Poll: I market my services... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:42
German to English
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| I don't market my services ... | Nov 10, 2011 |
... when things go quiet, I enjoy the peace. It never lasts!
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On the very beginning (1984) I marketed my services (embassies, translation agencies, direct clients) and this resulted in a steady flow of work, but things have changed these last few months...
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Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 22:42
English to French
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I "market" my services in an "ongoing fashion" but not at all in a traditional way.
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| Other: I regularly contribute to promote translation industry, | Nov 10, 2011 |
not my individual linguistic assistance. I see myself as a quailified distributor of this service, and my only parameter here is variable capacity subject to various external and internal factors.
Is there a medical market (market!) of a specific illness? Is there a linguistic market of a specific language pair in a specific field with specific delivery (by type: oral, written, recorded; by time: simultaneous, consecutive, "the whole"; by style: draft, detailed, professionally reviewed; a... See more not my individual linguistic assistance. I see myself as a quailified distributor of this service, and my only parameter here is variable capacity subject to various external and internal factors.
Is there a medical market (market!) of a specific illness? Is there a linguistic market of a specific language pair in a specific field with specific delivery (by type: oral, written, recorded; by time: simultaneous, consecutive, "the whole"; by style: draft, detailed, professionally reviewed; and so on)?
If there were such precisely definite, more or less stable, specific parcels of the market, I certainly would market my individual service on regular and pro-active basis.
[Edited at 2011-11-10 10:28 GMT typos typos...]
[Edited at 2011-11-10 11:11 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 21:42
If by marketing one means sending out mailshots to targeted companies and the like, then I do not. I find the response rate is often not worth the effort. I would rather not pollute the planet with more "junk mail".
I do, however, never fail to mention to people I meet that I am a translator and tell them the kinds of things that I like doing, or have done recently - and I make sure they know how to contact me. This kind of social networking, in real, 3-D life has led to more work than a... See more If by marketing one means sending out mailshots to targeted companies and the like, then I do not. I find the response rate is often not worth the effort. I would rather not pollute the planet with more "junk mail".
I do, however, never fail to mention to people I meet that I am a translator and tell them the kinds of things that I like doing, or have done recently - and I make sure they know how to contact me. This kind of social networking, in real, 3-D life has led to more work than any other form of advertising or self-promotion. I think visibility on ProZ, LinkedIn, and one's own website have certain advantages too.
(Edited for typo.)
[Edited at 2011-11-10 11:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 22:42
Member (2009)
English to German
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| When I remember... | Nov 10, 2011 |
which is seldom enough because of ongoing or new projects.
Once in a while I send out flyers, but, like Allison, I do mention that I am a translator and teacher without, however, pushing the matter. The little free time left is used to catch up with things or to just relax.
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Anthony Baldwin
United States
Local time: 16:42
Portuguese to English
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Some marketing activities are always on-going, of course, even it is as simple as keeping my website up, with a strong and effective SEO strategy, etc.
But as far as actively seeking out clients, the truth is, when I am up to my eyeballs in work, I do very little of this at all.
Clearly, if/when things slow down, I will actively pursue new clients.
I never send unsolicited marketing materials electronically (and cursorily delete those sent to me), rather ch... See more Some marketing activities are always on-going, of course, even it is as simple as keeping my website up, with a strong and effective SEO strategy, etc.
But as far as actively seeking out clients, the truth is, when I am up to my eyeballs in work, I do very little of this at all.
Clearly, if/when things slow down, I will actively pursue new clients.
I never send unsolicited marketing materials electronically (and cursorily delete those sent to me), rather choosing to rely on pursuing those potential clients who actively seek services such as mine through avenues like proz, and, as mentioned, making myself as visible and easily found on the internet to those who actively seek such services.
I get a lot of clients through word-of-mouth/recommendations from satisfied clients, too.
I marketed more heavily in early years, but the long client list and reputation I built then seem to be carrying me forward, now, with far less focused marketing efforts. ▲ Collapse
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| when things slow down | Nov 10, 2011 |
and I have time, i will embark on a campaign to find new clients. However, I am usually on the lookout and will apply to any agency I find interesting.
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DianeGM
Local time: 23:42
Member (2006)
Dutch to English
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Except for usually having a few business cards in my pocket, I don't do marketing per se, though new customers do still seem to manage to find me.
I always think I should and would if I had a slow spell ...
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Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:42
Member (2009)
English to French
website revamped occasionally if I get some quiet times, which I enjoy, then get busy. Always ongoing process with me I aspire to have a strong core clientele of good payers with people I enjoy working with. Gradually, I'm succeeding by displacing troublemakers with nice people with the ongoing marketing process
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| I don't market my services any more | Nov 12, 2011 |
I used to, but now that I have really well-paying clients, I'm sticking with them and doing my best by them.
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