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In this episode of How to Find More Direct Clients, I’m joined by Renato Beninatto, industry veteran and co-founder of Nimdzi Insights, one of the most respected market research firms in the language services space.

With decades of experience across translation, localization, consulting and global growth strategy, Renato shares his sharp perspective on what truly matters in today’s translation and interpreting landscape—and how freelance linguists can stay ahead of the curve.

🎯 Topics we cover in this episode:

✔️ The client-supplier relationship: what clients are really looking for and how to consistently deliver value
✔️ The current state of the translation and interpreting industry—and where it's headed
✔️ What it means to “think big” as a language professional, and how to adopt a strategic mindset
✔️ Why understanding your ideal customer avatar is key to growing your freelance business

Renato’s insights are grounded in real-world experience and backed by Nimdzi’s research, making this a must-listen for translators, interpreters, and language consultants ready to take their business to the next level.

🧠 #Nimdzi Insights, #Renato Beninatto interview, #translation industry trends, #client-supplier relationship in translation, #language services market research, #freelance translator tips, #interpreter business growth, #customer avatar worksheet, #translation marketing strategy

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Late payments are a frustrating part of freelance life—but they usually fall into one of three clear categories. In this episode, I unpack the patterns behind late-paying clients and share proven strategies to get paid on time, every time.

👥 3 Types of Late-Paying Clients

1. The Bureaucratic Buyer
   Large companies often delay payments due to internal systems. Try to understand their payment cycles and invoice timing to align with their cash flow behaviour—many agencies buy at the start of the month and pay at the end.
2. The Disorganised Customer
   Sometimes it’s just human error. Be prepared to resend invoices and use discretion to negotiate revised deadlines if needed.
3. The Broke Bargainer
   You know the type—excessive haggling, uncomfortable concessions, and gut-instinct red flags. Walk away from these lose-win situations. If someone can’t afford your rate, they shouldn’t be asking for your time.

💡 3 Best Practices to Get Paid On Time

1. Use a clear, polite reminder template

Subject: Payment Reminder
Dear Client,
This is a reminder that your account balance of €XXX remains outstanding.
Please find a statement of account enclosed for your reference.
Kindly arrange payment at your earliest convenience.
If payment has recently been made, thank you—and please disregard this notice.

2. Offer flexible payment options
Accept payments via Wise (formerly TransferWise), PayPal, or other platforms—especially if you work internationally. Don’t forget to factor in fees (typically 4–5%).

3. Know your legal recourse
For unpaid invoices between €3,000–€5,000, a small claims court can be a powerful tool. If polite follow-up fails, be ready to take action and enforce your rights.

#LatePayments #FreelanceFinance #InvoiceTips #GetPaidOnTime #TranslationBusiness #ClientManagement #FreelanceLife #EntrepreneurialTranslator #TranslationTips #CashFlowMatters #SmallBusinessSuccess #TranslatorStrategy #FreelanceTranslator

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In this episode, I sit down with business coaching expert Carmen Chesson to discuss freelancing success, copywriting, marketing without social media, and how ethical business practices can shape the future of translation and entrepreneurship.

💡 Key Takeaways from Our Conversation: 

✔️ Business coaching for freelancers—how to structure a sustainable career 

✔️ Algorithmic Justice League (Coded Bias)—exploring AI’s role in ethical business practices 

✔️ Recommended writing & copywriting courses—boosting your ability to stand out in a crowded market 

✔️ Sales without socials—ways to market your services beyond social media 

✔️ Ethical marketing—how to attract clients who align with your values 

✔️ Carmen’s journey & business insights—growing a coaching brand in the language industry

🚀 Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

🔗 Algorithmic Justice League (Coded Bias): 

📖 Writing & Copywriting Courses:

• Clever Copywriting School
• Ship 30 for 30
• Very Good Copy
• Pwriting
• Self Authoring 

#BusinessCoaching #FreelanceTranslator #EthicalMarketing #SalesWithoutSocials #Copywriting #FreelanceSuccess #MarketingForTranslators #EntrepreneurialTranslator #TranslatorTips #TranslationBusiness #FreelancerLife #RemoteWork #CareerGrowth #PodcastEpisode

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The mindset shifts high-earning translators have made usually fall into one of the following three categories:

They diversify into other revenue streams. At this level some colleagues will have more entrepreneurial offers such as books and consulting or training courses. Remember that this is on top of their client services income.

They command premium fees. Most 6-figure translators I know have made a special effort to niche down and book out: the most popular niches are law, medicine and finance. Super niches may exist such as my own: clinical trials, medical reports and medical research articles. The more difficult the niche and the scarcer the number of competitors, the more fees you can aspire to charge. 6-figure translators also back up their premium price with a robust value-based services offer. 

