In a previous blog post I explained the most essential methods to market your translation services. But there are many more ways you can market your freelance business. Here are some more things to try.

1. Publish Your Services in Local Business Directories

Many freelance translators don’t even think of “old-school” marketing methods, such as listing your company in local business directories. In the U.S., a listing on Craigslist, Yelp or even the Yellow Pages are still the main source of information for many businesses that need services.

2. Go to local business networking events

A face-to-face opportunity to tell people about your services can be a very efficient marketing tool. Many people still rely on references that they know or recommendations from others. A face-to-face networking meeting creates the opportunity for a two-way conversation. Attending networking events and lunch will allow you to meet potential customers, others within your industry, or vertical industries.

Here’s some more information on face-to-face networking:

• Networking Your Way Up as a Freelance Translator
• Episode 85: Face-to-Face Networking for Translators
• Episode 037: Managing the Mingling- Networking Tips

3. Get Your Existing Clients to Give You Testimonials for Work You’ve Done

Word of mouth is still a form of marketing with high authority and trust, so if you can obtain written testimonials from existing clients this will help persuade others that you offer a great service.

Reviews from other clients will create trust for potential clients and they’ll be more likely to use your translation services. Testimonials can be shared on your website, LinkedIn, or any other marketing tool you have.

4. Content Marketing

Content marketing is the newest and most popular marketing strategy these days. If you can publish useful content that describes the value of your services with blogs, in magazines, on LinkedIn or other social media option, your potential clients will discover your expertise and become more aware of who you are and how you can help them. Creating useful content that people actually want to read is a great way to create awareness of your brand.

Maximize the effectiveness of content marketing by making sure that the content you publish is relevant to your target audience.

5. Go Beyond Your Current Contacts

Find your ideal potential clients by looking for a business that wants to expand into a target market for your native language. This should be a company that has a lot of written material to explain and inform about the services and products it offers. If you find a client like this, it is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing skills as a translator by providing excellent copy in your target language.

However, many of these potential clients are looking for someone who can translate, provide cultural and background expertise, plus understand the company’s vision. How can we find these?

This would require some extra work. You need to change your own mindset about the work too and go beyond your usual mindset of “I don’t know anyone who needs my services,” or “I’ve already told everyone about what I do.”

Look beyond your contacts to the people they know. Research their circles online and consider where you could help with your services.

How?

1. Think about the people you know in professional and personal circles.
2. Think about the people you know and the companies where they work. Are you interested in any of those companies as potential clients?
3. What’s your specialty or what do you enjoy working with? Do you have any colleagues or other contacts in this area?

6. Find Ways to Stand Out with Your Work as a Freelance Translator

Do you know how you are unique and stand out among the competition? If not, try to work on that. Here’s more information on how to define your Unique Selling Proposition:

• Quick Start Guide USP: Finding and Using Your Unique Selling Point When Marketing to Translation Buyers – Seven-Step Process
• Episode 108 – How to Define Our Unique Selling Point
• Episode 33 – How to Make Your Translation Business Stand Out

Once you’ve honed your USP, create a portfolio of professional documents, samples and web pages that demonstrate your value, skills and approach. When clients need information about what you do or your work process, you have documents ready to send out.

A great way to get clients’ attention is to show them how your cultural knowledge can help them save time and money. There are hundreds of blog posts already out there discussing costly translation blunders that you can use, but also posts about the value of using a human translator. You can also create your own posts showcasing project cases (while keeping confidentiality), and educating clients on how to best buy professional translation services.

Do you want monthly free marketing and business checklists and never miss any episodes, posts or marketing tips? Then I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter. I will not spam you. Sign up below!