Poll: What is your main source of projects? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is your main source of projects?".
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| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 06:52
French to English
Yay I'm first!
Agencies are my bread and butter, and I enjoy working with the vast majority. But the direct clients are my joy. I have a much warmer, closer relationship with my direct clients, who are always happy to spend time explaining what they mean in their text, rather than just a quick "yes" or "please leave it out" when I have to go through an agency. As a result, I learn more about their work (and their work is pretty fascinating) and I produce a much better text. Win-win all rou... See more Yay I'm first!
Agencies are my bread and butter, and I enjoy working with the vast majority. But the direct clients are my joy. I have a much warmer, closer relationship with my direct clients, who are always happy to spend time explaining what they mean in their text, rather than just a quick "yes" or "please leave it out" when I have to go through an agency. As a result, I learn more about their work (and their work is pretty fascinating) and I produce a much better text. Win-win all round! ▲ Collapse
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If I consider the number of projects my main source is translation agencies, but and it’s a very big BUT if I consider the amount invoiced it will be direct clients as their projects tend to be much bigger in size. I work with a good mix (30/70) of direct clients and translation agencies. Direct clients pay a higher rate, but they generate far less projects as in my experience they tend to be less regular than translation agencies, though projects from some of my direct clients – big interna... See more If I consider the number of projects my main source is translation agencies, but and it’s a very big BUT if I consider the amount invoiced it will be direct clients as their projects tend to be much bigger in size. I work with a good mix (30/70) of direct clients and translation agencies. Direct clients pay a higher rate, but they generate far less projects as in my experience they tend to be less regular than translation agencies, though projects from some of my direct clients – big international organizations – are generally big and keep me busy for several months. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Direct clients | Nov 5, 2021 |
Direct clients by far and for long-term projects.
I've only had limited contacts with agencies so far.
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| Unfortunately, agencies... | Nov 5, 2021 |
...who earn 30-40% of my productivity. Wish I had much more direct clients!
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 23:52
English to Russian
+ ...
| Exclusively agencies | Nov 5, 2021 |
I wrote about it at length a while ago, so just briefly - no unpaid admin, negotiations, marketing, logistics and all other back and force exchange time, a lot of time, no obligations except for the deadline, I rule my time 24/7, no worries about getting sick or having a laptop crash (I have 2) since they always have a backup, every minute I devote to the project is paid for because all I do is translate. My life belongs to me. Their margin is worth it and they have enough left to pay me well. D... See more I wrote about it at length a while ago, so just briefly - no unpaid admin, negotiations, marketing, logistics and all other back and force exchange time, a lot of time, no obligations except for the deadline, I rule my time 24/7, no worries about getting sick or having a laptop crash (I have 2) since they always have a backup, every minute I devote to the project is paid for because all I do is translate. My life belongs to me. Their margin is worth it and they have enough left to pay me well. Direct clients own you, at least during standard business hours but there is no such thing in my freelancer's vocabulary. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Nobody owns me | Nov 5, 2021 |
IrinaN wrote:
I wrote about it at length a while ago, so just briefly - no unpaid admin, negotiations, marketing, logistics and all other back and force exchange time, a lot of time, no obligations except for the deadline, I rule my time 24/7, no worries about getting sick or having a laptop crash (I have 2) since they always have a backup, every minute I devote to the project is paid for because all I do is translate. My life belongs to me. Their margin is worth it and they have enough left to pay me well. Direct clients own you, at least during standard business hours but there is no such thing in my freelancer's vocabulary.
Yes, but… my direct clients don’t attempt to own me. They are utterly reasonable at all times. They treat me as a professional. They ask nicely and are grateful; they do not expect or demand. There is little back and forth, and any questions are dealt with directly by the author. The deadlines are longer, and often set by me. Most work is scheduled in weeks or months in advance. They pay a lot more, and more quickly. They never quibble or try to tell me what I can bill them. There is recognition, and there is loyalty. In short, they feel lucky to have me, rather than expecting me to feel lucky to have them.
Given all that, the occasional pressure to translate a random CV or email is no big deal.
[Edited at 2021-11-05 15:07 GMT]
| | | | Liena Vijupe
Latvia
Local time: 07:52
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
This!
