| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Is it worth having a website for a freelancer? Thread poster: Linh Hoang
|
|---|
Linh Hoang 
Vietnam
Local time: 14:56
Member
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
I currently work a a freelancer. I have purchased a domain and just used Proz's free hosting for my email. I plan to engage a web designer to build up my website. As quoted by the web designers, it costs around $300-400 for a simple website in my country. For such cost, I wonder whether it is really cost effective for a freelancer or not. Or I just need to create simple web by using the free template. Highly appreciate any of you sharing your own experience.
Many thanks...
| | | | Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 03:56
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I've had my current freelance business for six years and it has never had a website. I'm overbooked with work, so clearly I'm fine without it. The signature at the bottom of my e-mails refers people to my LinkedIn and ProZ profiles, and that seems to be enough.
If you already have enough jobs coming in, then whatever you've been doing is obviously working and you don't need a separate website.
If you're still trying to establish yourself, it couldn't hurt to have a sit... See more I've had my current freelance business for six years and it has never had a website. I'm overbooked with work, so clearly I'm fine without it. The signature at the bottom of my e-mails refers people to my LinkedIn and ProZ profiles, and that seems to be enough.
If you already have enough jobs coming in, then whatever you've been doing is obviously working and you don't need a separate website.
If you're still trying to establish yourself, it couldn't hurt to have a site. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 03:56
Member (2002)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I see you are a Proz member, so you get free web hosting (with your own domain name) as part of your membership. HTML is really not that hard to learn. I designed my own site in a few hours.
Linh Hoang wrote:
I currently work a a freelancer. I have purchased a domain and just used Proz's free hosting for my email. I plan to engage a web designer to build up my website. As quoted by the web designers, it costs around $300-400 for a simple website in my country. For such cost, I wonder whether it is really cost effective for a freelancer or not. Or I just need to create simple web by using the free template. Highly appreciate any of you sharing your own experience.
Many thanks...
| | | | Fabio Descalzi
Uruguay
Local time: 04:56
Member (2004)
German to Spanish
+ ...
|
|
|
| Not to hijack your thread, but... | Mar 12, 2012 |
How does one go about accessing this free webhosting and what happens when your membership expires?
| | | | Linh Hoang
Vietnam
Local time: 14:56
Member
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | just starting my freelance | Mar 12, 2012 |
Thanks Steven,
I have just started my business as freelancer after years of in-house translator.
I hope that my own website will help boost up my business.
Steven Capsuto wrote:
I've had my current freelance business for six years and it has never had a website. I'm overbooked with work, so clearly I'm fine without it. The signature at the bottom of my e-mails refers people to my LinkedIn and ProZ profiles, and that seems to be enough.
If you already have enough jobs coming in, then whatever you've been doing is obviously working and you don't need a separate website.
If you're still trying to establish yourself, it couldn't hurt to have a site.
| | | | Linh Hoang
Vietnam
Local time: 14:56
Member
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Good site to try | Mar 12, 2012 |
Hi Fabio,
It's quite a good site to try. Thanks for your suggestion.
| | | | Woodstock (X)
Germany
Local time: 09:56
German to English
+ ...
|
|
|
Luiza McGibb (X)
United Kingdom
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| Template website | Mar 12, 2012 |
Hello Linh
I'm also just starting as a freelancer and I'm currently building my website. I think that having a nice, user friendly website will be an advantage while I'm trying to build a client portfolio.
You can purchase a template where you pay rent on your page instead of paying a high, once-off large fee. I'm using a great website called http://withtank.com/
Good luck!
Luiza
<... See more Hello Linh
I'm also just starting as a freelancer and I'm currently building my website. I think that having a nice, user friendly website will be an advantage while I'm trying to build a client portfolio.
You can purchase a template where you pay rent on your page instead of paying a high, once-off large fee. I'm using a great website called http://withtank.com/
Good luck!
Luiza
[Edited at 2012-03-12 07:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | web site for free | Mar 12, 2012 |
You can use a Wordpress theme / template to have a well designed and decent site for free.
| | | | Linh Hoang
Vietnam
Local time: 14:56
Member
English to Vietnamese
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you all for your suggestions. I may try one free-web design of them for my web. Otherwise, I will try to have one at the lowest costs. Hope to share with you soon for your comments.
Cheers,
| | | | Marta Stelmaszak (X)
Local time: 08:56
Polish to English
+ ...
|
|
|
| The Website is my representative | Apr 4, 2012 |
Linh, I am coming in a bit late on the discussion, but I thought I would write anyway. As it was mentioned, you may not need a Web site other than what proz, linkedin and other social media offer.
I decided to build one because it is part of my business plan and can speak for me when I am not there
Every tool offers different possibilities and can be useful in its own way.
I used proz initial... See more Linh, I am coming in a bit late on the discussion, but I thought I would write anyway. As it was mentioned, you may not need a Web site other than what proz, linkedin and other social media offer.
I decided to build one because it is part of my business plan and can speak for me when I am not there
Every tool offers different possibilities and can be useful in its own way.
I used proz initially, and still do, almost exclusively. I built my clientele with proz and only accepted work that fit the criteria I set for myself. So work in my field and for people/agencies who had earned a solid reputation on proz. I rarely deviated from this.
My first Web site did not add anything useful so it had to go. I now have a new Web site and it is build so that it can be expanded, if need be.
I did not have previous experience using WordPress, but build a Web site with a bit of help. It took quite a bit of time, but I am happy with it and I can now easily edit its content anytime.
This is very important, if possible make sure you can control the content (add/replace) as your business evolves. It will cost you more in the long run if you have to ask someone else to do modifications for you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Another option | Apr 4, 2012 |
Well, you'll pay $300-400 for the developer for your initial web site. Then you'll want to add/change/delete things there, so you'll have to pay them something again. If you do it too often, the developer will offer to charge you, say, $50-75 per month to keep your site updated as often as you wish. We are talking about at least $600 per year...
Then you could learn HTML, and do it on your own. The cost/benefit here is thin, as your time is worth more while you are translating, inst... See more Well, you'll pay $300-400 for the developer for your initial web site. Then you'll want to add/change/delete things there, so you'll have to pay them something again. If you do it too often, the developer will offer to charge you, say, $50-75 per month to keep your site updated as often as you wish. We are talking about at least $600 per year...
Then you could learn HTML, and do it on your own. The cost/benefit here is thin, as your time is worth more while you are translating, instead of writing code.
I didn't know a thing about HTML, and still don't. Yet my web site is there... http://www.lamensdorf.com.br . Completely made with WebSiteX5, and using a small fraction of all its resources. It costs only 70 euros. Whenever I want to add/change content, I just write it, and upload whatever the program decides that is necessary.
I use my site mostly for explanations I have to give often to clients, as well as material they might find interesting. Some good clients have found me through there, though I get a lot of useless queries.
My suggestion is that you get a separate e-mail address published there, a service that allows you to bulk-delete spam without reading, just from reading the message subjects, so you'll focus on the few useful messages it will gather you. ▲ Collapse
| | | | QUOI
Chinese to English
+ ...
| Google Apps - sites | Apr 5, 2012 |
If you have secured your domain name, then you may consider Google Apps. It's free, gives you customized email address as well as let you build website using one of its many templates. HTML knowledge is not required. Updating your website is quite easy too.
Wordpress is also a good option but that requires a hosting service.
[Edited at 2012-04-05 05:38 GMT]
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Is it worth having a website for a freelancer? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
| | TM-Town | Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business
Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
