ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Innovation in translation

kamano — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 21:26:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: kamano
Post title: Innovation in translation

I currently do the translation (English-French-English). Throughout the past 4 months, I managed a project of translating more than 700,000 words of critical and life- saving Medical and Health information from English to French.

After undergoing a two week training course on medical translation and receiving ongoing support Translators Without Borders (TWB).
I realized that there is a need of innovating the way of communicating which helps to have easy access to the information in the language the target communities understand.
It id the AUDIO translation in mother tongues.
I speak Maninka, Pular, Kissi, Sussu, Toma and Jula.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | A bit of perspective

Jeremy Amos — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 13:17:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Jeremy Amos
Post title: A bit of perspective

[quote]C Warlow wrote:

I appear to be a rare pessimist on this thread, so apologies if I bring anyone super-optimistic down (to earth). I haven't been able to increase my rates for the last ten years: maybe they were high to start with (£0.075/source word) but inflation keeps on going and my assumptions were that my income would at least keep pace with that. Secondly, translation software is , in my view, driving down my income - fewer words in general to translate plus "post-editing" jobs that pay badly but require lots of time. I'm aware that I'm being undercut by other translators based elsewhere who charge much lower rates - but may not offer the same quality. I'm afraid that the translation profession is in a "race to the bottom" where we all lose income while having to work harder than before. Brexit introduces another layer of uncertainty. [/quote]

As a fellow Brexit-sufferer, I'm optimistic for this year, but extremely pessemistic (if I stay in the UK) once it actually happens. (I'll probably either quit translating or move to the EU - thankfully I probably have this lifeline as my partner is French.)

But I do think your analysis of the wider translation industry is wrong. Translation has always been in a race to the bottom and the barbarians have always been at the gates. I haven't raised my prices much in the last few years, but I've improved my productivity and I've made sure that I keep the customers for whom those prices result in a decent return, I've jettisoned those for whom it doesn't (by raising my prices until it would) and I've constantly been on the lookout for new, better customers.
Once the global economy starts to pick up (if Trump doesn't derail it), things will pick up anyway, as those people scraping a living translating badly for want of anything better find something better.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Presenting yourself to potential clients with the content in your profile/website/whathaveyou

Jared Tabor — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 11:15:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Jared Tabor
Post title: Presenting yourself to potential clients with the content in your profile/website/whathaveyou

Hi aaafateh,

[quote]aaafateh wrote:

started promoting myself online only since November 2016 but till now not received a single job - but still optimistic to improve my business through 2017 [/quote]

Getting started can be difficult. At a glance, your profile needs work! At the moment it doesn't really say anything about who you are or what you have to offer as a professional, so it is that much more likely clients are going to pass you by. There are free webinars that are designed to help you better understand how client contact can be made using ProZ.com, and how to improve your profile and your online presence in general. I'd recommend you sign up for the next one, if you can make it: [url removed] . In the meantime, this video will give you an idea of how your profile affects the connections you make through ProZ.com (and pretty much anywhere else): [url removed]

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | seen illuded

Mohd Elfateh Shareef — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 02:36:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Mohd Elfateh Shareef
Post title: seen illuded

[quote]ProZ.com Staff wrote:

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)".

View the poll results »

[/quote] started promoting myself online only since November 2016 but till now not received a single job - but still optimistic to improve my business through2017

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Promising

Gilber Tokarski — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 00:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Gilber Tokarski
Post title: Promising

I have joined ProZ this year, so I hope to increase my work and make my dream come true: to become a full-time translator and also maintain some of my English/Portuguese classes. Let's see!

