One Hour Translation Blog

Ever since the advent of the World Wide Web in the early 1990’s, it has been widely used as a means of social networking i.e. sharing of common interests, ideas etc through emails and instant messaging. Recently however the idea got a special impetus with improvement in communication, higher bandwidth at affordable cost facilitating interactive information sharing, interoperability and user centered design of websites. The so called Web2.0 has unleashed a whole gamut of social networking sites that has created web based communities whose members can easily interact online, change website content instead of passive viewing of website information. These sites have also been used as marketing tool to improve business, brand management etc.

The social networking sites can also serve as useful tool for freelance translators in linking up with fellow translators, exchange ideas, self promotion etc. Some of the popular social networking sites include Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Nexopia, Hi5, Tagged, Orkut, Friendster, ProZ etc. Though accessible worldwide, some of these sites have geographical preferences i.e. they are more popular in certain geographies and languages than others.

Blogging is another way of utilizing social media to keep in touch with others as well as promote business. You can use Wordpress for macroblogging and Twitter, LinkedIn, ProZ for microblogging. You can converse with other fellow translators via blogging and leaving comments on other blogs. You can join relevant translation related blogging communities using tools such as Technorati, MyBlogLog etc. You can join translation community forums in Google, Yahoo, ProZ etc. and also sites like LinkedIn, Proz, Ning etc and provide back links to your website and increase your footprint in the cyber world. Google Analytics can be used to measure the impact of the online tools that you are using.

The social media sites mentioned above can help you build relationships and create a personal brand of yourself in the world of translation. Building a brand not only attracts more customers but also increases your market value and helps in establishing yourself. They can help in building your reputation. In addition social bookmarks like Delicious, StumbleUpon, Magnolia etc. allow you to ‘listen’ to the conversational hubs that you may be interested in. They keep you abreast of recent happenings in the world of translation.

To sum up, social media sites are an inexpensive means of marketing as well as a source of latest information for freelance translators. They can be used to your advantage in making an impression in the translation world and establish your brand identity.