| Pages in topic: [1 2 3] > | Direct clients Thread poster: S_G_C
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S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 10:21
English to Romanian
So.
During the past month, I've been investing time into searching for direct clients and contacting several potential such clients, both national and international.
However, I haven't received any reply. Like, at all.
I'm kind of tired of taking translation tests coming from agencies, passing them and then finding out we don't actually match because of their terms and conditions. Getting my hopes high and then coming back to earth while reading the NDAs and service agre... See more So.
During the past month, I've been investing time into searching for direct clients and contacting several potential such clients, both national and international.
However, I haven't received any reply. Like, at all.
I'm kind of tired of taking translation tests coming from agencies, passing them and then finding out we don't actually match because of their terms and conditions. Getting my hopes high and then coming back to earth while reading the NDAs and service agreements.
Any other suggestions on getting back on track and earning some real money?
Much appreciated. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:21
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| work on your profile | Feb 2, 2022 |
For instance: there's nothing in your "Portfolio" section.
| | | | | Don't give up | Feb 2, 2022 |
When I worked in the marketing department of a bank, we used to regard a one percent response rate as good.
Also, you'll sometimes find that you contact someone, get no reply, but then get a job offer months later.
I think providing samples is a waste of time unless there's an actual job in prospect and you're in the same ballpark as far as rates are concerned. It's better to have some on your website or ProZ profile, and just refer people to those. Choose some interest... See more When I worked in the marketing department of a bank, we used to regard a one percent response rate as good.
Also, you'll sometimes find that you contact someone, get no reply, but then get a job offer months later.
I think providing samples is a waste of time unless there's an actual job in prospect and you're in the same ballpark as far as rates are concerned. It's better to have some on your website or ProZ profile, and just refer people to those. Choose some interesting texts that they'll enjoy reading.
Good luck!
[Edited at 2022-02-02 15:59 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Asterbriant
Mexico
Local time: 01:21
Japanese to Spanish
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I got the same situation. Lately I've been received a lot of Test, sent CV's, asking some kind of surveys sending a lot of NDAs and then there is nothing, no answer at all. And it is kind of frustrating. However, still looking for a good job offer.
Honestly, I'm not sure what I am doing wrong.
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Adieu 
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
| 99% cover letter | Feb 2, 2022 |
1% everything else (including skills & experience!)
Solid tailored cover letters can get engaged response rates of 30-50%.
It's like pickup lines, no amount of Bentleys, trust funds, and Harvard diplomas will get you anywhere if your approach loses their attention before you ever get a chance to show off.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 10:21
Member
English to Turkish
| International clients? | Feb 2, 2022 |
I don't know about national clients, but why would an international client (I take it you mean a company/corporation) look for a Romanian translator in Romania? Wouldn't they go to a translation agency for that?
You may be contacted by an individual (like an American academic looking to get his essay translated into Romanian or something like that), but there is no guarantee that he/she is the real deal, not a scammer. The same goes for national clients. How would you know they are trustw... See more I don't know about national clients, but why would an international client (I take it you mean a company/corporation) look for a Romanian translator in Romania? Wouldn't they go to a translation agency for that?
You may be contacted by an individual (like an American academic looking to get his essay translated into Romanian or something like that), but there is no guarantee that he/she is the real deal, not a scammer. The same goes for national clients. How would you know they are trustworthy? ▲ Collapse
| | | | S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 10:21
English to Romanian
TOPIC STARTER
Tom in London wrote:
For instance: there's nothing in your "Portfolio" section.
And what should I upload there?
Years ago, I discovered that some translators replicated the test translations of those colleagues who had uploaded and displayed them for free, like "this is the quality of my work".
Copy, change a word here, another word there, and submit as "own translation".
| | | | S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 10:21
English to Romanian
TOPIC STARTER
Asterbriant wrote:
Honestly, I'm not sure what I am doing wrong.
Same here.
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S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 10:21
English to Romanian
TOPIC STARTER
Baran Keki wrote:
How would you know they are trustworthy?
Well, if they agree with an upfront payment of..., that's a plus.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 10:21
Member
English to Turkish
| Use your head! | Feb 2, 2022 |
Adieu wrote:
1% everything else (including skills & experience!)
