Creating a website
Thread poster: Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:51
Member (2015)
German to English
Jun 2, 2015

I was just wondering how many of you are considering creating a website.

Nowadays it seems to be an essential tool in a translator's marketing arsenal. I know that before I engage anybody's services I generally look up their website even if only to find contact details and opening times but I have to admit I am apprehensive about the new rules on putting your address into the Legal Notice (or at least here in Germany you do). As I work from home that would be my home address.
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I was just wondering how many of you are considering creating a website.

Nowadays it seems to be an essential tool in a translator's marketing arsenal. I know that before I engage anybody's services I generally look up their website even if only to find contact details and opening times but I have to admit I am apprehensive about the new rules on putting your address into the Legal Notice (or at least here in Germany you do). As I work from home that would be my home address.

Am I wrong to feel so paranoid about having my personal details on the web? Or does anybody else share this feeling?

As I am off to a training event next week, I thought it might be a good opportunity for a bit of networking. I've had a business card made and thought it might be the perfect time to launch my career on the web.

I am in the process of preparing a website using a free account on one of the many web-building websites. Mainly just so I could see what content I need to add. It is also possible to buy a domain through them and they would also provide hosting but I don't know if that would be the right route as I'm not sure how easily I could transfer or link my domain to an account with a different provider. And then there's the issue of who owns the domain in that instance. Not gone into that properly yet.

What I am discovering is that the more you read, the more there still is to read. I know it would probably be easier to go through a web designer who can handle the lot but that does cost quite a bit of money.

So is there anybody who can help point me in the right direction or warn me of any traps they have discovered?
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José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:51
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
A few tips Jun 2, 2015

On the address... Wouldn't people find your address anyway in a public directory?
If not, would a P. O.Box at your nearest post office suffice, for legal purposes?

On web site preparation, my older son is a top-flight (hence busy) IT professional. So years ago I wrote the content, and waited until he had time to do it. It took 18 months until he found the time to do it. He came to my place, used my computer, and wrote tons of code on the Windows Notepad, much faster than I'm w
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On the address... Wouldn't people find your address anyway in a public directory?
If not, would a P. O.Box at your nearest post office suffice, for legal purposes?

On web site preparation, my older son is a top-flight (hence busy) IT professional. So years ago I wrote the content, and waited until he had time to do it. It took 18 months until he found the time to do it. He came to my place, used my computer, and wrote tons of code on the Windows Notepad, much faster than I'm writing this post. Now and then he copied and pasted my content. Two hours later, he uploaded it, and presto! Everybody was dazzled at its looks and the features he put on my first web site.

Then I wanted to add more, but he had no time. So I began developing and uploading loose pages using the most varied programs you can think of. The truth is that though I led that son through his first steps on the Apple II, and he taught all that to his younger brother, I still know nothing about HTML, PHP, Javascript, and similar stuff.

After some research, I found WebSiteX5, and it did the trick. You may visit my site at http://www.lamensdorf.com.br . I still know nothing about HTML et al.; I only have to care about content. And quite honestly I think I'm using only about 5% of all the resources available in WSX5.

About free hosting, there is no free lunch. If you don't pay for it, someone will have to. The disadvantage of free hosting is that visitors to your site will be bombarded with advertising from whoever is paying for your hosting, on which you have no control. Matchmaking, casual sex dating, Viagra and porn sites' money is as good as any other.

My privileged ranking on Google is not the result of some expensive SEO. I merely packed my site with useful info to translation & related work clients, and it did the trick on its own. I never spent a penny on SEO.

One final piece of advice... Publish a different, "special" e-mail address on your web site. First, you'll have an idea on the worthy public that you are reaching with it. Second, you'll get tons of spam there every single day. Access it often on webmail, bulk-delete the spam, and FWD all first contact e-mails from prospects to your main address.
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Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:51
Member (2015)
German to English
TOPIC STARTER
You're right of course Jun 2, 2015

I rather stupidly forgot about the public telephone book. In fact if you were to google my name that is what would show up, page after page after page of my telephone number. Thanks for bringing me back to reality José.

Yes I have created a second e-mail address and also have a different phone number to my private one so that I can switch on an answering machine to take calls.

I have noticed a trend recently whereby many websites in Germany have their e-mail address w
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I rather stupidly forgot about the public telephone book. In fact if you were to google my name that is what would show up, page after page after page of my telephone number. Thanks for bringing me back to reality José.

