Cleaning House

Over the next couple of days, I'm going to revamp The Sweatbox to make it freelance friendly, making sure that you can easily access the information you need.

There will be a whole new design, an easy way to ask questions, and a kudos corner to plug new providers and their successes. Links will be easier to access and we'll have a space for some fun and interesting stuff too.

If there is anything you want to see, let me know! I'm here to help you.

I may not post for a few days, and if you visit, you may find a mess, but no dust bunnies, I promise! And be sure to check back for the housewarming party.

image by ro/wererabbit

Big Elance Myths Debunked

I've been surfing the net and am blown away by the large amount of misinformation floating around about Elance. Most of the stuff has been posted by providers frustrated in their attempts to find work, and that's a shame because misinformation helps no one and does all freelancers harm.

If you're thinking about Elance and you've come across some of this stuff, then I'm glad you found your way here.

It's time to clear up those big Elance Myths. And not just because I'm an Elance Ambassador. First and foremost, I'm a provider just like you, and have used many freelance sites to get gigs. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the freelance world, and can tell you without a doubt that Elance is by far the best place to land freelance gigs.

Myth no. 1 - You have to wade through tons of crap jobs to find good ones.

Wrong. Elance takes great steps to make sure that the quality of jobs is high. That's not to say that every job is amazing. That would be asking for the impossible. But the ratio of good to not-so-good jobs on Elance is comparable to any classified section of any paper, and much better than other online freelance sites. Elance removes jobs that don't meet their terms of service, and allows providers to file complaints about shady job postings.
And to the people spreading this myth, I say - I'm sorry that your job hunting experience was so terrible. Please contact me, and maybe I can help you find better hunting strategies.

Myth no. 2 - Most jobs never get awarded
Wrong. I have no idea what the percentages are, but from an experienced provider perspective, this is dead wrong. Sure there are some that go unawarded, like every other job place on the planet, and I remember being frustrated as a new provider seeing these, but once I learned to pick only the best jobs to focus on, the number of jobs I saw go unawarded dropped to maybe one in twenty.
Elance helps providers steer clear of low awarding buyers by identifying them in the job search listings, and a little time and experience will find you bidding on jobs most likely to award.
And to the people spreading this myth - Stick with this blog or contact me. I can help you learn to target the jobs that get awarded.

Myth no. 3 - Elance is a clearinghouse for cheap labor. A provider can't make decent money.
Wrong. If you have the skills and the experience to back you up, you will make decent money. If you're new to Elance, and therefore have no feedback, you may have to cut your rates on the first few projects just until you get a few solid feedbacks. Once you do, buyers will not only trust you, they will seek you out. And, as I said, if your skills and experience match your rates, you will make what you ask for.
I've known providers with hourly rates of 70 to 100 dollars, and they're working regularly. They're damn good, and they have earned their rates.
If you're expecting to make that kind of money and you're not landing contracts, why not take a look at these highly paid providers and compare your skills and experience to theirs. Either yours don't yet measure up, or you need to revamp your profile and bidding skills. I can help you with that.

Myth no. 4 - Elance doesn't listen to the providers needs and concerns.
Wrong. Every upgrade and every change is specifically made to make freelancing a better experience. They offer Elance University for new providers, they offer Escrow projects that make sure you get paid for completed work, and a whole range of other stuff. This was all brought in because of needs expressed by providers just like you. And I know they've got some great new stuff on the horizon. This myth is just plain false.
When I see all this misinformation out there, it makes my blood boil. I hope I've cleared up some of the myths, and I'm always open to answering questions and concerns.
Yes, I'm an Elance cheerleader, but I've played for a lot of freelancing teams in my time, and I only cheer for the best.

image by Monica's Dad

Bidding on Elance: When in Doubt, Ask!

One big question that keeps coming up is how to bid on jobs with very little in the way of job description.

You see them all the time. You know, the ones like:

Need five articles on the life cycle of lice.

That's it. Nothing more. But inevitably, they attract bids.

Normally I say, "Don't waste your time." But sometimes that's hard. The allure is too great.

Perhaps you did your doctoral thesis on the life cycle of lice, or maybe your kids have brought lice into your house twenty times now and all your knowledge was learned with blood, sweat, tears and lots of cleaning supplies. You could do this contract in your sleep while juggling steak knives.

So do the current bidders have information that you don't? It's possible. They could have asked a pre-bid question and have a better idea of the scope of the project. But more likely, they are the wild bidders who bid on anything and everything in hopes of winning something.

I say, don't worry about either type. Concentrate on you.

Don't be afraid to ask the buyer for the answers you need in order to put together a winning proposal. If it takes five or six back and fourths with the buyer, all the better. You'll be in a better position to craft a proposal that gives them exactly what they want, you'll have already established a working relationship with the buyer before the contract is awarded, and you'll come across as very interested, knowledgeable and professional. That may just be enough to rocket you to the top of the list of choices.

