If you had been working as a professional ASL interpreter, you would have realized the importance of marketing yourself and promoting your interpreting services. To sustain yourself in the profession, it is essential to create a platform where potential clients can discover you and learn more about your work. Consistent marketing efforts over a while will make the process of finding new clients easier. Below are 6 ways you market yourself as an interpreter. 

Keep your resume up-to-date

The first step is often the hardest to take. Like most people, you might not enjoy updating your resume, but you cannot overlook the importance of an updated resume. A resume might be one of the more common ways you can market yourself. 

Through it, clients get an insight into your experience and expertise. Potential clients may base their decision to work with you on your resume. 

You can check online templates to see how to build an effective resume. When updating your resume, do not forget to add- 

  • Relevant certifications and qualifications
  • Previous work experience, including volunteer work and unpaid gigs
  • Awards and recognition
  • Skills 
  • Personal information like your name and contact details for the client to contact you

Before sending out your resume, proofread it once or have it proofread by someone else to ensure an error-free document. 

Never forget your business card

In a world that is going paperless, do not underestimate the impact that a business card can create. Remember to never leave your house without a bunch of business cards. They can come in handy when you run into potential clients or even when you attend networking events. 

Going old school in this digital era can make you stand out from the crowd. Business cards hold many purposes. They serve as a physical reminder of your services, a little something that people will likely see again when they open their wallets or check their pockets after reaching home. A well-designed business card will attempt to direct the reader to other sources such as a personal website, portfolio, social media account/s, etc. This allows the person to view more information about you and engage with your content to some extent. 

Moreover, business cards are great to pass along. For instance, you might hand your business card to a potential client, who then passes it on to someone else who could be interested in your services. This snowball effect created by business cards can help you as well as others spread the word about your business. 

Send emailers

Email marketing is an effective commercial and personal way of staying connected with past, present, and potential clients. Through this direct marketing channel, you can curate content related to your expertise and services for your subscribers. 

You can create an email list by linking a subscription form on your website. Since only the people who want to engage with your content will subscribe, the chances of this marketing effort converting into sales can be high. Ensure that the content is error-free and relevant to your subscribers for more effective results. 

If your emails are insightful, your subscribers can forward them to other people. Consequently, increasing your reach.

Photo by Tony Schnagl

ALT Text: A man working on his laptop

Build a social media presence

Leverage the power and reach of social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Since your present and potential clients are already on these platforms, it can be highly beneficial to create a presence through these platforms. Do not just lurk around and follow other people’s content. There is so much you can do with social media to market your interpreting services- become a thought leader, share your opinions on the interpreting industry and its practices, describe your experiences, create awareness about ASL and the Deaf community, answer questions asked by other interpreters in the community, become a member of online interpreting communities, or write blog posts. The possibilities are endless. A strong social media presence can create a ripple effect and lead you to potential clients and projects. 

Through social media, you can create an identity for yourself as an interpreter. Letting your personality shine through your social accounts can attract numerous businesses and clients that resonate with your content. 

Create a website

An integral part of marketing yourself is to build an impressive portfolio. Here, the presentation of the content matters just as much as the content. You might have experiences that span over years and impeccable interpreting skills. However, before a client gets into the details of your portfolio, the presentation will determine the retention of their attention. 

A website is an excellent way of showcasing your past work experiences, certifications and qualifications, awards, and other relevant details. Similar to a resume, a website can help you attract potential clients by giving them insight into your work. However, contrary to a resume, you can add more detailed information on a website.

When you create a professional website, you market yourself not just as an interpreter, but also as a business. 

Here is a list of details you can add to your website to make it easier for clients to ascertain whether your services are the right fit for them or not:

  • A brief introduction about yourself
  • Certifications and qualifications
  • Previous experiences 
  • Area of specialization, if any
  • Testimonials
  • Awards and recognition, if any 
  • Types of interpreting services provided- virtual and/or on-site
  • Contact details
  • Link to your social media accounts
  • Option to subscribe to your emailers
  • Availability
  • Rates for your interpreting service
  • Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Websites look professional and make your interpreting services look credible. 

Referrals and testimonials

Word-of-mouth might still be one of the best ways to promote your interpreting services. Whenever a new client looks into your previous experience, they will likely look for reviews and testimonials for your work. 

When a previous client refers you to someone else or reviews your work, it adds credibility to your services. Referrals and testimonials assure prospective clients about the quality of your work. 

Once you complete an interpreting job, ask your client if there is anyone they can refer your services to, or if they can leave a review for you. If your work was satisfactory, most clients would be happy to oblige. 

Conclusion

When you go through the six ways in which you can market yourself as an interpreter, you will find that most of these are interconnected. While you can skip a step or two, a comprehensive plan will help you achieve your goal quickly. An effective marketing plan will land you your next interpreting job effortlessly.  

If you are an ASL interpreter looking for work, look no further! Unspoken Language Services is a boutique agency run by ASL interpreters. We value your time and skills as an interpreter and work hard to ensure a seamless contracting experience for you. Join us as an independent contractor to get access to a diverse range of clients and projects. 

Thumbnail Credit: Photo by Ketut Subiyanto