Yes I have created a second e-mail address and also have a different phone number to my private one so that I can switch on an answering machine to take calls.

I have noticed a trend recently whereby many websites in Germany have their e-mail address with a [at] instead of the @. For example xyz[at]gmx.com.

Germany requires every website owner to have all their details including the VAT register number placed in the Legal Notice.

I only discovered this yesterday and after some research heard of some exorbitant fines for non-compliance.

I had originally entered my address before I knew but had then removed it, now it seems by law I do have to have it there after all, so I was a bit shocked by that. You have put it into a clearer context for me.

Your website is very clearly structured and a mine of valuable information.

Do you use WebSite X5 for your hosting needs?
And did you buy your domain through them?
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José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:51
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Answers Jun 2, 2015

I am in Brazil, so at the time I built the site (I don't even remember when) doing business overseas was not that easy.

I registered a domain, as a company was required to have a dotcom.br here, I used my ex-wife's (now long extinct) restaurant. My son handled it for me.

I hosted it at an ISP where a friend was the CEO. That ISP was bought by another company, the friend left, but they still provide good service. According to stats, they are offline only one hour per mon
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I am in Brazil, so at the time I built the site (I don't even remember when) doing business overseas was not that easy.

I registered a domain, as a company was required to have a dotcom.br here, I used my ex-wife's (now long extinct) restaurant. My son handled it for me.

I hosted it at an ISP where a friend was the CEO. That ISP was bought by another company, the friend left, but they still provide good service. According to stats, they are offline only one hour per month, usually in the ungodly hours before daybreak in my time zone. I pay about USD 20 per month for much more hosting space than I need, and 10 e-mail accounts, of which I and my family use four.

I began with a much earlier version of WSX5, in the days the program was typically Italian, not so world-class as it is today. I mean, in those days I'd have to do step #4 before step #1 for it to work. As I grew up in an Italian neighborhood to age 11, studied in an Italian school from kindergarten through Junior High, and worked in another Italian neighborhood on my first job, I'm pretty used to it. Sono tutti buona gente! (They are all good people.)

So I never tried their domain-buying & hosting services. You are closer to Italy, maybe it's worth a try.
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Triston Goodwin
Triston Goodwin  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 09:51
Spanish to English
+ ...
Website Stuff Jun 3, 2015

If you purchase the domain, it's yours. At least until it comes time to renew it.

A website can be a great tool, but it's important to decide how you're going to use it. Most translators that I know use their sites as a sort of online portfolio or business card. It's really hard to compete for search rankings with all the agencies that are able to devote more time and money to their rankings.

I'm not sure about German regulations in regards to your address, but I use
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If you purchase the domain, it's yours. At least until it comes time to renew it.

A website can be a great tool, but it's important to decide how you're going to use it. Most translators that I know use their sites as a sort of online portfolio or business card. It's really hard to compete for search rankings with all the agencies that are able to devote more time and money to their rankings.

I'm not sure about German regulations in regards to your address, but I use a PO box as well.

If it helps, I have a bunch of videos on YouTube about building your own website as a translator. I've only made tutorials for two platforms so far, Weebly and Wix, but I'm still working on it ^_^
(https://www.youtube.com/user/opl10nt9n/playlists)

José mentioned something super important, your content is key to the success of your site. I think I covered it in a couple of my videos, but one thing that I found to be very helpful is to write out all of your content in something like Word, maybe add some pictures that help emphasize your message, but get it perfect. Then design the visuals of the site around that content.
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Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 16:51
Member (2015)
German to English
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks for the helpful advice. Jun 28, 2015

Well, I got there in the end and I am very pleased with what I have achieved.

The process was a fun one but fraught with decision-making. Most people I showed it too simply said, "yes, looks good" but didn't really make any critical suggestions. Apart from a photographer friend who had himself just gone through the process albeit with a professional website builder.

One thing I have learnt is that nobody is as interested or as invested in somebody else's website than th
... See more
Well, I got there in the end and I am very pleased with what I have achieved.

The process was a fun one but fraught with decision-making. Most people I showed it too simply said, "yes, looks good" but didn't really make any critical suggestions. Apart from a photographer friend who had himself just gone through the process albeit with a professional website builder.

One thing I have learnt is that nobody is as interested or as invested in somebody else's website than the owner of that website and that you shouldn't let that affect you.

Now just hoping anybody who visits it might also find it of interest.
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