Direct clients vs agency clients – do and don’ts!
Each client has its requirements and expectations and it is up to us, to know all these differences to be able to answer each customer appropriately and successfully. There are major differences in the way we deal with our clients, from how we establish the first contact, the way we talk and communicate, the need of more or less direct contact, how we calculate and charge our work, etc. These differences dictate the success or failure of our career, are important to the success of our business and can help us cross the line to be seen as partners by our clients.
There are many freelancers offering what we offer, sometimes charging less than we do, so we need to become important assets to our clients and to offer a greater flexibility in the service we provide, assuring they will always receive precisely the service they require – no doubts about it! It will be a 20 minutes talk filled with examples and real life situations from my own career aiming to let the audience know exactly what I consider are the do’s and don’ts for a successful career! By sharing these life examples I expect to be helping colleagues with their own careers.
Paula Ribeiro
Paula Ribeiro is a freelance translator and interpreter since 1997, working mainly for direct clients from industries such as machinery manufacturing, power electronics and industrial robotics. In 2010, Paula founded Crossingwords, a language services atelier, offering a wide range of translation and interpreting services to clients all over the world thanks to a solid base of qualified, professional linguists, each with many years of experience in their own diverse areas of specialisation. Paula is also the President and one of APTRAD’s founders, the Portuguese Association of Translators and Interpreters, and directly responsible for APTRAD’s Mentoring Program, a 3 month free mentoring programme based on the voluntary collaboration of professionals from around the world who dedicate their time to this initiative as mentors. Paula has also organised international and national events and as a speaker, she is regularly invited to speak her experience and what expects newcomers in the real world.
Practical details
This 20-minute talk is scheduled for Friday, 5 May, 2017, followed by a short moderated Q&A session. You can attend this session by purchasing a 1-day or a 2-day pass to BP17.
