| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you actively market your language services? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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sort of, I guess
But my idea of 'active' might appear 'lethargic' or 'listless' to others. It's all a matter of perception. Some kind of benchmark or definition for 'actively' would be useful. 
But I never mass-mail. I get heaps of those everyday - God knows where they get my address - and they're destined for Trash right away.
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk 
Hungary
Local time: 10:24
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
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SITE LOCALIZER | facing a relocation | Sep 2, 2015 |
I think I have to, planning and preparing my new life in another country... I actively seek new customers in/around the UK, Isle of Man and overseas.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 09:24
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| Another vote for "sort of, I guess" | Sep 2, 2015 |
Julian Holmes wrote:
But my idea of 'active' might appear 'lethargic' or 'listless' to others. It's all a matter of perception. Some kind of benchmark or definition for 'actively' would be useful.
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| No, but I use passive marketing | Sep 2, 2015 |
I envision "active marketing" as prospecting and contacting potential clients. While I did some campaigns focused on translation agencies in the past, I haven't done this for a few years already.
However I've built a useful-information-packed web site that keeps itself well positioned in search engines on its own, i.e. without any cash investment in SEO, ever. This has been a major sour... See more I envision "active marketing" as prospecting and contacting potential clients. While I did some campaigns focused on translation agencies in the past, I haven't done this for a few years already.
However I've built a useful-information-packed web site that keeps itself well positioned in search engines on its own, i.e. without any cash investment in SEO, ever. This has been a major source of new potential clients every single day.
Peer-to-peer networking is my second major source of new clients. I know a considerable number of colleagues offering specialized translation services and, likewise, I am known by numerous colleagues for my specialties.
And the third major source of new clients is good customer service which, on its turn, leads past clients to refer their friends, colleagues and relatives to me, when these need services that I can provide.
All three are, according to my book, passive marketing. Of course, if and when it fails to keep me busy enough, I'll switch to active marketing. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Not these days | Sep 2, 2015 |
I used to 'market' my language services a bit more actively than I do these days
| | | | | Do it sometimes, but stopped a bit after getting "enough" regulars. | Sep 2, 2015 |
As mentioned in a previous poll a good minimal number of clients to regularly provide jobs is 5, but even at lower amounts I do get clients bursting out of nowhere with yet another job to immediately/urgently tackle with "possible long term collaboration" at stake. Fortunately enough, part of those "gentlemen" also become regulars, so that applying to jobs offers of ProZ is no longer an absolute necessity. I'd tend to think that in the end, ProZ is somehow a very good asset to first find out if ... See more As mentioned in a previous poll a good minimal number of clients to regularly provide jobs is 5, but even at lower amounts I do get clients bursting out of nowhere with yet another job to immediately/urgently tackle with "possible long term collaboration" at stake. Fortunately enough, part of those "gentlemen" also become regulars, so that applying to jobs offers of ProZ is no longer an absolute necessity. I'd tend to think that in the end, ProZ is somehow a very good asset to first find out if you're cut for the job, and not (as I first thought) to really develop your network. ▲ Collapse
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Dears
Thank you for sharing your opinions
But, I believe that Marketing is essential for your freelancing career
Samah And Elfattah
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564354352 (X)
Denmark
Local time: 10:24
Danish to English
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| Sporadically, yes | Sep 2, 2015 |
I hate writing self-promoting letters to potential clients, so I don't do as much marketing as I probably ought to.
In Denmark, it is illegal to send uninvited marketing emails, so any 'marketing' has to be done via snail mail, even more tedious, in my view.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 10:24
Spanish to English
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Far from it - in fact, I'm currently beating off potential clients with the proverbial stick. I'm also offering a higher rate to new clients as a further deterrent...
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 09:24
Member (2007)
English
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| You clearly aren't marketing | Sep 2, 2015 |
neilmac wrote:
Far from it - in fact, I'm currently beating off potential clients with the proverbial stick. I'm also offering a higher rate to new clients as a further deterrent...
"beating off", "stick", "deterrent" - no, those aren't normal marketing terms .
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I want to work as little as possible, which means that I need to charge as much as possible. Not only that, but I've grown very tired of dealing with agency clients, so I am actively marketing my skills to potential clients. Especially now that I have my app up and running (I only need one good client a year!).
I started to list everything that I'm doing, but it was almost two pages long and I figured no one was really that interested in my app or my YouTube channel.
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samah A. fattah wrote:
Dears
Thank you for sharing your opinions
But, I believe that Marketing is essential for your freelancing career
I've thought about marketing actively a couple of times recently, but each time I get snowed under by so many translation requests, that there is no time for it. The question being, if after 25 years word of mouth and reputation seem to have created a viable business, can I actually accept that marketing is "essential"? After all, if you're busy working with customers coming to you, that seems to argue for a passive marketing (which I'm not sure if it will count as marketing)
| | | | | Marketing vs. Advertising | Sep 2, 2015 |
Maxi Schwarz wrote:
samah A. fattah wrote:
Dears
Thank you for sharing your opinions
But, I believe that Marketing is essential for your freelancing career
I've thought about marketing actively a couple of times recently, but each time I get snowed under by so many translation requests, that there is no time for it. The question being, if after 25 years word of mouth and reputation seem to have created a viable business, can I actually accept that marketing is "essential"? After all, if you're busy working with customers coming to you, that seems to argue for a passive marketing (which I'm not sure if it will count as marketing)
I generally use the definitions that they taught me in my marketing/advertising classes at the university.
Marketing is building and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with a client; while advertising is telling them that you exist.
Keeping your clients happy, and generating word of mouth, is part marketing. Advertising would be like creating a profile here and answering kudoz to rank higher, or standing in front of your house with a big neon sign offering your services.
I think that's why some say that marketing is so essential.
| | | | | Nah, quality sells itslef | Sep 2, 2015 |
Sic
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