| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: How often do you agree to perform sample translations free of charge? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Always. It's the most cost-effective form of direct marketing in existence.
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If I have time and feel the client is worth it.
I often found test translations were not representative of the type of work we're asked to compute afterwards; my favorite example is the one I did for the agency I am working for right now: the test was sooo technical that I imposed a rate about 33% higher than usual (I had spent 2 to 3 hours on a standard page): now that I am used to the kind of text they give (which is not that technical), I spend less than an hour per page most of the ti... See more If I have time and feel the client is worth it.
I often found test translations were not representative of the type of work we're asked to compute afterwards; my favorite example is the one I did for the agency I am working for right now: the test was sooo technical that I imposed a rate about 33% higher than usual (I had spent 2 to 3 hours on a standard page): now that I am used to the kind of text they give (which is not that technical), I spend less than an hour per page most of the time, which means my hour rate is the highest of all my clients!
Unfortunately it also happened to me that discussing the rate after realizing the test didn't end up in any possible collaboration, as I charged twice more than the agency was ready to pay. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Suzan Hamer 
Netherlands
Local time: 23:07
English
+ ...
| Never for agencies, but I offer | Dec 8, 2013 |
to do a short sample for potential end clients, and in most (if not all) cases, the sample leads to landing the job.
To paraphrase Tim: "I do not simply expect people to take my word for it that I am a top-notch translator from Ditch to English; I am happy to demonstrate that I am."
And like Anna, I too see a short sample as a good investment of time.
[Edited at 2013-12-08 13:51 GMT]
| | | | Diana Obermeyer
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:07
Member (2013)
German to English
+ ...
| Examples can't be provided in all areas / relevance | Dec 10, 2013 |
Half my clients are consultancies or venture capital firms. There is NOTHING I could provide to a potential new client as a suitable and relevant example within work already completed, as these projects are a) very specialised and b) highly confidential. Creating a "mock acquisition offer" as a universal sample very simply isn't practical and I believe - particularly for direct clients in this sector - a cooperative attitude is a key success factor.
With agencies it depends very mu... See more Half my clients are consultancies or venture capital firms. There is NOTHING I could provide to a potential new client as a suitable and relevant example within work already completed, as these projects are a) very specialised and b) highly confidential. Creating a "mock acquisition offer" as a universal sample very simply isn't practical and I believe - particularly for direct clients in this sector - a cooperative attitude is a key success factor.
With agencies it depends very much on the initial communication and terms. I often agree to do them, not always. I admit it's not always a rational decision, more a matter of - how was the request phrased, how did it make me feel?
Direct client tests are - in my experience - always relevant and representative of the work to follow.
Agency tests are often that standardised, that I have no idea what it is they are trying to test. 2/3 of the time, it seems to be tourism texts, which I wouldn't touch as an assignment. I see that text, my eyes roll over and I ask myself, if they actually looked at any information I gave them/that is on my profile and consequently, if they will actually be able to provide me with suitable assignments or if they just fling anything at anyone. My interest deteriorates significantly at that point. ▲ Collapse
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| Ditch to English | Dec 12, 2013 |
Suzan Hamer wrote:
to do a short sample for potential end clients, and in most (if not all) cases, the sample leads to landing the job.
To paraphrase Tim: "I do not simply expect people to take my word for it that I am a top-notch translator from Ditch to English; I am happy to demonstrate that I am."
And like Anna, I too see a short sample as a good investment of time.
[Edited at 2013-12-08 13:51 GMT]
Sounds like a step up to me.. grins
Steve K.
| | | | acetran
Member
English to Hindi
+ ...
| Yes for a regular client, no for a new client | Jan 19, 2015 |
I accept small translations free of charge from my regular clients. But from new clients, I ask payment.
Also, I stopped doing free samples of more than 190 words. Some agencies want you do a sample of 750 words using Trados, and provide them all types of source files.
[Edited at 2015-01-19 10:22 GMT]
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