How to use social media to boost your freelance translation career

If you translate freelance, you’ll already be familiar with the joys of marketing your services. Providing professional translation services means much more than just working with language. When you freelance, you have to handle everything from invoicing to finding new clients. 

Marketing through social media

If the thought of cold calling fills you with dread, or your design skills aren’t up to creating an engaging email flyer, it could be time to check out social media marketing. Indeed, if you’re not already using social media to market your services, you’re missing a golden opportunity. The old adage that it’s not what you know, but who, still rings true today – and sites such as LinkedIn are the perfect way to connect with those you know. 

To help you get started, we’ve covered some of the major social networks below, with tips on how to get the best out of each. Happy marketing! 

LinkedIn

As the go-to business social network, LinkedIn is the sensible place to start when it comes to marketing your translation services and trying to drum up business. However, it’s not as simple as creating a profile and then overtly marketing your services. 

This article on LinkedIn Profile Tips from HomeWorkingClub.com stresses the importance of treating your profile like a shop window, with everything from your photograph to the way you talk about your services being ultra-professional. As the article points out, this is business networking – not social networking. 

Once you’ve built your profile, it’s important to post regular updates that establish your authority. This means sharing content that is of genuine interest to translators and translation clients. If you have time to write your own posts that subtly allow your expertise to shine, so much the better. That way, when you reach out to people and they check out your profile, they can be impressed by your skills and experience – and hopefully hire you for their next translation job. 

Facebook 

According to this article on Facebook statistics from Brandwatch, Facebook had 2.375 billion monthly active users as at Q3 2018. 1.49 billion of those access the platform daily. As such, it’s a great way to connect with other people, including those who may need the services of a professional translator. 

You can set up a business page on Facebook quickly and easily, to share information with potential clients. As with LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to share relevant, useful content. Facebook is also a great place to start discussions around translation in order to showcase your expertise and passion for your work. 

It’s well worth joining translation groups on Facebook, as many of these often flag up work that’s available around the globe, as well as providing a supportive community of your peers. 

Twitter

There’s far more to Twitter than ranting about politics and following celebrities. You can set up a business-focused bio and use the platform to share updates about your work, along with interesting and relevant content. 

Twitter is a great leveller in terms of those you can reach out to. There’s nothing to stop you directly tweeting the CEOs of major companies around the globe. Be creative and thoughtful in the way that you reach out and you never know where a single connection might lead! 

Pinterest 

There’s plenty of translation content on Pinterest, so if you have an eye for design, it can be a great way to publicise your services. Create interesting boards and pins that are both eye-catching and informative and you’ll be well on your way to snagging the attention of potential clients. 

It pays to think carefully about your descriptions on Pinterest, including the keywords and the hashtags that you use. Keep things focused on translation and freelancing in order to attract the kind of attention that you are looking for. If you provide any additional services, such as desktop publishing or localization, be sure to include those too. 

Final thoughts

Which social media platforms do you use when it comes to marketing your translation services? Remember that different platforms are popular in different countries, so it’s worth focusing your efforts on the relevant platforms in order to maximise your chances of connecting with potential clients.