Poll: Is there such thing as a "loyal client"?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Jul 10, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Is there such thing as a "loyal client"?".

This poll was originally submitted by samah A. fattah. View the poll results »



 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 11:49
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
Yes, definitely Jul 10, 2018

Clients come and go, but I have had several regular clients whom I would call loyal.

There are, of course enormous advantages in becoming the 'preferred translator' for a particular end client with an agency. Both sides benefit when the translator can learn the end client's house style and terminology and keep things consistent over time. It saves marketing for the translator, and in fact I do very little - my regular clients come back for more!

You will find loyal clie
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Clients come and go, but I have had several regular clients whom I would call loyal.

There are, of course enormous advantages in becoming the 'preferred translator' for a particular end client with an agency. Both sides benefit when the translator can learn the end client's house style and terminology and keep things consistent over time. It saves marketing for the translator, and in fact I do very little - my regular clients come back for more!

You will find loyal clients among the ones who look for quality, not just the cheapest rate, and loyalty has to go both ways. However, it makes sense to go the extra mile for clients who will do the same for you. Typically medium to small agencies who specialise in limited areas, and collaborate with others if their clients need anything outside the agency's scope.
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Wahyu Adi Putra Ginting
Philippe Etienne
Olga Koloko
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 03:49
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes Jul 10, 2018

One of my clients dates back to when I started freelancing 26 years ago.

 
Amir Arzani
Amir Arzani
Iran
Local time: 14:19
English to Persian (Farsi)
+ ...
No Jul 10, 2018

In my very short time (3 years) as a freelancer, I haven't encountered a loyal client. I had a client which I deemed as loyal due to the consistent workflow being sent but as soon as they found someone who worked for a lower fee they switched and stopped contacting me. I think it's just something that I will encounter further down the road.

[Edited at 2018-07-10 09:50 GMT]


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 10:49
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes Jul 10, 2018

I do have a core of regular clients but one of them (a Belgian translation agency) has been with me for so long that I can’t remember exactly when we started. Anyway, it was over 20 years ago.

 
Osama Elalwany
Osama Elalwany  Identity Verified
Egypt
Local time: 12:49
English to Arabic
+ ...
Indeed, but a translator also must be. Jul 10, 2018

All my clients are loyal

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Absolutely Jul 10, 2018

Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:

One of my clients dates back to when I started freelancing 26 years ago.


Dammo. My longest is only 25 years.


Grace Anderson
 
Jacek Sierakowski
Jacek Sierakowski
Belgium
Local time: 11:49
English to French
+ ...
Yes, but Jul 10, 2018

Yes, but it's an endangered species.

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 07:49
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes and No Jul 10, 2018

There are loyal clients, yes, in all areas, not only ours. I have some clients since 2002-2005.
However, working in another area, I found out that client loyalty is VERY volatile. The slightest advantage for either side could be enough to make someone forget all the past and move to another client/provider that 'looks' better. I've seen it happen several times, including some back-and-forth situations.
We should always do our best to "loyalize" our clients, no doubt, but counting on
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There are loyal clients, yes, in all areas, not only ours. I have some clients since 2002-2005.
However, working in another area, I found out that client loyalty is VERY volatile. The slightest advantage for either side could be enough to make someone forget all the past and move to another client/provider that 'looks' better. I've seen it happen several times, including some back-and-forth situations.
We should always do our best to "loyalize" our clients, no doubt, but counting on loyal clients is a big mistake.
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Joe Ly Sien
Morano El-Kholy
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 05:49
German to English
+ ...
"loyal" is a term I could never wrap my head around Jul 10, 2018

There were loyal knights, and loyal dogs, who are devoted to their masters and would give their life to them. I can't see that term for customers.

I do have clients who keep coming back to me, and recommend me to other clients because of the quality of my service. They will stick with me as long as I deliver as I have been. If my quality went down then I would expect them to go elsewhere. It's not loyalty as much as practicality. Maybe appreciation.


Amir Arzani
 
Debora d'Amato (X)
Debora d'Amato (X)  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 11:49
English to Italian
+ ...
I'm waiting for her/him Jul 12, 2018

Honestly, not yet. My clients are temporary ones.
I'm at the beginning that's why I have still few clients who ask for fast works.


 


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Poll: Is there such thing as a "loyal client"?






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