Poll: How many of your regular clients are direct clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many of your regular clients are direct clients?".
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I have 10 regular customers: 9 translation agencies (4 of these are super regular meaning that I invoice them every month) and 1 direct client (a regional organization for whom I translate twice a year a lot of documents and reports for the plenary meetings). Then there are those who come back from time to time (the not so regulars) and the one-offs (some are agencies, others are direct clients)...
[Edited at 2022-07-21 06:45 GMT]
[Edited at 2022-07-21 07:33 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:34
Spanish to English
+ ...
I only occasionally work with one or two agencies nowadays. I don't think I've done anything for them myself in the past couple of years - lately when they approach me, I usually recommend them to a colleague with more availability.
However, don't ask me how I acquired my direct clients. Most of them came to me by word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Before I got into translation full-time, I was a TEFL trainer, and made some contacts through my teaching activity,... See more I only occasionally work with one or two agencies nowadays. I don't think I've done anything for them myself in the past couple of years - lately when they approach me, I usually recommend them to a colleague with more availability.
However, don't ask me how I acquired my direct clients. Most of them came to me by word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Before I got into translation full-time, I was a TEFL trainer, and made some contacts through my teaching activity, and it just sort of built up from there. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Robert Forstag 
United States
Local time: 09:34
Spanish to English
+ ...
The work I have received from direct clients has been either one-offs or very occasional.
So, while none of my direct-client work has been regular, I have gotten a certain percentage of work from direct clients.
This option was not among the choices offered.
[Edited at 2022-07-21 20:59 GMT]
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Kay Denney
France
Local time: 15:34
French to English
I see I'm in a tiny minority with more than 50% of my clients being direct.
I expect if the question was about the proportion of earnings from direct clients it wouldn't be as much, in that most direct clients contact me only a couple of times a year, whereas agencies do give a steadier stream of work. But I have 11 direct clients and 7 agencies.
I'm amazed to see that the vast majority have answered that they work only with agencies!
While I do appreciate working with agenci... See more I see I'm in a tiny minority with more than 50% of my clients being direct.
I expect if the question was about the proportion of earnings from direct clients it wouldn't be as much, in that most direct clients contact me only a couple of times a year, whereas agencies do give a steadier stream of work. But I have 11 direct clients and 7 agencies.
I'm amazed to see that the vast majority have answered that they work only with agencies!
While I do appreciate working with agencies, it's so much more gratifying to work with direct clients. I get invites to their concerts, exhibitions and other events they organise, I usually get to chat a little about the job before doing it, so I know more about the point of the translation and as a result I can do a better job. Direct clients are more likely to ask questions, which keeps me on my toes. And they are less likely to quibble over the price.
[Edited at 2022-07-21 12:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | None, only agencies | Jul 21, 2022 |
My experience with direct clients is limited to a drop in an ocean of projects from agencies.
Philippe
| | | | | 75% by volume | Jul 21, 2022 |
Direct clients rule. Well, decent ones. You set the deadline, you set the price, they treat you like a professional. Love them.
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without exception. I have never worked for agencies and never will.
Direct clients usually become friends
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