Translation - art & business » Business issues »
Non-language networking events
Thread poster: Gül Kaya
Gül Kaya
Gül Kaya  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:54
Turkish to English
+ ...
Jul 2, 2013

While talking with a client about a completely unrelated issue, she mentioned that she was a member of several local networking organisations and attended informal breakfast or lunch events a couple of times a month. Not having even managed to get myself to a Proz powwow yet, I was wondering whether these local and non-language related events are a good way of drumming up business, meeting a few people and handing out some business cards. It's not very focused marketing but can it be beneficial ... See more
While talking with a client about a completely unrelated issue, she mentioned that she was a member of several local networking organisations and attended informal breakfast or lunch events a couple of times a month. Not having even managed to get myself to a Proz powwow yet, I was wondering whether these local and non-language related events are a good way of drumming up business, meeting a few people and handing out some business cards. It's not very focused marketing but can it be beneficial if we take the long view? Anyone like to share their experiences? ▲ Collapse
 
Henry Hinds
Henry Hinds  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 04:54
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Make it specific Jul 2, 2013

I am totally out of your area, and totally unfamiliar with it. However, my reaction would be that networking can be good, but you should try to make it as specific as possible. That is, try to find groups to network with that include people with some sort of a relationship between the UK and Turkey, business or otherwise (NGOs, etc.). Otherwise you'd be spinning your wheels.
 
Łukasz Gos-Furmankiewicz
Łukasz Gos-Furmankiewicz  Identity Verified
Poland
Local time: 12:54
English to Polish
+ ...
They might be Jul 2, 2013

Gül Kaya wrote:

While talking with a client about a completely unrelated issue, she mentioned that she was a member of several local networking organisations and attended informal breakfast or lunch events a couple of times a month. Not having even managed to get myself to a Proz powwow yet, I was wondering whether these local and non-language related events are a good way of drumming up business, meeting a few people and handing out some business cards. It's not very focused marketing but can it be beneficial if we take the long view? Anyone like to share their experiences?


One of my outsourcers made quite a big buck that way. If you can establish your status as an expert in translation and preferably the kind of specialised translation your potential clients need, then network can be pretty good. I'd say even better than translation-specific networking, because isn't it good to be the only translator in the room? Haven't you always dreamt of having your own blue ocean where no competition exists?

Early bird catches the worm, and a faint heart never has won a lady. Just go and do it!
 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Margarita[Call to this topic]
James Heppe-Smith[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Non-language networking events







TM-Town
Manage your TMs and Terms ... and boost your translation business

Are you ready for something fresh in the industry? TM-Town is a unique new site for you -- the freelance translator -- to store, manage and share translation memories (TMs) and glossaries...and potentially meet new clients on the basis of your prior work.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »