| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you think social networks work for translators? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 09:00
Member (2006)
German to English
| We are translators | Feb 20, 2013 |
Marie Jackson wrote:
I'm very surprised by the negative response to this question, as virtually all of my clients have come to me through social networks such as LinkedIn. I'm contacted around once a month by a new potential client and whilst I can't always help them, myself, I always forward them onto colleagues who can.
I really think that social networking is what you make of it. If you put the hours in initially, you will certainly reap the benefits later on down the line. On the other hand, if you're very passive in your use of social media, you are likely to miss opportunities to meet clients.
All in all, it comes down to what you want to get out of social media, yourself. If you prefer to use it to keep up with the industry and network with your peers, a more passive approach will suit you nicely. On the other hand, if you want to use social media to actively market your business, you will need to invest more time and effort into maintaining your social media presence. As to social media being a distraction, distractions are not always a bad thing; it's good to take a break from time to time throughout the day, and all I need is 10 mins on Twitter or FB to feel refreshed whilst also nurturing my business. It's all about self discipline, of course!
I know I'm not the only one who has found social media a valuable tool in expanding my business; just take a look at Valeria of Rainy London Translations and Marta from WantWords. These ladies really work their social media and their business are flourishing as a result.
I guess all I'm saying is don't knock it until you've tried it! Social media can be a powerful tool when used 'properly'.
and are not making handbags.
If you have a good working business, then you do not necessarily need the other distracting rubbish in Internet.
I have normal friends and a family and really do not have the desire to waste my time on a computer when I have these other wonderful activities when I am not working.
And as for customers, a great proportion of them have contacted me through ProZ, and in my field, no one would ever try contacting me in FB anyway and most of them do not even have Skype!
A lot of the companies that I work for do not allow such activities as they are too just distracting.
| | | | Marie Jackson
Netherlands
Local time: 09:00
German to English
+ ...
| Each to his own... | Feb 20, 2013 |
Michael Harris wrote:
and are not making handbags.
If you have a good working business, then you do not necessarily need the other distracting rubbish in Internet.
I have normal friends and a family and really do not have the desire to waste my time on a computer when I have these other wonderful activities when I am not working.
And as for customers, a great proportion of them have contacted me through ProZ, and in my field, no one would ever try contacting me in FB anyway and most of them do not even have Skype!
A lot of the companies that I work for do not allow such activities as they are too just distracting.
... as I believe I did say in my answer! I don't see my social networking as play for outside of working hours; it's time I integrate into my working day (and only very little time these days, at that). When my working day is over, I, too, go outside and socialise with real people Social media is just another weapon in my arsenal and it seems to suit my purposes quite nicely at the moment. What's nice about our industry is that we all work in different language pairs and different fields, and so we all use different tools to make our businesses better. What works for one of us may not work for somebody else - and my business is going from strength to strength, so it obviously works for me!
| | | | | LinkedIn, ProZ, FB - tend to be good for different things | Feb 20, 2013 |
Julian Holmes wrote:
I have never been directly approached by a customer saying that they saw my impressive profile on LinkedIn and want to throw buckets of lucrative work my way. I wish it would, though, since I use it as my online CV and profile.
On the other hand, Proz has a database search function to find translators that meet their particular criteria and a function for sending contact details to translators that interest them. This is how I have met a few customers who give me regular work now.
As Mary says, social networks - as their name implies - are for hanging out with the crowd or "socializing" and not for getting work.
Same here. No work from LinkedIn, but I follow some discussions there and have gotten some good tips on translation resources.
Discussion groups on Yahoo! - very good for practical information, like WordFast and Trados assistance, term assistance, association business (conferences, etc.)
ProZ - same as above. I have a few clients who originally approached me based on my ProZ profile.
Facebook is another matter. The impression I am getting from the translators' groups there is that they are mostly a forum for complaining about rates, clients, and translation sites with some people also posting some useful term questions/information. People's personalities tend to come out more on FB, which could be useful information to know if you end up working on projects together!
| | | | Erik Matson
Thailand
Local time: 14:00
English to Norwegian
+ ...
Hi Julian-
I totally agree with you -
As Mary says, social networks - as their name implies - are for hanging out with the crowd or "socializing" and not for getting work.
However, I just want to add that during the last year, particularly the last six months, my LinkedIn profile has become exactly what you said you wish it could be. I've had new clients approaching me saying almost exactly what you said - that they had seen my impressive (?) profile on LinkedIn, and that they have buckets of lucrative work to throw my wait.
In reality, I see nothing impressive about my LinkedIn profile since I haven't put any time or effort into it. This is a reasonably new phenomenon, but LinkedIn is fast gaining on Proz.com as being my best source of lucrative work. The three most lucrative jobs I have had in my career have all come directly via LinkedIn in the last 5-6 months. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining...anyway...don 't give up on LinkedIn entirely just yet...it has definite potential, especially for meeting end-clients willing to pay top dollar for translations!
Julian Holmes wrote:
I don't belong to any social networks but I am a member of LinkedIn which markets itself as a "network of professionals," which is slightly different.
So, does LinkedIn "work" for me?
I have never been directly approached by a customer saying that they saw my impressive profile on LinkedIn and want to throw buckets of lucrative work my way. I wish it would, though, since I use it as my online CV and profile.
On the other hand, Proz has a database search function to find translators that meet their particular criteria and a function for sending contact details to translators that interest them. This is how I have met a few customers who give me regular work now.
As Mary says, social networks - as their name implies - are for hanging out with the crowd or "socializing" and not for getting work.
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 03:00
English to Spanish
+ ...
| I'm also surprised... | Feb 20, 2013 |
...at the sweeping negative comments about social networks I hear around here.
First, not all social networks involve the use of Facebook, period. Geez, look around, get informed before making disparaging remarks. This reminds me of mothers who claim they refuse to watch TV because of all the garbage that it's on TV these days.
I use LinkedIn, which has brought me a few direct customers, thank you very much. As for Twitter, I only use it for industry purposes, not for ... See more ...at the sweeping negative comments about social networks I hear around here.
First, not all social networks involve the use of Facebook, period. Geez, look around, get informed before making disparaging remarks. This reminds me of mothers who claim they refuse to watch TV because of all the garbage that it's on TV these days.
I use LinkedIn, which has brought me a few direct customers, thank you very much. As for Twitter, I only use it for industry purposes, not for socializing.
At least let's agree to get more educated about a topic we might feel prejudiced against before getting crabby, okay? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Just about sums it up! | Feb 20, 2013 |
Sarai Pahla wrote: Work in what sense?  Getting business: Not really - but they can help you stay in touch with clients. Networking with other translators - Definitely - that's my favourite thing about SNS. Distracting your from work and reducing overall productivity - DING! DING! DING! we have a winner, folks 
I would only add that they seem to work as correctly for me as they do for every one else ^_^
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 09:00
French to English
| You're talking about prejudice? | Feb 21, 2013 |
Mario Chavez wrote:
This reminds me of mothers who claim they refuse to watch TV because of all the garbage that it's on TV these days.
At least let's agree to get more educated about a topic we might feel prejudiced against before getting crabby, okay?
Who's being prejudiced here?
Why are you targeting mothers? And why is their opinion of TV ridiculous?
Don't forget there is a sizeable proportion of women here and a sizeable proportion of the women here have children!
signed: an educated mother
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