When Marta announced that she was publishing a business book for translators, I preordered my copy right away, because I knew it would be full of useful information. We have been following each other’s writing this year when we discovered we were both planning on publishing books.  We are both focusing on freelance translators, but while Marta focuses on the business theory and practice, mine will focus more on the marketing steps and the books complement each other. Marta’s is here now and I highly recommend reading it. The Marketing Cookbook for Translators, will be published in time for Christmas.

Marta recently received her business degree from London School of Economics and she has compiled her most valuable business knowledge into this book. The book presents important business theories and then how they apply to a freelance translator, starting with economics, continuing with business strategies and management, and ending with practice. Each chapter concludes with an invitation to act, i.e. put what we have learned into practice in our own businesses. Having studied economics and marketing myself, I recognized many of the theories and liked how Marta explained how they can be applied to the translation business.

My favorite section was the last one, focusing on how to make freelancing work for you. I particularly liked the links to the video clips where Marta explains different practical steps in contacting and acquiring new clients, plus the back end of the translation business, i.e. project management.

If you want to develop a business strategy for your translation services, this book is a great resource. It presents many different business strategies and explains the concepts. For example, I found the blue ocean strategy and the business model canvas particularly useful for us. I recommend The Business Guide for Translators wholeheartedly as a great addition to your library of books for translators.