How to become a freelancer

[peachey]

One thing is advise......

You will need to be a person that can follow though with things to the end and want them to be correctly...
You have to have a good organization skill to do this as you are your own boss...
You have to have the will power to be able disapline your self to get up each day as you would go to work and make it to your area on time with your computer on ready to work...and want to put the hours in....
You need to set an area in the home quiet no disturbance ...a table desk..some where you computer is that is clean and clutter free...you need to let family members know this is your work space and that is it..they are not allowed to use any of it or be there unless it is important...youare working you are the boss ...this is so important that you are comfortable with your work area with no distrations...
phone you will want a phone for buisness...lots of time when I get a project or job sometimes we need to talk over the phone over details..some time the clients will be out of town and you need to talk to them...this depends on what you need to do...I have a cell phone and works great....all calls that are not work realated in the time I have for work do not get answered...they can leave a msg...If I went out to work my employer would not allow me to talk on the phone then so I need not do that now...
Disapline lots of it for yourself....to do this......
Getting up in the morning and dressing as if you were going to work..dont have to be suit and tie but not the nite ware or rug old thngs..dress as if you were going to work be comfortabe...but if some one step in your office what is the impression you would want to make...that the way to dress...


This is just the starting of becoming a good freelancer and professional about it and be able to live...

after reading this ..when you have time go on the internt and search for articles about becoming an freelance...use google ...and but the phrase in how to become a freelancer......

tomarrow I will contiue witht the next step...
YOUR COMPUTER

[humpty]

Those are great tips, but where to find leads, where to find projects, how to get paid promptly, etc etc. I think those things are just as important as being disciplined with your freelance job. In fact, without those, it means you ain't got a job/project to do, and that would mean that there's nothing for you to be disciplined about, except for diligently looking for these project to do.

[peachey]

Sorry will get to that ...wanted to share so that others would know what it takes to be a freelancer..I and some friends have gone though this experince and just trying to show that it takes more than just sitting and doing things...they wanted to know how to do it well wouldnt you want to be a professional about it than just dig in and find yourself doing work and not getting paid for it...this will happen .....ok

[peachey]

So moving on to the next step ..sorry to some that are quick to get started but I have experince with just jumping in and can tell you ...you will get no where fast and end up doing work for people and not getting paid....I have been there and not fun to put in hours and days on a project to find out that they dont pay you...there are people out there that are not honest even in this type of work and more so I find this to be true....



You computer ...most of it just make sure you have a great connection to the internet that you computer and internet will be able to handle the load you might have to put on it...there are times I have close to 50 to 100 webpages open when doing some of the projects this is due to the fact that it might be submitting to directories...or something...

Get rid of all the things that is not needed really on the computer ...this makes it work lots better...have a good popup blocker..anti virus a good one you will be around the web alot and cant afford to have viruses on the computer and there are nasty ones out there.....

Make an email address just for your business..have yahoo, msn..at least for messenger...and make one just for business you will use these alot to talk to clients.....

You will want ms word for sure...note pad...and excell on your computer...if you are not sure how to use excel down load it and play around with it to learn the basics alot of projects will require this type of program...

Another one that i would suggest is Fox Fire browser...it has alot of features that are good to use when you are working..

Google search is probley the best one out there to use...

And now to look and start getting ideas of what you might want or beable to do ...go to this site ...
www.getafreelancer.com

I use it all the time...I have found it to be the best one out there that is free...later on I know of a few others but this is the best one for a person thinking about starting....

I would suggest to watch some projects to see how they work and what people are saying on there...what they are looking for in the project and how much people are bidding on them....

Next will tell you more about how to bid a job .....it is not easy when you are new ...but I have been able to get a job with in the frist few bids I put in...and will share that with you...

Think about what you can do and know what to do...these people will not put up with people that claim they know and dont produce...there is a rating system and read some of that and about the site...

Have a good day

[peachey]

Hi, So did you go take a look at the site and see what was going on....

Did you see something you can do???

Writing Articles....link building...making website...designs--logos--banners--posting----

What ever it is that you are able to do, you will find sometype of work on there.

Lets take the easy one..I feel and I did ...

Article writing..one thing I did was go on the internet and find some information about writing articles. Even though I knew how to do it. I wanted to make sure I was able to give good quality work to the client.
Also to make sure if they had asked a question I could answer it.

Once I had that done, I watch some more writing article projects and found that most of them require a sample of my work. Well since I had never done that..I went out and did some research on an subject and wrote a nice 600 word article.

Proper grammer, spelling,enhanced with some words,..and soon I was able to put my frist bid in.

