Originally written by Eric Gross   Can I have another cuppa? Coffee and languages are some of my favorite things in life.

Hi Eric,

Here's the list of translators directories I know. Cups go for my rating of each of them:

AllStarTranslators    AquariusNet   I decided not to waste my time/money after three years of Silver membership. I got jobs or connections from almost all the other directories, but never a single one from Aquarius. It is kind of dead. (Elena Woontner, Post #84)    Babelport  The site is in stagnation. It seems it was abandoned years ago and is not developed any more. (NK, 2009-05-06)   Directory of Literary Translators    FairTradeNet    Foreignword  I've actually had some work and enquiries from Foreignword. Sometimes there are projects posted on there that aren't anywhere else, or are there before they hit Proz and the like. You can just reply to job posters by e-mail, or they contact you from finding you on the database, and you get e-mail notification of new projects of relevance. It's free. (Ellen Kapusniak, Post #3379)   GlobTra    GoTranslators    InfoMarex    Jobs In Translation  After registration with this directory you will start to get spam. I would not recommend to register there. If you still want to do it, use a disposable e-mail address for registration. (NK)   Language123 Poor design. You can never send a bid for a project unless you become a paying member, the membership fee being higher than on TC, while the popularity and the number of jobs is way below as compared to the latter. (Ara Mkrtchyan, Post #136525) Language123 is like a mystery to me too (something like in the Twilight Zone . <...> I could never bid because I wasn't a paying member (you can't access to much information about the job either if you don't pay). So one day I made up my mind after a very interesting project on Human Resources was posted... so I moved one step forward (now I don't know if I really moved forward ... but that's another story) and I became a paying member (wow now I could access to all that mysterious information behind that wall). <...> So the bidding/quoting game started, I answered to almost all the "leads", job postings are called "leads" in 123 universe... <...> So by the time my membership was about to expire I hardly answered the leads, I gave up, the system had defeated me.... my membership expired.. I got a few emails asking me for input, I didn't answer the emails.. but I'm still wondering.. is there anybody out there who really got a job at 123 answering to their leads? (Ana Brause, Post #136757)   LanguageJobs    Linguist Finder    ProZ  So while it may be true that Proz seems "to value quantity more than quality", the site also offers a unique way of selecting a good professional. (Endre Both, Post #90) I like this site, despite its flaws. (Anatoly Zolotkov, Post #115) When I joined Proz 2 years ago, the Kudoz system seemed to me an excellent idea. Now I've completely changed my mind. <...> I used to use Proz to look for "professional" translators partners that showed competence in a field. Well now most of the good ones are gone and the kudoz system is nothing else than an easy method for low-fare "so-called" translators to have their work done at ridiculous rates (even 0.01/word for english-italian pair!!). (Francesco Volpe, Post #121) What I like about Proz.com is its size. The sheer number of people on it makes it useful for customers, although with the proviso caveat emptor, as always. <...> There is a steady stream of jobs, as well, which makes it useful as a passive marketing tool. Not all the jobs have unreasonable conditions. I would say it was mainly aimed at being useful to customers. (Kevin Harper, Post #144) I often criticised Proz myself but the one good feature the site has is the kudoz section. Everybody can come across a term s/he doesn't know. (Olaf Knechten, Post #1987) I find ProZ.com as the best yet of all the directories for translators. I have had 3 projects made though this site and all three are for free. (Joseph Rosaceña, Post #3445) At ProZ there is an artificial limitation based on the prices you report so that limits your freedom. You can browse the listings, of course, but you wouldn't be notified if there was a job that you might be interested in for some particular reason, if it wasn't up to your rate. To rank high in a directory search for people in your combination, you have to play the KudoZ game. Rankings in the directory listings are determined first by whether or not you have paid for a membership and then by the number of points you have won. (Terry Waltz, Post #94439) Proz is interesting in terms of exposure in view of the number of people registered there, I think it's by far the biggest translator's site online. (Sarah L, Post #94441) I rarely use proz nowadays although I have not faced the unpleasantness <...>. The main reason I never felt at home is the colour combinations which makes me feel as though I'm walking the corridors of some sterile hospital. I cannot recommend membership at ProZ to anyone at this point <...>. If ProZ were able to upgrade itself to the point I felt it showed it is serious about running a business and treating all customers alike, providing agreed upon services for payment, then I'd gladly recommend them as a tool to our profession. At present, I believe that it is merely being run as a personal fiefdom -- "rule of man" vs "rule of law". This is a concern because without a reliably enforced system of rules, you have no idea when your functions may be cut off without notification, thereby affecting your business. I believe this has happened to a number of paying members since June. (Terry Waltz, Post #98657) The professionalism problem at ProZ unfortunately seems to stem from one particular individual above the "staff", who can't quite make the leap from private fiefdom to commercial enterprise. It's really too bad, because freelancers might prefer to pay one flat fee annually rather than a per-job commission to get work, but how can they feel confident in so doing when one person has the ability to arbitrarily do with their information, profile, communication abilities, and so on as he will on any given day, for absolutely no justifiable reason other than his own personal pique? One guy with his hands on the keys to the linguistic gulag, so to speak. (Terry Waltz, Post #106579)   Sprachmittler-TRUU   It is just a list, you can subscribe for some 35 Euros per year but as far as I see it's mostly German... There are no orders listed, no bidding stories but those who have an order can explain it and send a mail to those translators they chose. (Daniela Hubrich, Post #99264)   TRADUguide    Trally    TranslationDirectory    TranslatorsBase  I registered