IrinaN wrote:
Direct clients own you, at least during standard business hours but there is no such thing in my freelancer's vocabulary.
I also charge the same rate regardless of client type, so it makes no difference to me. I mostly work for large end clients who don't deal with individual freelancers anyway, and some agencies are quite nice. They are small or have a dedicated PM which makes me feel like I'm working with a direct client, others are simply efficient and that's enough for me already.
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Abba Storgen (X)
United States
Local time: 23:52
Greek to English
+ ...
| Couldn't agree more! | Nov 5, 2021 |
Ice Scream wrote:
Yes, but… my direct clients don’t attempt to own me. They are utterly reasonable at all times. They treat me as a professional. They ask nicely and are grateful; they do not expect or demand. There is little back and forth, and any questions are dealt with directly by the author. The deadlines are longer, and often set by me. Most work is scheduled in weeks or months in advance. They pay a lot more, and more quickly. They never quibble or try to tell me what I can bill them. There is recognition, and there is loyalty. In short, they feel lucky to have me, rather than expecting me to feel lucky to have them.
Given all that, the occasional pressure to translate a random CV or email is no big deal.
[Edited at 2021-11-05 15:07 GMT]
I couldn't agree more. However, in small language pairs agencies are those with the volumes. Unfortunately, the nastiest ones have the largest volumes too, which is bizarre given all factors around their competence and their total reliance on external sources. Very few direct clients know that they are receiving a lesser product of countless conflicts of interest in its production, while they are paying 4X as much because it's packaged nicely.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 23:52
English to Russian
+ ...
| I'm afraid I need to clarify something | Nov 5, 2021 |
In my fields I do not deal with a single author/ 2 books I've translated were via one agency as well.
Also, I didn't mean any ownership without a project at hand but once you accept it, you must be reasonably available but sometimes I don't wish to be available in the middle of a business day. Say, I must take a nap .
And yes, I am loved and respected as well ... See more In my fields I do not deal with a single author/ 2 books I've translated were via one agency as well.
Also, I didn't mean any ownership without a project at hand but once you accept it, you must be reasonably available but sometimes I don't wish to be available in the middle of a business day. Say, I must take a nap.
And yes, I am loved and respected as well. At a certain point in one's career one either can say that or... one is penniless, has no computer to type a post on, and is and was in a wrong trade for a long time:-). It goes without saying. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 06:52
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Direct clients | Nov 5, 2021 |
But don't ask me how I ended up with them. Most, if not all of them, came to me by word-of-mouth recommendation from satisfied clients. So, all I can recommend is to do your best every time and with a bit of luck, satisfied customers will recommend you to their colleagues and acquaintances.
In fact, I had a query about my rates and availability from a new client yesterday, whose regular translator is not available. They said my rates are reasonable and they will send me something to transl... See more But don't ask me how I ended up with them. Most, if not all of them, came to me by word-of-mouth recommendation from satisfied clients. So, all I can recommend is to do your best every time and with a bit of luck, satisfied customers will recommend you to their colleagues and acquaintances.
In fact, I had a query about my rates and availability from a new client yesterday, whose regular translator is not available. They said my rates are reasonable and they will send me something to translate within the next month or so. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Abba Storgen (X)
United States
Local time: 23:52
Greek to English
+ ...
| and it's not only the rate | Nov 5, 2021 |
neilmac wrote:
In fact, I had a query about my rates and availability from a new client yesterday, whose regular translator is not available. They said my rates are reasonable and they will send me something to translate within the next month or so.
It's not just the rate, which in most cases here in the US is 3X to 4X of what the largest agencies offer. It's also respect and honesty! Large agencies have become environments of intimidation and fear, to the point that if you see an engine on fire you're afraid to call the captain because nobody likes disrupting the flight.
Add to that the huge amount of translators they have on file, making them very arrogant.
Last Christmas a direct client (who only wanted once 20 pages to translate at 20 cents per word), sent me both a card and gourmet cookies in the mail (!). They make you feel like a partner, not a disposable remote drone.
My advice is constant marketing for direct clients, emphasizing the process and the cost difference.
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