1. What should be on your website?
Presenting your freelance language services
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com

2. Be remembered
Buy a domain name
• Many translators put this stage off, as they are nervous of the
expense. It is true that you can get sufficient work without a one,
but a clean, interesting site which has snappy copy and is easy
to navigate is a great advert for your services, and will garner
interest.
• Make your url easy to remember, and try to include a key search
term e.g. www.germansportstranslator.com
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com

3. Hotmail won’t cut it
Get a hosted email address
• A professional email address gives you the edge on other
candidates, as it shows them that you are serious about your
business, and are therefore willing to invest a bit of money into
it.
• You will also, of course, have a website with the same name,
either up and running or in the pipeline.
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com

4. Be concise, be clear, be you
The copy
• Although it is vital to communicate the value of your services (10
years’ experience you say? Member of the ITI? Meticulous
proofreader?), your visitor does not want your life story. Keep to
the point: why should they work with you? Be direct.
• Inject a bit of your personality – no-one wants to see a bland
page with no ‘face’ behind the name. Show your clients who you
are and make them want you!
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com

5. Be social
The phenomenon of social media
• Any web designer worth their salt will integrate social media into
your website. Have a blog? Get it on your website. Prolific
tweeter? Get a ‘recent tweets’ box.
• It’s all about getting your visitors, and potential clients, to
connect. Give them options. They might want to ‘like’ you on
Facebook – make it easy for them. Maybe they prefer to use
LinkedIn – get an icon. Can they subscribe to your blog? Make it
happen.
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com

6. Go for it!
Points to take away:
• Buy your domain and set up an associated email address
• Take time to consider your copy, or hire a great copywriter
• Be professional, but be yourself! If you feel uncomfortable, it will
show
• Organise and make use of your social media presence
© © Megan Onions 2012 www.speechmarkstranslation.com