Poll: Most of my clients are... Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| I have worked for more individual end clients... | Jul 5, 2009 |
...than translation agencies, but translation agencies are my biggest source of regular income.
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Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 07:52
Member (2006)
German to English
| Direct clients and translation agencies | Jul 5, 2009 |
About 70 % of my customers are translation agencies and fortunately I also have about 30 % direct customers.
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my clients are a balanced mix of everything, with a good share of end clients fortunately!
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John Rawlins
Spain
Local time: 07:52
Spanish to English
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| Mostly direct clients | Jul 6, 2009 |
At least 85% of my sales are billed to direct clients. I prefer direct clients because they pay higher rates and tend to pay much more quickly (sometimes in advance). I only accept agency work in the gaps between direct jobs. I usually decline large agency jobs because I don't want to sacrifice my availability for direct clients.
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| Mostly agencies | Jul 6, 2009 |
I've always wondered, are agencies the future? Will more and more end clients go to agencies because of lower rates?
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lillkakan
Local time: 07:52
English to Swedish
I work mostly in software localization or translate manuals for electronics. These manuals, software and websites are usually localized into several languages at once and it makes no sense for the direct client to hire individual translators. Thus, in my field, agency work is really the only way to go.
Or am I missing something?
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John Rawlins
Spain
Local time: 07:52
Spanish to English
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| Are agencies cheaper? | Jul 6, 2009 |
Catherine Shepherd wrote:
I've always wondered, are agencies the future? Will more and more end clients go to agencies because of lower rates?
Hi Catherine
No direct client of mine has ever said to me that he or she had found an agency that was cheaper. Not once.
Maybe I am cheaper than the agencies, maybe they have never looked for a cheaper supplier, maybe they couldn't care less if somebody else was cheaper, maybe they were too polite to say anything.
Anyway, the shining truth is that price is not the main issue for most direct clients.
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Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungary
Local time: 07:52
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
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SITE LOCALIZER
John Rawlins wrote:
At least 85% of my sales are billed to direct clients. I prefer direct clients because they pay higher rates and tend to pay much more quickly (sometimes in advance). I only accept agency work in the gaps between direct jobs. I usually decline large agency jobs because I don't want to sacrifice my availability for direct clients.
Both as an agency representative and a feeelancer, I prefer end clients with their own contact and collaboration method.
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| I guess this has to do with age | Jul 6, 2009 |
I started my freelance career in 1989, hunting for clients by fax! Therefore, although I do work for several agencies from around the world (no local ones for me!), most of my clients are Chilean companies and universities. A good number of local and foreign colleagues I have met through Proz complete the picture.
Have a nice day!
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mystymy
Local time: 01:52
Spanish to English
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| direct clients are the best | Jul 6, 2009 |
It surprises me how many translators//interpreters work only with agencies. It's a wonderful way to start. Some are wonderful, especially when you have a good PM, but direct clients are the best. The rates are better, no running around trying to get answers or information.
At meetings and conferences I've noticed that most translators/interpreters do not go out and get clients. Is it that many don't have presentation skills or that they don't like going on sales calls?
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| My special end clients | Jul 6, 2009 |
I have only worked for end clients, particularly in my specialities
John has the answer!
John Rawlins wrote: Anyway, the shining truth is that price is not the main issue for most direct clients.
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