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Very

Gabriella Vento — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 18:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Gabriella Vento
Post title: Very

My business - other, than a few slower weeks - has been continuously growing in the past year, due to the increasing number of highly demanding, legal-technical HU-EN projects. (They are my favorite:-). The rates are also better now, than before, in some cases close to the ceiling of "industrial average" posted. Proz.com is a great part of my success, both in marketing my service, and managing the payments through the invoicing system.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Busy teaching

Rodolfo Alva (X) — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 17:44:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Rodolfo Alva (X)
Post title: Busy teaching

I've been so busy teaching English I don't know if translating only a few documents lately is really a bad thing. I'm not sure if hoping for something will help me in the translation business (or anything else) but I think having a positive perspective about the future is the initial state or condition of a successful life, so I have to be optimistic about my translation business this year.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Very optimistic!

Nelly Alister — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 15:49:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Nelly Alister
Post title: Very optimistic!

For this year one of my goals is to get more clients and make my web page.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Quasi

M. Irshad (Master of Science) — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 11:45:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: M. Irshad (Master of Science)
Post title: Quasi

Well it was my good decision to invest with Proz and my year start with a huge project but i still looking for to add another language pair and perhaps to do some courses.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | I lost my optimism a couple of years ago

Alvaro Aliaga — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 02:45:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Alvaro Aliaga
Post title: I lost my optimism a couple of years ago

The second half of 2015 signaled what would eventually become a trend: A sharp decrease of incoming projects. In fact, 2016 was so slow that I no longer consider this my main source of income at all. Working as a freelancer for over a decade has taught me not to rely on potential new projects because, well, you do not pay bills with "potential money". To make matters worse, 2015 brought to my attention the rise of new agencies that thrive on recruiting translators who charge the cheapest rates possible. I bet you know who they are and where they based... These agencies have contacted me a few times already and asked me to compromise in the name of long-term collaborations. Ha ha ha, sure! 'Cause, you know, I love the idea of working the same number of hours to the same high-standards only to make just 25% of my regular rates! Given the way things are going globally, I don't think things will change for the better although this is one of those times I would love to be proven wrong.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | So so

Wiktoria Blakicka — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 22:37:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Wiktoria Blakicka
Post title: So so

I think it will be better

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Cautiously optimistic

antoinette chappell — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 12:54:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: antoinette chappell
Post title: Cautiously optimistic

Although my business has grown steadily over the past 10 years and 2016 was my best year yet I have reservations about the impact of Brexit in 2017 and my ability to continue to trade simply with the majority of my clients in the EU. I also fear the impact Trump's protectionist policies will have on globalisation as a whole, without which there would be no need for our services...I am braced for impact!

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Wildly, thoroughly, incorrigibly OpTiMiStIc !

Clay Suddath — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 10:25:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Clay Suddath
Post title: Wildly, thoroughly, incorrigibly OpTiMiStIc !

Business just keeps getting better in terms of volume, quality and conditions. Political and technological transformations have rocked the world order creating huge opportunities. Naturally, there are fields that one should best exit, while focusing on greener pastures.

Struggling translators may find very interesting opportunities involving the following themes:

° Biotechnology
° Patents
° Rail transport
° ISO Standards
° Developments of all kinds along the Silk Road (Shanghai to Moscow), one of the greatest engineering projects of all times
° Fuel cells
° Smart networks, internet of things

While the current state of US diplomacy does not appear promising for international trade in certain respects, business is booming in LA with Europe and Asia.

Africa, meanwhile, is showing phenomenal growth.

So don't be discouraged, folks. Business is there, it's just not your grandfather's translation agency.

Fortunately!

