Ok, so you are on Twitter, you have your Facebook fan page, your LinkedIn profile is shiny and polished. You are more than ready to accept all these new clients streamlined to your contact page. Whops, nothing like that happens. Ever wondered why?
Well, would you expect that buying a new mobile phone will bring you more translation clients? Would you think that setting up an e-mail account will bring you more contracts? Chances are more or less like someone opening a phone book and accidentally picking your number.
The problem with social media is that users somehow think that having a profile is enough, or having a fan page will generate leads. The company I once worked for had terrible problems with getting new clients. Everything was fine with the company: standards, quality, freelancers, but the way they tried to get their customers. To cut it short, they thought that being in Yellow Pages and having a website will bring them enquiries. Well, it took me a while to persuade them that it will never work. I even had to ask the PM then: “Ok, you have a computer. Does it type for you?”. It worked.
So if you expect that your Twitter will socialise for you, your fan page will talk to your clients, or your LinkedIn will get you connections to PMs and companies… you may well expect your phone to call translation agencies, or your home to move closer to one.
If you want to learn how to use Social Media in your translation business, I do recommend this webinar.
This post is also worth reading!
Marta Stelmaszak
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1 Comment
I *love* these analogies, Marta! You’re so right that all of these technologies might help us get more work or stay on top of it, but only if we actually use them to look, promote, inquire and try to get new business.