| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: What part of your translator qualifications do you think attracts the most clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What part of your translator qualifications do you think attracts the most clients?".
This poll was originally submitted by Crystal Samples
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each tim... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What part of your translator qualifications do you think attracts the most clients?".
This poll was originally submitted by Crystal Samples
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Yeah, they ran my poll! | Nov 13, 2007 |
I know, kind of a kid response, but I am very happy that they ran my poll because this is something that I was genuinely curious about. I'm especially curious to hear from those who picked "other".
Also, for those of you who have a degree in translation and/or a higher degree in a specialized field, what do you think the client is most impressed by? I asked this because I'm debating whether to continue my education getting a degree in translation or if my goals would be better met... See more I know, kind of a kid response, but I am very happy that they ran my poll because this is something that I was genuinely curious about. I'm especially curious to hear from those who picked "other".
Also, for those of you who have a degree in translation and/or a higher degree in a specialized field, what do you think the client is most impressed by? I asked this because I'm debating whether to continue my education getting a degree in translation or if my goals would be better met pursuing higher education in my other area of interest, psychology (possibly in a country of my B language). However, I could always do both.
Thanks to all who participated, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic.
[Edited at 2007-11-13 16:02]
[Edited at 2007-11-13 16:04]
[Edited at 2007-11-13 16:08] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jon O (X) 
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:42
Dutch to English
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Although not a translation qualification as such, I've noticed that since I mentioned my PhD in my tagline, I've had quite an appreciable increase in enquiries from potential clients...I wish i'd done it earlier...
| | | | | I voted "specialisation"... | Nov 13, 2007 |
... though if I could I would have said "doing a good job" as I believe this is what attracts and keeps customers!
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Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 21:42
Portuguese to English
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| I picked "other" | Nov 13, 2007 |
Except for people who don't know me from Adam and find my resume interesting, I'd say people are attracted to me by word of mouth because of the quality of my work.
Amy
| | | | | specialisations | Nov 13, 2007 |
That's what attracts them; what gets them coming back - as Sandra says - is doing a good job. (It's not what attracts them in the first place, though, unless they come to you by word of mouth!)
[Edited at 2007-11-13 14:44]
| | | | | Rather than "Years of Experience"... | Nov 13, 2007 |
I would say "Experience". I am not specialised in one or two subjects only, but in plenty. So I have experience in travel & tourism, business & finance, legal texts, medicine, technical manuals, computers & telecommunications, etc, etc. I can make all sorts of translations and put the same effort in all of them. So I think that's why customers get attracted to me, because I can handle many translation topics for about the same price. And I think this is also a point that attracts customers: affo... See more I would say "Experience". I am not specialised in one or two subjects only, but in plenty. So I have experience in travel & tourism, business & finance, legal texts, medicine, technical manuals, computers & telecommunications, etc, etc. I can make all sorts of translations and put the same effort in all of them. So I think that's why customers get attracted to me, because I can handle many translation topics for about the same price. And I think this is also a point that attracts customers: affordable prices. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 18:42
English to Spanish
+ ...
In memoriam
Since I get practically all my clients through word of mouth, it would have to be references; that is, my reputation as expressed to others by those who have already been my clients. Naturally that is all based on years of experience.
When the work proposal comes in, it is already sold.
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John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 02:42
Spanish to English
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| Language pairs | Nov 13, 2007 |
Don't know if this falls under specializations or not, but many of my clients offer me work because of the Catalan>English combination.
Catalonia is a small (wanabee) country with big aspirations. All of the universities, governmental administrations and many companies publish their material solely in Catalan or bilingually in Spanish.
That gives a great market niche and creates a definite need that attracts clients.
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:42
Flemish to English
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| All of these qualifications | Nov 13, 2007 |
1. Get an education
2. Spezialise
3. Gain experience
4. Gain credentials and (option: certifications).
5. Gather references
| | | | | Other - languages | Nov 13, 2007 |
I have seen a general interest in my ATA certification (for English into Spanish) and SFÖ membership (among the Swedes, who know that means my references have been verified). But in my case, probably a good part is that there are few Swedish into Spanish translators in the world. So if you can get one, who is also certified and verified, plus has experience, specialty fields, education, insurance, and lives in Europe... I guess the whole packet has made me attractive, and once they've tried me,... See more I have seen a general interest in my ATA certification (for English into Spanish) and SFÖ membership (among the Swedes, who know that means my references have been verified). But in my case, probably a good part is that there are few Swedish into Spanish translators in the world. So if you can get one, who is also certified and verified, plus has experience, specialty fields, education, insurance, and lives in Europe... I guess the whole packet has made me attractive, and once they've tried me, they've seen I'm good so they come back. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jerzy Czopik
Germany
Local time: 02:42
Member (2003)
Polish to German
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| Said "Other" | Nov 13, 2007 |
because you missed "a mixture of the above", which is IMHO mostly the case.
Not a single criterion, but the existence of all of them influence the decision to some extent.
Jerzy
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| All of the above | Nov 13, 2007 |
Unfortunately there was no option "All of the above", it would be just perfect in my case (and probably for many of you as well). It's a mix of a few years experience, a couple of prestigious clients, word of mouth etc.
| | | | | language pairs | Nov 13, 2007 |
Most my clients come to me looking for someone with my smaller language combinations.
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The most important things are missing from the list of variants, namely the quality of work, ability to provide a really meaningful translation, ability to convey ideas, not just translate words, ability to concentrate and be attentive enough, etc.
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