Presenter: Maya Berger

Abstract

Business data are the freelancer’s secret weapon when having to make informed decisions. As a self-employed language professional, you’re responsible for every aspect of your business, from the projects you take on to the rates you set, your continuing professional development (CPD) and the types of service you offer – and tracking your business data keeps you in control of it all.

Managing our rates, income, expenses, marketing and CPD activities is vital for the health of our businesses, but it can feel daunting for new and experienced freelancers alike. Many self-employed language professionals see themselves as ‘words people’ and not ‘numbers people’, and they neglect the admin side of running their businesses, but this session will provide straightforward tips that will help even the most maths-adverse freelancer manage their business admin in the Digital Age.

In this session, you are shown how keeping records of your income, project details, business expenses, holidays, CPD, and marketing strategies can help you make smarter business decisions and meet your business goals. This is a session for all self-employed language professionals, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a long-time language practitioner.

The presentation will cover:

• Giving yourself annual performance reviews by tracking your working hours, time off, CPD and job satisfaction.
• Using your project rates, monthly income, and business expenses data to review and shape your business’s direction and priorities.
• What your client data reveals about where you should focus your marketing efforts.
• Linking your CPD accomplishments to the quality and speed of your editorial work.