Poll: Do you use social networking sites for business purposes? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you use social networking sites for business purposes?".
This poll was originally submitted by Lotte Bulckens. View the poll results »
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And that includes ProZ
[Edited at 2015-02-25 08:25 GMT] | | | neilmac Spain Local time: 03:28 Spanish to English + ...
But I do have the odd look at different FB groups for translators. It seems there are weirdos everywhere, waiting to pounce and slag off others. Ho hum. | | | Not any more | Feb 25, 2015 |
I closed my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts a couple of months ago - two irritants I can do without. | |
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Michael Harris Germany Local time: 03:28 Member (2006) German to English
And I cannot imagine that anyone would do so?? Dont have any social media accounts anyway | | | DianeGM Local time: 04:28 Member (2006) Dutch to English + ...
Pretty much the answer as I answered other similar polls concerning social networking and social media. Social = social and business = business. | | | Just wondering... | Feb 25, 2015 |
...how long until we get the first comment typically along the lines of "I don't use Twitter because I'm not interested in hearing about what random people have had for breakfast." Social networking sites have some business value if you know how to use them and how to prevent them becoming a time sink. | | |
In fact, it has become my primary method for finding new (direct) clients. I have met some very interesting clients and I really enjoy working with them. Like so many things, and as Oliver said, you get what you put in to it. Many of the translators here have been in the business for decades and already have a strong base of clients built up. For those of us that do not, social media is one of the best ways to cheaply get our names out there and start working. I personally focus al... See more In fact, it has become my primary method for finding new (direct) clients. I have met some very interesting clients and I really enjoy working with them. Like so many things, and as Oliver said, you get what you put in to it. Many of the translators here have been in the business for decades and already have a strong base of clients built up. For those of us that do not, social media is one of the best ways to cheaply get our names out there and start working. I personally focus all of my attention on the video game localization market - which is great since all of my desired clients are already on these social networks. There's a lot to be said about using these networks, so I guess it's time for another YouTube video! ▲ Collapse | |
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Balasubramaniam L. India Local time: 07:58 Member (2006) English to Hindi + ... SITE LOCALIZER
I may like to use them, but at present I haven't the faintest idea how they work. | | | Erzsébet Czopyk Hungary Local time: 03:28 Member (2006) Russian to Hungarian + ... SITE LOCALIZER a face of a human | Feb 25, 2015 |
Besides the very simple website, I loved the idea of a Facebook page from the very beginning. Some of my regular clients sending messages, let me know where they are or just ask a question like "Hi Liza, he made me a proposal so we will meet each other soon - we need an interpreter for our wedding ceremony" etc. Some old clients let me to publish pictures and they were surprised when they got a nice message from the translation office for their birthdays, wedding aniversaries etc. Some patients ... See more Besides the very simple website, I loved the idea of a Facebook page from the very beginning. Some of my regular clients sending messages, let me know where they are or just ask a question like "Hi Liza, he made me a proposal so we will meet each other soon - we need an interpreter for our wedding ceremony" etc. Some old clients let me to publish pictures and they were surprised when they got a nice message from the translation office for their birthdays, wedding aniversaries etc. Some patients received get well-messages to the hospital with the translation of their medical reports. We all humans and any sign of love towards completing our daily translation ordered is our human side, which sometimes can be as much important as our professionalism. Maybe I am wrong but this is my way. ▲ Collapse | | |
Oliver Lawrence wrote: Social networking sites have some business value if you know how to use them and how to prevent them becoming a time sink. Until recently my answer to this question was always a resounding "No," but recently I've tapped into a nest of translators and translation agencies on Twitter that seems to be pretty active. Twitter is more immediate and dynamic than LinkedIn. I've had a professional profile on LinkedIn for many years, but it hasn't generated business because I haven't been working it very much. I understand that it's my responsibility to make these resources work. I'm already using them to promote my memoir, "Finding My Invincible Summer." | | |
I don't. There's no guarantee using a social network will give you return for your time invested. As Oliver said, they can be useful if you prevent it to become a "time sink". However, this is the paradox of social media: for it to work, you need to be connected all the time, and this time could be much better spent investing on yourself. Plus, social networking can make you addicted. | |
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I forgot to add... | Feb 26, 2015 |
The Internet is far more mutable than social media, so there's no guarantee that the time and effort you took to master it will work 6 (or even 3!) months from now. The media might not even be there anymore. Just to illustrate what I mean: would you create a blog on Blogspot? Would you advertise on Myspace? Surely they were mainstream a while ago, but would you be 100%, positively sure they would attract the right public? In fact, will they attract the same public 6 months from now? | | | Daniel Penso United States Local time: 19:28 Member (2012) Japanese to English + ...
Wherever you meet someone, even at a club, shouldn't be an issue. The important thing is whether there is honesty, integrity and responsibility in the relationship between the translator and the outsourcer/client. | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do you use social networking sites for business purposes? Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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