14 networking opportunities for translators in 2023

Have you decided that you’re going to make an effort to make more connections in 2023?

Networking and building your community and connections can only bring good things for your business. It can mean you meet colleagues that could become new friends, and we all need friends that understand what it’s like to be a freelance linguist. After all, running your own business and working from home, as many of us do, can be a lonely affair, can’t it?

Making connections just for the sake of making connections should always be your first priority, because other people can tell a mile off when you’re only out to sell your services, and it’s not a good look. But, of course, networking can also lead to new work coming your way, whether that’s through meeting new clients, or in the form of referrals from colleagues you’ve got to know.

That new work might land in your inbox the day after the event, or the seeds you’ve sown might only germinate months or even years down the line.

Anyway, we digress. You don’t need us to tell you why networking is a good idea, because you already know. But when you’re busy with work and life, it can be hard to keep track of what events are going on. And even if you know what’s on, it can be hard to decide which events you should be investing your time and money in. After all, many of them are quite an investment!

That’s why we’ve put together this non-exhaustive list of some of the biggest translation in-person events and conferences going on in 2023.

If we’ve missed anything you think needs to be shouted about, share it on social media and tag us so we’re in the loop!

Events for translators to attend in 2023


February	Elia - European Language Industry Association Together 2023 Conference Rome - 23rd-24th https://elia-association.org/event/together-2023/
March	CIOL Translators Day - London, 24th CIOL Interpreters Day - London, 25th Online conference - 30th-31st https://www.ciol.org.uk/conf-td-id
April	Cardiff Unconference Cardiff - 28th Fully booked! Get in early for 2024. https://cardiffunconference.weebly.com/
May	BP Conference Utretch - 8th-10th https://bpconf.com/ * ASETRAD 20th anniversary conference Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - 11th-12th https://xxcongreso.asetrad.org/
June	ITI Walking Weekend Southern England - 16th-18th https://www.iti.org.uk/discover/events-calendar/iti-walking-weekend-june-2023.html
September	BeWord Conference Belgium - 29th Website launching soon, keep an eye out!
October	Mediterranean Editors and Translators Meeting Mantua, Italy - 12th-14th https://www.metmeetings.org/en/presentation:1482 ATA Conference Miami - 25th-28th https://www.atanet.org/ata-events/annual-conference/

Other (online and in-person) networking opportunities in 2023

Just because we run our own businesses, that doesn’t mean we’re all super flexible and able to travel to the major translation conferences. There might be all kinds of reasons why you can’t make it to any of the big events. For example, maybe crowds of people just aren’t your thing, or maybe you don’t have the budget for it. They’re usually not cheap, after all!

Well, luckily for you (or unluckily if you were hoping to use any of the above as an excuse to stay hidden away in your freelance bubble) there are all kinds of ways you can network without attending any big conferences at all.

Here are a few ideas:

Meetups of your local translators’ association

There are local or regional translators’ associations all over the place. There are also often local branches of big translation associations. For example, in the UK the ITI has lots of thriving regional groups doing fantastic things.

If there’s one near you, make sure you stay up to date with the events they’re organising and make an effort to go along.

Coworking sessions - online and in-person

Lots of local associations organise coworking sessions, so if you fancy a day out of the home office then make sure you support them. Get some work done whilst also bonding with your colleagues, and chatting over lunch.

On top of in-person coworking sessions, there are also plenty of online ones you can take part in, meaning you can enjoy company whilst you work without even poking your nose out of your front door. If you cast around on LinkedIn, you’re sure to find some. But to get you started, try:

Online and in-person coffee breaks

Even if it’s just meeting up with one person, it still counts! If you’d rather do things one-on-one, then perhaps you could set yourself a goal of organising an online or in-person coffee with a colleague or potential client once a month.

Organise your own

If there aren’t any events going on near you, then maybe it’s time you changed that! Good things come to those who take the initiative.

You could start helping organise events through your local association, or just organise an informal get-together with translators near you. Just send a post out into the LinkedIn universe and you’re sure to have some takers!

Whether it’s a walk, an activity, an online get-together or a day of coworking, it’ll do you and lots of other people a world of good.

Business events related to your specialisms

As one thing we all have in common is that we’re linguists, this post has largely been focused on events for linguists that are relevant to us all, because growing your community of colleagues can be hugely beneficial.

But it goes without saying that you shouldn’t focus all your efforts on connecting with other translators. It’s also a fantastic idea to make connections with potential clients in your specialist areas at industry events.

What that looks like will be different for every translator, depending on their niches. Just keep an eye out for business events of all shapes and sizes related to your specialism, taking place near you or online. Think carefully about where your ideal clients might be and make an effort to be there too.

Tips and tricks for networking

We know putting yourself out there is daunting, especially if you’re not used to it! But once you get started, you’ll wonder why it took you so long. We promise!

Here are a few simple tips to help you launch yourself into the big wide world:

Start small: Your first networking events don’t have to be huge conferences. They can be small local meet-ups, or even be online. Take baby steps and make sure to pat yourself on the back when you step out of your comfort zone.
Take a deep breath: Stay calm, you’ve got this! Remember, the vast majority of people will be nervous, it’s not just you!
Take a buddy: Is there anyone you could ask along to the event for moral support? Even if they’re just an online buddy, you could agree to meet up just before the event so it’s guaranteed that there’ll be at least one person you know! This is true for online events too. Agreeing with someone else that you’ll be there will make you feel more comfortable and give you accountability so you can’t chicken out.
Don’t try and sell yourself: Let things flow naturally and make your priority getting to know people. Tell people what you do, but don’t shove your services down their throats! Listen carefully to people and ask questions about them.
Wear something that makes you feel confident: Don’t be tempted by the corporate look if that’s just not you. Instead, try and wear something that reflects your brand and/or your personality. If you like to dress in bright colours, lean into that! Bold colours will help you feel bold. Extra points if you wear your brand colours.
Share your details: Have your business cards at the ready, whether physical or virtual. Make it as easy as anything for people to keep in touch.
Always stick around for the food and drink: If you can, don’t rush off after the presentations are over. It’s when the food and drinks start flowing that people relax and really start to connect!

Whether you go to multiple big conferences this year or stick to regular one-to-one online coffees, every single connection you make is a great boost for your business and your mindset.

Who knows? We might bump into you at an event or two ourselves 😉

Article 14 networking opportunities for translators in 2023