Facebook is one of the social media sites that enjoy extreme popularity in many parts of the world. Billions of people have individual accounts on Facebook. And there are various communities and groups where some of the individual account holders are also members.
The social networking site makes it easy for users to connect with friends and family. People create accounts on Facebook because it is already an expected component of a person’s online persona. Although there are several social networking sites, Facebook’s sheer popularity makes it a sought-after platform for private and public businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals.
Creating a Facebook group allows members to build their own community around an idea, cause, or product. Businesses have realized growth and success by leveraging large groups on Facebook. Aside from finding friends, Facebook helps people find products, read product reviews, or locate businesses selling specialized goods. With a membership from different cultures speaking a multitude of languages, it’s not surprising that there are several Facebook groups for interpreters and translators.
Top 10 Facebook groups for translators and interpreters
Knowing how easy it is to connect with peers, colleagues, and clients through Facebook and the fact that translation and interpreting services are sought after, you’ll find nearly 100 Facebook groups for translators, interpreters, and lovers of languages. Here are some of the most popular if you are in the language services business and looking for a group to join.
- Translators and Interpreters (ProZ.com). This community has an international membership and currently has 45,000 members. It’s a networking and community site for language services providers, with recommendations on opportunities and tools for translators to expand their business and learn better work practices.
- Translation and Interpreting Group. The group, which has a current membership of 6,500, is for students and professionals who can share resources and discuss language-related developments and issues in an open forum.
- Translation and Interpreting International Group. With 5,900 members, the group was created to provide a place to discuss everything related to languages, translation, and interpreting services.
- Things Translators Never Say. This group, founded by Erik Hansson, is a place for freelance translators. They can share things, experiences, and issues that they cannot discuss elsewhere. The current membership is 15,000+.
- Freelance TRANSLATORS. This is a public group with 30,800 members. Their objectives are to work with other freelance translators, share experiences, collaborate on a project, and find translation jobs.
- Productive & Successful Translators/Interpreters. This 8,300-member group consists of translation and interpretation professionals, sharing and discussing methods and tips on working smarter.
- Interpreters, Translators & Language Professionals. The public group, which has 14,100 members, is focused on training and lifting the profession’s standards. The group consists of linguistic experts in language teaching and scientific, commercial, medical, and legal translation and interpreting. The members aim to raise awareness, hone their skills, and share information and resources.
- Continuous Training (CPD) & Events for Translators and Interpreters. With 6,800 members, this public group acts as the news and information hub for things relevant to continuous professional development (CPD) and various provider-neutral training and online/offline event announcements for the language industry. The group also accepts calls for conference papers.
- Translation Jobs Worldwide. This is a private group with 54,500 members. This is a job post site for translators and interpreters. The members do their best to help other members and share their experiences and opinions. They post job offers, language skills, ideas on promoting their group, and potential clients.
- Translation Tools. This is a private group consisting of 9,300 members. The members help other translators who have technical questions or are unfamiliar with computers, CAT tools, and translation software. Members share their experiences, suggest other tools useful to their profession, and share professional tips to make their job easier.
You’ll also find several translation groups for individual languages, groups that compile events for language services providers, groups for translation and interpreting job postings, and others. You can search for groups to join, either through an Internet search or from Facebook itself.
Tips for beginner freelance translators
When you’re a beginner, you need professional help and guidance from experienced translators. Besides that, you should develop excellent work habits, boosting your confidence, and building a good reputation.
- Understand that translation is hard work. It requires precision and attention to detail. Besides establishing your own standard for high-quality and accurate work, you should always meet deadlines.
- Know how much you are worth by checking the rates other freelancers charge, what the industry standard is, and your capability. You should not lower your rates so that you can get clients. You should charge fairly and you can only do it when you show your clients that you are worth the price. Increase your worth through continuing education, getting needed certification, training, and maintaining industry organizations’ membership.
- Avoid burnout by maintaining a work-life balance. While your bank balance will only improve if you work continuously, remember that you wear many hats as a freelancer, as you do everything yourself, which is exhausting. Create a system that will help you manage your work life and still enjoy your home life.
- Aside from being certified, it is important to gain membership in industry organizations. Likewise, you should build connections with peers who can help you connect with some clients. Another thing you can do to build your network is to follow and engage with potential clients so they’ll know you and the services you offer. Learn about the industry, keep up to date with industry trends, and don’t stop honing your skills.
- Make sure that you are accessible and responsive. Check your emails, instant messages, text messages and reply to all inquiries immediately.
- One thing you should avoid – accepting work that you are not capable of doing.
Benefits of being a member of an online translator community
Building a network is one of the benefits you get when you become a member of an online translation community. Engaging in discussions gives you insights into the industry and the job itself, and you learn from the experiences and expert tips of other translators. You can meet other translators from different parts of the world, find job posts, find clients, collaborate and market your services.
When you are a member of a translator community, you have a support group that can help you resolve work-related issues, access materials exclusive to the group, learn how to be a successful freelancer, receive updates on new technologies and translation industry news.
What you need to know in promoting your translating services
When you’re a freelancer, marketing your translation services can be difficult. You have to beat the competition, therefore, you spend more time marketing your services and looking for clients. While devising your marketing strategies, the first thing to do is to identify your target market. Be honest when you list down your capabilities, qualities, strengths, and weaknesses.
How to promote your translation services effectively
- Consider digital marketing, which you can avail of at low prices. Create a website, not only for clients to find you but also to use it as one of your primary marketing tools. Make sure that all the information the clients need is clearly visible. Show your linguistic and translation skills by translating your website and your pages on various social media platforms.
- Build your network by becoming a member of online translation groups, attending conferences, industry fairs, and other relevant events where you are sure you can connect with potential clients.
- Think of employing email marketing. When properly utilized, email marketing is still an effective and cost-efficient marketing strategy. You can start around your area. Find companies and individuals that may require your translation services. Choose the prospects and send them personalized emails. You can write a short but compelling copy for your website.
- Present yourself as an expert in your field. Provide content (blog) your potential clients will find informative and encourage them to sign up to receive your newsletter. Make sure you give clients all the information they need – your language pair, the topics you want to handle, your turnaround time, and your rates.
- Get client testimonials and request their permission so that you can post their testimonials on your website. Further, request your clients to give you referrals. Of course, your clients should be satisfied with your work.
- Be visible in places where your clients are online and offline.
Reach out to your clients in the language they understand
Whether you want our website translated or localized, you want your documents translated, or transpose your social media posts and blogs into other languages, eTranslation Services is here to help. Our native-speaking translators reside in different parts of the world, ready to work on your translation projects. We work with more than 200 languages, so we are confident that we can work on the language pair you need. If you need translation services immediately, please send us an email at [email protected] or call us at (800) 882-6058.