| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | Poll: How do you prefer your clients to contact you? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Gerry Vickers 
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:48
Member (2007)
Czech to English
+ ...
I have a mobile telephone, but it is certainly not used for its primary purpose! I must make or receive about 3 minutes of calls per week (if that), and maybe 1 SMS per month - e-mail is the source of 99.9% of my work, but I do like skype as well if only purely to keep in touch. It is extremely rare to receive job-related telephone calls, but I'm not complaining as there is plenty of work to do
| | | | | What Tomas said | Oct 8, 2009 |
Tomás Cano Binder, CT wrote:
I write some 30 emails every working day on an average. If I had to make 30 calls, I would be living in a mental hospital.
More pertinently, I also receive at least 30 e-mails every day (although admittedly not all of them from clients). If they all came in by phone, I'd never get any work done.
I'm not on Skype - I have one client that keeps nagging me about it, but that's because they will insist on calling me instead of writing.
[Edited at 2009-10-08 14:44 GMT]
| | | | Heike Kurtz
Germany
Local time: 18:48
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
Nearly everything has been said on that topic and I agree wholeheartedly. I don't like the "be available 24/7" attitude that, in my view, comes with Skype etc.
I usually don't even give my mobile number: I can pass calls from my office phone forward if I choose to, so my clients don't really need the mobile number. I get emails instantly via Smartphone and react immediately to urgent requests. I often work on weekends or at night, simply because it is quieter and I am built that wa... See more Nearly everything has been said on that topic and I agree wholeheartedly. I don't like the "be available 24/7" attitude that, in my view, comes with Skype etc.
I usually don't even give my mobile number: I can pass calls from my office phone forward if I choose to, so my clients don't really need the mobile number. I get emails instantly via Smartphone and react immediately to urgent requests. I often work on weekends or at night, simply because it is quieter and I am built that way. I always try to serve my clients to the best of my abilities.
But the decision whether I want to be available or not still remains mine and mine alone and so I do use the "off" button of my Smartphone sometimes ▲ Collapse
| | | | Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:48
French to English
+ ...
| Phone is nice... | Oct 8, 2009 |
... but I don't want to receive more phone calls than I currently do! Most clients contact me by email. I like talking to those who do phone, but if all jobs arrived with a phone call first I'd be driven to distraction.
In any case, if the first contact about a job is made by phone, I will ask for a follow-up email in order to see the text. I've been stung a couple of times by clients who use the phone and their best persuasion and flattery skills in order to get me to take on their... See more ... but I don't want to receive more phone calls than I currently do! Most clients contact me by email. I like talking to those who do phone, but if all jobs arrived with a phone call first I'd be driven to distraction.
In any case, if the first contact about a job is made by phone, I will ask for a follow-up email in order to see the text. I've been stung a couple of times by clients who use the phone and their best persuasion and flattery skills in order to get me to take on their particularly unattractive (usually handwritten) jobs. ▲ Collapse
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| Email and Skype | Oct 8, 2009 |
I love Skype for its interactivity, but not many use it. So email comes in my second preferred mode of communication. In fact both complement each other.
| | | | | I have no preference | Oct 8, 2009 |
Just as long as they contact me
| | | | JOHN WINDER
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:48
German to English
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| E-Mail allows more time to respond | Oct 8, 2009 |
I think there is a difficulty when some clients phone and others E-mail. The ones who phone may want an immediate response while the translator may be waiting for confirmation of a job by E-Mail from another company which has not yet been forthcoming. This happened to me this afternoon actually. I was out jogging and my mobile went off. A client wanted me to make a quick decision about a job although I was waiting to hear about another one. Obviously I did not have my computer to hand. After sev... See more I think there is a difficulty when some clients phone and others E-mail. The ones who phone may want an immediate response while the translator may be waiting for confirmation of a job by E-Mail from another company which has not yet been forthcoming. This happened to me this afternoon actually. I was out jogging and my mobile went off. A client wanted me to make a quick decision about a job although I was waiting to hear about another one. Obviously I did not have my computer to hand. After several minutes of breathless negotiation in my third language we managed to sort things out quite nicely. Not an ideal way of working sometimes but as someone said earlier; as long as clients do contact us, the fact that they do is more important than the methods they use.
Are there any other translators who don't know about or use Skype or am I a dinosaur? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Agree - Skype brings about closeness | Oct 8, 2009 |
Fabio Descalzi wrote:
Emails are the normal, I would say almost protocolar way of contacting clients.
But in terms of closeness, of collaboration, of really working together, I must confess that I am a Skype-aholic!
Agree.
Emails are the most common and 'straight jacket' way of contacting.
But with colleagues (and even some clients), Skype permits a closenesnesss particularly since one can chat (and even talk) while on the computer. Email in taht sense is one sided - unless both partners are online and respond to each other quickly. And file transfers are usually pretty quick too on Skype!
But then again - as some colleagues point out - sharing Skype details with everyone can also have its share of problems!
[Edited at 2009-10-08 16:57 GMT]
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:48
Spanish to English
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| e-mail and skype | Oct 8, 2009 |
Note to Mary W:) Skype is an internet TELEPHONING system, you make phone calls with it and unlike BT etc they don't cost the earth, while calls are free between skype users. It also combines chat so you can deal with queries etc as you go instead of interrupting whatever else you may be doing.
