| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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I translate from Hebrew to English, mainly legal documents. November 16 was a month of full employment, followed by a quiet December after the first week. January was filled with smaller jobs and new clients. I am optimistic about the rest of the year. At the same time, two of my colleagues report hard times for them.
| | | | C Warlow (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:17
French to English
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| Not optimistic | Feb 1, 2017 |
I appear to be a rare pessimist on this thread, so apologies if I bring anyone super-optimistic down (to earth). I haven't been able to increase my rates for the last ten years: maybe they were high to start with (£0.075/source word) but inflation keeps on going and my assumptions were that my income would at least keep pace with that. Secondly, translation software is , in my view, driving down my income - fewer words in general to translate plus "post-editing" jobs that pay badly but require ... See more I appear to be a rare pessimist on this thread, so apologies if I bring anyone super-optimistic down (to earth). I haven't been able to increase my rates for the last ten years: maybe they were high to start with (£0.075/source word) but inflation keeps on going and my assumptions were that my income would at least keep pace with that. Secondly, translation software is , in my view, driving down my income - fewer words in general to translate plus "post-editing" jobs that pay badly but require lots of time. I'm aware that I'm being undercut by other translators based elsewhere who charge much lower rates - but may not offer the same quality. I'm afraid that the translation profession is in a "race to the bottom" where we all lose income while having to work harder than before. Brexit introduces another layer of uncertainty. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Clay Suddath 
France
Local time: 10:17
French to English
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| Wildly, thoroughly, incorrigibly OpTiMiStIc ! | Feb 1, 2017 |
Business just keeps getting better in terms of volume, quality and conditions. Political and technological transformations have rocked the world order creating huge opportunities. Naturally, there are fields that one should best exit, while focusing on greener pastures.
Struggling translators may find very interesting opportunities involving the following themes:
° Biotechnology
° Patents
° Rail transport
° ISO Standards
° Developments... See more Business just keeps getting better in terms of volume, quality and conditions. Political and technological transformations have rocked the world order creating huge opportunities. Naturally, there are fields that one should best exit, while focusing on greener pastures.
Struggling translators may find very interesting opportunities involving the following themes:
° Biotechnology
° Patents
° Rail transport
° ISO Standards
° Developments of all kinds along the Silk Road (Shanghai to Moscow), one of the greatest engineering projects of all times
° Fuel cells
° Smart networks, internet of things
While the current state of US diplomacy does not appear promising for international trade in certain respects, business is booming in LA with Europe and Asia.
Africa, meanwhile, is showing phenomenal growth.
So don't be discouraged, folks. Business is there, it's just not your grandfather's translation agency.
Fortunately! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Cautiously optimistic | Feb 1, 2017 |
Although my business has grown steadily over the past 10 years and 2016 was my best year yet I have reservations about the impact of Brexit in 2017 and my ability to continue to trade simply with the majority of my clients in the EU. I also fear the impact Trump's protectionist policies will have on globalisation as a whole, without which there would be no need for our services...I am braced for impact!
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I think it will be better
| | | | | Pretty optimistic | Feb 1, 2017 |
I started the year working in-house and then went out on my own in April. It took a couple of months to get some clients but I ended December with a bang. It was my highest grossing month. Then I took a 2 week trip to Peru and Bolivia. January was a little slow but I was also away for two weeks out of the month. I'm hoping things will pick up in February and stay that way the rest of the year.
| | | | Alvaro Aliaga
Australia
Local time: 18:17
English to Spanish
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| I lost my optimism a couple of years ago | Feb 2, 2017 |
The second half of 2015 signaled what would eventually become a trend: A sharp decrease of incoming projects. In fact, 2016 was so slow that I no longer consider this my main source of income at all. Working as a freelancer for over a decade has taught me not to rely on potential new projects because, well, you do not pay bills with "potential money". To make matters worse, 2015 brought to my attention the rise of new agencies that thrive on recruiting translators who charge the cheapest rates p... See more The second half of 2015 signaled what would eventually become a trend: A sharp decrease of incoming projects. In fact, 2016 was so slow that I no longer consider this my main source of income at all. Working as a freelancer for over a decade has taught me not to rely on potential new projects because, well, you do not pay bills with "potential money". To make matters worse, 2015 brought to my attention the rise of new agencies that thrive on recruiting translators who charge the cheapest rates possible. I bet you know who they are and where they based... These agencies have contacted me a few times already and asked me to compromise in the name of long-term collaborations. Ha ha ha, sure! 'Cause, you know, I love the idea of working the same number of hours to the same high-standards only to make just 25% of my regular rates! Given the way things are going globally, I don't think things will change for the better although this is one of those times I would love to be proven wrong. ▲ Collapse
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Better be, instead of pessimistic, avoiding being naive I strongly think that business should and must be better in 2017..Best Regards to you all
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Well it was my good decision to invest with Proz and my year start with a huge project but i still looking for to add another language pair and perhaps to do some courses.
| | | | | Very optimistic! | Feb 2, 2017 |
For this year one of my goals is to get more clients and make my web page.
| | | | Rodolfo Alva (X)
Chile
Local time: 04:17
English to Spanish
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| Busy teaching | Feb 2, 2017 |
I've been so busy teaching English I don't know if translating only a few documents lately is really a bad thing. I'm not sure if hoping for something will help me in the translation business (or anything else) but I think having a positive perspective about the future is the initial state or condition of a successful life, so I have to be optimistic about my translation business this year.
| | | | Gabriella Vento
United States
Local time: 01:17
Member (2015)
English to Hungarian
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My business - other, than a few slower weeks - has been continuously growing in the past year, due to the increasing number of highly demanding, legal-technical HU-EN projects. (They are my favorite:-). The rates are also better now, than before, in some cases close to the ceiling of "industrial average" posted. Proz.com is a great part of my success, both in marketing my service, and managing the payments through the invoicing system.
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I have joined ProZ this year, so I hope to increase my work and make my dream come true: to become a full-time translator and also maintain some of my English/Portuguese classes. Let's see!
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ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)". View the poll results »
| | | | | Presenting yourself to potential clients with the content in your profile/website/whathaveyou | Feb 3, 2017 |
Hi aaafateh,
aaafateh wrote:
started promoting myself online only since November 2016 but till now not received a single job - but still optimistic to improve my business through 2017
Getting started can be difficult. At a glance, your profile needs work! At the moment it doesn't really say anything about who you are or what you have to offer as a professional, so it is that much more likely clients are going to pass you by. There are free webinars that are designed to help you better understand how client contact can be made using ProZ.com, and how to improve your profile and your online presence in general. I'd recommend you sign up for the next one, if you can make it: http://www.proz.com/translator-training/course/14183-meeting_clients_at_prozcom . In the meantime, this video will give you an idea of how your profile affects the connections you make through ProZ.com (and pretty much anywhere else): http://www.proz.com/videos/224-getting-the-most-out-of-your-prozcom-profile-a-love-story
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