How Translation Agencies Can Find New Clients

5 tips to start finding the first clients for your translation agency

The hardest part of working in any industry is finding new clients. It can be especially hard to find your first few clients to help you grow your company. Just because it is hard doesn’t mean that it is impossible. With a few tips and some effort, even the youngest translations agencies can find new clients.

Show Your Skill

Translation agencies center on being able to use languages correctly, efficiently, and without error. This means that any advertisement, email, or website of a translation agency must be error free. If someone is in need for translation services and they see that you messed up in some area, what will they think? They’ll likely be disappointed and take their business elsewhere. That is why that – more so than in other industries – your content needs to be spotless. A good tip is to have someone else proofread important content for you so they can help catch any errors you missed. Remember, any ads or website content will likely be the first thing a potential client sees of your agency’s work. You need to make a good and lasting impression.

Reach Out

Unfortunately, you can’t expect most clients to seek you out until your company is very well-known. Until then, keep up the practice of reaching out to people. Sponsor local events that deal with scholastic and multicultural topics. Contact companies and individuals that are in industries needing translation services. Such companies and organizations involve universities, hospitals, and charities. You should also get in contact with chambers of commerce and translation networking websites such as Proz.com.

Keep in Touch

If you think you have a prospective client, keep in touch. Keep an email list of potential and established clients and put together a newsletter to send out on a regular basis. Members of your agency should also carry business cards with them to hand out to people they meet. You could also call your loyal clients with special offers for your services. Doing these things is important because it reminds people that you’re there. It also makes them feel like you care, therefore making your agency more appealing to them.

Where to Place Ads

There are many places out there to put your ads, both virtual and physical. You should look into spots in industry magazines and at local coffee shops and universities. As far as virtual ads, you should check out advertising on Google and Facebook. Keep your ads professional, simple, and error free so that they stand out from the ads of other companies and make a good first impression.

Be Original

Being original will help your translation agency stand out from the crowd. Your company could send letters out instead of emails, have creative business cards, or offer a rewards or referral program that other agencies don’t have.

Find New Clients

These tips should help you to find new clients for your translation agencies. Whether you are just starting out or you have an established clientele, you should remember to treat the people you meet with respect and show them that your agency cares. Of all the things that you can do to help get your name out there, a good reputation and people talking positively about your company will help the most.

Resources

• The Savvy Newcomer – http://atasavvynewcomer.org/2013/11/05/finding-your-first-translation-clients/

• The Houston Chronicle – http://smallbusiness.chron.com/establish-clients-translation-company-25926.html

• Transylvania Digest – http://www.transylvaniadigest.com/12-tips-for-getting-direct-translation-clients/

• Blog.Mundabla – http://blog.mundabla.com/translation-clients/