ProZ.com Blog

How often do you look at reviews before doing or buying something? Most of the time, right? Nearly everyone will investigate a business or product before making a purchase, including your freelance language services. Public feedback inspires trust via its transparency.

A web widget is an independent application that can be embedded into a web-page, blog, or profile on a social media site and that will enable the display of information (your client feedback) or the call for an action ("Follow me").

The overpayment scam may be the most active scam affecting online freelancers. This scheme is very simple, and many are entrapped with it.

You are offered a job with part of the payment coming in advance, but the scammer sends you a larger than agreed upon payment and asks for a partial refund. Or, a payment is made in advance and then the project is unexpectedly canceled.

Just like Business Pages, the ProZ.com Blue Board works as a business card. Not only are Blue Board records an important risk management tool for language service providers since 2001, but they also show a company's reliability in terms of payment and commitment.

Last month we started this series of top-flight LSPs. Now it's time to shine the spotlight on LingoFocus, a medium-size translation agency with an East-meets-West approach born out of the hope and commitment of its two founders. 

Some translators are happy to work for small or boutique agencies. However, for those that want to make their way into more global markets and work with a team spanning three countries and serving clients from all around the world, elionetwork might be a good fit.

This post is Part 2 of a two-part guide on how to deal with non-payment issues.
If you haven't read it yet, find Part 1 here.

By now, the entire world knows that the current Covid-19 outbreak has --and will continue to have--  an enormous impact on freelance financial lives. However, language professionals who usually work on-site --interpreters, project managers, teachers-- don't necessarily have to live off savings during the current quarantine. ProZ.com has a few tricks up its sleeve to make money starting this weekend and while at home, and supplement your income during these uncertain times.

You already know how to assess a new client and decide if you're comfortable starting a professional relation with them. Unfortunately, clients new and old may sometimes get behind with payments for a number of reasons. From a change of personnel in the finance department, through an inefficient new management software, all the way to cashflow issues; there are a myriad factors that may cause a client who has long been reliable and trustworthy to leave your invoice unpaid.

Serving the world's largest community of translators, ProZ.com delivers a comprehensive network of essential services, resources and experiences that enhance the lives of its members. What are some of the site's most popular features?

The ProZ.com Blue Board has been an important risk management tool for language service providers since 2001. It provides language professionals a place to give feedback on the likelihood of working again with an outsourcer.

Most entries highlight positive relationships. ProZ.com is a place where companies and language service providers meet and engage in good-faith transactions.

It is also a place to report negatively when payment has not been received. Cases of non-payment are taken seriously at ProZ.com.

When non-payment reports are made, outsourcers now see a link to ProZ*Pay where a payment may be made immediately.