| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Are most of your clients translation agencies? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are most of your clients translation agencies?".
This poll was originally submitted by Woodstock. View the poll results »
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 21:11
English to French
+ ...
Most yes, but not all...
Some years, the main part of my turnover comes from agencies, other years, the bulk comes from direct clients.
[Modifié le 2011-05-13 08:21 GMT]
| | | | Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:11
German to English
+ ...
I voted yes. In truth, I've had a couple of direct clients over the years, but they have been so insignificant that they do not really make an impact on the figures.
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 21:11
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Thus far, most of my work has come from agencies.
There have been a few direct clients, and I'm working on increasing their number.
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Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 22:11
Turkish to English
+ ...
I have issued 35 invoices this year so far, and 34 of these have been to agencies.
| | | | Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 21:11
Italian to English
In memoriam
I've only issued one invoice - at my usual rate - to an agency in the past two years.
Most of my customers are publishers or companies involved in the production or distribution of wine.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 21:11
Spanish to English
+ ...
| m_temmer
Local time: 13:11
English to Dutch
+ ...
I only work for agencies. I guess I was lucky to find a couple of really good, professional agencies that are willing to pay for quality.
Working for agencies has lots of advantages (you take time off whenever you want, without risking that your direct client runs off to other translators because you're not available for two weeks, etc.).
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Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 21:11
Italian to English
In memoriam
Michaël Temmerman wrote:
Working for agencies has lots of advantages (you take time off whenever you want, without risking that your direct client runs off to other translators because you're not available for two weeks, etc.).
The way to get round this is to suggest the substitutes yourself. This keeps customers loyal and builds up goodwill with colleagues.
| | | | Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:11
Member (2009)
Spanish to English
I'd like to break away from the "habit" for obvious reasons, but it's easy to get work through agencies and it takes away a lot of the hassle.
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 13:11
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Thank goodness also. The vast majority of my work is from direct clients with whom I have an excellent relationship. On occasion I also do some work for agencies, but only a few good ones. It would be a much better world, I think, if we could all really become independent, which would mean not being dependent on intermediaries. Otherwise, what's the use of being freelance if you are not truly free?
| | | | | Luckily, yes | May 13, 2011 |
Most of my clients, although not all, are agencies and I love working with them. They offer me flexibility, I know them well as we communicate several times per week and I feel that I can trust them 100 %. They give me no hassle and if there is some work that I do not feel comfortable doing, they do not try to convince me to do it anyway. I have made sure to always prioritise the agencies and I appreciate the administration they do. I am very, very pleased that most of my clients are agencies.
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ChrisGT
Canada
Local time: 15:11
Member (2008)
English to French
+ ...
| Amen to that! | May 13, 2011 |
neilmac wrote:
Thank goodness.
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Maria Drangel wrote:
Most of my clients, although not all, are agencies and I love working with them. They offer me flexibility, I know them well as we communicate several times per week and I feel that I can trust them 100 %. They give me no hassle and if there is some work that I do not feel comfortable doing, they do not try to convince me to do it anyway. I have made sure to always prioritise the agencies and I appreciate the administration they do. I am very, very pleased that most of my clients are agencies.
| | | | m_temmer
Local time: 13:11
English to Dutch
+ ...
| we're all business people | May 13, 2011 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
Thank goodness also. The vast majority of my work is from direct clients with whom I have an excellent relationship. On occasion I also do some work for agencies, but only a few good ones. It would be a much better world, I think, if we could all really become independent, which would mean not being dependent on intermediaries. Otherwise, what's the use of being freelance if you are not truly free?
It doesn't matter whether we work as a subcontractor or as a contractor, we are all business people. It's not because some freelancers work exclusively for agencies that they aren't truly free (whatever that may mean).
As the posts suggest, people can be very happy working for just agencies or for just direct clients. We all have to do what we feel most comfortable with, without forgetting that we are running a business.
There are decent, professional agencies out there and it's a pleasure working with them, just like it's a pleasure working with knowledgeable, professional direct clients. It's as simple as that. It's not because freelancers have different business models, that they aren't independent businesses anymore.
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