with them a while back, and this morning had an e-mail saying there was a project matching my criteria and giving me the URL for the project. I went to have a look and it turns out that you have to pay a $59 registration fee before you can contact the client or they can see your details. The job in question is only small (1000 words), and there's no guarantee of getting it, so I don't think it's worth it today! They must not have many projects in my language pair, as this is the only time I've had a mail from them since I registered. (Ellen Kapusniak, Post #3435) I've got the same experience like Ellen at TranslatorsBase. Last week they sent me an email informing me of a contact. Since I was told to pay the 59$ membership in order to view the email, I was so reluctant to "get in" and just ignore it. Anyway, I don't know if it's a real job or a mere "free translation" from someone. (Joseph Rosaceña, Post #3445) One of the worst, useless and at the same time aggressive directories I have ever seen. In more details you can read about them in the forum thread called Trnaslatorsbase.com, an online ghost? (NK)   Translator Planet    Translator's Corner   TranslatorsCafe  I like TranslatorsCafè. Keep doing this excellent job. (Francesco Volpe, Post #121) I think it is difficult to say which is the single best translation forum. However, the two I find really useful are Proz.com and Translatorscafe.com. I have subscribed to some other sites which have no real benefit in terms of information management (Translatorscafe's forte) or access to jobs (Proz.com's forte). What I like about Translatorscafe.com is its user-friendliness. I like the fact that it has a separate agency and freelancer section, and that agencies can use this site to specify how best to approach them for work. The aim of site seems to be providing a resource useful to translators. Both sites are extremely useful, and I would recommend either to anyone. (Kevin Harper, Post #144) A client directly contacted me here at Translatorscafe just a couple of weeks ago and one true job. (Joseph Rosaceña, Post #3445) I'm getting private queries from end clients who found me through TC. (M. Schwarz-Bastami, Post #94433) At TC you can get alerts for all the jobs in your combination. (Terry Waltz, Post #94439) TC is very user friendly and it is easy to reach a wide range of clientele throughout the world. TC is always aesthetically pleasing. Anatoly is most helpful and he has done the next to impossible in creating a free and fairly fair platform for the translation community at large. His unceasing efforts to refine functions wins him my most heartfelt admiration. TC offers a range of help regarding most questions that those engaged in the various aspects of the field of translation would need to ask. I look forwards to the day when these valuable tips could be collated in one place on TC and be more easily accessible since they are at present scattered more or less randomly amidst our various ramblings. (Gita Surya, Post #94604) I like the freedom of speech at TC. (Elena Sgarbossa, Post #94668) I'm glad I discovered TC back in April. Lot's of good advice, language-related discussions. (Eric Gross, Post #94718) I like TranslatorsCafe the best.  I get to see what's going on in the world of linguists.   It's professional yet enjoyable (freedom to express yourself) without so much scrutinizing.   I enjoy reading the different forums. It's nice to get the different perspectives from the other countries and cultures and nationalities. It's so interesting. (Emily S.C., Post #98658) I like TC because it makes me feel as a human being who translates, and not a machine-like one focusing only on money and technical matters... Translation is a bit more than that and TC allows humanity while remaining professional. There are very very good customers and agencies hiring through TC. No bid, direct contacts. Well, at least in my language pairs. At the end, I have Arab colleagues who decided to pay their memebership here, but are not members of Proz yet. It says something... (Abdelouadoud El Omrani, Post #99229) TC is my favorite. <...> I agree the humanity of this site plus the global flavoring really will help me decide where to put my hard earned clams when the day comes to invest in a translator directory membership. (Eric Gross, Post #99235) My favorite site is TC. I signed up for Proz, but TC is the site I feel most comfortable with. I almost feel as if I knew everybody here! (Mariana Roca, Post #99269) I have really profited from TranslatosCafe, where as it has been said the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and from ProZ. In both Websites I have had the opportunity of bidding for jobs. <...> Besides, in both websites I've received help with words or phrases I couldn't work out how to express in the target language. As regards the other online directories I keep receiving job opportunities but most of them don't have the delayed access possibility so it's useless. <...> I am really pleased to be able to participate in TC fora, which are absolutely advantageous and enjoyable at the same time. (Marisa Paván, Post #136762) I am happy to see that Proz.com can be discussed on TC. The opposite is not allowed, as one of the Proz.com site rules state that "[d]iscussion of sites offering competing services is -- prohibited, due to past abuse". (Thor Kottelin, Post #159754) I much prefer TranslatorsCafe in all its aspects (bidding for jobs, terminology, discussions, etc). I find that it is a much friendlier site. I have found so far that TranslatorsCafe and Proz are definitely the best two, and it is really unfortunate that Proz sees TranslatorsCafe as a competitor.  I am sure most serious translators would feel that both have a vital part to play in the profession. I think there is room for two, and they should be able to feel that they complement each other, not act as competition. (Catherine Gilsenan, Post #159781)   TransQuotation Be careful: people behind this site like to send primitive spam. After registration you will regularly receive messages of this kind: 'Dear Agency/Translator, please visit our site to post or bid on projects in your language combination.' I've never seen any usable project over there. (NK) As Nikita has commented, it's true what happens with TransQuotation, you're invited to bid all the time but when you want to do so, you're not allowed for not being a paying member. It's senseless. (Marisa Paván, Post #136762) Largely (if not exclusively) exists on job postings stolen from other sites. ProZ receive countless complaints from job posters complaining that they receive quotations from Trasquotation, though they never have published their job there. (Uldis Liepkalns, Post #136764)

