{"id":467,"date":"2010-05-31T09:12:22","date_gmt":"2010-05-31T09:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/?p=467"},"modified":"2010-05-31T09:12:22","modified_gmt":"2010-05-31T09:12:22","slug":"13-ways-to-resist-translation-rates-erosion-tranfree-70","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/2010\/05\/13-ways-to-resist-translation-rates-erosion-tranfree-70\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Ways to Resist Translation Rates Erosion &#8211; tranfree 70."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/tranfree.com\/tf70.mp3\">listen to tranfree 70<\/a> or download the mp3 for later if you prefer.<br \/>\nYou can also <a href=\"http:\/\/tranfree.com\/tf70.pdf\">download this as a PDF<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Editorial &#8211; Giving  away our translation work?<\/h3>\n<p>The Times newspaper has decided that enough is enough and is ending free access to its  content on the web.<\/p>\n<p>According  to this <a href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/1\/hi\/business\/8702575.stm\">BBC news story<\/a>&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Times Editor James Harding said it was  time to stop \u00e2\u20ac\u0153giving away\u00e2\u20ac\u009d journalism in the two newspapers.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I see parallels  here with the translation world, with&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>pressure on translation rates<\/li>\n<li>abusive translation memory practices<\/li>\n<li>the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153valueless\u00e2\u20ac\u009d perception the world has of  translation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are  results of globalisation \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a process in which translators usually stay in the  background like ghost-writers. <strong>Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s  remember there would be no globalisation without translation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>James  Harding went on further to say&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our feeling is that it is time to stop  giving away our journalism. That&#8217;s because we feel that <strong>we are undermining the value of our journalism, undermining the value  of the Times and undermining the perception that journalism and news has a  value.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Does this  overtone of undermining sound familiar? Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that what we do when we agree to  a low rate or disastrous terms for a translation job?<\/p>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Localizing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d  that quote for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the translators\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 market\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, I came up with this&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>My feeling is that it is time to stop  giving away our translation work. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because we feel that we are  undermining the value of our translation, undermining the value of the  profession and undermining the perception that translation and documentation  has a value.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Well,  it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s food for thought anyway. Be careful how much you are giving away in terms  of discounts, lowered rates and ever quicker turnaround.<\/p>\n<p>It looks  to me as if the Times are moving towards a web-only publication, as printed  circulation dwindles and people spend more time online. It will take a few  years for people to get used to the idea. This makes me ponder the question  \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How can we take steps to ensure that our work is valued?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d This fits in very  well with the article I had planned for this edition, which is all about  resisting rates erosion.<\/p>\n<h3><i class=\"tt\">tranfree<\/i> in Chinese<\/h3>\n<p>Thanks to Wenjer Leuschel, we now have  the last couple of <i class=\"tt\">tranfree<\/i> editions in Chinese. I have had one or  two technical hurdles to get this published in HTML but it works beautifully in PDF.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tranfree.com\/tf68-ZH.html\">http:\/\/www.tranfree.com\/tf68-ZH.html<\/a><br \/>\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tranfree.com\/tf69-ZH.pdf\">http:\/\/www.tranfree.com\/tf69-ZH.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Site  Revamp<\/h3>\n<p>One other thing I almost forgot to  mention is that I have given the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.com\">www.translatortips.com<\/a> web site a new look. This is the first revamp for a long time. It&#8217;s a much  cleaner look. I&#8217;ve still got lots of sub-pages to go, but the main ones are  done. Feel free to check it out and let me know if you like it.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.com\">http:\/\/www.translatortips.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I hope you enjoy and benefit from <em class=\"tt\">tranfree <\/em> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/ubb\/smile.gif\" alt=\"smile\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/images\/alexsig.gif\" alt=\"Alex\" width=\"79\" height=\"60\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Alex Eames<\/p>\n<p><em class=\"tt\"> tranfree<\/em> editor, Author &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/ht50.html\"><br \/>\nHow to Earn $80,000+ per Year as a Freelance Translator<\/a> and<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/translatortips.net\/sell-your-services.html\">Selling Your Professional Services on the Web<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>13  Ways to Resist Rates Erosion<\/h2>\n<p>Erosion is a gradual creeping process. In  the UK we have had a steady erosion of civil liberty for quite a long time. <img src=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/ubb\/frown.gif\" alt=\"frown\" \/> Because  it happens gradually, in small, digestible steps, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153they get away with it\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.                                                                       \u00c2\u00a0It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the same with rates erosion. It happens  in small steps and is only hindered when people see it for what it is and  resist. But just because one person resists, another may not. Then we find  ourselves being undermined \u00e2\u20ac\u201c just like in the BBC article about the Times. So  resisting rates erosion is something which needs to be done collectively if it  is to be effective.<\/p>\n<p>In general, the only good reasons I can  think of for working for low rates are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Working for a cause you believe in. In this case you  might donate your work or work for a reduced rate. But don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let them push you  around \u00e2\u20ac\u201c fit it in around your paid work.<\/li>\n<li>Long-standing  direct clients who you can see are experiencing hardship.<\/li>\n<li>Gaining experience at the start of your career to get  you out of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153we only work with people who have experience and references\u00e2\u20ac\u009d  catch-22<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Pretty much any other reason just <strong>allows someone else to collect the profits  on your work.<\/strong> So don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do it!<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But I am  constantly bombarded with stories about low rates<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>and translators  without work on the internet. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>How can I resist and stay strong?<\/em><\/strong><em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Well firstly, you need to be a little  bit careful about taking everything people write on internet forums too  literally. Some people exaggerate, some people lie and others are sociopathic.  Talk is cheap in cyberspace. Try to filter what you read and only accept advice  from people who have a record of giving good advice.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Here  are a few pointers to help.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1.  Can you live on it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do not accept work for a rate which is  lower than you can comfortably make a living at. (Unless this is a charity or <em>pro bono<\/em> project). It is better to write  off a working day and decide to relax and enjoy being FREE, than to work for a  ludicrously low rate.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2.  No fuzzy discounts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Do not accept any reduction for fuzzy  matches or for the use of any translation technology that you had to pay for  yourself. <strong>You should reap the reward  from your investment. