It’s a great career step to become a freelance translator because translation today has become an industry that’s very much in demand. There are so many businesses and private people out there who need your services; but you can’t help them if they don’t even know you exist!
Probably the most important aspect of operating any business is to have effective marketing strategies, because if you don’t put in the time and effort to attract clients, you’ll never attract any top paying clients. Your freelance translation business is no different when it comes to marketing than any other business, which means that there are no secret marketing techniques you need to be aware of. The idea is to get your skills and knowledge out there, in the marketplace, in front of the people who can use your expertise.
The following are some ideas for increasing the visibility of your freelance translation business –
Have you ever heard the phrase: ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed?’ Don’t be shy about sharing information about your freelance translation business with every person you meet. Be very proud and confident of yourself as you discuss your business and the benefits customers will enjoy when working with you.
Every business should have a website, and this includes your freelance translation business; so you must develop an online presence. Besides sharing information about the services you provide, your website should have a blog that’s regularly updated. Don’t hesitate to advertise your accomplishments, and take every opportunity you get to promote your website.
Referrals are the best business you can get, so work on getting referrals from not only previous clients, but your family and friends as well. Customers who have worked with you in the past and were happy with your services will be more than happy to refer you to other businesses, so don’t wait for your clients to offer referrals – ask them directly for it.
Remember that marketing is not a one-off event: you must market your translation services on a daily basis to every single person you meet. Marketing must be done with consistency in order to keep your client base growing.
Have some business cards professionally made, and make sure you distribute them. They’re not going to attract any business if they’re sitting in your stationery cupboard, or even in your wallet. Carry business cards with you wherever you go and make a point of handing out a certain number of cards per day/week.
When you’re marketing your freelance translation business, your goal should be to reach as many people as possible. Marketing is an ongoing process because it takes time to build business relationships. We trust that the above strategies will help in attracting clients to your freelance translation business.
