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Poll: Do you think social networking sites can benefit a translator professionally?
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Nov 27, 2009

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think social networking sites can benefit a translator professionally?"

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Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 10:56
inglês para francês
+ ...
Depends Nov 27, 2009

... on the site but also on what you post and what your "friends" post. As a matter of fact, they may even have a negative effect, professionally speaking.

[Modifié le 2009-11-27 08:45 GMT]


 
Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk
Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Membro (2009)
russo para inglês
+ ...
Rather NO Nov 27, 2009

Generally speaking, this is not what they are for.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:56
Membro (2007)
inglês para português
+ ...
NO Nov 27, 2009

Benefit a translator professionally? Quite frankly I do not see how.

 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Itália
Local time: 10:56
inglês para italiano
NO Nov 27, 2009

Interlangue wrote:

... on the site but also on what you post and what your "friends" post. As a matter of fact, they may even have a negative effect, professionally speaking.

[Modifié le 2009-11-27 08:45 GMT]


I agree, and there is one more thing:
The time you have to spend to use these websites properly could be used to contact directly clients or translate.

I know a photographer/tourist guide who gets all his work from facebook, but he spends all his time on it, If I spent my time on facebook, I would have no money!!!


 
Jocelyne S
Jocelyne S  Identity Verified
França
Local time: 10:56
francês para inglês
+ ...
Other - I have no idea Nov 27, 2009

I honestly have no idea about the professional advantages of social networking sites.

Personally, I don't have time to be bothered with them and find that I already spend too much time in front of my computer.

I periodically receive Facebook invitations from friends, but I've never signed up and don't plan to do so in the near future.

Like Interlangue, I've also read a few horror stories about people who reveal a bit too much about themselves online.
... See more
I honestly have no idea about the professional advantages of social networking sites.

Personally, I don't have time to be bothered with them and find that I already spend too much time in front of my computer.

I periodically receive Facebook invitations from friends, but I've never signed up and don't plan to do so in the near future.

Like Interlangue, I've also read a few horror stories about people who reveal a bit too much about themselves online.

Best,
Jocelyne
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Sanna van Leeuwen (X)
Sanna van Leeuwen (X)  Identity Verified
Finlândia
Local time: 11:56
holandês para finlandês
+ ...
Is LinkedIn not a social networking site? Nov 27, 2009

I am not a very active LinkedIn user but nevertheless I have received messages from potential clients who had seen my profile on Linked In. So, my answer is yes.

 
Maria Drangel
Maria Drangel  Identity Verified
Suécia
Local time: 10:56
inglês para sueco
+ ...
Yes Nov 27, 2009

I have a rather large group of friends on Facebook and I have often checked who is online and asked questions about technical things e.g. "what is this type of screw called in Swedish" and received a quick chatt reply there.

On Skype I recieve business regularly from people who have found my profile, (although if I have a choice I prefer Proz due to the Blue Board) and I know friends who get good business from LinkedIn and Xing (but as I am not a paying member there I have not expe
... See more
I have a rather large group of friends on Facebook and I have often checked who is online and asked questions about technical things e.g. "what is this type of screw called in Swedish" and received a quick chatt reply there.

On Skype I recieve business regularly from people who have found my profile, (although if I have a choice I prefer Proz due to the Blue Board) and I know friends who get good business from LinkedIn and Xing (but as I am not a paying member there I have not experienced that myself).

I used to have great help from the (mainly Swedish) social network Shortcut, but that network has been declining for a few years so I don´t use it so much myself anymore.

Although it takes time I think that I can decide how much I spend on it and I try to use it in my favour as much as possible, and I think that it is helping me quite a bit.
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Natasha Dupuy
Natasha Dupuy  Identity Verified
França
Local time: 10:56
francês para inglês
Depends on a host of things... Nov 27, 2009

... not just the site.
So the short answer is yes, if used properly and actively.
I refer specifically to LinkedIn and Viadeo, since I don't use Facebook for professional purposes and personally I would not find it appropriate to do so.


 
Reed James
Reed James
Chile
Local time: 04:56
Membro (2005)
espanhol para inglês
I said no, but... Nov 27, 2009

On second thought, isn't ProZ a social networking site for translators?