I was not able to get a bid in with the amount I thought I was worth. So a friend of mine told me since I was part time and trying to get some good repore and to see what was going on to bid a little low and see what happen...

I signed up with getafreelancer..it is free to sign up..
They do have an area when signing up you can put some information about yourself in, and tell what type of service you offer and what type of diffrent things you can do.

I was honest and put down just the writing due to the fact that is all I was able to really do when I frist started out.

As time has went on I have went on the internet and taught myself how to expand my field. With help from friends and reading I have no longer doing article writing..as much as I have now I have learned to do posting of links and other things.

Anyways...I found a few projects that seem simple enough. I put a bid in..

Ok one thing when you put a bid in..do NOT go in full detail about your life and what you are going to do and so on....when I but a frist bid in ...I will do the frist thing put the amount and how many days I can do it in ...when you frist start to give your self time to get this done..do not say youare going to to do 10 articles in one day...not going to happen unless it is the same subject and you know alot with out copy and pasteing articles from another source...which by the way is against all rules and breaks copywrite laws and people are getting fine big time for this..and people will check the work out. There are diffrent programs out that you put the article in and hit the button and will show if this article is posted some where else or even if some of it is pasted and copied from a diffrent source.
Save your self time and money and do not copy and paste...write in your own words what you read...

Now putting in the prince and day you can leave a msg on the opening page This you want to make simple to the point..you also do not want the rest of the bidders know what you will tell them..this is a big thing..simple to the point ...so this is what I normally put...

Please check pm for more information..Thank you...

PM means PERSONAL MESSAGE...that is located near the top next to the sellers or project managers name..use the one on the right as no one but you and that person can see it.

Now I post in there some like this

Hi my name is Peachy. I have skills in writing good quality articles. I am native to the English language and grammer. I have read the project description and would like to talk more to you about this.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank your for your time and consideration. Peachy..

You can not put in a email for them to contact you direct. Frist the site does not allow it . And to start out with you will not want to. There are to many people that will rip you off for the work they want done.

You want to make all the wording simple as possible get rid to the point.
Remember they are very busy and you will soon be. They do not have the time to read a book on you and most of them do not care. They want to know if you can do the work and how long...

Always remember to write with a smile this will reflect on who you are.

If they ask for a sample in that same area the pm you will see where you can send it to them..one thing I have done is made a special folder that is quick and not garbaged up so that I know right where it is simple and fast...

Remember to hit the post button and it is off for them to review..
It could take days for them to respond back so do not worry if you do not get a quick respone.

Ok for today...look around the site more and read the rules they have in the site on get a free lancer. There is a lot of informtion in there that will help you with your work and you too will know what is required.

Next will be answering the reply from the seller.

Have a great day....

[peachey]

When the buy sends back a reply you want to make sure you reply as soon as possible with good information that they are looking for..
Make sure you are business like when writing the reply and using full good sentence. Remember you are repersenting your self as a business person.

Now say the buyer is looking for more information on the writing you do. They may ask to send a sample of your writing..Make sure you write a good article maybe on some topic you are really familiar with or the buyer might suggest one.

When writitng it make sure you write the article and not copy and paste it from the internet. That is illegal to do and can get finded for it..

Once you have the article writen you will submit to them through the pm again on the getafreelancer site..with a note in there stating about the article.

If the buy is going to choose you make sure they do and go though get a freelancer for the escrow payment. Do not take a job other wise. This way if there is problems with the work you do ..getafreelancer will help with the problem....

Once the project is over you will send all the articles to the buyer and they will look them over if for some reason a problem you will need to fix that and return to the buyer..

The buyer once is satisfied will release the escrow money that will go to your account.

Sorry taken a little time to get back to this..
Will do some updates on this
If you have any questions post them here I will be notify of the posting...

[fadyllan]

Peachey, my problem in the getafreelancer is usually when i want to bid for a project. How do i know that i'm not bidding too high or too low? Plus, its hard too compete with those more outstanding companies that's been bidding. I'm new, so i don't have feedbacks just yet. And those companies are just sky high with feedbacks! I'm assuming that also effect my chances on winning the projects right?

[hassen1]

fadyllan, if I may reply you. You must understand the project you are going to bid. Estimate the time it would consume. Remember GAF takes 10% or US$5/- which every is more. Then you place the bid. I must also tell you that in the GAF (Get A Freelancer) most Indians out bid others with incredibly low rates. For example, I saw someone wanting 120 articles written on various topics. Each article must have 400+ words. The service buyer is offering a paltry 150 US! There are a number of Indians bidding 120 US! So, you should accept at a price you can. I would not like to comment on the quality of work you will get from such low bidders. I hope you understood what I have said.