But what is it exactly that you need to know in order to bid intelligently?

In the case of the above example, you would need to know the length of the articles, the target market (parents of school aged children versus the scientific community), the intended use (marketing articles to sell a new lice treatment - SEO articles to drive traffic to a site - informational articles to educate - humor articles, etc.), but these need-to-know nuggets translate to most types of projects.

If the job description doesn't spell out specifically what you are required to produce, ask. It's much better to ask than to write 500 words on lice only to find out that they expected 5000. And that's not the worst-case scenario. Imagine writing 5000 words only to find out that they expected 50 thousand.

Save yourself the potential negative feedback, remember as always that time is money, and when in doubt - ask.

image by Marco Bellucci

Don't Forget Playtime in the Freelance Sandbox

One of the biggest problems facing freelancers is burnout. If you're new to the freelancing game, you probably don't believe me. Setting your own hours, being your own boss, working in your pajamas - sounds pretty sweet, right?

I kid you not. When business is good, it's very easy to get lost in work and forget about taking 'you' time. This is particularly true in the first few years, when you're afraid to set limits, or turn down work because who knows when the next contract will come along. No sense looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth and pissing off the gods of freelance fate, right?

It's true. For the first few years, until your reputation is a rock solid monolith, and repeat customers are banging down your door, freelance work is pretty much feast or famine. So it's logical while at the feast to want to gorge 'til you burst because you have no way of judging how long the famine with last. This easily leads to over-extending yourself with long hours that stretch into days and weeks and months. But you're making money, so who cares, right?

That's a dangerous attitude. Downtime needs to be scheduled and treated with as much sanctity and respect as work time, or burnout is inevitable.

Stretch yourself too thin and stupid mistakes are made, the quality of work goes down, and you start feeling just plain miserable. And it's a vicious cycle. This impacts your reputation and forces you to have to work longer and harder before you're firmly established. And more stupid mistakes are made... and so on... and so on...

Burnout sucks.

It's okay to take on a big rush job and work like a maniac. Just know your limits. Know how far your can push yourself before the stupid mistake monster rears its ugly head, and bid on those rush jobs accordingly. Schedule down time and stick to it.

I'm one to talk. Here it is, Sunday, the traditional day of rest, and I'm typing away. But the thing is, we're back to one of the big selling points of freelancing in the first place. You set your own hours. Find your natural rhythm and stick to it. If your workweek is ten days straight, then do it. You choose the when and where of down time. Just don't underestimate its importance or you risk frustration, anger, depression - and ultimately burnout.

All work and no play makes for very miserable freelancers, and that's not good for anybody.

So go have some fun! It will make you more money in the long run.



image by bukutgirl

All Freelancers Welcome

Yes, I'm a writer. And yes, this blog happens to be biased in favor of freelance writers. But that doesn't mean other freelancers can't get anything out of a visit. Freelancers of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Pull up a chair and warm yourself by my virtual fire, and I'll put on a pot of virtual coffee.

Hey, we're all freelancers, or on the path to becoming freelancers, so who cares if my tools are commas and a thesaurus, while yours is techno-babble I have no hope of ever understanding, or a foreign language I have even less hope of ever understanding. We all face the same challenges, go through the same bidding processes, and have the same goals in mind - to carve out one heck of a good freelance career. We're not so very different after all.

We can learn much from one another. And hey, we might actually team up on a project or two.

Most of what I write for the benefit of my fellow writers, applies just as well to every other freelance specialty. In fact, taking some tips on crafting great Elance proposals and profiles from a writing blog, may give freelancers with other areas of expertise a leg up on their competition. Writers are online image specialists, and what field can't use a great image?!

So stay a while and have a good look around. You'll find that most of my posts have something for you too. And I might just have the occasional gem outside of the writing arena to pass on. Like, for example, I hear through the Elance grapevine that there's a rapidly growing demand for SAP specialists. If that's your thing, run - don't walk - to Elance and make your mark now.

But before you go, let me wrap up this piece of virtual pie for you to snack on later.



image by bitzcelt

Quick Update

Exciting news! That amazing writer I wrote about Tuesday - the one I did a bidding walk-through with in order to get her over her mental hump...

She landed her first Elance contract today!

It took her all of 72 hours once she started bidding, and now there will be no stopping her!

I won't out her here without her permission, but I'm sending a hearty congrats her way!





image by photobunny

A Buyer's Guide Part One: How Much Does a Freelance Writer Cost?

