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Poll: Do you work with direct clients?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
Michael Wetzel
Michael Wetzel  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 01:09
German to English
only direct clients Apr 21, 2015

I worked fairly regularly with one agency for around three years when I started out and it was a positive experience. However, I also get along well with almost all of my direct clients and they are pleasant and helpful. Judging from what I read elsewhere on this site (which may be deceptive), they are far less complicated and pay far faster than agencies. They also generally have several translators that they work with and do not expect me to translate into German. The key is (actively) finding... See more
I worked fairly regularly with one agency for around three years when I started out and it was a positive experience. However, I also get along well with almost all of my direct clients and they are pleasant and helpful. Judging from what I read elsewhere on this site (which may be deceptive), they are far less complicated and pay far faster than agencies. They also generally have several translators that they work with and do not expect me to translate into German. The key is (actively) finding the right fit.

If you are good and have a genuine USP, it is not hard to find clients happy to pay rates double those for agencies and the sky is the limit: There are lots of direct clients who need very good and reliable translations as a part of projects where the price of the translation is negligible in terms of total costs (= quality very important and price nearly irrelevant). The situation is obviously different even with good agencies.

[Edited at 2015-04-21 14:47 GMT] ▲ Collapse
 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 01:09
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Precisely Apr 21, 2015

Yetta J Bogarde wrote:

I actually much prefer to work with agencies..

but that is after weeding out the ones that were a pain in the neck.


Me too!
But it may be easier when one language is Danish and you can offer a really professional service. There definitely is competition, but I can allow myself to take a week off when necessary for family reasons, as I just have... without feeling I am letting my clients down, or even worrying about losing them to other translators.

Sooner or later the others need time off too... and my regulars are all waiting for me when I get home!
 
Suzan Hamer
Suzan Hamer  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 01:09
English
+ ...
Direct clients only. Apr 21, 2015

I offer personal service and I like being able to query and make comments to the actual writer of the texts I work on.
 
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Poll: Do you work with direct clients?






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