If you’re just starting out in the translation industry, you may be trying to determine the best types of clients to get your business off the ground – translation agencies or direct clients. Of course, this is all a matter of personal preference and many translators have determined that working with both translation agencies and direct clients provides a good mix of interesting projects while keeping their work volume and income levels up.

Here are some helpful tips for promoting your translation business to agencies –

Personalize Your Application

There’s probably no bigger turnoff for an agency than when a translator sends a generic carbon-copied email requesting work. You must target your marketing, and ensure that the email you send is personalised towards the recipient. Do some prior research and learn a little about the agency you’re applying to. Now, with that information you can comment on something that caught your eye. You must ‘act’ interested in the agency you’re applying to! Anything personalized you say in your email will be much more effective than the traditional: To whom it may concern: I’m writing to offer my translation services’, and so on.

All Agencies Are Not the Same

We know that, generally, agencies pay less than direct clients, and they add a layer between the translator and the client – which, depending on the project and the client, can be a plus or a minus. But don’t discard agencies altogether because there are many top-quality agencies out there who pay well, plus you save a heap of administrative overheads that you’re responsible for when you work for direct clients. Like all other industries, there are great business models out there and there are the ones that leave a lot to be desired!

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Charge appropriately for your translation work; then earn that money. Many translators avoid working for agencies because they think they’ll be underpaid and/or overworked, but that’s not true. There are many great agencies out there who understand that using quality-conscious translators means that their work requires less editing, thus saving the agency money: it also means that the agency’s client’s become loyal clients.

Prove That You Provide Quality Work

Provide metrics showing the agency the quality of your work. This might include:

You compile and send a list of queries all at once, meaning that issues can be resolved before the deadline is reached.  This means no rushed emails to a Project Manager who’s already rushed off their feet; no file submitted right on the deadline with questions still unanswered;

You’re always either on time or ahead of your deadlines: The Project Manager will never have to make excuses to the end client.

Actively Seek High-Margin Projects

It’s quite acceptable to advise the agency that you’re most interested in medium to large projects – (say) $500 or more. Remember that high margin projects can often be found in unusual places. For example, translating individual clients’ official documents, such as diplomas, educational transcripts, birth certificates, drivers’ licenses, and so on can be interesting work, and very lucrative.

Use Data That’s Available to You

Direct your marketing to agencies that mesh with your own business goals. One    suggestion is to search the database of Payment Practices for agencies that other translators rate highly.

Target Small-Medium Size Agencies

This is a generalization, but large agencies are often geared toward the high-volume low-margin market. You’re more likely to find small and medium translation agencies that work either primarily or exclusively in your own specialization.