You've decided to hire a writer. Maybe you want to beef up existing material, or to create something totally new. Maybe you want to increase sales or brand your product, or maybe you want to educate. You may need creative materials, or technical, general interest or very specialized. You may have a clear and specific idea of what you want, or no clue at all.

Whatever the reason, you've made the choice to get a writer on your team. You've heard good things about Elance, and you're ready to proceed. But one big question remains. How much will a good writer cost you?

This is impossible to answer directly without project details, but here are some general guidelines:

1 - Define your needs.
Are you looking for filler articles to drive traffic to another site so content or skill isn't important? Or are you looking for a high level of writing skill that projects your image or the image of your product and/or company?

The first won't cost you much at all. There are several providers who will meet your needs because it's cost effective for them. They can pump out low level material fast to seed your sites.

The second will run you quite a bit more. You're paying for skill, crafting, and research time, and a high level of quality. Cutting cost corners here will bring the quality of the project down.

2 - Be realistic about your budget.
If you need 500 pages and only have a budget of fifty dollars, you're not going to attract high quality work. Think of it this way - how many hours would it take you to write 500 pages?

If your budget is small, try to re-think your project. A great writer can do more for your business in two pages than 500 bad pages will ever accomplish.

3 - Look closely at samples.
Writers provide samples to show you the level of quality you can expect. Find a writer with a bid price that matches your budget and samples that meet your needs. Ignoring either will lead to disappointment.

4 - Finally, remember that you get what you pay for.
Writers base their bid price on their skill level, years of experience, and rate of success. That doesn't mean that the highest quote will be the best, but it does mean that you can and should expect higher quality from writers with higher rates. If quality is key, don't skimp on cost or you'll find yourself frustrated and disappointed.

It really does come down to quality or cost. What is most important to you? Like the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want high quality, expect to pay for it.

That being said, there are ways to keep your costs down. Go for a writer with killer samples but who has very little feedback. They charge less because they lack the experience, and they're hungry for it so they work super hard. Or take it a step further. Take a chance on an absolute newbie. If they have amazing samples, it's worth the shot - and in six months, you may not be able to afford their rates.

This may seem risky, but it's not if you choose to go with payments through Elance Escrow. This is there specifically to protect both you and the provider, and takes the risk out of it.

Whatever your needs, you'll find a writer to match on Elance. Just remember, go in with clearly defined needs, and a realistic budget, and you'll walk away a happy customer.

image by Teb

Just a Small Town Girl in a Big Online World

I just got back from spending the bulk of the afternoon with an amazing writer. She registered with Elance a few months ago, but until today she had done little with her account other than browse. So today, plied with coffee, I walked her through the Elance bidding process.

Very quickly, it became painfully clear that her reluctance had nothing to do with her skill level, and everything to do with not knowing the 'rules' in the strange new world of online freelancing.

When you've built a reputation doing business locally where face to face is the norm, the jump to doing business in a global online community can be quite unnerving. No longer do you worry about what shoes to wear. First impressions are now made and broken on a single word choice. A good smile and a winning personality no longer cut it. Your work really has to be good enough to sell itself.

That's a lot of pressure.

In the case of today's writer, I've seen her work. She has the chops to compete. She has a track record of experience to back her, and knows her writing is solid. All she had to do was make the mental switch to a new way of selling herself without the face to face.

What advice did I give her? Samples! Give the buyer kick-ass samples! Make sure your proposal meets the buyer's needs, and let your personality shine through in your writing. Take skill tests and list additional skills relevant to the types of writing jobs you plan to target, and by all means, list relevant past experience in your profile. Bid on smaller projects to build a reputation on the site, and encourage communication.

We spent some time crafting a proposal for one particular sweet job she had her eye on, and you know what? Her winning personality was there on the page. The same rules that apply in face to face transfer to the online job arena. They are all there, and they all matter just as much. They just don't wear pretty shoes.

And once her first proposal was in the bag, she was liberated. The rules are pretty much the same - the just need correct spelling and grammar. Now she's trading in her black leather pumps for bunny slippers and putting her first impression out there on the page.

And I give it a week tops, before she lands her first contract.



image bykharied

Don't Get Stuck in the Comfort Zone

One of the great things about freelance writing is that projects come in all shapes and sizes. The diversity means that boredom, frustration, and lack of enthusiasm are things other people have to worry about, not you. This very thing is what draws many people to the freelance life in the first place.

But when it comes to stepping outside of their area of expertise, many freelancers balk. Suddenly ten years of say, legal writing experience, seems worthless when attempting to snag that cool children's writing gig. Writers are very quick to negate solid experience if a project falls outside of their comfort zone, and are very harsh when judging their own skills.

This is a key stumbling block to true freelancing success. Don't be your own worst enemy.

