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Poll: What has been your most effective way to get new clients?
Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PERSONAL DEL SITIO
Mar 9, 2009

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What has been your most effective way to get new clients?".

This poll was originally submitted by Ana P D Carvalho

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, s
... See more
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What has been your most effective way to get new clients?".

This poll was originally submitted by Ana P D Carvalho

View the poll here

A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
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Heinrich Pesch
Heinrich Pesch  Identity Verified
Finlandia
Local time: 07:28
Miembro 2003
finlandés al alemán
+ ...
Being registered at the right place Mar 9, 2009

In my case this was not proz.com.
Cheers
Heinrich


 
Sandrine Rizzo (X)
Sandrine Rizzo (X)  Identity Verified
Francia
Local time: 06:28
español al francés
+ ...
my friend's friends are my friends Mar 9, 2009

Hello !

As far as I am concerned, the best (i.e = long-term) customers I have, contacted me on recommendation.

However, most customers I get are the fruit of prospection.

Sandrine


 
Marie Halvorsen
Marie Halvorsen
Estados Unidos
Local time: 23:28
inglés al danés
ATA Mar 9, 2009

I joined the American Translators Association and it was the best thing I ever did for my business.

Have a good one!
Marie


 
Alexander Kondorsky
Alexander Kondorsky  Identity Verified
Federación Rusa
Local time: 08:28
inglés al ruso
+ ...
Other - Luck Mar 9, 2009

As far as my experience is concerned, getting good clients, well-paying jobs as well as other good things in life has been mostly a matter of luck.

 
Interlangue (X)
Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 06:28
inglés al francés
+ ...
Word of mouth Mar 9, 2009

Achievements built my reputation, sociability does the rest. It is a small world.

 
swisstell
swisstell
Italia
Local time: 06:28
alemán al inglés
+ ...
ATA membership Mar 9, 2009

has resulted in a surprising amount of inquiries and actual jobs over the years. In that sense, I can only confirm what Marie-Louise Halvorsen already said. Also, Heinrich Pesch's mention of "being registered at the right place" (in my case ATA) hits the nail on the head.

 
Patricia Rosas
Patricia Rosas  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 22:28
español al inglés
+ ...
In Memoriam
word of mouth Mar 9, 2009

Interlangue wrote:

Achievements built my reputation, sociability does the rest. It is a small world.


I think that my web site has brought me a few new clients, but word of mouth (recommendations) have brought me all my others. Those working in my specialty field (Latin American Studies, migration, Mexico) are a small cohort and they know each other. I feel quite friendly toward the people I work with (I see myself as lending a helping hand), and I think people respond very positively toward that.

In contrast, my membership in ATA and here at ProZ has brought me exactly $60 worth of business ...


 
Amy Duncan (X)
Amy Duncan (X)  Identity Verified
Brasil
Local time: 02:28
portugués al inglés
+ ...
Other Mar 9, 2009

Clients finding me on ProZ.

 
Alice Bootman
Alice Bootman  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 23:28
español al inglés
+ ...
Profile/job postings Mar 9, 2009

So far, most of my clients come to me through my profile, and a few through job postings as well. I have had many local direct clients referred to me by word of mouth too, but the pay scale in Bolivia is completely different, and, I have decided, not really worth my time.
It is very interesting to see everyone's responses and get ideas for how to expand my customer base.


 
Stephen Rifkind
Stephen Rifkind  Identity Verified
Israel
Local time: 07:28
Miembro 2004
francés al inglés
+ ...
Professional organizations Mar 9, 2009

To emphasize what two others said, membership in the Israeli and American Translators Association has the been the best money spent. The clients who find me there are looking for a good translation, not an inexpensive one. Proz also brings a few long term clients, but the ratio of bids to new clients is like Israeli's chance of beating Russian in the Davis Cup quarter final.

 
Alexandra Goldburt
Alexandra Goldburt
Local time: 21:28
inglés al ruso
+ ...
Pray tell! Mar 9, 2009

Heinrich Pesch wrote:

In my case this was not proz.com.
Cheers
Heinrich


Heinrich, are you not telling us where? We are in different language pairs, so you need not be concerned about us taking away your clients!


 
Williamson
Williamson  Identity Verified
Reino Unido
Local time: 05:28
flamenco al inglés
+ ...
Other Mar 9, 2009

Using a source of jobs other than the bidding sites like Proz.com and the others whose names may not be mentioned. Cold calling that source.

 
Andres Larsen
Andres Larsen
Venezuela
Local time: 01:28
español al inglés
+ ...
strictly self-promotion Mar 9, 2009

strictly self-promotion

 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brasil
Local time: 02:28
inglés al portugués
+ ...
In Memoriam
Networking Mar 9, 2009

I assume word of mouth would mean clients recommending me to others. That's seldom the case. My clients prefer me "available" instead of overloaded with their friends' work.

In my case, fellow translators refer clients to me when it's outside their specialty area and within mine. I do the same for them. If I'm too busy, I just give the client a couple of e-mail addresses to reach colleagues that I know are competent for what they need.

Excellent customer service also he
... See more
I assume word of mouth would mean clients recommending me to others. That's seldom the case. My clients prefer me "available" instead of overloaded with their friends' work.

In my case, fellow translators refer clients to me when it's outside their specialty area and within mine. I do the same for them. If I'm too busy, I just give the client a couple of e-mail addresses to reach colleagues that I know are competent for what they need.

Excellent customer service also helps in two ways. Clients learn to rely on me that if I take a job I'll do it well. If I can't do it well, I'll refer them to someone else who dependably can. So they rest assured that their needs will get fulfilled either way.

I also help overloaded colleagues by taking up part of their project to translate when necessary. Now and then, if they are loaded above the lid, they dump a whole job on me. If it's a new customer, they often dump the whole client on me, as they say they won't have time neither to get all the necessary details nor to quibble about deadlines and rates.

In any case, I don't reoutsource translation. If I can't do it, I suggest someone who can, and step out.
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Poll: What has been your most effective way to get new clients?






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