I think Proz might think about encouraging clients to participate in WWA system based on which they might be ranked higher or get a benefit and more clients will rate translators (positive and negative comments). Then average WWA rating you mentioned can be a good measure. Moreover, clients might be encouraged to enter the job volume to be also considered as a good factor for the ones working with limited but regular clients. However, the number of WWA ratings is to be another variable as it is not fair that translators with one WWA rated 5 be placed higher than translators with 30 WWA ratings with the average 4.9. Kudoz-based directory ranking is not fair at least in my language pair that unfair attempts are made to be ranked higher.
Katalin Horváth McClure wrote:
We all work with a different mix of clients. Some freelancers work with fewer number of established clients who are steady suppliers of work, often larger projects. Others, on the other hand, work with a lot of different clients on smaller jobs (think about official documents, certificates, etc.) Obviously, someone with the first type client portfolio won't be able to get as many WWAs as someone with a client portfolio of the second type, even though the quality of their work may be the same.
Also, please don't forget that some clients do not participate in the WWA system at all, as they consider their working relationship with their contractors confidential. So, some freelancers are simply not able to get WWAs at all from their very satisfied clients.
That is why the number of WWAs should never be used as a measure of the quality of one's work.
The average WWA rating value may be a better measure.
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