I know you've done it. Surfed through the Elance job listings, immediately dismissing jobs outside of your comfort zone and targeting in on only those you're uber-qualified for. I also know that every once in a while, a job way outside your normal playing field calls out to you, and you can't help but take a closer look... and it sounds so amazingly wonderful! You'd love to do it, you know you'd be great, but...

No buts!!

Who cares if it doesn't meet your skill set! If it's something that calls out to you, give it a shot. Create a killer proposal, attach a decent sample, and go for it! What do you have to lose?

Think of the passion you'll bring to it. Think of the thrill and excitement of forging new territory. You'll do a kick-ass job, not only because you're professional, but also because it's important to you. And guess what? Now that you've stepped outside of your comfort zone, you've added a whole new area of jobs to target, and expanded your potential client base. You're on your way to becoming an expert in a whole new field.

That is how freelancing careers are made.

So next time you find yourself itching to bid on that branding job, forget that you specialize in academic writing, or dating articles, or technical manuals, and go for it!

Step outside of your comfort zone and you'll find a whole new freelancing world of possibilities.



image by finsmal...Phfffft. ..

'Don't Quit Your Day Job' and Other Naysayers

How many creative writers are out there right now working dead end jobs just to pay the bills, simply because it allows them time to toil over their as yet unpublished manuscripts? How many security guards, and parking lot attendants, and overnight morgue delivery guys are really just frustrated writers pushing forward until they make their first sale?

And how many times have these same writers wanted to punch some well meaning family member, friend, or even a published author in the face when they delivered that all too familiar advice - Don't quit your day job?

To all those brilliant, but as of yet, undiscovered authors out there putting in the writing hours and paying your dues, I say ditch the lousy 9 to 5 (and yes that can be 9pm to 5am) and stand up and say, "To hell with you. I AM quitting my day job!"

Here's how.

Freelance.

You've put in enough hours, so you can clearly write. Why not get paid for it while you're finishing, finessing, flogging, or otherwise torturing your own creation. The harsh reality is that it often takes years, sometimes decades, to land a book deal, and that's just way too many shifts validating parking passes for any one person to bear.

Many writers don't even consider this as an option because they see it as word whoring, as if it somehow cheapens their work or takes creative energy away from their own project.

Wrong. Any writing you do makes you a better writer. And anything that makes you a better writer is worth doing. Will it suck all the creative juices out of you? On the contrary. Forcing yourself to spark creatively for outside projects will add new dimensions to your own work and keep you in the writing headspace.

If that's not reason enough, think of this. Publishers and agents love, LOVE (have I emphasized this enough???) experts, and freelancing give you the perfect opportunity to build a reputation as an expert. Let's say you're writing a legal thriller. Imagine being able to say in your kick-ass query that you've been the online blogging voice of a particular law firm, or that you've written dozens of articles on the exotic locations where your story takes place. Or maybe you're working on a modern romance. How could a publisher resist requesting the manuscript from someone who has written hundreds of dating articles? You see where I'm going with this.

Freelancing doesn't just put money in your pocket. It elevates your craft, gives you credibility when you're ready to sell your own work, and is a whole heck of a lot better than asking people if they want fries with their meal.

You've got the gift. You've got the skill. Stand up and say, "Yes, I am quitting my day job!"

What are you waiting for?



image by Gep

Freelance Writers - Beware The Time Suckers

As a freelancer, you need to value your time. I can't stress this enough. Every minute you waste is a minute you're not making money, and you'd be shocked at how fast those minutes add up.

If you think checking your email won't cost you that much, think again. A few minutes here, a few there, and very easily you've lost an hour to doing diddlysquat. Sure, you can justify checking Facebook as networking, but at the end of the day, it's money that's not in your pocket.

If you want to be an uber-freelancer, treat your work time as sacred and ditch the distractions. Yes, Facebook is great for networking, and can be a water cooler-type Godsend to writers spending much of their days alone, but leaving it open on your desktop as you work on a project is much like leaving an open bottle of booze next to a recovering addict. Why abuse yourself with temptation? Same goes for Twitter. And triple for email! Who can resist the siren's call of new mail? It may only take you thirty seconds to check it, but add on a minute at either end as you shift focus, and multiply that by ten new mail notices an hour. It all adds up to losing money-making time.

Some less obvious time suckers that are just as bad - spell-checking several times rather than once at the end of the work session, grabbing that second (or third or fourth) cup of coffee, or taking phone calls. Voicemail was invented for a reason. Let it do its job, and return calls once your work time is up.

And a big time sucker that is easily justified but just as bad - checking Elance for new job listings. They'll still be there in an hour. They can wait. Job hunt time needs to be kept separate from work time or it's very easy to spend way too much time and energy on the job hunt without even realizing it. More than an hour a day is too much, and doing it here and there for just a moment or two can morph that hour into half a day. Again, resist the siren's call!

