| Страници во темата: [1 2] > | Poll: How long after sending a quote do you usually follow up on it? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
|
|---|
| | | No reply, not awarded | Apr 6, 2014 |
My work usually involves shortish translations with a deadline in the near future and the price is usually imposed beforehand, although two clients do allow me to quote but that usually needs to be with certain bounds. I have rarely been awarded a translation assignment advertised on Proz.com, because I believe that they are after the lowest common denominator. I think it would be a waste of my time following up on quotes. I presume this question is directed at people who work on larger project... See more My work usually involves shortish translations with a deadline in the near future and the price is usually imposed beforehand, although two clients do allow me to quote but that usually needs to be with certain bounds. I have rarely been awarded a translation assignment advertised on Proz.com, because I believe that they are after the lowest common denominator. I think it would be a waste of my time following up on quotes. I presume this question is directed at people who work on larger projects. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | In general, I don't follow up | Apr 6, 2014 |
I only quote very occasionally on Proz.com jobs and I always say something like: "should you require any additional information, please feel free to contact me by email". So, if they don't contact me back... oh well then!
If a potential client asks me directly for a quote, then I might follow up if the job seems interesting enough...
| | | |
I think we had a similar question about quotes recently.
Other N/A -- because I basically don't send quotes any more. I haven't sent one in as far as I can remember, which would most probably be about 10+ years.
Any negotiation/haggling about money/rates is done before I sign a Vendor Agreement or similar contract and enter upon a new business relationship with someone or business entity.
| | |
|
|
|
neilmac
Шпанија
Local time: 17:27
шпански на англиски
+ ...
I'm afraid I don't understand the question.
| | | | | Original question | Apr 6, 2014 |
The original question I submitted has been changed slightly, presumably for reasons of space - it was more specifically aimed at translators who work with direct clients, and one of the possible answers I submitted was "I don't work with direct clients".
In fact when I wrote the question I didn't have ProZ quotes in mind at all, however I see that's how it seems to have been understood.
Personally I normally wait about a week before following up on a quote I've s... See more The original question I submitted has been changed slightly, presumably for reasons of space - it was more specifically aimed at translators who work with direct clients, and one of the possible answers I submitted was "I don't work with direct clients".
In fact when I wrote the question I didn't have ProZ quotes in mind at all, however I see that's how it seems to have been understood.
Personally I normally wait about a week before following up on a quote I've sent. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tim Drayton (X) 
Кипар
Local time: 18:27
турски на англиски
+ ...
| I don't follow up | Apr 6, 2014 |
I assume that no news is bad news.
| | | | Diana Obermeyer
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 16:27
германски на англиски
+ ...
| Do unto others as you would have them do to you. | Apr 6, 2014 |
The only time I ever follow up is when a project has been arranged, it hasn't arrived yet and I am offered a project elsewhere.
Personally, I hate being chased up after an enquiry and I perceive follow-ups as hassling. I have chosen not to use a particular service, because I was irritated by a follow-up e-mail or phone call before I reached a decision on the right provider on several occasions - even if that provider had been at the top of my list beforehand.
People wo... See more The only time I ever follow up is when a project has been arranged, it hasn't arrived yet and I am offered a project elsewhere.
Personally, I hate being chased up after an enquiry and I perceive follow-ups as hassling. I have chosen not to use a particular service, because I was irritated by a follow-up e-mail or phone call before I reached a decision on the right provider on several occasions - even if that provider had been at the top of my list beforehand.
People work differently. I have worked in direct sales in the past and I understand the effectiveness of this approach. If I liked it, I would still be in sales today. I am not. I don't like being hassled, so I try not to hassle my clients.
I mainly work with direct clients with a substantial proportion of start-ups. I receive tentative enquiries quite regularly, often from companies that have never used translation services before. They are often not in a "buy now" situation. They have this idea that a translation might be great, but absolutely no concept of the cost. They start by getting quotes. Then they discuss, if a translation is viable for them and if the investment will pay off and over what time-frame. Then they look at their cash flow. They might really want the translation, but hang back, until they have the money available. I had clients get back to me as much as 8 months after a quote. Obviously, I never expected to hear back from them at that stage - it's a nice surprise and a good basis for an on-going business relationship.
I rather lose a project than work for a client who is not actually ready to place an order. ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
I too worked in sales for many years, and I know what works for me and what doesn't.
I don't conceive sending a follow-up e-mail as hassle, and I don't think my (potential) clients do either, as 9 times out of 10 I receive a reply.
I generally only follow up when I know a project is likely to be going ahead, and if a project is given to another translator it sometimes allows me to find out why.
| | | | | Other - it depends | Apr 6, 2014 |
Queries from regular agency clients usually go "Is this of interest? What is your fee and turnaround?" They always tell me they have received my quote and will tell me if the client accepts. I don't chase it after that. Unknown agencies sometimes don't respond, which I find rude, so a day or two later I will ask for a status - did they receive a quote?
I only ask end clients that they have received my quote. Usually they do that of their own accord.
