The translation industry is flourishing and offers excellent job opportunities, particularly when you have the right connections.

Even if a translator’s linguistic services are great, this industry in particular is a market where having business partners and influences is a requirement that every polyglot should add to his/her skills.

Here are some free and low-cost tips that can help any linguist expand the portfolio of clients:

-Advertise your brand:

Social media advertising is one of the best cost-effective alternatives for building a solid brand. Particularly, Pay Per Click and Search Engine Optimization strategies are great to expand the reach of a translator's services for new audiences, even if they are located overseas and boost their brand awareness.

Any professional, regardless of its industry, should be aware that a brand can go from a multinational enterprise that has a presence over 12 countries to a single startup entrepreneur. An individual translator can become a brand too.

SM and digital marketing vehicles are needed when performing at the translation industry as most of the business partners are found online these days.

-Write and translate samples of self-made material.

By using a corporate website, a translator can do much more than contacting new clients. A translator can set the difference in the market by having a portfolio section, work samples, plus professional references as they actually help to show trustworthiness in the field.

-Be versatile.

 Get used to translate specialized documents, read different kinds of glossaries, master other linguistic services (like localization, adaptation, subtitling, and voice over), and explore new specific niches. However, all those processes should go in hand with an in-depth analysis of cultural, and idiomatic aspects as well. Linguistic services overall must give consideration to them in order to be perceived as if the text was handled by native speakers.

The more versatile, with substantial knowledge in several areas, cultures, and industries, the better the translator will be, just as his demand will increase.

-Don't underestimate exotic languages.

Undoubtedly, the Chinese, Spanish and English languages dominate the industry. Nevertheless, there exist more than 6,500 languages in the world that, according to infoplease.com "nearly 2,000 of them have only circa 1,000 speakers". Still, they represent important business opportunities that possibly don't have high competition.

-Sign up on freelance translator portals.

For instance, TranslatorPub is a portal that connects people around the world by opening new business opportunities and strengthening existent partnerships. The platform has 10 years of success stories at linking freelancers with agencies and helping them find new possibilities.