By Katja Gugelmeier
Introduction
On July 22, our Law Division hosted another insightful networking event, building on the success of our last session in April. During that previous event, we discussed a broad range of marketing strategies for legal translators and interpreters. You can check out the BlawG post about our April event here.
For this event, I shared insights on a topic that has proven invaluable in my legal translation business: email marketing. Understanding how to draft and send effective emails can significantly enhance our ability to reach potential clients, build strong business relationships, and grow our businesses.
After the presentation, we moved into breakout rooms where participants could share their experiences, ask questions, and explore strategies tailored to their specific needs. It was a fantastic opportunity for learning and networking.
Key Takeaways from the Presentation
1. The Power of Personalized Emails
Email marketing is one of the best ways to connect with your audience and build lasting relationships. Instead of sending out general messages, personalized emails make each recipient feel understood and valued. When you address the specific needs of lawyers, law firms, businesses, and translation agencies, you boost engagement and strengthen your connection with potential clients.
True personalization goes beyond using someone’s name—it’s about creating content that addresses their unique challenges. For legal translators and interpreters, this means understanding the client’s field and showing how our services meet their specific needs. This approach captures their attention and positions us as trusted partners.
2. Consistency and Patience are Key for Success
Email marketing can be incredibly effective, but it requires time and persistence. Success doesn’t come overnight; you may need to send hundreds of emails each month before seeing results. Even then, it’s possible that clients won’t provide regular work right away.
Instead of measuring success by the number of projects you get, focus on the number of emails you send. Each email you send is a step toward success, even if you don’t get an immediate response. Remember, even if you don’t hear back right away, your email is still in the primary inbox of your ideal client, and they have your contact information.
It might sound discouraging, but targeting high-paying clients for your premium legal translation services makes the effort worthwhile. In my experience targeting lawyers, I’ve found that when they need a translator, they first check their network within the law firm, then turn to online searches if necessary. This means that an email you sent, even if unanswered, might be forwarded to someone within the law firm who needs a translator.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. There have been times when I emailed a potential client, and months later, someone from the firm contacted me saying that the initial recipient had forwarded my information.
To stay consistent, set a regular “marketing routine.” In my case, I set aside an hour every morning to send emails and follow up with potential or past clients. Over time, these consistent efforts had helped me to grow my client base and more steady work.
Remember, persistence and consistency are key—focused, regular marketing will yield better results than sporadic outreach.
3. Specialize and Target Your Ideal Clients
In my experience, even the most consistent person with the best email marketing strategy won’t succeed without a clear specialization in legal translation or interpretation and a well-defined target client who will benefit from their expertise. No marketing strategy can compensate for this lack of focus.
To maximize the effectiveness of your email marketing, start by defining your area of expertise. Just as no lawyer practices in every area of law, the same applies to us. Establish yourself as an expert by focusing on a few specific areas of law.
Next, identify a specific niche within legal translation or interpretation that aligns with your specialization. This means pinpointing your ideal client—the target of your marketing strategy. Take time to understand your ideal client’s unique needs. By doing so, you’ll be able to provide “premium services” and set higher fees.
Looking Ahead: Marketing to Lawyers and Law Firms for Legal Translators
I hope these insights help you enhance your email marketing strategy. To dive deeper into effectively marketing your services to lawyers and law firms, join me for my upcoming presentation, “Marketing to Lawyers and Law Firms for Legal Translators,” at the 2024 ATA Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon.
In this presentation, I’ll focus on how legal translators can successfully market their services to lawyers and law firms. I’ll cover key aspects of building your brand, reaching out to legal professionals, and establishing long-lasting partnerships.
Register for the conference here.
Leave a Reply