Web localization: by word counts or by package? Thread poster: Elvita Haff (X)
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Elvita Haff (X) 
Japan
Local time: 15:55
Japanese to Indonesian
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Hi!
I recently received a direct offer for web localization from Japanese into Indonesian.
Unfortunately, they didn't send me the source text file whilst the website itself is pretty big with several sub pages.
Currently I'm downloading it with HTTrack (to be honest I don't know how this works).
The company ask me to give them an estimation quotes. Should I offer them by word (character) counts or by package as a project and what is the reasonable pri... See more Hi!
I recently received a direct offer for web localization from Japanese into Indonesian.
Unfortunately, they didn't send me the source text file whilst the website itself is pretty big with several sub pages.
Currently I'm downloading it with HTTrack (to be honest I don't know how this works).
The company ask me to give them an estimation quotes. Should I offer them by word (character) counts or by package as a project and what is the reasonable price for web localization?
Any advise would be appreciated!
Thank you! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | By word count. | Jun 22, 2013 |
Almost everything is by word count, not by the hour or anything else, except interpreting and editing sometimes. You don't have to count the spaces -- just joking.
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 07:55
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Although a per-word rate (or per-character maybe for your languages) is normal for most straightforward translations of Word documents, it isn't by any means the only way of charging for our time. And it simply doesn't work in some situations. It sounds as though you've already started spending time on this project, and you won't know the word-count for some time. You need to quote NOW: why work if the client might say "No thanks"?
I specialise in websites, but I insist that my cli... See more Although a per-word rate (or per-character maybe for your languages) is normal for most straightforward translations of Word documents, it isn't by any means the only way of charging for our time. And it simply doesn't work in some situations. It sounds as though you've already started spending time on this project, and you won't know the word-count for some time. You need to quote NOW: why work if the client might say "No thanks"?
I specialise in websites, but I insist that my clients provide the text in a Word (or similar) document. I've had too many problems with the "just do a cut and paste from the page" that some suggest, and I simply don't have the IT expertise to do anything else. I'm "just" a translator. If you have the IT expertise, you have a commercial advantage that you should exploit. But it doesn't make sense to charge per word for IT manipulation - you need to charge per hour for that.
But the bottom line is that you can charge in whichever way you see fit. You're dealing with a direct client, so there are no preconceived ideas, as there are with translation agencies. They probably aren't interested in anything apart from the figure at the bottom of the sheet anyway, the total to pay, though some detail is useful to make them realise that there is a lot of work involved and you haven't just plucked that extortionate (in their view) amount out of the air. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I agree with Shelia. | Jun 22, 2013 |
You are not a web designer, but rather a translator so they should deliver the files to you in a form appropriate for a translator. It is not your job to learn web design, just because some clients might be lazy to modify the content -- of course you could but only if you were interested in web design, which I personally find quite interesting, but I would not design anything for clients, because this is really not my profession.
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Elvita Haff (X)
Japan
Local time: 15:55
Japanese to Indonesian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thank you Sheila!
I think I will ask my client to provide me the source text file. There are a lot of sub pages and I have no clue which one that he wanted me to translate. I haven't started it yet but already have headache trying to figure out the word counts. Tried HTTrack, tried copy paste the page. I think the time spent isn't worth it if the client would say thanks but no thanks.
On top of that, he ask me for a quote based on the company old website but ask me to work on ... See more Thank you Sheila!
I think I will ask my client to provide me the source text file. There are a lot of sub pages and I have no clue which one that he wanted me to translate. I haven't started it yet but already have headache trying to figure out the word counts. Tried HTTrack, tried copy paste the page. I think the time spent isn't worth it if the client would say thanks but no thanks.
On top of that, he ask me for a quote based on the company old website but ask me to work on the new one once it is ready.
I think I'd let him know my rate per character and when he can provide me with source text file we can figure out the numbers.
Thanks again! ▲ Collapse
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