So now that you have work coming in from a subtitling agency and you are really enjoying working with them, you want to treat this work relationship like a partnership.

I want to share some tips here on how to build mutually beneficial professional relationships with your clients.

Deliver high-quality work consistently:

Subtitling is a creative process and it is an art that requires skills and research to achieve quality, precision and content that is appropriate and sensitive to the target audience.

If you want to have a steady flow of work from an agency, you must make sure that each project you produce is of consistently high-quality.

Always plan your project ahead, so that way you can assign enough time for the proofreading and final checks to be done well.

Deadlines:

This is one that’s common sense but can be undermined.

If you ever find yourself at risk of missing a deadline, let the company know as soon as possible so they can make other arrangements.

Missing a deadline is a cardinal sin in this kind of work.

Know your capabilities and limits:

Once you’re accepted by a company, be very clear on what kind of work you can do for them and what kind of work you can’t. If there’s an area you’re not that confident in but would like to improve, let them know.

Be as transparent as possible from the beginning and you will be respected for knowing both your capabilities and your limits.

Communication:

Communication is key to teamwork. If you see any inconsistencies or errors in the source file, communicate this with your client instead of turning a blind eye.

Always communicate any concerns or questions you have regarding the project. You should always look at your subtitling as if it were the final product.

But don’t write an essay! Always keep your emails clear and concise and to the point.

Always be professional:

Don’t let your emotions run wild and impact how you interact with your client. It is not your clients fault if you have had a bad day or you are in a bad mood.

Give yourself time to think before you respond. Controlling stress enables you to make intelligent decisions.

To sum up: consistently produce excellent work, only take on work if you are confident of meeting the deadline with enough time to run a thorough quality check, know your strengths, communicate intelligently and go the extra mile.

Your client will continue to send you work if you demonstrate these qualities, as they are not a given in our industry.