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Poll: What’s your strategy for re-engaging old clients?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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08:10

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What’s your strategy for re-engaging old clients?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 22:15
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other 10:11

No strategy at all! I have been translating for over 40 years, so it’s to be expected that some of my old clients have left me along the way: one or two shut down, others have filed for bankruptcy, some have rejected my rate increase, most if not all ended politely our working relationship, one has ghosted me quite suddenly. Of course, I’ve also gained new customers. When I moved from Brussels to Lisbon in 2015, the only thing I did was letting everyone – both new and old clients – know ... See more
No strategy at all! I have been translating for over 40 years, so it’s to be expected that some of my old clients have left me along the way: one or two shut down, others have filed for bankruptcy, some have rejected my rate increase, most if not all ended politely our working relationship, one has ghosted me quite suddenly. Of course, I’ve also gained new customers. When I moved from Brussels to Lisbon in 2015, the only thing I did was letting everyone – both new and old clients – know my new contact details. Some thanked me and said they hadn’t had any work for a Portuguese translator for some time, whilst others continued to work with me. That’s life! ▲ Collapse


Peter Simon
 
Luca Adie
Luca Adie
Germany
Local time: 23:15
German to English
+ ...
Not worth the bother 11:58

I admit that I have, in desperate times, contacted old clients. Nothing came of it - they will have their own reasons for ending the relationship. I imagine they've found someone cheaper.

Josephine Cassar
Maria Laura Curzi
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
SandraV
 
Peter Motte
Peter Motte  Identity Verified
Belgium
Local time: 23:15
Member (2009)
Dutch to Flemish
+ ...
Usually I e-mail them 12:47

I had enough work for some years not to bother contacting clients. I only started doing that recently. It's sometimes a voyage to nostalgia if you see the people you've worked with who disappeared. Really disappeared: e-mail addresses don't work anymore.
Sometimes it does give a new job, but not often. So I don't know whether e-mailing them is really a good idea. If I get reactions, they're at least not hostile.
 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 23:15
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other 15:16

I used to send season greeting to my clients, to all of them, not only to those who didn't send me work for a while. Nowadays, I am happy - and busy enough - with the clients I presently have. These days I am treating them like old friends, with respect but without any desire to turn back to the allegedly good old days.
 


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Poll: What’s your strategy for re-engaging old clients?






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