Then there's stuff like refilling your stapler, alphabetizing your underwear drawer, or having an overwhelming need to clean your entire house immediately. These don't fall under the time sucker category. These are procrastination tools and are an entirely different beast that I'll save dissecting for another day.

What more can be said? Time suckers. They suck, and they cost you money. Avoid.



image by Robbert van der Steeg

Just Say No!

Juggling too many projects and having to turn work away is so far off the radar of any new freelance writer that they never give it a second thought.

But sooner than you think, you'll be faced with having to say no. But like a girl with loose morals, saying no is not something most of us are good at. Well it's time you get good, and quick!

I hear you laughing, "Me turn down work?! Never!"

But soon enough you'll land a couple of sweet writing assignments at the same time and be up to your eyeballs in work. And that's when Murphy's Law always rears its ugly head. That is when that third big, amazing project you've been eyeing for weeks will be awarded to you. That is when you'll be faced with having to say no.

You're not a superhero. You can't bend time and space to take on another project. Don't do it!

But you won't listen to my warning. Like every writer before you, you'll take it on and get it done and nearly kill yourself in the process. Your kids may not get fed or bathed, your spouse may start talking about divorce, but you won't notice. You'll be too busy.

And when it's done, you'll swear that you'll never do that to yourself again (and please tell me so I can say, "I told you so!").

So after you've recovered from all that work, here's how to handle it the next time.

Stick with the one's you've already committed to doing. Dropping projects because something better or more interesting comes along is just not cool (and it's a fast way to get some negative feedback and a bad reputation.)

Learn to say no, and turn down projects in a firm but professional manner. And here's the thing - unlike the real world where no means no, in the freelance world, it doesn't have to. Buyers chose you for a reason. They want to work with you. So telling them that you're booked solid for the next two weeks and can't possibly devote any time to their project will very likely result in the buyer agreeing to put off the start date until you're ready to go. If their project is time sensitive, it may not happen, but more often than not, it will.

Whatever you do, don't put yourself through the ringer again. It's hard not to, especially when you know that freelance writing seems to work in a feast or famine type of cycle, but juggling too many projects results in lower quality work on all of them. And this is good for nobody.

Don't overextend yourself, be realistic about the workload you can carry, and communicate with the buyer. This will pay off in the long run. You'll have a solid reputation, and make more money.
But whatever you do, don't let the fear of overextending hold you back from bidding on projects you want! It's better to have too much work and have to learn to say no, than to sit around waiting for that one job you want to maybe come your way.

Bidding on Elance writing projects is like dating. Go for the best, but don't get too serious and tied down to one until they commit. Always keep your options open.

image by BlueCinderella

Contract Deadlines vs. Writer's Block

A reader writes in:

I've been reading your blog and would love your opinion. I've been writing for years and have placed in a few writing contests, but have only just recently considered freelancing. I go through the job postings on Elance and see tons of jobs I'd love to bid on, but I'm scared to take the next step. I'd love to pick up a few contracts to see if I can do this professionally, but every time I think about actually bidding, I get a huge knot in the pit of my stomach. I know my skills are good enough, but I worry about getting halfway through a project and coming down with a bad case of writer's block. Is this a sign that I'm not cut out for the freelancing life?

Thanks,

D.K.

Hi D.K.,
Thanks for writing, and agreeing to let me post the answer.

Writer's block. Yikes! The mere mention of it sends chills down every writer's spine, regardless of what they write. Writer's block doesn't care if you're a technical writer, a fiction writer, an article writer, a dissertation writer, or a poet. It's an equal opportunity jerk.

And it is a valid fear on your part. There are some days when a writer is just empty. The muse has packed up and left without leaving a forwarding address, and the writer is left with nothing but a blank page.

It happens. So instead of worrying about it, let's look at how to deal with it when it rears its ugly head.

Writing for yourself is wonderful. You have the luxury of waiting for the muse to capture you and carry you away, and if that means weeks between pages, then that's okay. Writing for someone else on a deadline is a whole different world where you can't wait for the muse, and if she doesn't show up, you still have to produce quality stuff. Some days it sucks.

So what do you do when that happens? You have a 5 o'clock deadline for ten pages and you're stuck on page one. You can't walk away and wait for inspiration to strike, so you just do it. You write the worst garbage of your entire life. Sheer crap. And you get it done.

Do you hand the crap over to the client? Of course not. But you do write it, and you don't worry about how bad it is (and it will be bad, trust me!). Then you walk away. You leave it for a bit. Go for a walk or soak in the tub, or surf the net, or whatever you do to numb your brain.

Then you go back to it.

And you'll find that it isn't as bad as you thought it was. It's not great, but it's not nearly as awful as you imagined. And it's done. So now what's left to do is edit.

