Book review: The Marketing Cookbook for Translators

Our recent move to Toronto gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate how we spend our working time. One of the things that moved further up in my to-do list was to read more books about translation, languages and business. Learning is always beneficial and books are a great complement to the blogs I read and the podcasts I listen to. A fun bonus is to write reviews about the books I read or read in the past for you dear readers 🙂

First up, is a recent publication: Tess Whitty’s Marketing Cookbook for Translators: Foolproof recipes for a successful freelance career. Tess is a fellow translator and member of ATA and ITI, as well as a successful blogger and podcaster.

Basics of the book
Published: November 27, 2014
280 pages
Where to buy: CreateSpace or Amazon

Nine chapters

Your Pantry (basic tips for starting translators)
Appetizers (basic marketing terms, like SMART goals, SWOT analysis)
Basic Marketing Tools (resume, cover letter, business cards)
Magnetic Marketing Tools (website)
Magnetic Marketing Tools (social media, blogging, networking, etc.)
Entrées (where to find clients)
Side dishes (pricing)
Desserts (feast and famine strategies)
Conclusion

The idea of a book focusing on marketing tips for translators was great, and the title along with the cover look amazing. The structure of the book, based on that of a typical cookbook, with recipes, ingredients, main courses, appetizers, and the like, is very interesting and easy to navigate. Fan of lists, like me, will also like the formatting; everything is nicely organized and it’s easy to scribble notes next to the text.

The writing style fits well too, the book is a pleasure to read. Most translators, both starting and seasoned, get spooked when they hear or read about marketing strategies, especially when they come across marketing terms that need a bit more research to understand exactly what they are and how they apply to freelance translation businesses. I was expecting it to be more complex in terms of business lingo and concepts, instead everything is explained in simple terms and it also sounds easy to implement. Wait, the strategies mentioned in the book are in fact easy to implement, you just have to put in the required time and effort after you finish reading the book 🙂

I liked some chapters a lot, like Chapter 2 about SMART goals, SWOT analysis and financial and marketing planning. The business concepts covered are nicely explained and the questions Tess asks can help translators create their business goals and analysis. At the end of the book, you can find Tess’ Marketing Plan for Translators template, and in page 93 there are mentions about a 1-page business plan and a 1-page promotion plan by 100startup.com.

This book is a great starting point for newbie translators or experienced translators that struggle with social media, marketing, and finding clients. It’s like a personal notebook with all the basics required for starting or running the entrepreneurial side of a freelance translation business. A to-do list that helps you organize your business goals, outlines a set of steps that you can follow to grow your clientele and improve your business.

Check out other reviews about the Marketing Cookbook for Translators.

Further reading on first steps, marketing, and pricing for translators
First Steps For Your Translation Business – Part I & Part II
Pricing Strategies for Translators and Interpreters
6-Step Strategy to Translators’ Visibility
Working the Room tips by Chris Durban