The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2020 - 19

FEATURE

BY MADALENA SÁNCHEZ ZAMPAULO

show up online: our online presence, the
platforms we use, the content we create
and share, and the ability to reach our
clients wherever they are.
You own your online presence,
especially your website. Events and
networking opportunities may get
canceled, but no one can take your
online presence from you, pandemic or
not. There are potential clients out there
right now searching online for services
like yours, with more to follow in the
coming months as businesses begin to
ramp up activity. You need to be ready
for them with a website that will capture
their interest and showcase your work to
the best advantage. How? Here are five
strategies you can use to help achieve
this goal.

We can control how we show up
online: our online presence, the
platforms we use, the content we
create and share, and the ability to
reach our clients wherever they are.

5 Strategies to Improve Your Online
Presence during and after COVID-19
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that a solid online presence is
more important than ever, especially for translators and interpreters.

I

f the pandemic has taught us anything,
it's that our online presence is more
important than ever. Not only has
just about everything moved to a remote
setting during this crisis, but the "new
normal" has also served as a bit of a forced
reminder for most people that they can
search for just about anything they need
online. In addition, due to the stay-athome orders that were issued around
the world earlier this year, businesses
have quickly pivoted their offerings to
accommodate their clients online.
So, how has the pandemic made
having a solid online presence even more
important for translators and interpreters?
www.atanet.org

First, we have to remember the fact
that most of us work with clients from
various places, even interpreters who
tend to work in their own cities or
regions. Our clients can hire us from
anywhere, and most of us, especially
translators, can work from anywhere.
That means that the easiest way for
clients to find us is online.
While I would never say that inperson events are not valuable, the
pandemic has shown us that travel
plans, conferences, trade shows, and
gatherings of any kind can go out the
window very quickly. We can't control
this. But what we can control is how we

Decide what you want to be
known for when it comes
to your professional work.
Consider other translators you know
who specialize in certain areas and/or
languages. When you hear about jobs
that fit their expertise, you immediately
think of them, right? That's what you
want your colleagues and clients to
do as well when it comes to your own
professional work.
For example, what do you want to be
known for when it comes to:

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■	

Your specialization(s);

■	

Your language pair(s);

■	

Your work style and ethic;

■	

Your expertise related to the translation
or interpreting assignments you take
on; and

■	

The value you provide to those you serve?

Once these points are clear in your
mind, think about how you can share
them with your clients and colleagues
American Translators Association

19
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The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2020

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