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