Price for a list of translation agencies? Thread poster: Vadim Kadyrov
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I have gathered a list of emails of translation agencies` HR depts with the help of Google, on-line directories and LinkedIn (US and EU agencies, actually - around 1,700 entries now). I used the list to send my cover letter and my CV to these agencies. To cut a long story short, the effort was worth it: I now have a robust clientele.
Since this marketing tool has obviously helped me, I think I can monetize the idea. The only question is the price. Any thoughts and opinions are we... See more I have gathered a list of emails of translation agencies` HR depts with the help of Google, on-line directories and LinkedIn (US and EU agencies, actually - around 1,700 entries now). I used the list to send my cover letter and my CV to these agencies. To cut a long story short, the effort was worth it: I now have a robust clientele.
Since this marketing tool has obviously helped me, I think I can monetize the idea. The only question is the price. Any thoughts and opinions are welcome.
[Edited at 2015-02-25 16:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:25
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| I have my own | Feb 25, 2015 |
I'm sure everyone has their own list. Mine is probably worth more than yours ! The only difference is that since I know agencies do not like to receive unsolicited job applications from translators, I don't use it. I'm impressed that yours has generated a "robust clientele".
[Edited at 2015-02-25 17:02 GMT]
| | | | Max Deryagin 
Russian Federation
Local time: 07:25
Member (2013)
English to Russian
| Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 03:25
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| And tomorrow? | Feb 25, 2015 |
That list helped you yesterday, or many yesterdays ago. But would it help you tomorrow? And will it help every other translator in different pairs, with different amounts of experience and different specialisations? Unless you're going to (a) tailor it for each purchaser AND (b) guarantee that it's up to date, then I can't see it will be of any use to anyone else.
And that's aside from the fact that the more successful it is, the higher the chance that users will get blacklisted for... See more That list helped you yesterday, or many yesterdays ago. But would it help you tomorrow? And will it help every other translator in different pairs, with different amounts of experience and different specialisations? Unless you're going to (a) tailor it for each purchaser AND (b) guarantee that it's up to date, then I can't see it will be of any use to anyone else.
And that's aside from the fact that the more successful it is, the higher the chance that users will get blacklisted for spamming as those selected agencies get very fed up with a stream of unsolicited and inappropriate CVs.
Targeting those (and only those) that are actively searching for what you can provide has got to be the way to go. ▲ Collapse
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| Price? Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. | Feb 25, 2015 |
Such a list costs absolutely nothing. The reason is simple: indiscriminately carpet-bombing agencies with your CV is a good way to kill your reputation with potential serious clients but attract bottom-feeders. And if you tailor your approach to each agency individually, 5 minutes of Google search will give you enough leads for a week of writing.
| | | | | A price for a spamming tool? | Feb 25, 2015 |
If the list has been useful to you, count your blessings and let it lie. By encouraging newbies to bombard 1,700 companies and individuals with their emails and CVs via your list, you would contribute to the devaluation of spontaneous applications, a method of advertising that is already in dire straits in our industry.
Being bombarded as they usually are with hundreds of unwanted, indiscriminate, often low-quality CVs every week, all agencies I know have turned to looking for their... See more If the list has been useful to you, count your blessings and let it lie. By encouraging newbies to bombard 1,700 companies and individuals with their emails and CVs via your list, you would contribute to the devaluation of spontaneous applications, a method of advertising that is already in dire straits in our industry.
Being bombarded as they usually are with hundreds of unwanted, indiscriminate, often low-quality CVs every week, all agencies I know have turned to looking for their translators online and completely ignore spontaneous applicants a.k.a. spammers. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | This kind of "diversification" of income is not the way to go | Feb 26, 2015 |
I used to receive tens of emails a day from a flurry of translators (some wannabe, others more seasoned, who should actually know better), but mind you, I have never advertized any job of any kind and I am no outsourcer. I don't even give recommendations. It turns out I was on a list much like yours. The result: at first I looked at some CVs, put some aside (I shouldn't have, because I have no talent for recruitment), but in the end I hit the delete key every single time an application got into ... See more I used to receive tens of emails a day from a flurry of translators (some wannabe, others more seasoned, who should actually know better), but mind you, I have never advertized any job of any kind and I am no outsourcer. I don't even give recommendations. It turns out I was on a list much like yours. The result: at first I looked at some CVs, put some aside (I shouldn't have, because I have no talent for recruitment), but in the end I hit the delete key every single time an application got into my inbox.
It's simple. If the list that you made has helped you (you probably matched your skills with the profile of the company, that seems sensible)... why would it work for others? We are diverse and our experience/exposure varies. I bet those 1,700 companies do not have the same requirements/fields/language combos. I would never buy such a list. Maybe newbies will, but I believe that that will actually prolong their struggle to find clients, being banned by some, gaining unwanted reputation etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Or even worse | Feb 26, 2015 |
anamaria bulgariu wrote:
I would never buy such a list. Maybe newbies will, but I believe that that will actually prolong their struggle to find clients, being banned by some, gaining unwanted reputation etc.
Or even being registered as spammers in e-mail blacklists, along with their ISPs and anybody who helps them send the messages out.
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 04:25
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Vadim Kadyrov wrote:
Since this marketing tool has obviously helped me, I think I can monetize the idea. The only question is the price.
The list will become useless very quickly. If the list enables people to send e-mail indiscriminately, then you can't in good conscience sell it to more than about 20 people. If the list does not allow for spamming, then you could sell it to perhaps 100 or 200 people.
Have a look at what these lists cost on other sites. Cheap lists may go for USD 50 for 5000 addresses, whereas more expensive lists might go for USD 500 for 50 addresses. I'm not sure whether cheap or expensive pricing would be more beneficial in the long run. You can think for yourself that if the price is high, it might attract people looking for quality, but if the price is low, it might attract people who can't afford a high price.
Here's an idea: split up the list into three parts, A-H, I-P, and Q-Z, and sell them each for a lower price. If a user finds that the one list is useful, he might purchase the other ones as well. If not, then at least you've made some money that you would otherwise not have. Also offer to give a free sample (change the sample every week or month to ensure that those agencies don't get spammed).
| | | | Vadim Kadyrov
Ukraine
Local time: 05:25
English to Russian
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TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for sharing | Mar 4, 2015 |
Well, the thing is that all the agencies I have listed unambiguously encourage people to send their cover letters to the e-mails I have included on my list. That is the point.
Of course, I was not going to include there each and every e-mail I could come across on-line.
That`s why I don`t have as many entries as others claim they have.
Anyway, once again, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
| | | | | Just for the looks | Mar 5, 2015 |
Vadim Kadyrov wrote:
Well, the thing is that all the agencies I have listed unambiguously encourage people to send their cover letters to the e-mails I have included on my list. That is the point.
All agencies want to give the impression that they are a dynamic, growing team looking for the best professionals and welcoming all sorts of applications, but the truth is that they very rarely use such spontaneous applications. If they did, translators out there would never receive job proposals from agencies who have such registration forms.
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 22:25
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
| Useful in the past | Mar 5, 2015 |
Such lists were certainly useful in the past - that's how I developed my clientele - but in recent years almost all agencies have taken to using online registration forms and now tend to ignore emailed applications. Virtually every agency's website has an area for registration. This reduces work for the agency, since their web-based system pre-screens applicants.
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