Agency offers one third of the usual rate - what should I do?

Stephen Franke wrote:

Greetings.

Kindly verify whether you are requiring a signed work order -- which establishes your agreed-upon rates and related financial details -- before you accept a translation project?

It is hard to determine that critical point otherwise from your original post.

Thank you.

Regards,

Stephen H. Franke
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

[Edited at 2007-01-01 17:26]

Natalie wrote:

I moved the thread to the Money Matters forum.

Nesrin wrote:


Assuming your original rate wasn't exceptionally high to begin with - one third would be way too low. Did you ask them why they suddenly decided to cut your rates that way?

Lawyer-Linguist wrote:

You say the client is continually changing the rate, is this always downwards or do they honestly pay more when the budget allows for it?

You need at very least to set a minimum rate, failing which you'll probably find the budget will be ever-decreasing.

Don't set it too low either. It should be your minimum rate, in line with industry standards for your language pair(s), not dictated by the lower rates you've been offered.

I was working with an agency without setting a specific rate. they are always changing the rate.

Saifa wrote:

Hallo Sherif,

You are the one who offers his services, like a hairdresser, a baker or a lawyer. You have your minimum prices for every language pair and you stick to them (like Nesrin, I am sure there are not too high)...

When you want have your hair cut, you have to accept the hairdresser's prices or you to look for another, cheaper hairdresser...
You will not tell him that your budget does not allow you to pay the price which is mentioned in the shop, right ?

I sometimes give a *little* discount to good clients for some reasons, but they must be good clients for years!

As good advice, I would say: never reduce your rate. When you have enough clients, try to rise your rates with your new clients. Rise your rates every 2-3 years (according to the inflation rate).

Good luck!

Saifa

Sherifabuzid wrote:

Can you give me for some marketing materials for me as a begining freelancer? I would realy appreciate that.

Saifa wrote:



Hello Sherif,

I am sorry to disappoint you. I do not possess any kind of marketing materials. I am rather of the "old school", which means that I began working before Internet was born, and my approach of the clients may be quite different (old?!).

I will not tell you: Set up your own website, fill every field in your Proz profile... Of course, this may be useful as well, but I can tell you that this is not the most important thing, a lot of people like me do not even have a website.
But: it would be good to put on your Proz profile where you live (country) and which degrees you possess! Just in case...

The most important: 1) believe in yourself! I supposed you have studied a couple of years, which costed time and money. If someone tells you that you should sell your services as cheap as ice or pipas on the beach, there is something wrong with that person. Stay away.
Maybe he/she will tell you "that's the market". Well, I tell you that there are different markets. If you want to offer quality, you have to ask for a certain price.

Also very important: 2) be careful with the language you use.
For instance: you are not sending a "C.V." to clients, because you are not begging for working in an enterprise! You are the one who has something to offer. You are sending a "profile".
In this profile, try to convince the clients why they should chose *you*. Why are you the right person?

3) Translation business is not only Internet. There are various possibilities to look for clients.
Why not have a look at the businesses near you (your town, province...) Which industry is there? What about the yellow pages? Why not to try *everything*?

Good luck again.

Saifa


[Edited at 2007-01-03 10:24]