You see the muse never actually leaves. She's always there. It's our brains that get in the way. She's on the pages. She was there all along. And it's so much easier to fix something that's finished and raise it to a solid level than to stare at a blank page because you're expecting perfection to pour onto the keyboard.

So, to get to the heart of your question - does fear of writer's block mean you're not cut out for the freelance life? Not at all. It tells me that you have a good work ethic (worrying about client needs before you even land them), and that you set the bar high for the quality of work you want to deliver. These are the exact traits needed to succeed in the freelance world.

Expect to write tons of crap. Don't fool yourself into thinking you need to be perfect. Embrace your bad writing! Every good writer on the planet turns out mountains of bad pages in their lifetime.

All you need to turn bad writing into good is a little talent and a good red pen.



image by LunaDiRimmel

Troubleshooting: Worst-Case Scenario No.1 Sickness

You don't feel like working today. In fact, you're not sure you can even get out of bed. You're oozing from various orifices, and even your dog won't come anywhere near you.

You, my freelancing friend, are sick.

Denial won't do you any good. You're too weak for that.

But still you drag your sorry self to the computer because YOU HAVE A DEADLINE.

Sometime later, you find yourself face down on the keyboard, drool from your half-open mouth pooling under the 'W' key. You pull yourself back to some semblance of consciousness and finally admit that there is no way in hell you are going to meet your deadline.

WHAT DO YOU DO???

In a freelancing world where reputations are made and broken on your word, being sick is truly one of the worst-case scenarios.

Or is it?

There is a simple fix: contact the buyer and be honest. Set out a new timetable, taking into account a realistic estimate of how long you'll take to be on the mend, and apologize for the inconvenience.

Sounds too easy, right? It really is that simple. Most buyers are reasonable, and all of them have been sick once or twice before. If you have already established good communication, then ninety-nine times out of one hundred, they'll understand.

And if you get that one in one hundred buyer? Well, you're sick. There's nothing you can do about it. I'd recommend that you apologize again then go about the business of getting well. You may get negative feedback, but one negative due to illness is not a career-destroying blow. A professional response to the feedback is all that is needed.

But that's really worst case. Buyers are human and pretty decent most of the time. So if you need to curl up and die for a few days, then go take care of you and do what you need to do.

When it comes to deadlines and sickness, it's better to be honest and work things through with the buyer than to hand in less than amazing work. That is the one thing that can mess with your reputation.




image by Rachel Titiriga

Social Networking: Spammers and Schemers and #%&*, Oh My!

Just a quick post today... or more appropriately, a quick rant.

I've been spending a good deal of time lately focused on social networking and digging around for good information sites for new freelancers, and I've noticed a disturbing trend. There are a vast amount of get-rich-quick and pyramid schemes everywhere you go.

It seems that there are more bots online than actual living breathing people, and unfortunately, places that offer good solid advice without a hidden (or sometimes not so hidden) price tag are hard to come by.

I hate to have to say it but if you're looking for advice on freelance writing work, beware the so-called gurus and the sites that claim to have all the secrets to success for one super low price!

There are no shortcuts to building a solid reputation. There is no program that will circumvent quality work and make up for lack of experience. It's a matter of just doing it.

I am a firm believer in the cream rising to the top and I'm appalled by how much sour milk people have to wade through to find it.

Hopefully in the coming weeks I can clear the path to solid information, and make it a little easier to navigate for the new writer. I promise that I will never ask for money or put conditions on accessing the information here.

And if you happen to come across some real information out there among the bots and the schemes, send me the link and I'll make sure it's available to all.



image by katiew

Proposals that Win You Writing Jobs

You've done your research. You've vetted the job listings. What remains are those few sweet jobs you want to win.

It's time.

You have 2000 characters to blow the buyers socks off and land the job, so use every keystroke wisely. Your proposal needs to stand out and scream, "HIRE ME!"

Here's how:

Tell the buyer who you are and why YOU are the best candidate for the contract. Briefly provide your relevant background and leave all unnecessary information out of your proposal. If you're going for a legal writing position, the buyer really doesn't need to hear that you won first place in your town bake-off, but if you're trying to bag a recipe-writing gig, it's good detail to mention.

Next, using clear, concise language, tell the buyer exactly how YOU are going to meet his needs as laid out in the job description, including time frames and payment terms.

Provide outstanding samples of relevant work so they see and experience the high level of quality they can expect.

And finally, close with something that encourages communication and demonstrates that working with you will be a pleasure.

That's it.

I know, easier said than done. It's hard to craft a stellar proposal, and it takes a while to find your own style, but don't worry. I forgot to mention the secret ingredient --

You.

