How to keep creativity alive as a marketing translator

5 tips from my creativity toolkit

As a marketing translator, creativity is key. Coming up with trendy catchphrases, witty one-liners and unforgettable taglines can become exhausting day after day. I know I sometimes feel as though I just can't muster enough flare. If that sounds all too familiar, I have put together 5 quick tips to help you keep your creativity at an all-time high, your puns quirky and your marketing translations on point.

1) Read

Oh no, here we go again. I might sound like a broken record, but reading is a fantastic pass-time for creative types like marketing translators. I'm not suggesting reading large tomes on marketing techniques or translation through the ages.... I am suggesting that you pick up something completely unrelated to your profession so that you can allow your mind to switch gears. Reading is the perfect way to wind down and allow your mind to be consumed by something other than translating. I always pick up fantastic new vocabulary words or remind myself of some fabulous words that I should be using in my translations. Sometimes one magic word can sneak its way into various translations for weeks to come.

2) Get out

Moving your translation workstation outdoors or simply to another location other than the comfort of your own home is a great way to get some inspiration. Breathing in the fresh air outside or people watching at your favourite café are great ways to refill your well of creativity. Taking yourself out of your daily routine and opening your mind to a new atmosphere can help give you a new perspective and a renewed sense of motivation. This can be just the push you need to shift your thinking so that you can muster up some creativity bombs.

3) Get crafty

Allowing yourself to get creative in other ways outside of work is a great way to boost your marketing translation creativity. Zoning out and letting your thoughts run wild is sometimes what you need to recharge your creative battery. Getty crafty and changing up how you get creative in your daily life is a great way to round out your creative side. Try picking up an adult paint by numbers or colour by numbers book. I know it sounds childish, but I find it extremely therapeutic and calming. It relaxes my mind and allows me the freedom to think about anything other than translation so that I can give myself a fresh start.

4) Exercise

Of course, exercise had to make it onto the list. I don't expect you to become a marathon runner or a bodybuilder, but moving your body is a great way to calm the body and rejuvenate the mind. I usually opt for short yoga sessions or brisk walks. I find that once I step away from my computer and start moving my body, my mind (and creative juices) also starts to get moving. All of a sudden, great catchphrases or perfectly charismatic words start flooding in and I feel ready to get back on the horse.

5) Browse social media

This may seem counter intuitive to some... but I find that browsing social media, listening to the radio and watching TV helps me flick on my creative lightbulb. It can be easy to get carried away with browsing social media, but when used in moderation, I find that it can help spark my creativity. As a marketing translator, staying up to date on the latest trends is crucial. Browsing social media to find out the latest news, discover which ads are drawing people in and observing how brands interact with their audiences to keep them coming back for more is invaluable information.

How do you stay creative? Let me know in the comments below!

Why You Should Get Into Marketing Translation

If you are just starting out as a new translator and don’t know what area to specialize in, or if you are a seasoned translator looking to expand your skillset, you might want to consider the world of marketing translation.

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1. There are more start-ups and small businesses than ever

In today's day and age, small businesses and start-ups are thriving! With more small businesses hoping to reach larger audiences, translating marketing materials into various languages is more important than ever. Some of the most influential countries in the world have the largest number of start-ups and require some of the most commonly translated languages. If you are looking to reach out to more direct clients in 2019, small businesses and start-ups are a great place to start. Do some research and find the clients you want!

2. You can flex your creative muscles

More often than not, clients who need marketing translations want their translators to be creative. I, for one, love the little bit of extra freedom that this allows me as a translator. The simplest being the freedom to distance yourself from the source material in order to create translation magic. There are so many different stylistic choices available to you in the field of marketing translation. I believe that being able to translate from a different point of view is so beneficial to continuous professional development. That being said, I find this type of translation extremely fun. If you do as well, consider learning more about what types of documents you could be translating in this speciality.

3. It is constantly changing

Some people may argue that constant change is bad, I beg to differ. I think that marketing translation is exciting, because it is always changing! I was first drawn to translation as a career when I realized I could be doing something different every day. In marketing translation, you can push the limits of your creativity and really discover where you shine. In a world where machine translations are becoming increasingly advanced, marketing translation is uniquely human. For those of you always looking for the next best thing, marketing translation could be for you.

4. It forces you to stay with the times

Piggybacking off of the above, I feel that marketing translation forces you to keep up to date with the latest trends. I think that as a translator, it is necessary to continuously adapt to changes. Marketing translation forces you to keep learning and changing with the times. Depending on what field of specialty you work in, once the ball starts rolling and you have a steady stream of work, it is easy to fall into a safe routine. This may mean that you miss out on opportunities to expand your knowledge and push your limits. That is not the case with marketing translation which not only helps you stay relevant, but allows you to demonstrate your flexibility to potential clients.

5. It is really rewarding

Arguably the best thing about marketing translation is that it is really rewarding. There is nothing better than going to a website, scrolling through social media or reading a blog post and seeing the content that you translated. It makes all that time spent mulling over a certain turn of phrase all the more satisfying! If you are looking to boost your job satisfaction in 2019, I urge you to consider marketing translation.

Leave a comment down below letting me know what you like best about marketing translation!