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t give it away!<\/strong> I  would make exceptions for the following reasonable scenarios&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the client provided you with an expensive  productivity-enhancing tool.<\/li>\n<li>a long-term  ongoing project with 100% matches (like a product manual that is updated  annually).<\/li>\n<li>where the client provides you with a significant  translation memory which contains plenty of 100% matches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&#8230;but observe the golden rule. <strong>Anything I work on, <strong class=\"r\">I get paid for.<\/strong><\/strong> <img src=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/ubb\/wink.gif\" alt=\"wink\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>3.  Build up your client base&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&#8230;so you have too many clients. Then  dump the ones who are fussy and resistant to decent rates (usually the same  people). This is an ongoing business development process. As you get busier,  you can afford to dump the clients you prefer not to work for (for whatever  reason).<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4.  Go after some direct clients&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&#8230;instead of always working for  agencies. A healthy freelance business has a mix of both in the client  portfolio. Clearly there is a lot more income potential in working for direct  clients, but their expectations are different too.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5.  Charge direct clients more.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>With direct clients, make sure that you  charge significantly more than your agency rates. Otherwise you are guilty of  spoiling the market for agencies and, in-turn, other translators. Yes, you  might find you are partly responsible for spoiling the market because you lack  the confidence to ask for more.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>6.  Know the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153going rate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Be aware of approximately what other  translators working in your language combination charge for the sort of work  you are quoting for. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know, find out. Ask people, read surveys, or  ask for quotes from other translators. It needn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be difficult to get the  information you need.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>7.  Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expect to get every project you quote for. <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you get everything you quote for,  you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re charging far too little. If you are charging what the market will bear,  you should get somewhere between 30-60% of the work you quote for.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>8.  Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel like a failure when you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get a project you quoted for.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If they chose someone cheap, they  probably got what they deserved and you avoided working for a client with poor  judgment. That means you WON! You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want a portfolio chock-full of  cheapskate clients do you? I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>9.  Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be afraid to talk about rates.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It is neither unethical nor likely to  result in anti-trust action \u00e2\u20ac\u201c despite what some people in the US would have you  believe. But be sure you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t breach client confidentiality. Some people say  it is unprofessional to talk about rates.<\/p>\n<p>That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s easily disproved. What do you say  when a potential client phones and asks you how much for 2000 words into your  target language? Do you say&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry, I  can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell you that, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s unprofessional\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, or<\/li>\n<li>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153$150 \/ thousand  words ($0.15 \/ word) of source language.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s OK to talk about rates with a  complete stranger, who might have a job for you. So why would it be  unprofessional to compare notes with others in your profession? Simple answer \u00e2\u20ac\u201c <strong>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s NOT!<\/strong> If it were, why do so many <strong>professional<\/strong> translators\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 associations around the world produce rates surveys? Is it because  they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re unprofessional?<\/p>\n<h3><strong>10.  Stop listening to lies&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&#8230;propagated by people who really don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t  know what they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re talking about. Talk is cheap. There are people out there who  hang out on internet forums for the sole purpose of annoying, disturbing,  disrupting and making others feel uncomfortable. They are the terrorists of the  online community. If it weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for them, there would be no need for  moderators. They are the only reason that we embrace the self-imposed  censorship that is moderation.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>11.  Develop an abundance mentality.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plenty of work out there \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve  just got to find it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Leave the low-paying jobs to those just starting out and  those trying to scratch a living in developing countries. Spend your time more  productively&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seeking out new clients.<\/li>\n<li>Learning about marketing and experimenting with new  ways.<\/li>\n<li>Learning new skills to make you more productive.<\/li>\n<li>Learning new specialisations to give you an edge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>12.  Be a mentor to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153younger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d translators&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&#8230;and encourage them to set their rates  at acceptable levels. It takes a certain leap of faith to do something like  this, but believe me, what goes around comes around. If you help people, you  will benefit from it.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>13.  Educate clients and potential clients about translation. <\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>What it is.<\/li>\n<li>How long it  takes.<\/li>\n<li>How involved it is.<\/li>\n<li>How difficult it is.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make them  understand how dangerous it is to treat it lightly. Get hold of and distribute the  excellent booklet \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Translation \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Getting it Right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.atanet.org\/docs\/Getting_it_right.pdf\">US version<\/a> or    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.iti.org.uk\/pdfs\/trans\/translation%28uk%29.pdf\">UK version<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>So that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s  the 13 ways to resist rates erosion that I thought of. Not all of them will  apply to all people. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure there are plenty more. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got one to add,  or you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like to discuss or comment on this article, feel free to add a comment below.<\/p>\n<p>Alex Eames is the founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.com\">translatortips.com<\/a>,<br \/>\neditor of <em class=\"tt\">tranfree<\/em> and author of the eBooks&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.translatortips.net\/ht50.html\">How to Earn $80,000+ Per Year as a<br \/>\nFreelance Translator<\/a><\/p>\n<p>and<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/translatortips.net\/sell-your-services.html\">Selling Your Professional Services on the Web<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article gives 13 suggested ways to avoid erosion of your freelance translation rates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,7,8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/alexeames.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}