Poll: Have you already met your ideal client?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Oct 31, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you already met your ideal client?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:10
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes, more than one Oct 31, 2018

For me, an ideal client is someone who is easy to work with, sends work regularly, accepts my rates, pays like clockwork, is pleased with my work and happy to recommend me: I have 4 of those. I keep them very close to my heart as there is nothing I enjoy more than working with a motivated customer…

Ricki Farn
Paul van Zijll
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Muriel Vasconcellos
Anja Hajek
Angus Stewart
Ana Vozone
 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 06:10
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In memoriam
Yes, but their demand for my services is inconstant Oct 31, 2018

I've even sketched and published a profile of what my ideal translation business partner should be like.
http://www.lamensdorf.com.br/for-agencies.html

Of course, I didn't invent all that, it was based on actual clients I have been working with for years. However these are few, and I wanted to have more like these.

Believe me, I sent the URL to several suppos
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I've even sketched and published a profile of what my ideal translation business partner should be like.
http://www.lamensdorf.com.br/for-agencies.html

Of course, I didn't invent all that, it was based on actual clients I have been working with for years. However these are few, and I wanted to have more like these.

Believe me, I sent the URL to several supposedly qualified leads, but NObody ever expressed any interest in such a partnership beyond those that already have it with me.
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Ricki Farn
 
Noni Gilbert Riley
Noni Gilbert Riley
Spain
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
+ ...
We pay far more attention... Oct 31, 2018

... or at least moan far more about bad clients than good ones.

Almost all of my clients bring me pleasure in some way - sometimes it's interesting content in the projects, other times it's fast/high payment, and another very definite plus is enjoyable exchanges when we communicate. Everything counts towards job satisfaction. And some cases combine all of those things, making them ideal clients.


Joshua Parker
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 02:10
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes Oct 31, 2018

I have several clients that I like but there's one that heads the list by a mile: they pay more than any of the others, the PMs are very business-like and respectful, and they pay promptly.

 
peter jackson
peter jackson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 10:10
Spanish to English
Yes Oct 31, 2018

I work exclusively with authors of academic papers. They are incredibly appreciative and our email exchanges are always pleasant. I actually teach a few of them, too, which adds to the relationship. Payment is reasonably swift and the conditions are always mine although the deadlines can sometimes be a bit challenging.

 
Jessica Noyes
Jessica Noyes  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:10
Member
Spanish to English
+ ...
Not sure now Oct 31, 2018

For several years, I have done translations for a friendly, professional, and demanding client, who sends fascinating projects. Since it has recently moved under the umbrella of a much larger company, I am no longer sure.

 
Ana Vozone
Ana Vozone  Identity Verified
Local time: 09:10
Member (2010)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes, more than one Oct 31, 2018

and, lucky me, I keep getting more of those.

For me, a good client means someone who sends me interesting work (from which I can learn something new, in terms of content, technology required) with reasonable deadlines, clear instructions, timely payments.


 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 04:10
German to English
+ ...
I can't quite picture what that means Nov 1, 2018

I work for quite a few end clients, many of them the person on the street; also translation agencies/companies; some companies and law firms. I don't know if I'm looking for something "ideal" or what that means. Certainly some of the nonsense I read about I wouldn't want to put up with.
Generally my clients send me the text they want to have translated, I tell them my fee and turnaround time and anything I may need from them - I translated - they look at it and give me feedback (which I
... See more
I work for quite a few end clients, many of them the person on the street; also translation agencies/companies; some companies and law firms. I don't know if I'm looking for something "ideal" or what that means. Certainly some of the nonsense I read about I wouldn't want to put up with.
Generally my clients send me the text they want to have translated, I tell them my fee and turnaround time and anything I may need from them - I translated - they look at it and give me feedback (which I ask for) and pay. It's a decent and normal arrangement.
Sometimes there is a client to whom this translation means a lot, where my work will make a difference to them, and that is heartening.
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 06:10
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Ideal client = utopia? Nov 1, 2018

Ideal Client =
- Pays a rate YOU consider good
- Sends many jobs regularly and represents an assured decent income every month
- Never delays your payments a single day
- Never accepts undue jobs from their clients, such as scanned pdf images or mobile pictures of documents, discounts for repetitions or large volumes, tight deadlines, revisions that include amendments after the job was delivered, groundless complaints just to criticize or get discounts, and many others.... See more
Ideal Client =
- Pays a rate YOU consider good
- Sends many jobs regularly and represents an assured decent income every month
- Never delays your payments a single day
- Never accepts undue jobs from their clients, such as scanned pdf images or mobile pictures of documents, discounts for repetitions or large volumes, tight deadlines, revisions that include amendments after the job was delivered, groundless complaints just to criticize or get discounts, and many others.
- Always believes you first, as a service provider for many years, before the new client with undue complaints.
- Pays urgency rates
- Does not have incompetent employees who have no idea what's going on and don't make you mad with their stupidity.

Well, I've had several clients with up to four of these characteristics. But "IDEAL" would be all of them. And "IDEAL" simply does not exist.
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Poll: Have you already met your ideal client?






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