[peachey]

hassen1

I would not like to comment on the quality of work you will get from such low bidders

.

I sure do he he

Just bid what you belive the job is worth and make a statment about you your quality of work and keep at it you will do not let the referal make you feel bad. Yes some are high due the fact they been there for long time and have a company and bid on diffrent types of projects to fulfil the requirments to pay thier people.

State in the pm you are a homeworker you be suprise the people that will start to look and ask you questions. But make sure in Pm section Use the pm section as your selling tool. Do not sell your self out on the bid place.
Use the pm for that this is your selling and no one has to know nothing about you only the buyer.

Post in there where you are from ...that will make a diffrence.
Sell your self to them in the pm ..not just i can do it ..yep we all can but I can do quality work and will help you to get the project done. I am a team player and have the ablity to help you. ...got the point he he

[misteralan]

Wow! I'm getting a lot of good tips here. This is good. As i always surf and browse around for jobs in the internet. And i'm quite new in the get a freelancer site, and i do noticed bidders that bid way low. Currently i'm working on my portfolio so i could show to service provider when i bid for a web designing job. I believe portfolio is important too, right?

[peachey]

Hi and Welcome to Talk Topics misteralan.
Yes a profile is important. One of the things that I and my assoicates have done is built a website promoting our self and work. Shows them what we can do and what we offer. Also serves as a learning tool for us as a company to grow and gives propects an Idea of what type of work we do.

Do not let the low bidding intimate you. Bid what you have to have for the job. Well in a sense do not bid what you are worth. All of us that are freelancers should be paid alot more for our work.

I do not bid low just to win that will not always make you a winner. Bid what you need to show the quality of work that you need to do a quality work for the buyer. That is the key.

Do not worry to much about rating system that is just there for them to comment, and for you. If you want to use it that is up to you. If a client does I always make a good comment. I try to stay away from the negative. I let them do thier rating and never ask for one. I feel if a buyer is happy with me then I am happy with them.

Each buyer is diffrent and has diffrent taste and diffrent ways they want thier project done. This is another key do what each one wants not what everyone else is doing unless of course it is black hating then you want to stay away from short cuts.

I hope this help more...have fun and keep up the great work you will be ok

[colenn]

fadyllan and all new freelancers. I'm new to this kind of job also. Actually I have previous experience in differents aspects of work with computers (from typewriting and graphics to hardware troubleshooting and programming languages), and a few project copleted at freelancer sites.

These are the tips I'm using and will help you much:

- You have expertise in some area, and must present it (thru portfolio and CV if asked for).

- On projects, bid low as you can (this is up to you, but its better a little money and enough work than no work/no money option) .

- Provide mock ups and samples if asked.

- When you win a project, discuss with your customer to explain his needs and expectations about his project. Also discuss about the payment .method and/or price if not exactly agreed (this is important matter for both and must be done at the begining, not at the end when project is complete and job done).

- Communicate with him daily thru mail or live messengers (better). Let him to see your progress and make sample and several sollutions your customer to choose one (depending of the project).

- At the end of the project rate/review your client. (with well done jobs, you'll get a higher rating so probablity to be chosen for a project is much higher then other providers with no rating).

- Upgrade to Gold/Guru/Upgraded member (you'll have money anyway from your last project)

That would be all. Now, I'll need your review for my receipe for getting job at freelancer sites

[peachey]

Sounds great and good advise. But just make sure you do not under bid yourself and end up working for nothing. Just recently ran into this thought the project was not going to take much. Thank goodness the buyer was just seeing what I thought about doing the work they wanted done on the project and before I know it with in the 24 time so you can cancel the project, the buyer wanted to change the pay scale to a lot less. I had to tell them the work was not worth the pay. If you are doing a project and they want to pay pennies for hours of work not worth the job. Remember also when you bid on a project there are fees you pay so make sure the job is worth it.

[hr1s7o]

celenn, you are damn right! You have no idea how often I couldn't bet on a project because I didn't have a portfolio. I guess sooner or later I'll have to make one. I have some decent works. And another problem is that as a new freelancer you start with 0 reviews and you are Mr. Nobody. Noone knows anything about you and if you don't have a portfolio you'll be having trouble finding jobs. I'm so glad that forum posting does not require portfolio :)

[colenn]

I'm sure You have done some projects working out of the freelane sites. You can use them for a portfolio if not confidential. if you have a site you can put your portfolio there, or use a CV only if dont have portfolio. Here is an adress that might help: http://www.youronlinecv.com