 
Ivette Camargo López
Ivette Camargo López  Identity Verified
Espanha
Local time: 10:56
inglês para espanhol
+ ...
Balanced use Nov 27, 2009

I tend to think that any online website, including social networking websites, can obviously have an effect on one's freelance career, whether direct or indirect.

For me it all depends on how you use them, like everything in the Internet.

Just like spending a few minutes here in the Proz.com forums can add visibility to your profile/valuable community interaction, and, thus, attract potential clients, using social networking websites can also contribute to your online p
... See more
I tend to think that any online website, including social networking websites, can obviously have an effect on one's freelance career, whether direct or indirect.

For me it all depends on how you use them, like everything in the Internet.

Just like spending a few minutes here in the Proz.com forums can add visibility to your profile/valuable community interaction, and, thus, attract potential clients, using social networking websites can also contribute to your online professional visibility.

About the time you dedicate to this, I agree that it can be a bit of a distraction, but obviously you should have control over this, otherwise you risk a certain "addiction".

About social networking websites in particular, after being a bit reluctant about joining Twitter, I was introduced to it by a fellow/nice Prozian colleague, and I must say it has been fun and enriching from many points of view, not only professional. I think the fact that Twitter is based on words makes it more attractive to translators and language-related people in general, unlike sites like Facebook, more family-friend related, as its emphasis is on photos and the like.

Again, it all depends on how (and why) you use these sites.

Enjoy the weekend (Black Friday?),

Ivette
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Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
Espanha
Local time: 10:56
espanhol para inglês
+ ...
With Reed Nov 27, 2009

Yes, I think there is quite a strong social element to Proz (for those who wish to use it thus).

The Pow-Wows, the banter between translators...

But I imagine that this is not where the questioner was going.


 
Céline Graciet
Céline Graciet
Local time: 09:56
inglês para francês
Definitely Nov 27, 2009

I think the lines have become increasingly blurred between social and professional networking sites. I have made contact with several clients through my social/professional networking activities (my blog, other translators' blogs and Twitter mainly) and whenever I get a request for work that I can't take on, I always turn first to my social/profess... See more
I think the lines have become increasingly blurred between social and professional networking sites. I have made contact with several clients through my social/professional networking activities (my blog, other translators' blogs and Twitter mainly) and whenever I get a request for work that I can't take on, I always turn first to my social/professional network (see http://twitter.com/NTceline/status/5892609454 ).

Of course you have to be careful when you use them in a professional capacity and that's why I keep my Facebook account for my friends and family exclusively: potential clients don't need to know what I do at the weekend. However, I'm planning on setting up a different Facebook account, which I'll use to connect with as many people as possible. I think visibility is key for us freelancers: the wider we can cast our net, the better, and social networking sites are great for that.

Céline Graciet
www.nakedtranslations.com

[Edited at 2009-11-27 13:15 GMT]
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Bob Kerns (X)
Bob Kerns (X)  Identity Verified
Alemanha
Local time: 10:56
alemão para inglês
Definitely YES Nov 27, 2009

Just about every "social networking" site can be used for professional purposes if you network with the right people.

I initially joined Twitter and Facebook out of curiosity, but soon found definite professional benefits, not just in "getting to know" other translators, but also in sharing information on a vast range of translation and language-related subjects.

And up to now, not a single discussion I have followed there has been closed/locked/blocked/hidden/deleted.<
... See more
Just about every "social networking" site can be used for professional purposes if you network with the right people.

I initially joined Twitter and Facebook out of curiosity, but soon found definite professional benefits, not just in "getting to know" other translators, but also in sharing information on a vast range of translation and language-related subjects.

And up to now, not a single discussion I have followed there has been closed/locked/blocked/hidden/deleted.
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Textklick
Textklick  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:56
alemão para inglês
+ ...
In memoriam
Another definite yes Nov 27, 2009

Apart from the usual and much-discussed benefits of PowWows, I have found Twitter a very useful source for handy hints and links to excellent blogs by translators. It is easy to find who to 'follow' i.e.'xl8rs'

And up to now, not a single discussion I have followed there has been closed/locked/blocked/hidden/deleted.


And of course Bob is right

Chris


 
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Poll: Do you think social networking sites can benefit a translator professionally?






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