mashable compiled a nice list of sites for development information and inspiration that will help you keep up-to-date:
We all know that there are all kinds of reasons why a freelancer is an asset to the working environment. But still sometimes we forget the main points just because they seem so natural to us.
Here is a list of the top 5 we should always remind ourselves of and then communicate those to our next customers.
• Speed
A freelancer doesn’t have fixed working hours. Therefore urgent projects can be done in shorter period of time if needed. In addition to that most freelancers only take a limited amount of customers’ orders hence having sufficient time for every single one.
• Skills
For whatever project you’ll be able to find a freelancer with proper skills. Extended time for on the job training can be omitted.
• Expenses
Compared to agencies freelancers mostly have fewer expenses because they don’t employ staff or have separate offices. Furthermore most freelancers charge hours worked which leads to customers not paying for waiting periods or downtime.
• Experience
Most freelancers have experience in working with different customers, companies and in various projects. They have met lots of professionals and seen all kinds of ways for handling projects. This is why following customers can prosper from their know-how.
• Direct communication
Having only one contact person is a big advantage. There’s no need for explaining context and details over and over again.
If there are any points you would definitely put on your top 5 list, feel free to share!
the ability to win a pitch is critical for the success of any freelancer. its no easy task. usually, competition is intense and small missteps can jeopardise the entire contract. here are some helpful tips on how to improve your “pitching” skill.
step 1: foot in the door
step 2: the icebreaker
step 3: due diligence
step 4: bidding
step 5: the close
“reading resumes ranks right up there with interpreting the fine print on the back of your credit card statement. you know it’s important but it’s oh, so painful. after 30 years of reading resumes, i know i’m going to find just one or two nuggets of useful information in any resume. i don’t care about the rest. i know a resume is so over-edited that it’s just a faint representation of the person it’s about. that’s why so few resumes yield interviews…” read the article here.
this wall street journal article discusses how linkedin and other social media sites are utilized in the hiring process. according to dan schawbel, personal branding expert and author of “me 2.0: build a powerful brand to achieve career success”, many people are still discovering how to navigate online for job searching and networking. many are unsure of what is appropriate and what is not. however, experts such as schawbel recommend not to be intimidated by uncertainty, but to act wisely and carefully. meanwhile, it is commonplace for companies to embed social networking sites into their hiring process as a recruitment tool for new talent and as screening sites for potential employees. these sites are primarily utilized to ensure a candidates integrity, behavior and to pre-select. schawbel explains that in the future, a person’s “online brand” will be included into the majority of hiring decisions because the information is so easily accessible and provides a first impression of a job candidate. although not all companies have integrated such sources of information into their hiring process, the number is growing steadily. for example, careerbuilder.com reports that 45% of companies were using social-networking sites to screen potential employees, up from 22% in 2008. according to a linkedin spokesperson, not only technology companies use online resources, but firms across all industries…
…stocklayouts helps you create your own marketing materials in-house, quickly and affordably. have a look at what they have to offer here.
…although it is generally rather uncommon for freelancers or independent professionals to have business plans, according to the author of this article, a good business plan can greatly facilitate work life. “in a lot of ways, the value in a business plan isn’t so much having it, but actually writing it…”
…small firms and large companies engage in it. it is important. marketing. like everyone else, freelancers and individual professionals too should market themselves. there are many innovative marketing techniques and ways for business owners to get the word out with regard to their business offerings. this article discusses the postcard as a marketing tool.
