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Poll: How do clients reach you? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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It depends. Sometimes I’m recommended by a colleague or a client, other potential clients come via my website or through my profile on Proz as I rarely bid on jobs (I did a lot at the very beginning!), because posters seem to be looking for the cheapest translators…
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John Silva
Brazil
Local time: 13:35
English to Portuguese
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From all of the options available on this tool. But I would say that the majority of them comes from my Proz profile.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:35
Spanish to English
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Nowadays, by word-of-mouth recommendation from one client or former client to another colleague, friend or acquaintance. Any other offers I get tend to be unsolicited and from bottom feeders or dodgy sounding agencies/punters.
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| Clients reach us in all of those ways | Dec 2, 2022 |
And also in a few others, such as through lists kept by professional associations of which Sebastian and I are members.
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| Word of mouth | Dec 2, 2022 |
Either someone recommends me or they move to a different employer. Nobody worthwhile contacts me on here. It doesn’t seem the place for that, too full of cut-price agencies and translators, which is a shame as I could do with a couple more customers to plug the gaps.
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Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 18:35
French to English
Mostly via LinkedIn, only one lasting client has come from Proz, one from the dog park and one I met at a party. Some by word of mouth.
I don't have a website either.
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Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 09:35
Member (2006)
Norwegian to English
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Through my ProZ profile.
“Word of mouth”. After my first few jobs I started getting contacted directly by email, so I assume my contact information had been passed on by satisfied clients.
Jobs board one time.
At one point I took a look at the jobs board and noticed one job that looked interesting because of the subject matter. The job had been posted a few days earlier, so I assumed that it had been assigned. Since I was interested in the subject matter, I re... See more Through my ProZ profile.
“Word of mouth”. After my first few jobs I started getting contacted directly by email, so I assume my contact information had been passed on by satisfied clients.
Jobs board one time.
At one point I took a look at the jobs board and noticed one job that looked interesting because of the subject matter. The job had been posted a few days earlier, so I assumed that it had been assigned. Since I was interested in the subject matter, I replied stating that I would be interested in any future projects in that subject matter. A week later they contacted me and said that I was the most qualified for that project. It was the third job I had been offered and I accepted it. The rate was low and clients that contacted me through my ProZ profile and by email agreed to much higher rates. I’ve never bothered with the jobs board since.
[Edited at 2022-12-02 23:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Assuming the question refers to new clients, nowadays it's almost always by personal recommendation. Just yesterday I got an email enquiry from somebody who was referred to me by a colleague.
I have picked up new clients through ProZ in the past, but not for a long time now.
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 19:35
Member
English to Turkish
Kay Denney wrote:
Mostly via LinkedIn,
Dear Kay, you've frequently mentioned here that you landed clients through LinkedIn, but I believe, if memory serves, you've contacted (or been contacted by) individuals that you already knew or worked with in the past, so LinkedIn didn't exactly work wonders for you. There are newbies reading these forums, and they might get the false hope/wrong impression about LinkedIn. It's a place where people mostly share cheesy PC posts that they find 'inspiring'. You might as well have landed those clients through Facebook or Twitter, had you contacted them through there.
[Edited at 2022-12-03 07:06 GMT]
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 18:35
French to English
Baran Keki wrote: Kay Denney wrote:
Mostly via LinkedIn, Dear Kay, you've frequently mentioned here that you landed clients through LinkedIn, but I believe, if memory serves, you've contacted (or been contacted by) individuals that you already knew or worked with in the past, so LinkedIn didn't exactly work wonders for you. There are newbies reading these forums, and they might get the false hope/wrong impression about LinkedIn. It's a place where people mostly share cheesy PC posts that they find 'inspiring'. You might as well have landed those clients through Facebook or Twitter, had you contacted them through there. [Edited at 2022-12-03 07:06 GMT]
Yes indeed Baran, a lot of people were already in my contacts and got in touch once I changed my status to "freelance" instead of "employee at agency".
But I've also been contacted by various other individuals needing translations (for a professional website, proofing a CV and other stuff) and also my favourite agency that sends me the most interesting work.
I'm really quite amazed that others here don't seem to have the same experience.
Oh and I don't read any of the cheesy "inspiring" posts. I do watch out for posts by either of my children, and I congratulate friends posting about their achievements (one just published a new book for example) and all the rest I just scroll right past.
[Edited at 2022-12-03 11:35 GMT]
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 19:35
Member
English to Turkish
Kay Denney wrote:
I'm really quite amazed that others here don't seem to have the same experience.
My guess is that most PMs or people in the language business (agency owners etc.) 'feel compelled' to like, comment on those cheesy posts and appear to be active there, out of peer pressure if you like. They don't give a shit about LinkeIn or the messages you send them through there in the hopes of establishing collaboration (they must delete them without reading like unsolicited applications).
I really wonder if paid LinkedIn membership offers any benefits, which costs a lot more than Proz membership. Though I very much doubt it...
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Why is only one allowed?
Mostly Proz.com and my website
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| Through my profile | Dec 4, 2022 |
So far, all my clients reach me through my Proz profile.
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Rita Utt
France
Local time: 18:35
English to German
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| Suggestion to ProZ | Dec 5, 2022 |
Ice Scream wrote:
Either someone recommends me or they move to a different employer. Nobody worthwhile contacts me on here. It doesn’t seem the place for that, *too full of cut-price agencies and translators*, which is a shame as I could do with a couple more customers to plug the gaps.
When ProZ asked, why I wasn't a paying member anymore, that is what I told them.
I suggested, they instaure a high end section for clients (preferably direct clients) willing to pay experienced translators correctly ...
No answer so far
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