As a unique, talented individual, you bring something to the project that no one else can bring. Everything you are. Let your voice shine through in your proposals; let your writing skills blow them away. You're not just selling your writing skills, you're selling YOU.

Not quite sure you can do all that? Then take a look at the open bid projects. There aren't many, but if you look hard enough, you can find a few. See how other providers craft their bids and see which ones stand out, and which ones fail miserably. Use the good ones as a guide and the bad ones as a handbook of what not to do. I'll try to rustle up a few to post in the near future as examples.

And contrary to what you might think, if you have very little experience, there is no harm in telling the buyer that you are new to freelancing. If your rates reflect that, and your samples are strong, it may even give you the advantage.

Take your time, nail all of these points, and you will have a job-winning proposal.

It's time to bid.


image by ZachAncell

The Great Elance Job Hunt

So this morning, coffee in hand, I’m scanning the new job listings, as is my typical morning routine, and I realize that there are currently over 800 writing jobs listed on Elance. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it dawns on me how intimidating this might be for a new freelancer.

How the heck do you figure out what to bid on with so many listed jobs?

I was going to write about crafting job winning proposals today, but my half-caffeinated morning epiphany made me realize that I was putting the cart before the horse. Before you can even begin to bid, you need a system to figure out exactly what to bid on.

I’m sure there isn’t one system that will work for everyone, and you’ll develop your own style over time, but until then, I’m offering up my system as a place to start.

I developed this system over time with a good deal of trial and error, with one main objective – money. I don’t mean making money. I mean not losing it. You see, as a freelancer, you have to value your time. And the time you spend on the job hunt is time not making money. So anything that streamlines the hunt means more time to work on actual paid assignments, and consequently more money in your pockets.

So in keeping with this goal, I’ve developed the following job hunt system:

Scan the New Listings

Do this very quickly. Don’t go into the job descriptions, just take a quick peak at the details. If it seems even remotely interesting, put it on your watch list. If you do this daily, this should only take a few minutes.

Delete the Duds

When you’re done your scan, quickly go through the possibilities now in your watch list and delete any obvious duds. Jobs with unrealistic budgets (ie: I want 500 articles and my budget is only fifty dollars), jobs that clearly don’t match your skills, or jobs that just give you a bad feeling for no apparent reason. (In this business, you really need to rely on those gut feelings, but that’s a whole different blog post…)

Put Out Some Feelers

With your possible job list now much smaller, it’s time to look at each of them more closely. If a buyer has a low award rate, they have never posted a job before, or their job description is vague, post a simple question about the job on the public message board, then forget about it. If they respond, it is worth pursuing, but if they don’t, you haven’t wasted valuable time crafting a solid bid proposal or pre-bid question. And if they do respond, chances are much higher that the job will be awarded.

All of the above, if done daily, should take less than thirty minutes once you get into your groove. Spend the remainder of the hour concentrating on the very small number of jobs that still remain on your list – those with reputable buyers and clear job descriptions. Those are the ones you bid on.

If you’re spending anything more than an hour a day job-hunting, you’re wasting precious and valuable time.

There is no guarantee that every job on your shortlist will be awarded, but the chances are much higher; meaning your investment of valuable time, energy, and resources won't be wasted chasing dead ends.

There is also no guarantee that every job you eliminate will be a dud. Many will actually get awarded. But personally, I'd rather spend my caffeine-fueled energy on paid work rather than trying to psychically deduce a buyer's intentions.

Anyone have any more good tips for picking jobs to bid on?



image by MayaEvening

Getting Started Part Three: Creating Job Winning Profiles

Many people don't take the time necessary to create a killer profile, assuming that the bid proposal is the key to landing jobs.

Don't make this mistake!

Your profile is your online calling card, your first contact with many buyers, and your first (and sometimes only) chance to show off your spectacular writing skills. Without a top-notch profile, you will lose out on invite-only bids, and may possibly lose open bidding projects because another provider dazzled the buyer with their profile.

There are three key points to crafting job-winning profiles. Make sure your profile scores high on all of them:

Professional

This first one should go without saying, but you would be shocked at how many unprofessional profiles are out there.


Good: I have ten years experience writing copy for the automotive industry

Bad: I'm desperate for cash and this seems like a good way to get it


You get the idea.

A professional profile is easy to create. Tell them who you are with relevant experience, what you can do for them, and how you do it. It's that simple.

Oh, and another faux pas that shouldn't need to be mentioned - correct spelling and grammar. (Unless, of course, you don't really want to work.)

Personality

You're a writer, it's time to show it! Your profile needs your unique voice. Let the buyer see the person behind the words. Add a touch of humor if that's your style, or bold in-your-face words if you're a marketing guru. As long as it stays professional, it's totally okay to let your inner writer out to play. In fact, showing your personality may give you a leg up on other providers.

