The translation market is changing considerably. Traditionally, translation agencies and freelance translators used to be the two major groups in the space, but recently, new kinds of organizations have emerged: online platforms and marketplaces for translators.
Marketplaces usually work on a ‘Do It Yourself‘ basis, as you create your own profile and negotiate the terms of projects with the client directly, while platforms are usually less transparent and take care of project management.
Those websites are a great source of job opportunities. They allow translators to be more efficient because they enable autonomy but also offer translators a chance to be part of an international community and sometimes market themselves online.
A New Way to Get Offers for Projects
The more project offers you receive, the merrier! You’re not obligated to accept all of them, but it is always a good sign when you receive so many collaboration proposals that you don’t need to look anymore. That is how online marketplaces for translators can help.
The first step is to create an account on the website. Marketplaces like TextMaster allow you to create a public profile in only a few minutes. Your profile allows you to market yourself to potential clients by showing them who you are and the professional experiences that you have. Translation platforms like TextMaster, however, have a longer account creation process since you will need to take translations tests.
No matter what kind of registration process there is, once your account is created, you will receive a notification whenever there’s a new translation project for you! Whether it is the client that contacts you directly or the platform that sends you automatic emails, you don’t need to “look for” a project anymore.
Be Autonomous with Marketplaces for Translators
Thanks to its user-friendly interface, a well-conceived online marketplace enables translators to be more autonomous than ever.
Save time
The days of depending on a project manager’s working hours are over! You’re no longer confined to an agency’s office hours in order to accept or deliver a project. The client needs the translation tomorrow early morning and you like to work late? You can submit the project online whenever you want! Working online offers you unparalleled flexibility.
Contact the client
For a good translation, you always need context. Sometimes this requires contacting the client in order to ask questions. Some platforms and online marketplaces for translators like TextMaster have a chat system that lets you talk directly with the client about your work without the help of a project manager. If the client’s happy with your work, they can contact you again for future projects!
Limit the paperwork
As for payments and quotes, they usually take a big bite out of a freelancer’s work day. Translation agencies send you a purchase order, you answer with a quote, you have to check that you receive the actual payment for that quote, they pay late… It is usually much easier online! Purchase orders are often created automatically and you can use a secure payment system.
You’re not alone
Freelancing has a lot of perks but one of the disadvantages is the loneliness of working all alone. When you work online, you have the chance to be part of an online community: groups of people that meet in social media groups in order to exchange ideas or advice about their work.
Online marketplaces usually have their own community blog and social media channels in order to stimulate networking and mutual assistance between the translators. Check out Acolad Community’s Facebook group for instance.
If you are looking for new challenges and/or the opportunity to expand your customer base, registering on one or several online marketplaces for translators is a great solution. You may also consider registering on a website for the sense of community and to keep up with the latest trends in the translation market.
Just like translation agencies, there are no two translation marketplaces that are exactly alike. Test a few of them, see if you prefer to be completely autonomous or if you prefer a more supervised platform. Pick the one that suits you the best!