Before offering your services to potential clients, first you must define those services. Based on your knowledge and interests, decide:
Services: language professionals may offer a wide range of services depending on their abilities, training and interests. Translation and interpreting are the two most common ones, but there are others, many others. Familiarize yourself with available language services and define which ones you would like to offer. Focusing on one or two will help you to attract clients that are willing to pay for your unique expertise. EDIT YOUR SERVICES »
Language(s): to offer services professionally, you should first acknowledge your abilities in those services in the languages you know. For example, some professionals feel comfortable only when offering translation services into their native languages, while others work two-ways. Some voice-over linguists offer services in all the languages they speak, while others focus on their native language only. Define your top languages or language pairs based on your top services. EDIT YOUR LANGUAGES »
Field(s): some linguists choose one or two fields in which they already have a personal interest and so they know the terminology and the latest news in the field. Others may choose fields they have never been in touch with, but nevertheless they want to learn about. Working in a field means being exposed to content in that field, doing research, dealing with field players directly (direct clients). So, try fields you like and in which you feel comfortable. EDIT YOUR FIELDS »
Other ways in which you can show your specialization include:
Build a portfolio in your languages and fields »
Create a glossary of terms in your languages and fields »
Earn KudoZ points in your languages and fields »
Build and share a field-specific translation memory »
Once you have decided the services you will offer, your top languages and your top fields, and you have reported them in your ProZ.com profile, it's time to add a professional face to all of it.
Your ProZ.com profile is your public face at ProZ.com, just as any other online profile. Make sure that this online 'you' reflects who you are, what you offer and what makes you different from the rest --professionally speaking, of course! How? Using the big three:
Photo: use a professional-looking image of you, and save those of you at the beach for social networks. Remember you are building a profile for clients, not for family members or friends. EDIT YOUR PHOTO »
Real name: show your real name will make a difference. There are already too many Joe123's and Jane1995's. Introduce yourself just as you would do in person while shaking hands with a client. EDIT YOUR NAME »
Tagline: tell potential clients what makes you different using a few characters. Highlight credentials earned, fields in which you have decided to offer services, or even services. Avoid clichés such as "professional translator" or "Quality and on-time delivery". EDIT YOUR TAGLINE »
Other suggestions to build a professional, online 'you' includes:
Apply for inclusion into one or more ProZ.com Pools »
Take part in translation contests »
Know the community, and allow the community to know you »
Cross-link your online profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, website) »
Boost your profile visibility with ProZ.com membership »
This is how client-service provider matching works at ProZ.com (and in most online workplaces):
A client has a language service need and searches the web using project criteria (service needed, languages, field, etc.)
Most of the time, the web presents them with a long list of potential providers (you are part of that long list!)
They narrow their search using service provider requirements (speciality, credentials, activity in language+field combination, etc.) and contact suitable providers directly.
If the project requires your top services, fields and languages, and you have completed steps 1 and 2, then you will still be on the list after they narrow their search.
At ProZ.com, the main source of jobs is the directory, a service that most clients use to search for suitable providers and contact them directly with a job offer. When this happens, you must be ready to take on the project. This means:
Rates: have rates already defined, including charges and surcharges. EDIT YOUR RATES »
Invoicing: have an online invoicing system in place to invoice the client as soon as you deliver your project. CUSTOMIZE YOUR INVOICES »
Payment methods: set-up one or two payment methods to be able to receive payments for the jobs performed. SETUP PROZ*PAY »
Other tips to be ready before accepting projects:
Define your own job conditions »
Be familiar with known scams to reduce risks »
Have the latest software versions up and running »
How To Get Started as a Freelance Translator »
A training is designed to help linguists advance their career with focused training.
To win jobs online--specialize! »
Clients rarely go looking for good all-around translators. This article contains some tips for becoming--and standing out as--a specialist.
Specialize for your own good »
