| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you consider that ProZ.com has helped you to reach and get new clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you consider that ProZ.com has helped you to reach and get new clients?".
This poll was originally submitted by RosárioQuadros. View the poll results »
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Requested by user. |
My answer should be between definitely and to a certain extent. I have been a member since 2007 and most of my new customers have come through Proz.com. Usually, I’m contacted directly as I no longer bid on Proz jobs (I did a lot at the very beginning!), because posters seem to be looking for the cheapest translators…
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:23
Spanish to English
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That isn't why I joined proz in the first place. I signed up mainly out of curiosity and because I like the kudoz feature. I already had half a dozen or so regular clients and sufficient work to keep me going, and although I have made a couple of contacts through proz, 99% of my work still comes through word-of-mouth recommendation fromfriends, colleagues or satisfied customers.
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Ana Vozone 
Local time: 12:23
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
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| Yes, definitely | Aug 16, 2016 |
Most of my new clients now come from Proz, and I have to say that fine-tuning my profile has generated some pretty good "matches" (clients that are willing to pay my rates for specific subject areas).
So, I think Proz is a great source of new clients and it is also hugely helpful in avoiding bad payers.
And Proz in general makes for "great company" ...
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 13:23
Spanish to English
+ ...
It's more like I've been reached by clients rather than me reaching them.
I ignore the majority of "offers" I receive, mostly due to excruciating combinations of specific software requirements, low rates, lack of professionalism on the part of the inquirer, etc.
The ones I have decided to work with have, in general, been good clients and some are even long-term.
| | | | | Yes, definitely | Aug 16, 2016 |
Most of my best clients have contacted me through my profile on Proz.com
| | | | | Yes, quite a few | Aug 16, 2016 |
I have gotten some nice clients through the ProZ membership index--clients who have approached me directly. The job postings have not worked out for me because most of the posters seem to be looking for cheap translators.
That said, my best clients have come to me via word of mouth or as a result of my 20-odd years working as an in-house translator.
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Never directly, not in bidding for jobs for example, where the rates offered are below break-even rates. I am not about to start working at a loss.
I ignore all mass-mail requests as a matter of principle, for the same reasons.
Occasionally, an agent has contacted me through the ProZ pages, but again, the rates they are willing to pay mean working at a loss, it never goes further.
However, where I do get the occasional job, is through being referred to by fellow members. The... See more Never directly, not in bidding for jobs for example, where the rates offered are below break-even rates. I am not about to start working at a loss.
I ignore all mass-mail requests as a matter of principle, for the same reasons.
Occasionally, an agent has contacted me through the ProZ pages, but again, the rates they are willing to pay mean working at a loss, it never goes further.
However, where I do get the occasional job, is through being referred to by fellow members. The exposure on this site enables others to see how you work and the sort of suggestions you come up with. They also see how you behave. Being competent is one thing; being professional in one's behaviour, including knowing when to keep one's mouth shut, is something you get evidence of on the site too. There are some competent people I'd not really want to work with.
[Edited at 2016-08-16 11:37 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | You're absolutely right! | Aug 16, 2016 |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne wrote:
The exposure on this site enables others to see how you work and the sort of suggestions you come up with. They also see how you behave. Being competent is one thing; being professional in one's behaviour, including knowing when to keep one's mouth shut, is something you get evidence of on the site too. There are some competent people I'd not really want to work with.
[Edited at 2016-08-16 11:37 GMT]
I do outsource occasionally and thanks to Kudoz (and other forums) I know exactly with whom I’ll be happy to work…
[Edited at 2016-08-16 13:56 GMT]
| | | | Ventnai
Spain
Local time: 13:23
German to English
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I would say all my current clients have come from Proz.com, either directly or by word of mouth. I have a large number of clients in the Hamburg area despite living in Southern Europe. This is due to people taking my contact details with them or remembering it when they change company.
| | | | | The same for me, Nikki | Aug 16, 2016 |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne wrote:
Never directly, not in bidding for jobs for example, where the rates offered are below break-even rates. I am not about to start working at a loss.
I ignore all mass-mail requests as a matter of principle, for the same reasons.
Occasionally, an agent has contacted me through the ProZ pages, but again, the rates they are willing to pay mean working at a loss, it never goes further.
However, where I do get the occasional job, is through being referred to by fellow members. The exposure on this site enables others to see how you work and the sort of suggestions you come up with. They also see how you behave. Being competent is one thing; being professional in one's behaviour, including knowing when to keep one's mouth shut, is something you get evidence of on the site too. There are some competent people I'd not really want to work with.
[Edited at 2016-08-16 11:37 GMT]
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DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
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If I am to consider ProZ in this view, then (1) either it couldn't help me to reach new clients -OR- (2) everything (including ProZ) helps me; which is obviously not true, assuming the air, the water, food, and everything else helps me very much more;)
However, I didn't really use ProZ to find new clients, nor intend to.
| | | | Sadek_A
Local time: 15:23
English to Arabic
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| Competency vs Pleasing | Aug 16, 2016 |
Any client looking for more than mere competency from a translator must be having an underripe personality for sure.
After all, we are not in the sweet businesses of 'massage' and 'dating', where one should touch softly and tread lightly, or maybe even throw a 'happy ending' to the service package.
Working in translation industry is all about hitting the nail on the head, not about pleasing and becoming besties.
Would a patient overlook a competent surgeon ... See more Any client looking for more than mere competency from a translator must be having an underripe personality for sure.
After all, we are not in the sweet businesses of 'massage' and 'dating', where one should touch softly and tread lightly, or maybe even throw a 'happy ending' to the service package.
Working in translation industry is all about hitting the nail on the head, not about pleasing and becoming besties.
Would a patient overlook a competent surgeon because the latter isn't pleasing the former enough?!
Would a corps overlook a competent soldier because he/she isn't a fun-material?!
I would understand that talk coming from a company, as some companies want the translator to be a dancing monkey at their commands.
However, we, translators, shouldn't be propagating such notions, as they are the very definition of unprofessionalism. Period. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Numbers differ for members / non-members | Aug 16, 2016 |
Not surprisingly, in this poll the responses differ significantly depending on membership status. Right now (with 677 votes in), when grouped by membership type, the percentages are as follows:
Members
Yes, definitely 60.6%
Yes, to a certain extent 32.0%
No 5.2%
Other - N/A 2.3%
Non-members
Yes, definitely 24.4%
Yes, to a certain extent 37.6%
No 34.0%
Other - N/A 4.1%
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