What should be on your website?
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The document provides tips for freelance translators on setting up their website. It recommends (1) purchasing a domain name that is easy to remember and includes relevant keywords, and setting up a professional email address. (2) It advises keeping website copy concise, clear, and authentic to convey why clients should hire you while showing your personality. (3) The document stresses integrating social media like blogs, tweets, Facebook, and LinkedIn to help visitors connect with you and make it easy for potential clients to follow you online.
What should be on your website?
- 1. What should be on your website? Presenting your freelance language services © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com
- 2. Be remembered Buy a domain name • Many translators put this stage off, as they are nervous of the expense. It is true that you can get sufficient work without a one, but a clean, interesting site which has snappy copy and is easy to navigate is a great advert for your services, and will garner interest. • Make your url easy to remember, and try to include a key search term e.g. www.germansportstranslator.com © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com
- 3. Hotmail won’t cut it Get a hosted email address • A professional email address gives you the edge on other candidates, as it shows them that you are serious about your business, and are therefore willing to invest a bit of money into it. • You will also, of course, have a website with the same name, either up and running or in the pipeline. © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com
- 4. Be concise, be clear, be you The copy • Although it is vital to communicate the value of your services (10 years’ experience you say? Member of the ITI? Meticulous proofreader?), your visitor does not want your life story. Keep to the point: why should they work with you? Be direct. • Inject a bit of your personality – no-one wants to see a bland page with no ‘face’ behind the name. Show your clients who you are and make them want you! © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com
- 5. Be social The phenomenon of social media • Any web designer worth their salt will integrate social media into your website. Have a blog? Get it on your website. Prolific tweeter? Get a ‘recent tweets’ box. • It’s all about getting your visitors, and potential clients, to connect. Give them options. They might want to ‘like’ you on Facebook – make it easy for them. Maybe they prefer to use LinkedIn – get an icon. Can they subscribe to your blog? Make it happen. © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com
- 6. Go for it! Points to take away: • Buy your domain and set up an associated email address • Take time to consider your copy, or hire a great copywriter • Be professional, but be yourself! If you feel uncomfortable, it will show • Organise and make use of your social media presence © © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com