The Importance of a translation website Thread poster: Farid Chahmat
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Dear All,
I am a French/English to Arabic Freelance translator and would like to ask about the importance of a personal website for the business. I want to create my personal website but I want to hear from your previous experiences if you really benifited from the creation of this website in getting more translation projects. Have you every been contacted directly via your personal website?
Thanks in advance for your answers
Farid
| | | | makieh
Iran
Local time: 06:09
English to Persian (Farsi)
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| The Importance of a translation website | Mar 25, 2016 |
hi
i had two translation websites in three years. i live in Iran and translate Farsi to English. for me i didn't benefit a lot. i had a few clients, a handful. i think its the matter of CEO and search engines. if you can enhance your website CEO to appear in the first page of search results it will be OK. if i doesn't cost a lot i recommend you to give it a try, but do all your best to enhance search.
| | | | Farid Chahmat
Algeria
Local time: 03:39
English to Arabic
TOPIC STARTER | Necessity to create a website | Mar 25, 2016 |
Thank you for the answer Makieh,
I am from Algeria and the reason behind the website idea is the recession in the Algerian market. In fact, I plan to target clients from Worldwide and that's why I asked for previos experiences. Thanks for sharing your experience any way.
[Edited at 2016-03-25 18:22 GMT]
[Edited at 2016-03-25 18:22 GMT]
| | | | | I used to think a website was essential... | Mar 25, 2016 |
... but now I'm not so sure. Most of my new customers come to me from my ProZ profile, and I would strongly recommend filling out yours to provide a lot more information. In particular, you need some sample translations so potential customers can see the quality you provide.
I find my website a useful adjunct. It has more details of, for example, the books I've translated, and comments from satisfied customers - but I almost never get work from it. That's probably because, as makieh... See more ... but now I'm not so sure. Most of my new customers come to me from my ProZ profile, and I would strongly recommend filling out yours to provide a lot more information. In particular, you need some sample translations so potential customers can see the quality you provide.
I find my website a useful adjunct. It has more details of, for example, the books I've translated, and comments from satisfied customers - but I almost never get work from it. That's probably because, as makieh says above, ProZ is so much better optimized for search engines than my website.
[Edited at 2016-03-25 17:52 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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| Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Requested by user. | Kristina Cosumano (X) 
Germany
Local time: 04:39
German to English
| Depends on what you want it to do. | Mar 26, 2016 |
Farid, I use one and noticed from looking at statistics that many outsourcers do check me out there before contacting me, probably just to make sure I am legit.
I made a simple website using a free wordpress blog template and renting the URL (not expensive). It looks and functions like a normal website, in my case as a virtual visiting card with my contact information and a few words about what I do. A lot more is possible but up til now I've been too busy to get into it.
[Ed... See more Farid, I use one and noticed from looking at statistics that many outsourcers do check me out there before contacting me, probably just to make sure I am legit.
I made a simple website using a free wordpress blog template and renting the URL (not expensive). It looks and functions like a normal website, in my case as a virtual visiting card with my contact information and a few words about what I do. A lot more is possible but up til now I've been too busy to get into it.
[Edited at 2016-03-26 06:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 04:39
Spanish to English
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| Zero (for me) | Mar 26, 2016 |
I'm a working, self-employed translator and I don't have a website. About 15 years ago, I thought it might be useful to have one, but at the end of the day, the time and cost involved in creating and maintaining one would outweigh the advantages from my point of view.
| | | | Farid Chahmat
Algeria
Local time: 03:39
English to Arabic
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for the answers | Mar 26, 2016 |
Thank you for the answers Neilmac, Kristina and Gitte. I can see different opinions and apparently eveybody is talking about his/her own experience. Thank you for the advice as well, you look all very experienced and your ideas are much appreciated.
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| Time is money | Mar 28, 2016 |
Gitte Hovedskov wrote:
Nothing to lose there, I think.
Except time.
Like proz.com, LinkedIn, Facebook or whatever else, if you don't seriously invest time and/or money in a website (SEO, ranking...), I think your chances of generating business through yet another channel are close to zilch.
I don't invest time in my website, so the business leverage is zero.
However, having something doesn't hurt, and a website URL will complement your contact details.
Philippe
[Edited at 2016-03-28 11:15 GMT]
| | | | Rolf Keller
Germany
Local time: 04:39
English to German
| Websites signal competency. Or non-competency. | Mar 28, 2016 |
Gitte Hovedskov wrote:
Nothing to lose there, I think.
Nothing, except customers who check the site because they want to assess the linguistic competency.
Some of such sites, as well as some sample translations in ProZ profiles, have a negative effect. Anyway, I assume that such texts represent the very best texts the respective person will ever be able to produce. Simply put: 1 mistake per page in a sample leads one to assume 5 mistakes per page in a paid translation.
| | | | | Hire an English editor | Mar 28, 2016 |
Farid, if you're targeting clients worldwide, then I assume your website will be in English? If so, as you're not a native English speaker, it's essential that you hire or find a native English speaking professional to edit the English on your website to a native English-level.
Fair or not, overseas clients absolutely will assess you based on the quality of English on your website, and you'd probably be better off with no website at all then one featuring lots of mistakes. Conversel... See more Farid, if you're targeting clients worldwide, then I assume your website will be in English? If so, as you're not a native English speaker, it's essential that you hire or find a native English speaking professional to edit the English on your website to a native English-level.
Fair or not, overseas clients absolutely will assess you based on the quality of English on your website, and you'd probably be better off with no website at all then one featuring lots of mistakes. Conversely, if you do have professional, mistake-free English on your website, it will set you apart from the many translators and agencies who do not, giving you a better chance at finding more work.
So do go for the website, but then spend the 50-100 dollars it will take to get the English in proper order
Edit: And your English is quite good obviously Farid, but when it comes to marketing, there's a huge difference between good and native. I would also use an editor if making a Chinese language website.
[Edited at 2016-03-28 11:44 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Farid Chahmat
Algeria
Local time: 03:39
English to Arabic
TOPIC STARTER | Thank you for the Advice preston Decker | Mar 28, 2016 |
You are right Preston.
I will try to hire a native English editor once the website is completed.
May be I will be in touch with you for the editing process if possible.
Your advice is very much appreciated.
Thank you very much and have a nice day
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