No one said profiles couldn't be FUN!

Promise

If you've nailed the two previous points, your profile already promises buyers a high quality of work. But take that further.

List your skills and take the relevant Elance skill tests. High scores attract more attention, and having at least a few tested skills ups your credibility in the eyes of the buyer. It also allows them to find you when they search for tested providers.

More information on skill tests can be found here.

In the near future, I'll be taking a close look at some amazing profiles, so if you've seen one that blew you away, or are confident that you've written one yourself, get in touch.

I'd love to hear from you.

And if you're stuck or have questions, ask away!


Are you ready to move onto the art of crafting winning proposals?




image by fotorita

Getting Started Part Two: Wild Bid Variations on Elance Explained

You've done your research. You're itching to toss your hat into the ring on a few sweet jobs, but...

The system still doesn't quite make sense.

When you're just starting out, it's hard to determine what bid amount to submit on a project when some jobs get awarded for peanuts while others seem to have a high rate of pay. What makes it even more confusing is watching one particular job you KNOW you're made for, and seeing that it gets bids that range from fifty dollars to three thousand.

How is a talented freelancer new to the Elance arena supposed to make any sense out of this?!

First, lets look at how two very similar jobs can be awarded for very different amounts. Lets say both jobs ask for five articles of the same length and one is awarded for fifty dollars while the other goes for five hundred. The explanation boils down to the buyer's needs and expectations.

Buyer one may be looking for quick filler pieces where quality isn't important while buyer two wants well researched, well written material. Or buyer one may want well written material but has no idea how much time and skill are required to produce a high level of content. In this case, buyer one will be disappointed in the results he gets.

Both styles (churning out article after article at breakneck speed, or spending serious time and energy on just one article) are valid choices. Figure out which one you're suited for and bid accordingly. Ask pointed pre-bid questions or questions on the job post's public board to determine exactly what the buyer wants, then only bid if their vision meets your skills. You'll save yourself a good deal of confusion and disappointment that way.

Now let's look at it from the other end - providers bidding all over the board on the same job. Partly the reason is the other side of the above coin. One provider may estimate five articles will take only thirty minutes of his/her time, while another will commit hours or research and writing to the project.

Additionally, they may have inside knowledge of the buyer's expectations because they asked a pre-bid question. Maybe they found out that the buyer wants five articles with citations from reputable journals, or perhaps they found out that the buyer wants filler SEO articles that drive traffic to a website with no concern for content. There is no way of knowing for sure.

And thinking about it is enough to drive even the most experienced of freelancers batty!

The best advice I can give is to NOT think about it. Set your rates and base your bid on what you can offer the buyer. Ask smart pre-bid questions if the project isn't 100% clear and don't worry about the wild variations.

Because who knows? The extreme bids may just be wild shots in the dark from other providers. It's best to focus on crafting an amazing proposal that shows the buyer exactly what YOU can do for them and why YOU are the person for the job.

Stick with that, and you'll start landing jobs.




image by helgasms

Hot Job Picks Clarified

Before I move onto the nuts and bolts of getting started, I have to jump in and clear up a few important questions that have been tossed my way.

Question: How are your Twitter Hot Job Picks chosen?

Good question! My Hot Job Picks are perfect for people just finding their freelance writing sea legs because they have a well-written job description that sets out clear expectations for the writer. There is no guesswork. You know exactly what you’re getting into and can bid accordingly.

On top of this, the buyer has awarded previous contracts on Elance and seems to have a clear understanding of the value of a good writer.

This is all a judgment call based on experience, an educated guess, and an old fashioned gut feeling on my part, so there is no guarantee that the job will be awarded or that the buyer will be Buyer of the Year – but the odds are much greater.

When a buyer takes the time to craft a well thought out job description, it’s a good sign that they’re serious about hiring, and that they’ll take the time to communicate with you in order to make sure the project goes smoothly.

An ideal situation for a new provider.

Question: When I go to one of your Hot Jobs, I can only see part of the job description and I am required to sign up for an Elance account before I can view the whole thing. What’s the catch?


No catch. You’ll get no spam. You aren’t required to pay a dime. This is just one of Elance’s ways of weeding out buyers and providers who are not serious committed professionals.

Once you register, you have full access to all of the job postings AND you have the ability to bid. This is all with the basic account that doesn’t cost a cent. You can upgrade your account for a small monthly fee, which gives you the ability to bid on more jobs, but I highly recommend sticking with the free basic account, at least for the first month.

This allows you to do your research, which I talked about in the previous post, and get to know the site and the job market before leaping in with both feet.

I'll be blogging soon about how to create contract-winning proposals, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, follow my Hot Job Picks on Twitter, and keep the questions coming.


Image by Stefan Baudy