Baran Keki wrote:
Those "small or larger companies" usually go to translation agencies to have their content translated to multiple languages rather than seeking individual translators in every language pair. The type of "direct client" that is most likely to use Proz or any other translators directory to find translators are individuals such as academics, authors, doctors, boutique business owners etc. that are looking to get their stuff translated into one specific language only, and they more often than not use their personal gmail/yahoo accounts even if they do have a corporate email account. I've been approached by those kinds of individuals, and it's taking a gamble working with them. Even if Proz made a distinction between agency and non-agency clients, the lack of BB entries is likely to influence one's decision (is what I'm saying).
That may be true for your language pair. In mine, I think almost all of the clients I found on Proz were direct clients. I put my agency rate because I didn't realise they were not agencies: no website supplied, either because they didn't have one or because they knew they'd get a better price masquerading as an agency. One of them actually told me that: their assistant used to be a translator and she told them to post here without saying who they were exactly.
I suppose if I'd known they were direct clients I'd have put my direct client rate and would have been far too expensive. I did get a fair bit of work from the masquerading client I suppose.
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