6-figure earners usually have savvy business skills in terms of negotiating contracts, upward pricing strategies and making sure they don’t leave money on the table as they take a long hard look at their client balance sheet to identify upside potential at the end of each year. 

Finally, they will almost certainly have some higher paying direct clients in their client roster mix.

They work for high end agencies. Although not my favourite way of reaching 6 figures it is possible to simply do a high volume of work. However, you would need to be prepared to regularly churn out 2500 to 3000 words a day. Considerable extra care needs to be taken to look after your physical, emotional and spiritual health.
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In this episode, I sit down with Concha Ortiz, an accomplished freelance interpreter, academic, and industry expert, to discuss interpreting at high-profile international events, best practices for hiring T&I suppliers, and training for medical interpreters.

💡 Meet Concha Ortiz: 

✅ Holds a BA in Translation & Interpreting from the University of Granada 

✅ Further training at Heriot-Watt University & University of Córdoba (PhD) 

✅ Member of Spanish Conference Interpreters Association, Colegio de Doctores y Licenciados de Madrid, and Andalusian Association of Women in Audio-Visual Media

🔎 Key Topics We Cover: 

✔️ International event interpreting—working with Richard Gere & Rafa Nadal 

✔️ Training for Spanish interpreters in medical fields 

✔️ Medical transcription—its role in accurate healthcare communication 

✔️ Best practices for recruiting T&I suppliers 

✔️ Book spotlight: The Blue Manuscript by Sabiha al Khemir 

✔️ Medical interpreter training resources: AICE

 #ConferenceInterpreting #FreelanceInterpreter #MedicalTranscription #TranslationIndustry #MedicalInterpreting #InterpreterTraining #FreelanceTranslator #LanguageProfessional #TILife #TranslationBusiness #EntrepreneurialTranslator #PodcastEpisode #CareerSuccess #RemoteWork #InterpreterLife 

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In a recent ATA webinar I hosted called Pricing for a Profit Playbook, we had a lively debate around a hot-button topic for freelancers and solopreneurs:
Should you display your prices on your website?
The poll results were split into three camps: Yes, No, and It depends.

In this episode, I break down both sides of the argument, giving you 5 compelling reasons to publish your prices—and 5 reasons you might choose not to.

✅ 5 Reasons to Show Your Prices:

1. Build trust – Transparency reassures potential clients you’re confident and credible.
2. Set expectations – Price ranges help filter serious prospects and reduce time-wasters.
3. Avoid affordability assumptions – No prices often signal “too expensive” to some clients.
4. Support your personal brand – Pricing positions you in the market and reflects your value.
5. Help clients plan ahead – Clear fees allow budget-conscious clients to save for your services.

❌ 5 Reasons You Might Not Publish Prices:

1. Bespoke services – Every project is different and requires tailored quotes.
2. Competitive pressure – Concerned about how clients or competitors might react.
3. Value-first positioning – Prefer to communicate benefits before revealing pricing.
4. Human rapport – Your sales process depends on a personal connection first.
5. Lack of USP – Fear of being seen as a commodity without a strong differentiator.

Bottom line? Whether or not to publish prices is a strategic decision—not a moral one. Make your choice based on what serves your clients, brand, and sales process, not based on fear. And if you choose not to include pricing, be sure to explain why and what the next step is for the prospect.

#PricingStrategy #FreelanceBusiness #WebsiteTips #ServicePricing #ClientAcquisition #FreelanceMarketing #PersonalBranding #TransparencyInBusiness #PricingDebate #EntrepreneurialTranslator #ATAWebinar #TranslatorTips #ConsultingBusiness #FreelancerSuccess #SellWithConfidence

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This week’s guest is both a friend and business partner—Andrew Leigh, a seasoned legal translator whom I first met at the ITI Conference in Newcastle back in 2015.

Andrew translates from French, Spanish, and Italian into English, bringing over 20 years of experience to the table. Through his company, Allegro Legal Translations, he delivers high-quality legal, business, and commercial translation services to law firms, private clients, and businesses.

He’s also my partner in our joint venture, Medico-Legal Translations, which we launched in 2017, and he teaches on the MA in Translation Services at the University of Sheffield.

In this episode, we cover:

🤝 How we met, became business allies, and created a formal offer for medico-legal clients
 📣 Why we’ve shifted focus from translator events to client-side events
📍 How to leverage local networking to grow a translation business

Andrew also shares insights from his growing body of work as a webinar and workshop presenter on legal translation.