Solid tailored cover letters can get engaged response rates of 30-50%.
It's like pickup lines, no amount of Bentleys, trust funds, and Harvard diplomas will get you anywhere if your approach loses their attention before you ever get a chance to show off.
I wouldn't give out such valuable pieces of advice on a public forum when I can give them on an 'Actionable Empowering Mastermind Translator Resources' webinar for $99.99 per person (special offer). Why translate badly OCRed texts on MemoQ when you can make a killing selling such valuable commonsensical info?
| | | | Adieu
Ukrainian to English
+ ...
Honestly?
I wouldn't be in this profession if I were a people person looking to become what my former countrymen call an "info-gypsy".
Baran Keki wrote: Adieu wrote:
1% everything else (including skills & experience!)
Solid tailored cover letters can get engaged response rates of 30-50%.
It's like pickup lines, no amount of Bentleys, trust funds, and Harvard diplomas will get you anywhere if your approach loses their attention before you ever get a chance to show off. I wouldn't give out such valuable pieces of advice on a public forum when I can give them on an 'Actionable Empowering Mastermind Translator Resources' webinar for $99.99 per person (special offer). Why translate badly OCRed texts on MemoQ when you can make a killing selling such valuable commonsensical info?
| | | | | Not the solution, but... | Feb 3, 2022 |
Sorana_M. wrote:
I'm kind of tired of taking translation tests coming from agencies, passing them and then finding out we don't actually match because of their terms and conditions.
Above all, discuss the rate and payment terms. If they agree with them, ask them to provide you with their terms and conditions. If you are OK with these, you are in better position to decide whether doing a translation test is worth your time.
I usually do translation tests but only for a fee (a little discounted from my standard rate), with the commitment to reimburse it when the first job of substantial volume arrives. This has never been accepted, which perhaps means that I didn't waste my time.
[Edited at 2022-02-03 10:13 GMT]
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 09:21
French to English
Practically all my direct clients have come through personal connections.
A good few followed me when I left the agency and started freelancing.
One I met at a party, another at the dog park. My favourite client came via a friend's recommendation.
I'm no extrovert, so it's not as if I know all that many people for this to be a regular thing. Right at the beginning, I did try going to trade fairs (as others had suggested here) and telling people on various... See more Practically all my direct clients have come through personal connections.
A good few followed me when I left the agency and started freelancing.
One I met at a party, another at the dog park. My favourite client came via a friend's recommendation.
I'm no extrovert, so it's not as if I know all that many people for this to be a regular thing. Right at the beginning, I did try going to trade fairs (as others had suggested here) and telling people on various stands that I was specialised in their trade, which was how my previous boss had got some good clients. I had one person ask for an estimate but never follow through.
One other small source of work has been LinkedIn, although each time it's just been a one-off job for direct clients. ▲ Collapse
| | | | S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 10:21
English to Romanian
TOPIC STARTER
Right at the beginning, I did try going to trade fairs (as others had suggested here) and telling people on various stands that I was specialised in their trade, which was how my previous boss had got some good clients. I had one person ask for an estimate but never follow through.
I've been living at my current address for almost 13 years now but never heard of trade fairs having anything to do with the translation business. Maybe because the area is ranked as poor.
Would be interesting, though.
[Edited at 2022-02-04 11:34 GMT]
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 09:21
French to English
Sorana_M. wrote:
I've been living at my current address for almost 13 years now but never heard of trade fairs having anything to do with the translation business. Maybe because the area is ranked as poor.
Would be interesting, though.
[Edited at 2022-02-04 11:34 GMT]
OK, I live just outside Paris which obviously is not poor.
But I didn't mean translation trade fairs, I meant trade fairs in your specialities. If you're specialised in aerospace, for example, you'd go to an aerospace trade fair.
If there are no aerospace trade fairs in your area, but there are some aerospace companies nearby that you would be interested in working with, you might want to look out for events they'd be attending. Your local chamber of commerce might organise meet and greet events, or even job fairs. You're not looking for a salaried position, but they might still be interested in your skills.
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