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Not optimistic

C Warlow (X) — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 09:50:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: C Warlow (X)
Post title: Not optimistic

I appear to be a rare pessimist on this thread, so apologies if I bring anyone super-optimistic down (to earth). I haven't been able to increase my rates for the last ten years: maybe they were high to start with (£0.075/source word) but inflation keeps on going and my assumptions were that my income would at least keep pace with that. Secondly, translation software is , in my view, driving down my income - fewer words in general to translate plus "post-editing" jobs that pay badly but require lots of time. I'm aware that I'm being undercut by other translators based elsewhere who charge much lower rates - but may not offer the same quality. I'm afraid that the translation profession is in a "race to the bottom" where we all lose income while having to work harder than before. Brexit introduces another layer of uncertainty.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Good Start

Jonathan Spector — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 09:44:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Jonathan Spector
Post title: Good Start

I translate from Hebrew to English, mainly legal documents. November 16 was a month of full employment, followed by a quiet December after the first week. January was filled with smaller jobs and new clients. I am optimistic about the rest of the year. At the same time, two of my colleagues report hard times for them.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | The demand is increasing

JANOS SAMU — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 06:11:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: JANOS SAMU
Post title: The demand is increasing

In the languages I handle today (Hawaiian, Marshallese, Chuukese, Samoan, Tongan,Yapese and Hiligaynon) there is an increased demand. I hope that I will be able to handle it.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Not at all

Paul Dixon — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 02:24:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Paul Dixon
Post title: Not at all

2016 was a very bad year, the worst ever, and 2017 promises to be much, much worse. The country has 13 million people unemployed, the highest taxes in the world and the highest interest rates in the world. Things look bleak to say the least.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Hope the panorama gets better!!!

Ivan Costa Pinto — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 01:38:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Ivan Costa Pinto
Post title: Hope the panorama gets better!!!

Although the last 8 years have been steady and profitable, 2016 saw an awful fall in total income ... due to the increased use of TMs by the big agencies, the jobs are getting smaller, though there are a lot more jobs ... with the harsh income tax policies for self-employed freelancers in the USA, life can be as unhappy as it comes. I hope to conquer more well-paid jobs. Let's hope for an improvement.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Very

Mario Freitas — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 05:01:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Mario Freitas
Post title: Very

Since 2013, my portfolio, my volume of work and my income heve grown regularly. I'm getting rid of undesireable clients, refusing undesireable jobs, and improving my protfolio gradually. In 2016, with many people complaining of a crisis and low income, I sat quietly in my corner wondering why it wasn't happening to me. So 2017 will surely be great.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Other

Michael Harris — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 15:27:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Michael Harris
Post title: Other

Well if it runs like 2016 then I will be happy

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Somewhat

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 07:29:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: Somewhat

So far, my expectations have been exceeded, but I'm not holding my breath.

I grumbled last year that one of my main clients had retired, but apparently they made her an offer she couldn't refuse, as she is back in business in her old job after a year's absence and sent me work today.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | On going

Nataliaeliza — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 23:22:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Nataliaeliza
Post title: On going

I am very optimistic about my translation business getting a huge boost this year!!! I am working hard to meet my targets and continue learning and sharing ideas with my translators colleagues

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Not sure

The Shredder — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 18:46:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: The Shredder
Post title: Not sure

But I'd feel a lot more optimistic if I had some Mexican wall-building companies in my client base

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Other

Gianluca Marras — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 18:05:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Gianluca Marras
Post title: Other

I really do not think about it. I take projects as they come.
But really I go on month by month and I do not have any expectations (neither negative nor positive).

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Other

neilmac — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 15:40:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: neilmac
Post title: Other

I don't really understand the question. I hope and, initially, assume that my "business" will remain steady.

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | As far as I'm working direct and

DZiW (X) — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:41:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: DZiW (X)
Post title: As far as I'm working direct and

As far as my clients in biz and keep working in our region, I think that our coop will be somewhat similar to the previous year, thus, quite fruitful for us.

Perhaps, it's due to a combo of interpreting (75%) and translation (25%), plus my other relevant skills.

Cheers

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Suggestion

writeaway — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:10:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: writeaway
Post title: Suggestion

[url removed]

Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!) | Other

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:52:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: How optimistic are you about your translation business in 2017? (please share!)
Poster: Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Post title: Other

For me 2017 started with a bang, but as we all know this profession has more ups and downs than a roller coaster! So, I’ll be philosophical and say: “We’ll see!”