PART
I
I knew it was a lousy translation--that's the problem with all
such software, of course. Like canned laughter
on a TV show, canned translation software is just too static,
too rigid...just too stupid. The final result,
if not unintentionally hilarious, can sometimes be downright
embarrassing.
So, to lessen my guilt, I always put a rider on the web pages,
thus: "Warning - this page translated by software only."
I know that doesn't get me off the hook, but at least surfers
will be prepared...
And, at the bottom I have an invitation (which I'll paraphrase):
"The translation of this page sucks. If you'd like to help
me make it right, I'll give you a free book and my eternal
gratitude." The latter may not impress, but I
hope always that some kindly soul will take pity on me, tweak
a few too many words, and collect a freebie!
Oh, I know of many agencies that could do a job of translation,
but, you know...it's always so difficult to decide, isn't
it? Besides, it costs...
Hence, imagine my surprise when I received an unsolicited
email (well, whaddya know...unsolicited email that has value!),
from a delightful person, enquiring whether I'd like to "use
the translated attachments as replacements for your French
and Italian pages."
Would
I like to use them? Is the Pope Catholic,
I ask you? ;-) Even with my sketchy
knowledge of French and Italian, I could see that what I'd
been sent was far superior to the current pages.
The cost? Zip, nada, absolutely nothing!
There was no request for payment of any kind, not even a request
for my ebook, as reward. In fact, I'm sure - from
subsequent emails - that my contact had not even considered
it.
The
whole motivation came down to this: a passionate interest
in the same topic (and perhaps a desire to right a wrong).
Of course, I made sure that the ebook was dispatched quickly,
together with a bonus for later on; that was the very least
I could do. Happily, my ebook was greeted with
appreciation and sincere congratulations: "It's a immense
work you've done!! I'm really impressed. I am sure that it
will be useful for me." Is there an eighth
heaven? It felt like it, after that
response!
I've also discovered that my contact is a professional translator--a
long way from Australia, where I am--with expertise in other
languages. And, I also know that I have other
pages and ebooks that I've been wanting to have translated.
Guess
where I'll be going to get the job done, if possible...;-)
From my perspective--as a potential customer--my contact's
approach was perfect for marketing the translation service.
However, I don't know of course, whether that was a factor
in my contact's thinking.
But, y'know...I don't care at all, even if it was,
because I've "found" gold.
PART
II
The
internet's full of freeloaders looking for freebies, right?
So, when you get emails that ask for a piece of you, you treat
them with some...skepticism? Well, whatever *you* feel, I'll
wager you don't feel like parceling out anything for free,
unless there's a good reason.
At one of my domains (http://rogersreference.com), I get a
lot of emails from people constantly looking for help with
homophones and homonyms. I love it...can't get enough of it.
Occasionally however, I get emails from...wiseguys is the
best term I can use...looking to pick up a free copy of one
of my ebooks that I have for sale.
| It is of course not full article. You should login first to show full article. If you have not account, please register. It is FREE!!! |
Roger Burke has been involved with computers since 1967, and
has managed to break quite a few, over the years. He, and
his wife Sherry, are now actively engaged in online self-publishing
and promoting specific affiliate programs at http://online-wealth.com
. If you have any comments or questions about this article,
please send emails to mailto:webmaster@online-wealth.com .
Copyright 2002, Online-Wealth. All rights reserved.
|
