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How to find direct clients?
Thread poster: Eleonora_P
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 20:16
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
That's how it started Jun 12, 2017

David GAY wrote:

José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
It took several years, however my web site is now my #1 source for new direct clients, referrals from colleagues and past clients being a close second.


I'm not sure it's relevant because you're a sworn translator
there are only several dozens of sworn translator for one language pair whereas
there are thousands of lambda translators


That's how my web site began. At first my whole site was a series of Q&As on sworn translation in Brazil, things I was getting tired of explaining via e-mail over and over again.

I developed the content, and it took my elder son - a top-flight IT pro - 18 months to find time to build it. He came to my place, used my computer, and wrote straight code using the Windows Notepad, as fluently as I write plain text.

But then I couldn't update it, enhance it, expand it. I built a few disconnected web pages using Word, Netscape, and several other apps whose name I don't recall. One day I discovered WebSiteX5, and ever since I've been using it to build and grow my web site. I still don't know squat about html, php, javascript, etc. I only develop content, the program takes care of the rest in a user-friendly way.

In my sworn translation pages I explain that, since the Brazilian law dates back from 1943 and has never been amended, everything is in hard copy. So prospects - for logistic reasons - should seek the physically nearest sworn translation, and provide links to all official online directories. I'm sure this contributes to my overall SEO, though many prospects possibly use my information to hire other sworn translators.

However many clients seek me through my web site looking for video translation and subtitling, translation of PDF files with DTP, book translation, magazine articles, and other services, and they often hire me to do them.

My point is to offer some valuable information to leverage your position on search engines, and then use it to sell your wares. This may require some creativity.

I don't do technical translation in medicine. A medical translation specialist could offer links to online glossaries, articles, whatever, that their clientele might be blindly searching for.

A colleague specializing in culinary translation could provide links to online recipes, restaurants whose menus s/he translated, etc.

The point is to build traffic. However it does take a lot of time. Getting started today, instead of tomorrow, might bring you results one day earlier, in a few years from now.

[Edited at 2017-06-12 15:41 GMT]


Aida Matei
 
Makoto Matsuo
Makoto Matsuo
Japan
Local time: 08:16
English to Japanese
+ ...
Getting Direct Clients Aug 16, 2017

I agree with the idea that using directories and having your own website can be very helpful in getting connected with potential clients doing a specific web search. My website doesn't get much traffic but I do receive inquiries from potential clients that lead to work. Although my website still needs a lot more work, I think it's fair enough to say that having one today doesn't hurt.
As well, I like the idea of going to trade shows in your area of specialization to find more direct client
... See more
I agree with the idea that using directories and having your own website can be very helpful in getting connected with potential clients doing a specific web search. My website doesn't get much traffic but I do receive inquiries from potential clients that lead to work. Although my website still needs a lot more work, I think it's fair enough to say that having one today doesn't hurt.
As well, I like the idea of going to trade shows in your area of specialization to find more direct clients. It was mentioned that you should care (or at least show some respect) about what the sales department is offering and that makes sense. I also thought that events such as these would be great opportunities to learn more about the industry from the experts and connect with people who are good at selling products and/or services:)
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Alessio Cappelli
Alessio Cappelli
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:16
Member (2018)
Chinese to Italian
+ ...
DISCLOSURE? Mar 8, 2023

Good afternoon, everybody!
I've been an Interpreter in the legal field for almost 10 years, but have always worked via agencies.
However, I now would like to find direct clients myself.
I have a very specific question in this regard: if I decide to send an introductory email to random law firms in order to advertise myself, can I list the names of the law firms I've already worked with (via the agencies)? Or would this constitute a breach of confidentiality?
Please note
... See more
Good afternoon, everybody!
I've been an Interpreter in the legal field for almost 10 years, but have always worked via agencies.
However, I now would like to find direct clients myself.
I have a very specific question in this regard: if I decide to send an introductory email to random law firms in order to advertise myself, can I list the names of the law firms I've already worked with (via the agencies)? Or would this constitute a breach of confidentiality?
Please note that:
1) I wouldn't make any explicit connection between a certain agency and a certain law firm; it would just be a list of the law firms I've worked with;
2) I wouldn't name any of the clients' clients (i.e. the clients of the law firms who have approached my agency);
I believe it should be okay but just wanted to make sure first.
Nowhere in the contracts I've signed with my agencies is it stated anything specific in this regard; if anything, it is stated I must not disclose any of the clients' names to other language agencies (not to other law firms). In any case, as already stated, no connection would be made between a certain agency and a certain law firm...
Please let me know,
Thank you!
Alessio
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Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Naming names Mar 8, 2023

As I said in your other thread, you need to use your judgement. Quietly.

You get lots of people here banging on and on about confidentiality like they have access to nuclear codes on a daily basis, but in the real world I rarely have any inside information I could use to my advantage even though I work for several investment banks.


Baran Keki
Kevin Fulton
 
Renate Radziwill-Rall
Renate Radziwill-Rall  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 00:16
Member
French to German
+ ...
Alessio Jan 7

You should NEVER give names of your existing clients to other clients in order to place yourself. They only use your contacts for their own needs. It is nowadays a fashion that agencies ask you for "references", the only reason is the above one.

Magnus Rubensson
 
Lefteris Kritikakis
Lefteris Kritikakis
United States
Local time: 18:16
Member (2023)
English to Greek
+ ...
Takes time Jan 10

-- No need to contact those who want a one-stop place for all languages and needs (large companies etc).
-- There is always a need by:
i) small legal offices (that are not willing to pay the enormous fees of agencies, and prefer to have direct contact with the actual translator).
ii) regional hospitals that need immediate translations of medical reports or interpreters.
iii) local courts - they are paying 2.5 times as much at least than agencies for zoom calls and
... See more
-- No need to contact those who want a one-stop place for all languages and needs (large companies etc).
-- There is always a need by:
i) small legal offices (that are not willing to pay the enormous fees of agencies, and prefer to have direct contact with the actual translator).
ii) regional hospitals that need immediate translations of medical reports or interpreters.
iii) local courts - they are paying 2.5 times as much at least than agencies for zoom calls and if you are on their interpreters' team, lawyers will find your name to trust you with surprisingly well paid small cases (15,000 words of an old property sales contract at 0.20/word is not bad, right?).
iii) individuals who need documents of the above category and could see your name at local city halls, consulate offices etc. My three latest clients of this category paid me 3-4 times higher fee than any agency would in our days, no MT and other nonsense, and the last one agreed with pleasure to pay me $70 minimum charge each time she sent sporadic single-page documents after the large part was done (agencies would have charged her about $120, considering formatting charges for a couple of tables and bold/underline).
iv) new companies in your area that would prefer to work with someone directly.
etc.

I would use a "Business-Professional Directory" of your area as a starting point, to identify potential sectors and clients. But all these take time, usually years, to establish a viable and sufficient clientele.
On the good side, you will earn more money working less time, under much lower time pressure.
Even better, you will be able to do it even if you have another job in the future. Because you won't be chained on a computer waiting for jobs to appear on a "system".
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Koume
Koume

Local time: 10:16
English to Japanese
+ ...
Translators Directory Jan 11

Hi there,

I am a certified translator in Australia. Some job needs a nationally certified translators/interpreters, we have a special directory for anyone who is looking for a certified translator. You may have something similar in your country? or Something similar to ProZ?


 
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