| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How many projects does a client have to assign you before you consider them a regular client? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many projects does a client have to assign you before you consider them a regular client?".
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For argument's sake, a client could give you, say, 7-9 or > 10 jobs and then completely disappear from the face of the planet for any reason whatsoever. You wouldn't call the client regular then, would you.
A 'regular' client is one who gives you work on a regular basis, whichever your criterion for 'regular' is, be it every month, every week or every day. For me, it's one who keeps yours truly pretty busy over the year and the following years. IMHO
Small addition
... See more For argument's sake, a client could give you, say, 7-9 or > 10 jobs and then completely disappear from the face of the planet for any reason whatsoever. You wouldn't call the client regular then, would you.
A 'regular' client is one who gives you work on a regular basis, whichever your criterion for 'regular' is, be it every month, every week or every day. For me, it's one who keeps yours truly pretty busy over the year and the following years. IMHO
Small addition
[Edited at 2015-01-17 09:45 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:40
Spanish to English
+ ...
For me it's not question of "how many projects". If they keep coming back to me over the years, they end up being regulars.
| | | | Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 14:40
Member (2006)
German to English
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Depending on the timespan and recent history
| | | | Gudrun Maydorn (X)
Germany
Local time: 14:40
English to German
+ ...
| May depend on the size of the client's projects | Jan 17, 2015 |
One page, 10 pages, a week's work, a month's work or more ...
A direct client who trusts me with a very large project and happily comes back with the next one (even if only once a year) might be considered a regular client sooner than an agency that occacionally sends me half a page to translate.
[Bearbeitet am 2015-01-17 10:12 GMT]
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
United States
Local time: 05:40
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Other - consistency over time | Jan 17, 2015 |
Like Neil. I think that says it all.
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 14:40
Czech to French
+ ...
neilmac wrote:
For me it's not question of "how many projects". If they keep coming back to me over the years, they end up being regulars.
And how do you define a project? Some clients may send me several "projects" per day, 100 words or so each.
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| Complex metrics for an objective classification | Jan 17, 2015 |
To do it mathematically, I'd need frequency, volume, and an equation to set a regular/non-regular clients threshold.
So I prefer a subjective approach... I consider a client "regular" when, after having used my services at least once, I'll be their first option whenever they need them again.
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Good question? Bad question!
In my practice I did not notice ANY relation/link between a number of assignments from client and becoming the 'regular client' at all.
At time the client, which I believed regular one, suddenly disappears forever. Or some forgotten 3-years ago contact brings new set of orders.
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It's not a matter of a number of projects but frequency over a span of time.
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I have one or two who send me work every month or several times a year.
I have quite a large number who send work when they have anything in my language pairs, not exactly regularly, but I enjoy workking for them and regard them as regular clients.
But clients come and go. Some I regarded as regulars for years have disappreared, and some turn up again after breaks.
I keep a list and note who is who (especially all the Global ones - I do NOT want to get them... See more I have one or two who send me work every month or several times a year.
I have quite a large number who send work when they have anything in my language pairs, not exactly regularly, but I enjoy workking for them and regard them as regular clients.
But clients come and go. Some I regarded as regulars for years have disappreared, and some turn up again after breaks.
I keep a list and note who is who (especially all the Global ones - I do NOT want to get them mixed up).
And then there are the ones who regularly try to recruit me, and I am usually too busy for their paperwork and tight deadlines, or else I have to find another excuse.
But they are not really clients.  ▲ Collapse
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Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 08:40
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Volume, frequency, rapport, etc. | Jan 17, 2015 |
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
To do it mathematically, I'd need frequency, volume, and an equation to set a regular/non-regular clients threshold.
So I prefer a subjective approach... I consider a client "regular" when, after having used my services at least once, I'll be their first option whenever they need them again.
...unless they try to lowball you, like one client did to me 2 weeks ago. Good regular clients don't do that, I think.
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Mario Chavez wrote:
José Henrique Lamensdorf wrote:
To do it mathematically, I'd need frequency, volume, and an equation to set a regular/non-regular clients threshold.
So I prefer a subjective approach... I consider a client "regular" when, after having used my services at least once, I'll be their first option whenever they need them again.
...unless they try to lowball you, like one client did to me 2 weeks ago. Good regular clients don't do that, I think.
If they are my regular clients, they know my rates. If they are returning, it's because they think the value I deliver is worth the price I charge. They just ask me for a cost estimate to make sure they counted it right.
To give an example, there is one regular direct client who shows up usually only twice a year... every year. Once I asked him "Should I ... or ...?", and he replied, "Your call. I know all about my business, but you are my expert in translation. Do whatever you'd do if you were in my place, and bill me for that."
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 11:40
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| I'm giving up | Jan 18, 2015 |
considering the questions made in the Quick Poles lately. Does any asker ever read his/her own questions before posting them? I doubt it.
| | | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: How many projects does a client have to assign you before you consider them a regular client? | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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