Freelance Websites - Are you expecting too much from them?

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Freelance Websites - Are You Expecting Too Much From Them?

Do Freelance websites really boost translators’ bottom line?

Freelance websites, as a product of the internet, have opened up new worldwide opportunities to translators and interpreters. They are easy and quick.

Basically there are two types.

Some are free with no strings attached.

Some charge you a fee to bid for jobs. This could include a membership fee or a fee for each job you get.

Let’s have a look at these sites:

2. www.translatorscafe.com
Jobs posted on this site are exclusively for translators, interpreters and other linguists.

It’s free to join and it doesn’t cost you anything to bid for a job.

2. www.elance.com

This site has job postings for all freelancers. Translators and interpreters can find jobs there too. You need to pay a membership fee to join and bid for jobs.

3. www.proz.com

This is a website for translators and interpreters. It’s free to join. But you have to pay a membership fee to be able to bid for jobs.

4. www.guru.com
This is one of those general freelance websites that offer all sorts of freelance jobs. There are three different types of memberships to choose from. But bottom line is you have to pay to bid for jobs.

The problem of these freelance websites is that most clients are there for a reason – they are searching for a bargain. When you bid, you don’t know who your competition is. You may well lose the job to someone in the Philippines or India.

Another possible pitfall is getting the payment. Some of these sites have very good protection system for freelancers. But some are buyers-beware situations.

So always take precautions. Paypal is the right way to go. It’s easy and secure. It gives protection to both service buyers and sellers.

Having an online presence is a great idea. But at the end of the day, you have to measure the ROI (return on investment) for your business.

Translators often do not have a large amount of money set aside for promotion. Membership fees can add up to a pretty heavy load to you, especially if they don’t produce the kind of results you’d like to see.

Freelance websites are another source for freelance work. They are also good places for outsourcing your tasks. But they are not your business solution.

If you choose to take this route, remember to always set a budget and stick to it.

There are ways to promote yourself online other than joining freelance websites

1. start a blog

Blogging costs very little or even free. Yet it still can be found by search engines. You can even apply google ads or other ads to generate additional income.

More importantly you can promote yourself whatever way you like. Of course, to be effective you have to do it the right way.

2. Build a website of your own

But before you invest, it is always a good idea to understand how a website works.

It’s not just a fancy brochure online. It is a place where you promote yourself, attract visitors, build your credibility and reputation, and ultimately boost your income.

Make sure the person who designs your site also understands ecommerce. Check with their past clients to see how satisfied they are, how much traffic they get and how much business they get from the site.

Every result is a combination of many factors. If you want to see beautiful fruit, you have to plant the seeds now – strategically and consistently.

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