#LegalTranslation #FreelanceTranslator #TranslationBusiness #MedicoLegal #ClientAcquisition #NetworkingForTranslators #LanguageIndustry #AllegroLegal #TranslatorPartnerships #FreelancerSuccess #EntrepreneurialTranslator #BusinessOfTranslation

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The cover letter didn’t even become common until the 1990s (I was 15 at the time!). Fast forward to today, and many applicants still default to the uninspired:
 “Please find my CV attached.”
If you’ve ever sent that, you’re not alone—we’ve all done it.

Here are 3 essential elements to help your cover letter stand out while staying concise and relevant:

1. Relevant Work Experience
Tailor your experience to the specific agency or client you're applying to. Don’t list everything—focus on the roles and results that directly align with the opportunity.

For example:
 “In 2008, I worked as a translator on the XYZ project for two years. I later led the translation division at ABC Agency, contributing to [specific projects]. These roles helped me build [relevant skills], which I would bring to your [job title] position.”

Stay factual and humble. Avoid generic claims like “I’m the best fit because of my strong translation background.” Instead, highlight outcomes—let the hiring manager decide if you're the right fit.

📝 Tip: Share three concise examples or personal stories to provide context without overwhelming the reader.

2. Targeted Education Highlights
Lead with whichever is stronger: your experience or your education. When referencing degrees or certifications, go beyond listing them—explain how specific elements of your training apply to the role.

For example:
 “During my MA in Medical Translation, I specialised in pharmacovigilance and clinical trials—skills directly relevant to your agency’s core focus.”

3. Something Memorable
Unless you're applying to highly formal or security-sensitive institutions (think: CIA or central banks), a touch of personality can make your application more human.

Share something unique, like:
 “Outside of work, I lead a local improv group—which has taught me to stay calm under pressure and communicate with clarity and humour.”

This can help you stand out as someone who brings more than just qualifications to the team.

Bottom line? Your cover letter should demonstrate relevance, clarity, and a bit of personality—all in one page. Show them what you’ve done, what it achieved, and why that matters to them.

Please enjoy—and more importantly, apply with intention.

#CoverLetterTips #FreelanceSuccess #JobApplicationTips #TranslatorLife #FreelanceTranslator #TranslationCareers #ClientAcquisition #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalWriting #CVTips #VendorManagerTips #LanguageIndustry #EntrepreneurialTranslator 

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This week’s guest is someone special—a long-time family friend, Nicholas Eyre, whom I first met while singing Bach cantatas in a Baroque chamber choir.

Nicholas brings a rich background in international education and leadership. He currently lectures on the International Tourism Master’s programme at Rey Juan Carlos I University in Madrid and is a former senior manager at the British Council.

In this energising episode, we explore:

🎓 How Nicholas empowers his students to unlock their full potential through leadership
 ⏱ Practical tips on time management and personal efficiency
 🧠 Why he believes most work meetings are a complete and utter waste of time—and what to do instead
 💡 Lessons in purpose-led teaching and lifelong learning

If you want to lead with intention, manage your time better, or rethink how you work—this episode is for you.

#LeadershipDevelopment #TimeManagement #WorkEfficiency #PurposeDrivenWork #LifelongLearning #HigherEducation #BritishCouncil #TourismLeadership #AcademicLife #EducatorInspiration #PodcastForFreelancers #EntrepreneurialTranslator #FreelancerSuccess

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Ready to raise your profile and build a strong professional network in the language industry? In this episode, I share five of the most valuable associations for freelance translators and interpreters—whether you're just starting out or looking to level up.

Here are my top recommendations:

1. Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) – Based in the UK, with 2,000–3,000 global members. Ideal if you want to offer certified translations.
   💡 Best for boosting your credibility with clients.
   💷 Approx. £240/year.
2. Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) – Offers the prestigious Chartered Linguist designation (MCIOL/FCIOL).
   💡 Good for formal recognition of your skills.
   💷 Approx. £140/year + £50 CL application fee.
3. Mediterranean Editors and Translators (MET) – Focused on healthcare and academic editing, with a strong community vibe and conferences in southern Europe.
   💡 Excellent for medical translators and author editors.
4. European Language Industry Association (ELIA) – Known for its ELIA Together event and trade fair, offering direct contact with language service providers.
   💡 Great for freelancers looking to connect with agency clients.
5. European Medical Writers Association (EMWA) – High-level training and networking in medical writing.
   💡 Ideal for experienced linguists moving into pharma.
   💶 Conference fees around €2,000.

#FreelanceTranslator #ProfessionalNetworking #TranslationCareers #MedicalTranslation #LanguageIndustry #InterpreterLife #TranslatorTips #ELIA #METMeetings #CIOL #ITI #FreelancerSuccess #EntrepreneurialTranslator #BookMoreClients #MedicalWriters

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