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tranfree issue 3 - 29 May 1999 "Applying to Translation Agencies by Email"
Welcome to issue 3 of tranfree - the newsletter for translators. To celebrate the launch of tranmail, this tranfree is based loosely around emailed applications to translation agencies. I hope you find the information valuable and enjoy reading it. Alex Eames
This tranfree contains...
Hot Topic - International Rates SurveyAn International Rates Survey will soon take place. There has been a lot of discussion about this in the Payment Practices list, so much so that the PP list has been split into two separate lists - the original one for payment references and a new one for discussion of payment related issues. Despite a lot of comment on 'price-fixing' and 'antitrust law-suits', and irrespective of the ATA's understandably cautious stance, this survey WILL GO AHEAD! The survey cannot possibly be construed as an attempt at price-fixing since the translation industry is so fragmented. We 'online translators' are a tiny proportion of the world market - each with a minute fraction of this multi-billion dollar industry. The survey will be conducted on a web form. I will publish the URL of this form when it is known and all tranfree subscribers will be invited to participate.
This tranfree's Feature Articles...
tranfree Readers' QuestionsQuestion From: Brazilian Translator, San Francisco, California, USA Q: Every year I go to Brazil, my native country for two months. Last year I started working with a big new client - a huge agency with dozens of Project Managers, with different projects every week. It was great, I made lots of money, great relationships, etc. After I came back this year, the closest two project managers continue to use me, but I would like to have the others also call me like before. I don't know yet what is the impact of these trips on a client of this kind, since I am available for big jobs while in Brazil, but not for quick turnarounds. This agency alone is worth much more of my efforts than trying to get a new client. Of course I already sent all project managers an email saying that I am back, etc., but it's just not working like before. Would you think that it's a matter of not travelling for such a long period? Or this is very common among translators? A: I think it is quite common for translators to spend periods of time in their native country. A lot of agencies and professional societies encourage this as it helps you to stay "current" with your native language. Therefore turn it into a feature in your marketing! By the way, using these grounds you can probably justify at least one trip "home" per year as a business expense to write off against tax (but check your local legislation). I would suggest you also take any steps you can to increase your availability when you are in Brazil (for short jobs too - even if this is not very profitable for you). The reason? Two months is long enough for agencies get into the habit of using someone else for your language combination(s). You don't want them to get into this habit or you will have to win them back every single year. If you have a laptop computer or a computer in Brazil, and a telephone line, there should be no problem with this. Can you divert your US calls to Brazil? There MUST be a way. Can you use a pager or a mobile phone in Brazil? Q: Also, why do translation agencies not answer us translators simply and directly? For this same agency, I was doing a lot of proofreading. Suddenly they stopped calling me for proofreading jobs, and after a short pause there was a shift for more and bigger translation jobs, which was great for me. But when I asked what was happening, they just said "nothing", and stated again how great it was to have me as a translator, etc... sometimes I have the feeling that nobody in these big companies really knows what is going on. A: It's quite possible that they don't know what's going on! They certainly don't control the work which flows into the agency - clients do! It could be that the flow of proofreading just dried up from the usual sources. This is why you need a good variety or 'spread' of customers to ensure that you don't get a 'dry spell' without any work. A good 'rule of thumb' is to try not to have more than 20% of your work from one source. Question From: Spanish Translator, Venezuela Q: I have been working for more than eight years as a freelance translator in my home country, Venezuela, and here they don't pay very much. My husband suggested I try offering my services as a freelance translator through the Internet. I have tried to do so, but it has not been easy for me. So far, I have only done one or two translations like this and that's about it. I have sent a covering letter with my CV to some other companies but have not succeeded. In fact, I was about to give up, until I read tranfree and decided to write to you. I am not a linguist, I don't know if that's why I can't find translations. I am a Biologist and I'm half way through my Masters Degree in Fundamental Medical Sciences. I thought that would help me to find translations, at least in my area of expertise, but until now it has not. A: I am not officially a linguist either but it's never hurt me too badly. BUT, If you don't have formal language qualifications you DO need to be able to prove your level of competence and show that you have some relevant experience. Be patient, it takes a lot longer to get results than some people think - it may be several months before you start getting work from new clients. See the article "Why Agencies Don't Always Reply". Q: I think that probably I have not written to the right companies yet. It would be of a lot of help if you could suggest me adequate company addresses, I sure would be very grateful for that. Also I wanted to ask you about the current rates. I have asked for $25 per 1000 English words (the source language, I translate from English to Spanish). Please tell me is that a fair rate, or am I asking for too much or too little? A: I have a brand NEW product called tranmail which is a list of the names, email addresses, countries of origin, and web URLs of 1800+ translation agencies around the world. Click here to find out more about it. $25 per 1000 words really is not enough for you to be taken seriously - this alone may be the reason for your lack of success so far. I suggest you at least double and possibly triple your rates and you can still be cheaper than your competitors in North America (although they may not like me for saying this - c'mon guys there's enough work out there for all of us!). There is an international 'online translator community' rates survey which is currently in the planning stages (see Hot Topic). I will publish details of how and where to take part and how to get the results as this information becomes available.
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