How can I get projects consistently at ProZ.com and elsewhere? Thread poster: lavanya
|
|---|
lavanya
India
Local time: 10:37
English to Japanese
+ ...
Hi,
I'm not a newbie for this world but not have experience more than 5 or 6 years. My problem is getting the projects. How do I establish myself in the market is a big question. I do get projects sometimes.......but that sometimes is a great problem. How shall I get projects consistently? members of proz.com please help. Do you manage to get projects through proz continuously? What are the other sources through which you can get projects?
TIA
Lavanya.
[... See more Hi,
I'm not a newbie for this world but not have experience more than 5 or 6 years. My problem is getting the projects. How do I establish myself in the market is a big question. I do get projects sometimes.......but that sometimes is a great problem. How shall I get projects consistently? members of proz.com please help. Do you manage to get projects through proz continuously? What are the other sources through which you can get projects?
TIA
Lavanya.
[Subject edited by staff or moderator 2010-04-09 12:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | |
I think no translator can survive depending exclusively on Proz jobs.
Bear in mind that a client (or outsourcer - who is still a client) will take the trouble of posting a job on Proz only when they don't know yet a suitable professional to do it. In such cases, a Proz job matching your skills will get you the first contact with a client who needs them. If you do well, next time they need the same skills, they'll contact you directly... and won't post a job on Proz.
Of ... See more I think no translator can survive depending exclusively on Proz jobs.
Bear in mind that a client (or outsourcer - who is still a client) will take the trouble of posting a job on Proz only when they don't know yet a suitable professional to do it. In such cases, a Proz job matching your skills will get you the first contact with a client who needs them. If you do well, next time they need the same skills, they'll contact you directly... and won't post a job on Proz.
Of course there will always be the bottom-feeders looking for cheaper and cheaper translators. As no translator worth their salt will work for them twice, they are always on the lookout, posting jobs. However most of them have moved to all-free translation market sites, as they realized that Proz members don't care so much about them.
Proz gives you additional exposure. If you have your web site, but don't spend a fortune in SEO, it's easier for a prospect looking for your skills to find you here - among hundreds of other translators - than finding your web site among tens of millions of others on the web.
And Proz gives you the chance to search for outsourcers worldwide that offer your type of service (i.e. your language pairs & specialty areas), select the good ones via the Blue Board, and contact them directly.
So, answering your question, you'll start getting projects consistently as you develop your list of satisfied clients. These will ask you directly instead of posting jobs on Proz, as long as they are happy with your work. Nevertheless, there is some likelihood that your first contact with them may have been through Proz. Some of mine actually were. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Good old-fashioned marketing | Apr 8, 2010 |
I agree with J.H.... You cannot make a living on Proz.com alone. You need to advertise your services to many other customers. That requires polishing your CV very carefully (I haven't read it, so I don't know how good your CV already is), prepare professionally-printed letterhead materials, and sending (by mail), calling, and eventually visiting.... until work starts to flow your way.
| | | | Tim Drayton 
Cyprus
Local time: 08:07
Turkish to English
+ ...
| Other sources | Apr 9, 2010 |
I receive virtually no work via Proz. Most job offers that I get come either through my website or from membership of a professional organisation, the CIOL. Even so, I find that 2-3 week periods of intense activity are interspersed with 2-3 week periods when there is little or no work. I think this is the nature of freelancing.
| | |
|
|
|
Edward Vreeburg
Netherlands
Local time: 07:07
Member (2008)
English to Dutch
+ ...
| I do receive some work | Apr 9, 2010 |
but most of my work comes from agencies who contacted me once (via Proz or others) and who are very happy with my work.
Others are also agencies I contacted, because we had a match in languages, approach and subject matters.
So updating your Proz profile is a good idea, let people know why you are their best option for Japanese - Hindi....
With just your name and location I doubt any agency would be likely to give you any work... Where did you pick up you... See more but most of my work comes from agencies who contacted me once (via Proz or others) and who are very happy with my work.
Others are also agencies I contacted, because we had a match in languages, approach and subject matters.
So updating your Proz profile is a good idea, let people know why you are their best option for Japanese - Hindi....
With just your name and location I doubt any agency would be likely to give you any work... Where did you pick up your Japanese? What translation experience do you have???
Customer's don't just fall out of the sky, you need to hunt them down..
Greetings
Ed ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Don't neglect your profile | Apr 9, 2010 |
Hello Lavanya,
I agree that, as others have said here, it may not be a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket-- the web is full of resources, and you should use as much of what works for you out there as you can.
As far as ProZ.com is concerned, an often overlooked tool, one of the most important at your disposal when it comes to getting jobs or otherwise collaborating, is your profile. Your profile is designed to work in conjunction with membership (membership be... See more Hello Lavanya,
I agree that, as others have said here, it may not be a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket-- the web is full of resources, and you should use as much of what works for you out there as you can.
As far as ProZ.com is concerned, an often overlooked tool, one of the most important at your disposal when it comes to getting jobs or otherwise collaborating, is your profile. Your profile is designed to work in conjunction with membership (membership being heightened visibility to potential clients, your profile being your detailed business card, if you will); you can use one or the other with some results, but they are meant to go together. If I am an outsourcer and happen to see your profile at the moment, there is little indication of who you are, what you do, and why I should contact you for a project.
By the way, there is a relatively new forum, Marketing for translators, which may have other ideas and approaches for better marketing yourself: http://www.proz.com/forum/890
Hope this helps a bit.
Best regards,
Jared ▲ Collapse
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » How can I get projects consistently at ProZ.com and elsewhere? | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