  

The definite leaders are:

ProZ  (technically elaborated but with unpleasant atmosphere)

TranslatorsCafe  (has great atmosphere but needs some technical development) 

NK 

P.S. If anybody knows other similar places please contribute.

Originally written by Nikita Kobrin on August 10, 2006 12:10 PM   Here's the list of translators directories I know. Cups go for my rating of each of them. P.S. If anybody knows other similar places please contribute.

As usual, Nikita, you have been most thorough and done something that is of great use to all of us. I really benefit from all your reviews and get to know about as well as to use many of the boons floating around the web (FastStone Image Viewer, CCleaner...).

You have not mentioned your rating of Traduguide?

Another recent entrant seems to be : http://www.globtra.com/ (A free international translation portal connecting translators with people looking for them)

I like the fairness with which you have given the same rating to proz and TC. I rarely use proz nowadays although I have not faced the unpleasantness (much-there was the case of one chap who sent me a very sarcastic reply to my bid and another, similar to something you have experienced where someone used the matter in my profile to make a mock-profile which was really quite funny). The main reason I never felt at home is the colour combinations which makes me feel as though I'm walking the corridors of some sterile hospital.

As for TC, in the early days I got a good amount of job related queries and in fact, some very happy experiences. That I choose not to invite such offers any longer is my political choice.

That said, at TC is very user friendly and it is easy to reach a wide range of clientele throughout the world. TC is always aesthetically pleasing. Anatoly is most helpful and he has done the next to impossible in creating a free and fairly fair platform for the translation community at large. His unceasing efforts to refine functions wins him my most heartfelt admiration.

TC offers a range of help regarding most questions that those engaged in the various aspects of the field of translation would need to ask. I look forwards to the day when these valuable tips could be collated in one place on TC and be more easily accessible since they are at present scattered more or less randomly amidst our various ramblings.

Hi, Eric,

I agree with most comments made here by Jacek, Terry, and other experienced people. Nikita, it seems that you've researched this topic very thoroughly!

Re: the TC directory I have no opinion yet because I'm new here and I've received so far a couple of queries from outsourcers. As for TC as a community, although sometimes it seems that certain members who would dutifully follow basic civility rules in other sites (and presumably in their offline lives as well) would feel compelled to do otherwise in TC, in general, I like the freedom of speech at TC.

I have one comment re: 

IMHO, not anymore. The KZ game is something I've played (and keep playing ocassionally) because I enjoy helping. But while the KZ rating used to be a visibility tool (and it landed me a few interesting projects several years ago, ca. 1999-2002), this is no longer the case. The number of KZ points has been irrelevant (at least for my language pairs, which are popular) for quite some time already. I’ve just checked the KZ ranking board for [All Languages] [Medical], and I still rank first*. This also applies when the search is done by my working languages. Such a top ranking does not seem to matter at the time of meeting most outsourcers’ expectations re: rates. This was true even at the time when I was a member (which I’m not, anymore) and my name appeared listed in the directory before that of non-members.

