Tess Whitty - Translator & Marketing Trainer

This Freelance Insights interview features translator and marketing trainer Tess Whitty.

I first came across Tess through her podcast, which had been recommended to me by a fellow translator. Marketing felt like an alien concept to me when I started my business, and her tips provide great insights into the subject.

Tess offers a free masterclass in online marketing. Most of her students are translators, but the online marketing tips are relevant for all freelancers. Watch it by clicking the button further down this page.

How do you describe what you do for work?

I’m a freelance translator and have been since 2003/4. Since 2010, I’ve also been sharing my background and expertise in marketing with other freelance translators and interpreters as a marketing trainer. I do that through my podcast, Marketing Tips for Translators, and online courses, webinars, and conference presentations.

What's your favourite thing about working freelance?

I love being my own boss! I love the freedom of being able to decide when I work and where I work - I can take my job with me to any place in the world with a good internet connection! I was actually planning to start doing that a lot more, now that my children aren’t living at home anymore, and then the pandemic hit…

Where do you usually work from?

I have a home office and I love working from there. I have pondered going to a coworking office every once in a while and I’ve tested that out, but I’ve noticed that I just like the way I have my home office set up. I like that I can shut everything else out and focus. But every once in a while I feel like I need more interaction, and then I go out to a coworking office or a café and work from there.

What does a normal working day look like for you?

I’ve always got up early to get the kids to school, and although I don’t need to do that anymore I still need to answer emails from Europe. I’m currently based in the United States, so I try to get up and check my emails from 7ish and work for a couple of hours. Then I usually work out, and that can be hiking, yoga, mountain biking, or (in winter) cross-country skiing… I just like to get out and get my heart rate up and then I have much more focus and calm to work on translations. I work on marketing and my marketing training business in the mornings and my translation business in the afternoons. Sometimes work drags on into the evenings, but I try not to work on the weekends at all.

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

It’s important to find an organization and time management system that works for you, and that’s different from person to person. I’m a big planner and I plan my year, quarter, month, week, and day. Basically, if it’s not on my calendar, it doesn’t exist! You have to be organized and disciplined so you’re not just spending time procrastinating, since you’re your own boss.

Free resource

Tess offers a free masterclass in online marketing. Most of her students are translators, but the online marketing tips are relevant for all freelancers.

Watch Tess's masterclass