Poll: What's the best type of website to represent a translator? Konuyu gönderen: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| | Muriel Vasconcellos (X) 
Amerika Birleşik Devletleri
Local time: 13:42
İspanyolca > İngilizce
+ ...
| Lots of content | Apr 27, 2017 |
It persuades your prospective clients that you're serious.
Mine's at www.murieltranslations.com. It's a work in progress, but at least it's got plenty of content.
[Edited at 2017-04-27 08:38 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
İspanya
Local time: 22:42
İspanyolca > İngilizce
+ ...
Time is money. So nothing "TLDR", no mission statements, and at the slightest mention of "synergy" I am out of there like a shot, especially if it's used in plural (synergies). I don't even have a website myself. Too much fiddle, faff and bother.
PS: Ditto what Chris says 
[Edited at 2017-04-27 10:19 GMT]
[Edited at 2017-04-27 10:24 GMT]
| | | |
I imagine the most effective solution would be bare bones at the front and plenty of underlying meat to click through to.
However... I don't have a website. I'm not in the phone book. I don't advertise at all.
I'm not an ambulance chaser. I don't work for random people wanting CVs and birth certificates translated, and I'm not interested in one-off jobs. The kind of long-term customers I'm after aren't going to go hunting for a translator on the Internet. They'll ask a ... See more I imagine the most effective solution would be bare bones at the front and plenty of underlying meat to click through to.
However... I don't have a website. I'm not in the phone book. I don't advertise at all.
I'm not an ambulance chaser. I don't work for random people wanting CVs and birth certificates translated, and I'm not interested in one-off jobs. The kind of long-term customers I'm after aren't going to go hunting for a translator on the Internet. They'll ask a colleague or a friend for a recommendation.
The trouble with websites, like all marketing, is that every translator inevitably says the same thing, so nobody takes any notice. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
I don’t know, as clients’ needs might be quite different, some are just looking for the bare essentials while others may require more detailed content. One cannot please everyone…
| | | | | Other. Relevant | Apr 27, 2017 |
The bare bones can do it, if you choose the right bare bones.
Languages and subject areas you work in, an e-mail address or link if you prefer.
Qualifications and certifications - are you sworn, State Authorized, or whatever your country calls it? Show your FIT stamp, perhaps?
An address or VAT number that can be checked to show you really mean business.
A little colour is a good thing, so make sure that important headings stand out, but don't hit the... See more The bare bones can do it, if you choose the right bare bones.
Languages and subject areas you work in, an e-mail address or link if you prefer.
Qualifications and certifications - are you sworn, State Authorized, or whatever your country calls it? Show your FIT stamp, perhaps?
An address or VAT number that can be checked to show you really mean business.
A little colour is a good thing, so make sure that important headings stand out, but don't hit the viewer in the eye. Flags are fine as symbols of a language, but please, not flapping in the wind - movement is a distraction. You have caught my eye, so please leave me in peace to look at what you have to offer!
A USP - Unique Selling Point - or at least a brief explanation of what you specialize in and why you are so good at it.
A good photo of you and/or a well-designed logo, so that people can distinguish you from all the others.
I think generally, less is best when it comes to slogans and anecdotes, though a short, memorable motto that sums it all up can be a useful punchline.
PS I have no website myself and my profile here is not carefully constructed - it just grew.  Clients find me anyway, most by word of mouth or recommendations these days, but the profile does actually work. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Translator website content. | Apr 27, 2017 |
In my opinion, it should be as short as possible, but should convey the details effectively.
Regards,
Devanathan.
| | | |
Not too bare, in fact I think Christine sums it all up very nicely.
Anyway, it has to be something you are comfortable with yourself, then you should automatically attract the customers that are on the same page. And by the way, I find it very useful to have this business card on the Internet.
Mine is www.J-JTranslations.com
| | |
|
|
|
DZiW (X)
Ukrayna
İngilizce > Rusça
+ ...
| a business card | Apr 27, 2017 |
Considering its purpose to refer a prospect to a specific translator regarding a certain project and terms, it would be "WH- & HOW" to the point -- WHO - WHAT - WHICH - WHERE - WHEN - WHY and HOW. All the rest (including blogging, rewriting, the news and so on) is but to make one re-visit the resource and re-consider the offer, which implies the first impression and data wasn't enough.
| | | | Ventnai
İspanya
Local time: 22:42
Almanca > İngilizce
+ ...
| Beefed-up bare bones | Apr 27, 2017 |
You need to be wary of providing too much detail - your prospective clients may nod off while reading through all the bumf
| | | |
Whether concise or verbose, I suppose the main purpose of a website is that serious prospects contact you and discard your competitors!
Philippe
| | | | Michael Harris
Almanya
Local time: 22:42
Üye (2006)
Almanca > İngilizce
No idea, I am not looking for one. But it is probably the same a job application, the less stories you tell, the more believable you are....
| | |
|
|
|
Bora Taşdemir
Local time: 00:42
Üye (2012)
İngilizce > Türkçe
+ ...
| Neither of them... | Apr 27, 2017 |
Home page should be bare bones - like quick-view and also detailed, if the viewer wants to get some more information. This would be optimal!
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brezilya
Local time: 18:42
Üye (2014)
İngilizce > Portekizce
+ ...
First of all, I'm quite doubtful about the effectiveness of a trasnlator's website. The most efficient sites for translators are the ones like ProZ, Abrates, etc. I get 95% of communications from clients from the latter, and very very few from my website.
As to the contents, it depends on the target. People in Brazil are lazy, and don't like detailed sites or CVs. In North-America, on the other hand, outsourcers valuate everything, even activities not related to the profession, such... See more First of all, I'm quite doubtful about the effectiveness of a trasnlator's website. The most efficient sites for translators are the ones like ProZ, Abrates, etc. I get 95% of communications from clients from the latter, and very very few from my website.
As to the contents, it depends on the target. People in Brazil are lazy, and don't like detailed sites or CVs. In North-America, on the other hand, outsourcers valuate everything, even activities not related to the profession, such as Charity. So the ideal situation is to have a summary home page, with the option to a detailed page, as well as a summarized CV and a complete CV. According to the client, you know which one applies best. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Amerika Birleşik Devletleri
Local time: 13:42
İspanyolca > İngilizce
+ ...
| @ Chris, Mario, and other skeptics | Apr 28, 2017 |
I got my best client ever through my website. One very good year they accounted for more than half my income. Others have come to me through the site as well.
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: What's the best type of website to represent a translator? | 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 
