International Association of Conference Interpreters My business coach, Treasa Edmond
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 this episode: ChatGPT techforword Riccardo Schiaffino's presentation on Perplexity as a research tool Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies framework (I'm an Upholder) The Neuron AI newsletter The blog post that this episode is based on To get your free Nudge Kit, sign up for the Training for Translators blog in the sidebar of any blog post!
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 burnout at bay. In this episode, I mention my "Deciding what to charge" worksheet, which you can download here if you'd like to try it! And if you're not on the Training for Translators mailing list, you should join so that you don't miss anything!
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 without us having have to "chase after" them. In reality, I've heard from people who send work to freelance translators and interpreters that those who nudge receive 25%-50% more work than those who don't! Why now? The winter holidays are the perfect time to send every one of your clients (dormant or not) a holiday availability nudge, letting them know when you're available between approximately December 1 and January 10. Listen in for tips on what to say in these nudge e-mails! And if you're not yet on the Training for Translators mailing list, you can join right here!
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 for Translators website at trainingfortranslators.com.
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 and editing software Shure MV7+ podcast microphone Shadow Studio, who recorded my intro and outro
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 marketing. Links mentioned in this episode: Carter Kilmann's LinkedIn article about prospecting to 100 clients after taking a class with Ed Gandia More about Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies framework and how it can help you understand your productivity tendencies
I launched my freelance business in 2002 by applying to over 400 translation companies in my first year of freelancing. Is it still worth applying to agencies? Does the answer depend on whether you're a translator or an interpreter? And where do those online applications to agencies go? In this episode, we'll discuss six ways to make contact with an agency, rather than applying, hearing nothing, and assuming the agency doesn't need you. This episode is based on two Training for Translators blog posts: you can read them here, and here.