With agencies wi... See more Queries from regular agency clients usually go "Is this of interest? What is your fee and turnaround?" They always tell me they have received my quote and will tell me if the client accepts. I don't chase it after that. Unknown agencies sometimes don't respond, which I find rude, so a day or two later I will ask for a status - did they receive a quote?
I only ask end clients that they have received my quote. Usually they do that of their own accord.
With agencies with whom I work very regularly we have a flow, and often they simply know that I will be able to fit in small projects. ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Catharine Cellier-Smart wrote:
I generally only follow up when I know a project is likely to be going ahead, and if a project is given to another translator it sometimes allows me to find out why.
I also follow up when there were circumstances not yet finalized, for instance:
- clients were unsure on whether they would get the order (agencies) or actually do it (direct clients);
- legal advice (mostly in cases involving sworn translations) was necessary to decide on whether the translation was necessary at all;
- a cost/benefit analysis would precede the order;
- video translation was awaiting a decision on having it dubbed or subtitled by the client, or if that would be provided by the producer;
- the DTP services provider would handle translation on their own (direct clients); etc.
Another case I follow up is after having done and delivered a first job that was stated as "monthly", and two months have elapsed since.
I did this last week, and got the information that after the first issue of the "monthly" company newsletter, they decided to change it to "quarterly". They said, "The next one is on its way, you should hear from us soon."
There is a thin line between following up and pestering clients. You must develop a feeling for that. PMs in some agencies I work for, if my timing is right, are quite thankful for the follow up, "Gee! That's an occasional client, so I had completely forgot about it. I'll call them right now." Quite often, the order comes in on the same day.
| | | | LingoKat
Германија
Local time: 17:27
француски на германски
+ ...
| My thoughts exactly | Apr 6, 2014 |
dianaft wrote:
The only time I ever follow up is when a project has been arranged, it hasn't arrived yet and I am offered a project elsewhere.
Personally, I hate being chased up after an enquiry and I perceive follow-ups as hassling.
So do I and I hate being hassled.
| | |
|
|
|
Thayenga
Германија
Local time: 17:27
Член (2009)
англиски на германски
+ ...
| Speaking my mind | Apr 6, 2014 |
inkweaver wrote:
dianaft wrote:
The only time I ever follow up is when a project has been arranged, it hasn't arrived yet and I am offered a project elsewhere.
Personally, I hate being chased up after an enquiry and I perceive follow-ups as hassling.
So do I and I hate being hassled.
I couldn't have phrased it any better.
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 11:27
англиски на шпански
+ ...
| Different environments for quoting | Apr 6, 2014 |
Catharine Cellier-Smart wrote:
The original question I submitted has been changed slightly, presumably for reasons of space - it was more specifically aimed at translators who work with direct clients, and one of the possible answers I submitted was "I don't work with direct clients".
In fact when I wrote the question I didn't have ProZ quotes in mind at all, however I see that's how it seems to have been understood.
Personally I normally wait about a week before following up on a quote I've sent.
Thanks, Catharine, for the clarification.
I first assumed it was quotes via Proz, which I don't do. If the customer is not a regular, they'll of course ask for a quote. If I'm interested in the project and I have the time, I send a quote (not necessarily a competitive quote). As a rule, I don't follow up.
If the customer is a direct client and I want to pursue a business relationship with them (because they're not yet a regular), I may follow up ONCE; that's all it takes: either they thought they can't afford me or they tell me that the company decided to put the project on hold.
If the customer, direct or agency), asks for a quote and I am not interested in the project or I don't have the time to do the job comfortably, I usually give them a very high quote.
| | | | Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 08:27
шпански на англиски
+ ...
| When not following up turned out to be a mistake | Apr 7, 2014 |
I rarely follow up. I'm too busy. Thursday a week ago a respected client asked me to quote on a job, which I did. I didn't hear back from them, so I accepted another job, which would keep me busy for about 5 days.
Late Sunday night I was checking my Junk Folder (which I rarely do) and found a confirmation sent late Friday, telling me to proceed. The job was due Monday morning! I immediately shot off an e-mail to the client and apologized. The PM insisted that I do it anyway. So I w... See more I rarely follow up. I'm too busy. Thursday a week ago a respected client asked me to quote on a job, which I did. I didn't hear back from them, so I accepted another job, which would keep me busy for about 5 days.
Late Sunday night I was checking my Junk Folder (which I rarely do) and found a confirmation sent late Friday, telling me to proceed. The job was due Monday morning! I immediately shot off an e-mail to the client and apologized. The PM insisted that I do it anyway. So I was stuck with four days' work that had to be finished in two.
They were both very tricky jobs. The one I goofed on was from a PDF with a ton of tables I had to reproduce from scratch. In the end, I turned around more than 9,000 words in two days. The first day I got 4 hours' sleep; the next day I worked through the night.
The money was good, and I'm here to tell the tale. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Страници во темата: [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 long after sending a quote do you usually follow up on it? | Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
| | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