I personally prefer to do most of my business by email, mainly because it gives me time to formulate a polite response to queries and offers. I am not renowned for my tact face-to-face and am ... See more Note to Mary W:) Skype is an internet TELEPHONING system, you make phone calls with it and unlike BT etc they don't cost the earth, while calls are free between skype users. It also combines chat so you can deal with queries etc as you go instead of interrupting whatever else you may be doing.
I personally prefer to do most of my business by email, mainly because it gives me time to formulate a polite response to queries and offers. I am not renowned for my tact face-to-face and am quite happy to call a spade a spade and tell clients exactly what I think of their organizational skills or lack thereof/deadlines/formats/text quality/prices etc, which is not always a good idea. If replying by email I have the chance to show my potential replies to colleagues who can help me "soften" the language I tend to use in normal one-to-one conversation.
I don't appreciate getting phone calls when sleeping/showering/eating etc either so email is definitely the best option all round:-) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Interlangue (X)
Angola
Local time: 18:48
English to French
+ ...
| Several Skype accounts | Oct 8, 2009 |
Venkatesh Sundaram wrote:
But then again - as some colleagues point out - sharing Skype details with everyone can also have its share of problems!
[Edited at 2009-10-08 16:57 GMT]
I use several Skype accounts: business for customers and business hours, a second for friends/certain colleagues and even a third one on my laptop
Customers do not need to know I am connected on Saturday or Sunday, or late at night and it allows me to display a message about my availabilities.
However Skype is not as smooth and reliable as it used to be, and IMHO, email is the best way to transfer files and make definite arrangements. Skype is nice for a quick chat, even with customers, and allows me (opening several windows) to chat and make arrangements with several customers at the same time, and settle confirmation matters for instance.
[Modifié le 2009-10-08 18:50 GMT]
| | | | Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:48
German to English
+ ...
| Not necessarily! ;-) | Oct 8, 2009 |
neilmac wrote:
Note to Mary W:) Skype is an internet TELEPHONING system, you make phone calls with it and unlike BT etc they don't cost the earth, while calls are free between skype users. It also combines chat so you can deal with queries etc as you go instead of interrupting whatever else you may be doing.
OK, I should have specified 'Skype chat'! I tend to think of Skype only in terms of chat as I don't have a telephone plugged in to it. Our telephone system is VoIP anyway so it makes no difference in terms of costs.
| | | | Heike Kurtz
Germany
Local time: 18:48
Member (2005)
English to German
+ ...
| Not a dinosaur | Oct 8, 2009 |
JOHN WINDER wrote:
Are there any other translators who don't know about or use Skype or am I a dinosaur?
No you aren't. I refuse to use these things because I think that email, phone and Smartphone are enough possibilities to contact me. Each additional device just increases the time spent not working.
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i think we all agree there. It really is the greatest invention, how did we manage otherwise!
most of my contacts are email, but sometimes i get a phone call from local agencies when they make initial contact. One of them often calls me to tell me they're sending me a dossier by email.
I use SKYPE but usually for following up, asking questions, etc. Same with MSN. I'm always online if someone wants to reach me but it's usually email.
| | | | John Fossey
Canada
Local time: 12:48
Member (2008)
French to English
+ ...
Latin_Hellas wrote:
I cannot understand why the fax has not already gone the way of the dinosaur and telegraph: extinct. Can someone explain its usefulness in a world of low-cost wordprocessing, scanning, email, and conversion tools?
Little known fact - fax is actually the same age as the telegraph and older than the telephone. The first "facsimile" machine was a swinging arm with a conductive stylus, used to transmit Chinese characters between the San Francisco and New York stock exchanges in the mid-1800s. Documents had to be written in conductive ink. A similar swinging arm machine with a solenoid activated pen recreated the document on the other end.
Three years ago I got rid of my fax and related phone line. I have a fax-to-email service, but its now down to about 1 fax per month. I never looked back.
Perhaps its time to move on from the fax? Email is about the only means I use.
| | | | | E-mail with one exception | Oct 9, 2009 |
For very large jobs. I don't want to run the chance of losing them.
A client recently e-mailed me with a project that would have kept me busy for over a month. I was away from my desk but still at home, getting ready to go out for an appointment. Had they phoned me, they would have reached me and not assigned it to someone else. I lost a chunk of income.
I don't worry too much about the small jobs because not getting them isn't that critical.
Except for the... See more For very large jobs. I don't want to run the chance of losing them.
A client recently e-mailed me with a project that would have kept me busy for over a month. I was away from my desk but still at home, getting ready to go out for an appointment. Had they phoned me, they would have reached me and not assigned it to someone else. I lost a chunk of income.
I don't worry too much about the small jobs because not getting them isn't that critical.
Except for these reservations, e-mail is best for all the reasons mentioned. It's clear. It leaves a solid record. If there's no PO, in my invoice I cite the e-mail as authorization to do the job. Also, I don't want to be bothered talking with my client. It shouldn't be all that necessary. I'd rather be working. Maybe it's old age, but I use the phone less and less. It always amazes me how people stay glued to their cell phone conversations. ▲ Collapse
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