ATA Savvy Linguist

The Savvy Linguist serves a worldwide community of translators and interpreters who are looking for practical solutions to everyday problems, ideas for growing their business, and support as they achieve their career goals. With high-quality, peer-reviewed content, you will find the answers to the questions you face as an innovative language professional.

Writing Your Public Profile

By The Savvy Linguist | July 28, 2026

In professional associations, you can often publish a public profile. Clients use this profile to decide who to work with. It should be brief, but it has to tell your story. However, sometimes our public profile is not visible. Go to your profile settings on the platform your association uses and verify that your profile is visible. You can generally select items from your profile to share publicly, such as your phone, address, email, and social media profiles. Be intentional about what you share. This information can be seen by the public. That means both your clients and other people…

ChatGPT for Translators: How to Use the Tool to Work More Efficiently?

By The Savvy Linguist | March 28, 2023

This post was originally published on Medium. It is reposted with permission. Test it before you reject it. That’s my approach when it comes to new technology. And that’s what I did when the ChatGPT frenzy began. Two months ago I embarked on a new testing journey and, to my surprise, I quickly joined the ChatGPT’s fan club. Now I…

Get More Done as a Freelance Translator – How to Plan Your Work and Become More Productive

By The Savvy Linguist | March 15, 2023

This post is a reblog, originally published on Marketing Tips for Translators. It is republished with permission of the author. Scheduling and planning are fundamentally important things to consider if you hope to build an effective freelance career. In any field, time management is of the utmost importance. If you are a freelance translator, your productivity – and therefore your…

Continuing Professional Development Reflection: From Translation Student to Freelance Translator

By The Savvy Linguist | March 14, 2023

This post was originally published on Bell Johnson Translations. It is reposted with permission. As work has started picking up for me over the past few months, I’ve found it increasingly harder to try and find time to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) activities. That’s why I decided I was going to make my first ever CPD plan, but there…

Should You Start a Translation Agency?

By The Savvy Linguist | February 15, 2023

You have been freelancing as a translator for a few years now, and you have settled into a good rhythm. You have some steady clients and are feeling confident in your abilities. You start to wonder: should I be starting my own translation agency? Is that the next step? You might notice colleagues going this route: incorporating as a business,…

Trade Show Tips for Translators

By The Savvy Linguist | February 14, 2023

This post was originally published on Business Translated. It is reposted with permission. Go to a few trade shows and you’ll realise that attending these kinds of events is still unusual behaviour for a translator. I travelled up to London recently for an exhibition and most people I spoke with had never met a translator before and were curious about my…

The Most Lucrative Ways to Specialize

By The Savvy Linguist | February 7, 2023

This post was originally published on The Freelancery. It is reposted with permission.  Yes. Specialists always do better. There is no debating this. I can’t think of any freelancer who made it big as a handyman. The world already has plenty of all-purpose copywriters, versatile translators, general web designers and utility infielders. Don’t jump into that haystack. You will be lost forever. It…

8 COVID-Era Online Language Practice Sites

By The Savvy Linguist | January 25, 2023

This post is a reblog, originally published on Carlie Sitzman’s blog. It is republished with permission of the author. As they venture off into unknown realms of the internet, some language learners may become overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of offerings out there. What works? What doesn’t? Where am I likely to run into personages with dubious motives? This week,…

Translator Profile: ATA Past President Ted Wozniak

By The Savvy Linguist | January 11, 2023

Many of you know Ted Wozniak quite well from his many years of dedicated service to ATA…but did you know he essentially worked undercover as a liaison officer for the US Army in Germany? I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ted, and I enjoyed hearing about his colorful professional life as much as I valued his advice for…

How to Use Video to Attract New Clients to Your Website

By The Savvy Linguist | January 10, 2023

This post was originally published on Successful Freelance Translator. It is reposted with permission. Hey, guys! Many of us have personal websites (if no, check one of my posts to learn why you should) and you may wonder how to attract new visitors and convert them into clients. In this posts, I will show you how to use video to attract…

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