Katie Uniacke - Copywriter & Translator

Katie Uniacke - Freelance Insights (square).png

This Freelance Insights interview features Katie Uniacke, a location-independent copywriter and Spanish- and Portuguese-to-English translator.

I’ve followed Katie on Instagram for quite a while because she’s a fellow translator, but I really started to take notice when she had her branding professionally made over by Meg Harrop of Lemon & Birch (who I featured in this series a few months ago).

Katie lives in a cave in southern Spain (how cool is that?) and provides really helpful copywriting tips for freelancers through her blog and Instagram account. If you follow her, you’ll also be treated to plenty of adorable puppy photos and videos.

Katie offers free 20-minute website copy and blog content reviews for translators, so reach out if you'd like to tap into her expertise! You can book a time by clicking the button further down this page.

How do you describe what you do for work?

I'm a location-independent copywriter and Spanish- and Portuguese-to-English translator. I create, edit, proofread, and translate copy mostly for sustainable brands. My main niches are responsible travel and marketing, and I also help freelance translators and translation agencies with their copy.

What's your favourite thing about working freelance?

The flexibility, both in terms of working hours and where I get to work from. I don't work well in the mornings - I'm at my most productive in the afternoons, and I like being able to switch weekends for weekdays to establish my own schedule. I live in Spain, but it means I can go to England to visit my parents for as long as I want or go on extended holidays and do the digital nomad thing. I get to indulge my travel problem!

Where do you usually work from?

The cave I live in, which is in Granada (southern Spain). I used to go out to a café a couple of times a week for a change of scene but now I'm fostering puppies so can't do that anymore. I tried a co-working space for a few months last year but the vibe wasn't quite right for me and I didn't like being tied to it either. So now I'm back to just working in the cave!

What does a normal working day look like for you?

I generally do a couple of hours of work in the morning, then around midday I take a couple of hours to exercise and take a break - maybe read a book or watch something. My best working time is probably from around 3pm to 7pm. If I have big deadlines then I'll work in the evenings, but I also have a couple of language classes and a pottery class each week, so that's good for getting me to stop at a reasonable time!

What one tip would you give other freelancers about running a freelance business?

Invest in your business and your skills as soon as you're in a financial position to do so. I saved the pennies and did everything myself for quite a long time - I figured out website design, taught myself SEO, and my branding was non-existent. I could definitely have invested a lot sooner. When I finally did invest in courses and my professional branding, I felt like people would take me seriously and I should take myself seriously. It was one of the best things I've ever done, professionally.