Poll: How many of your clients come from you approaching the client first? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many of your clients come from you approaching the client first?".
This poll was originally submitted by Roni Glaser. View the poll results »
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From my records, last time I "cold-contacted" a specific agency I wanted to work with, and got work from it, was in 2009. Although sporadic, the relationship is still ongoing.
When I reply to targeted offers posted on proz.com job board, whether restricted or not, I never get any reply, and even less work. However I have been successful few times, but that must have happened 20 years ago.
I don't prospect anywhere else.
In a nutshell, I only get new agency clients... See more From my records, last time I "cold-contacted" a specific agency I wanted to work with, and got work from it, was in 2009. Although sporadic, the relationship is still ongoing.
When I reply to targeted offers posted on proz.com job board, whether restricted or not, I never get any reply, and even less work. However I have been successful few times, but that must have happened 20 years ago.
I don't prospect anywhere else.
In a nutshell, I only get new agency clients when they first contact me through my proz.com profile (or through my website via my profile).
Philippe
[Edited at 2023-11-22 09:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I answered none, although I did successfully contact a few agencies in the very early days.
I have no idea how to go about soliciting work from direct clients, in my case mainly banks. How do you know who is the right person, how do you tell them their English texts are awful without causing offence, how do you convince them it's worth paying top dollar for a better job?
Especially when I can't speak two of my source languages.
I suppose it's a case of not... See more I answered none, although I did successfully contact a few agencies in the very early days.
I have no idea how to go about soliciting work from direct clients, in my case mainly banks. How do you know who is the right person, how do you tell them their English texts are awful without causing offence, how do you convince them it's worth paying top dollar for a better job?
Especially when I can't speak two of my source languages.
I suppose it's a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained, but I'm having a panic attack just thinking about it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I think about half | Nov 22, 2023 |
I have many different way of marketing and acquisition, and having strong online presences (over here and LinkedIn) and good contacts with fellow-translators have gained me quite a lot of clients. However, I also engage in active acquisition, such as connecting on LinkedIn, registering in agency vendor databases and applying to projects on the job board over here. I don't know the exact numbers but estimate that about 50% of my clients came to me first and the other 50% is a result of me reachin... See more I have many different way of marketing and acquisition, and having strong online presences (over here and LinkedIn) and good contacts with fellow-translators have gained me quite a lot of clients. However, I also engage in active acquisition, such as connecting on LinkedIn, registering in agency vendor databases and applying to projects on the job board over here. I don't know the exact numbers but estimate that about 50% of my clients came to me first and the other 50% is a result of me reaching out to them. ▲ Collapse
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In my very early days, I did contact lots of agencies and direct clients. Some of these contacts translated into work and I’m still working with one of these clients. I have been successful with a small number of offers posted on Proz job board. Most of my new customers (agencies and direct clients) have come to me through my profile on this platform, other clients, personal recommendation of some colleagues and my website.
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As far as I remember, only one. In 1995, a colleague suggested I call an agency 300 km away. Three days later I was on the train, going down to meet them. They knew nothing about me but were desperate as it was the last week in July (always a good time to contact clients in Italy). Many translators were already on holiday, while companies were doing last-minute jobs before the summer. They even paid for my hotel for a fortnight. That was my first agency and I worked with them very happily, by fa... See more As far as I remember, only one. In 1995, a colleague suggested I call an agency 300 km away. Three days later I was on the train, going down to meet them. They knew nothing about me but were desperate as it was the last week in July (always a good time to contact clients in Italy). Many translators were already on holiday, while companies were doing last-minute jobs before the summer. They even paid for my hotel for a fortnight. That was my first agency and I worked with them very happily, by fax and modem, and later e-mail, until I raised my rates about seven years later. I remember they paid 21.500 lire per 1500 keystrokes source - the equivalent of €0.048 per word - and would not go any higher for anyone. A pity, because I liked them.
I had previously sent 150 faxes and letters to companies not too far away from me but only two replied - the first after about a year and a half (Italy's top advertising agency - the absolute dream client) but I was full up and couldn't take the job, and another even later. I don't remember what happened there.
So one direct, two or three from my website, and about four hundred by word of mouth. I know where I'd put my money. ▲ Collapse
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Only a few when I submit a quote for a job that appears in Proz, otherwise it's the client/agency that contacts me because either they found me here or through word of mouth by someone I will have done a translation for.
| | | | Samuel Murray 
Netherlands
Local time: 12:04
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| Not quite the same, but | Nov 22, 2023 |
A well-known operating system was translated poorly by a well-known university. I wrote a scathing review and posted it as an open letter. Subsequently, when the next version's translation was awarded to a local agency, they saw my review and asked me to do the translation.
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Hasrina Munajat
Malaysia
Local time: 18:04
Member (2023)
English to Malay
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | How many clients come from me approaching them first | Nov 23, 2023 |
Most of my clients since I'm a newbie in this industry.
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