Going back to your question, Eric: in my case, first-time (or one-time) translation and editing projects have arrived mostly through online networking, and secondly, through my online listing in a prominent Translators Association (i.e., the ATA).

OTOH, my main source of projects is repeat (and highly specialized) work from established, satisfied, loyal clients.

Best wishes,

Elena

*if you’d like, I can send you the link to that ranking board.

Absolutely the way to go!

Jacek

I'm grateful to all of you for the sound advice. You have all done me a great service. You all rate .

As a new "freelancer", I'm left wondering how to network on-line as far as my predominant language pairs go. Tagalog<>English isn't exactly at the top of the list as we all know. I did branch out into the local market as I think I alluded to in another post. Most of my projects and networking has turned out being local (Hawaii-based) of late. I would like to get some of that sought after exposure we all need and appreciate as freelancers. Somtimes, I wake up with a cold sweat having had the realization that I might need to augment my income delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut. Not a bad gig - don't get me wrong - but ... eh, it's a long story.

I'm glad I discovered TC back in April. Lot's of good advice, language-related discussions, and the essence of my favorite bev: .

Mahalo/T'anks, eh?

Eric

Eric,

Although "Tagalog<>English isn't exactly at the top of the list as we all know" means that it is not one of the highest revenue-bearing language pairs, you have the advantage of not having as much competition as the other more predominant pairs. You should investigate who currently has translation needs (and who would potentially have needs) for that pair, across different fields, and spend time doing business development around that.

Six years ago I spent two months of daily commuting train rides to write up a 100+ page business plan that outlined the translation needs for a group of minority languages that I worked on.  I was aiming to help get a minority language engineering company off the ground with some funding.  I found a significant amount of information and had a great business plan that had been read and commented on by a range of selected experts.  But the timing was bad (2000-2001 time frame). Need I say more.  The dot.com crash and 911 killed the venture at that point in time.

If you write to me through my profile (use the send email feature), I can give you a few pointers.

Jeff

However, I cannot recommend membership at ProZ to anyone at this point, because more than two months after the fact, my forum posting and private messaging functions are still turned off at ProZ, and all support tickets regarding this issue, which were forwarded to Henry for his personal handling, have been ignored by him to date. I get responses to unrelated support tickets, of course, in record time. I believe that the reason for the non-response is simply that Henry is unable to answer the question of "what rule was violated?" as the rule he supposedly enforced was not in existence at that time, as he himself has written to me.

If ProZ were able to upgrade itself to the point I felt it showed it is serious about running a business and treating all customers alike, providing agreed upon services for payment, then I'd gladly recommend them as a tool to our profession. At present, I believe that it is merely being run as a personal fiefdom -- "rule of man" vs "rule of law". This is a concern because without a reliably enforced system of rules, you have no idea when your functions may be cut off without notification, thereby affecting your business. I believe this has happened to a number of paying members since June.

I like TranslatorsCafe the best.  I get to see what's going on in the world of linguists.   It's professional yet enjoyable (freedom to express yourself) without so much scrutinizing.   

I enjoy reading the different forums. It's nice to get the different perspectives from the other countries and cultures and nationalities. It's so interesting.

I want to learn Romanian.  I understand some of it actually and sometimes all of it when I here it on the radio.  It's so beautiful.  Could anyone recommend Romanian names  to me? I'd like to name my child a Romanian name and give myself a middle name. 

Hi Eric,

I want to add to what our authoritative Jeff said, the following:

Try to investigate the opportuniy of creating the need for your "rare" language pair. If you have free time, you may think about translating books, articles, literature that you feel, may be useful or "soldable" if I may say.

Investigate Tagalog tales, stories, folks, songs that may be accepted by English speaking audience, schools, universities, cultural circles...

Just some ideas,

Salaam,

Ouadoud

Great Job Nikita as always. You're really helpful to the community! I translated many of your tips and shared them with many many Arab translators. I run avast antivirus, thanks to your suggestion.

If there's any Prize to be allowed or any election for valuable inputs, you're on top of my list. That's it sincerely said!

Now, back to the comment about TC and Proz, I think you got it right.

I like TC because it makes me feel as a human being who translates, and not a machine-like one focusing only on money and technical matters... Translation is a bit more than that and TC allows humanity while remaining professional.

There are very very good customers and agencies hiring through TC. No bid, direct contacts. Well, at least in my language pairs. At the end, I have Arab colleagues who decided to pay their memebership here, but are not members of Proz yet. It says something...

Salaam,

Ouadoud