ProZ Platinum - recommendations?

Warren Eckels

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May 3, 2003, 12:42:36 PM5/3/03

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I am a Spanish -> English translator who lives near Chicago, Illinois.

ProZ.com is a service that says that it is geared toward translators and
agencies. They have two levels of membership: a free level and a
"Platinum" level that costs $120/year. I enjoy helping other translators
with their questions, but it costs US$1 or 100 BrownieZ points (which can be
earned by making 25 translation suggestions.) to bid on a job. ProZ also
claims that Platinum members get more and better job opportunities.

Are any of you Platinum members of ProZ? If so, do you find their
services worth the US$120/year? Would you recommend that I sign up for it?

Warren Eckels
nospam_...@jorsm.com

Yakov V. Tomara

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May 6, 2003, 4:12:38 AM5/6/03

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Warren Eckels <wec...@jorsm.com> пишет в
сообщении:o5mdneOADJM...@jorsm.com...

Dear Mr. Eckels,

I'm a Platinum at ProZ.

There are some discounts on the Platinum membership price. If one has over
6,000 BrownieZ points, this price is US$ 60 + 6,000 BrownieZ and it was even
decreased to US$ 50 last December/January. The BrownieZ may be earned by
agreeing/disagreeing with other members' suggestions.

For the moment I cannot say whether the Platinum membership helps to find
jobs but I'm pleased to have this status because of the two following
benefits.
First, the so called ProZ Blue Board information containing the members'
feedback on the translation agencies' payment practices is available for
Platinums without any restrictions. Second, there are some discounts on
downloadable software. For example I've downloaded for free MetaTexis, a new
translation memory tool, which I find useful and user-friendly.

Regards,
Yakov

Daniel

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May 6, 2003, 4:52:36 AM5/6/03

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Well, I have to say I have been a free member for 5 months now and I never
(and underline 'never') got an assignment.
I understand the advantages Yakov mentioned may be interesting, but
considering the first service proz should provide is to help finding new
jobs, I really think even 50 $/year for none of these jobs is not the worth.

Daniel

Gabrielle Allemand-Mostefaï

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May 6, 2003, 5:54:45 AM5/6/03

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Daniel <vorr...@saperlo.ah> a écrit dans le message :
oJKta.48602$3M4.1...@news1.tin.it...

Well, it's maybe just bad luck, because I have been a free member too, and I
got the one and only job for which I bidded. I wish you more success in the
future! OTOH, I don't think I will ever become a paying member of that kind
of site because there are simply too many translators listed. I'm sure one
will get more jobs by its personal efforts.

--
Gabrielle Allemand-Mostefaï
Please do not use the Yahoo address but the one below:
g a b r i e l l e . a l l e m a n d - m o s t e f a i @ t i s c a l i . f r

Caroline Lafond

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May 6, 2003, 6:44:13 AM5/6/03

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Hi Warren,
IMHO there are far too many translators on ProZ, and it's hard (if not
impossible) to get a job there. I was Platinum for one year, and never
got a job through ProZ.
I prefer "smaller" sites where competition is not so furious: I got my
first job on Trally (www.trally.com) after 3 weeks, and at the moment
I'm still working for that client. I got another job from Trally last
week, I think I'll renew my subscription (I subscribed in February).
At the moment I only have experience with those two marketplaces - I
also regularly email translation agencies (sometimes you get replies
from them after 2 years! - but sometimes it works!)
Good Luck!
Caroline L.

SpanishTrans2003

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May 7, 2003, 8:06:47 AM5/7/03

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I have been a Platinum for almost one year and for me it has been great:

1.- I now share work with a small group of colleagues I have met there, so
when one gets a big project he shares it and so on. This means my workflow
is more regular and I never have to say no to a customer, while offering
good delays

2.- I have got jobs from other Proz users I have 'met' virtually through
KudoZ and Forums

3.- I have got jobs I have bid for, only 4 times, but there I have won 4
good customers that give me some work almost every month

As for Trally, I'm waiting to see the result... after 5 months still
nothing.

Best regards and good luck!
"Warren Eckels" <wec...@jorsm.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
o5mdneOADJM...@jorsm.com...

Israel Rivera

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May 8, 2003, 7:32:31 AM5/8/03

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I agree with your theory. I could only get jobs at Trally this year.
Hope they won't raise the membership fees.

RPletka

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May 9, 2003, 8:13:10 PM5/9/03

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I am talking from US point of view.
The rule of the thumb for self employed people is that you should spend about
5% (even more in some professions) of your gross yearly income on advertising.
Translators are famous cheapskates, so let's say 2% on advertising.
Look at the average gross income of $50,000 (on the low side, if you are good,
you should be in upper 5 or low six digit gross) and you have $1000 per year to
play with.
This will pay for Proz, Aquarium, ATA, NAJIT and you will still have about $600
left.
You have to spend money to make them, otherwise you will never earn decent
income.
Look at it from the potencial customer point of view - if you can't afford to
spend $100 on advertising your services, what does it say about your confidence
in your own ability to translate and make $$$

Good luck.

Radovan Pletka
Czech and Slovak Services
www.czechtranslation.com
Publisher of the famous weekly job list for translators/interpreters
Feel free to request a sample (-: at
www.jobsfortranslators.com

Soonthon

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May 12, 2003, 1:24:20 PM5/12/03

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Please avoid unreliable agency through the home page. You may not
mange with nonpaying agencies through Internet. Their paing conditions
is severe e.g. Song's CN who rarely pay.
SL

rpl...@aol.com (RPletka) wrote in message news:<20030509201310...@mb-m15.aol.com>...