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where does translation companies find business?
Thread poster: Jenny Xiong
Jenny Xiong
Jenny Xiong  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 23:10
English to Chinese
Jan 10, 2018

Dear colleagues,

May I know your opinion about where does translation companies find business? and where does the direct customers post their demand? on websites such as Proz? Thank you!
 
John Fossey
John Fossey  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 11:10
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
Direct sales representation Jan 10, 2018

The ones I know have full-time on-the-road salespeople who visit end clients and develop a relationship with them.

The end clients I have that ask for translations directly don't know and have never heard of websites such as Proz.com. They generally have found me by networking with another translator, often one of their employees.
 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 16:10
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
My clients all tend to be smallish Jan 10, 2018

Smallish direct clients, AFAIK, often look first for recommendations from acquaintances, or sometimes from acquaintances of acquaintances!

If they already know a translator, they'll get in touch with them first. If that person can't do the job for any reason, they'll often pass on the link to ProZ.com, even if they can't recommend anyone there. OTOH, if the direct client has never had anything to do with translation services, they'll often do a Google search. That will also give the... See more
Smallish direct clients, AFAIK, often look first for recommendations from acquaintances, or sometimes from acquaintances of acquaintances!

If they already know a translator, they'll get in touch with them first. If that person can't do the job for any reason, they'll often pass on the link to ProZ.com, even if they can't recommend anyone there. OTOH, if the direct client has never had anything to do with translation services, they'll often do a Google search. That will also give them the link to ProZ.com, probably in the #1 spot.

Once on the site, some search the directory for a suitable supplier, while others post a job, publicly or privately.

My agency clients are almost all small, specialised agencies. I have no idea how they come by their clients. ▲ Collapse


Jenny Xiong
 


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where does translation companies find business?







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