Win More Clients, Projects and Freelance Jobs By Making Three Small Changes – Writing
Win More Clients, Projects and Freelance Jobs By Making Three Small Changes
Shelley Wake
Ive spoken to hundreds of editors, employers, and project managers about how they choose a freelancer for a job. Whether they were reviewing job applications or considering project bids, they all had one thing in common. As every one of them started to look at the applications, they had their skeptics hat on.
How a Project Manager Thinks
Here are a few quotes from project managers and employers to show you exactly how they think.
1. Jaime, Editor - "The First Elimination"
My process of judging proposals is one of elimination. The first step is about a general impression. If its vague and unconvincing - eliminate. If its fluffed up but with no substance - eliminate. If it has real details and seems credibale - keep. Many times this process only leaves one person. Thats how easy it is to get a job - be credible and convincing.
2. Jacob, Project Manager - "I only believe what I see for myself."
I read every proposal while questioning what Im being told. Some people make things up. Most people exaggerate. Many people think theyre better than they really are. Ive been working with contractors for a long time and Ive found that the only way you can judge a person is by what they do.
3. Randy, Project Owner - "Dont Tell Me, Show Me"
Dont try and impress me with ramblings. Lots of positive words strung together does nothing for me. You know, "I am keen, reliable, prompt, easygoing, articulate, generous, kind, competitive, athletic..." I have no reason to believe youre any of those things. If you want me to pick you for the project, you have to do more than just tell me. You have to prove it to me.
How to Beat the Skeptic
Its not about what you say, its about how you say it. Three small changes will make all the difference to your credibility and will get you more work more often.
1. Use Real Evidence
Its always better to sell yourself with a real example.
Not so good - "I am reliable."
Much better - "You will never be left wondering how the project is going because I will provide timely updates to keep you informed."
2. Use Your Results
Telling project managers about your past results is also a good way to sell yourself.
Not so good - "I write effective web site copy."
Much better - "With my new and improved content, my last client increased their sales by 120% in the first month."
The second statement clearly communicates the quality and effectiveness of the work. And at the same time, its likely to excite the project manager into thinking that the same result could occur for them.
3. Be Specific
If you can use facts and figures to make your point, do so.
Not so good - "Most of my business is repeat, showing that my clients are happy with the service I provide."
Much better - "96% of new clients have returned to use my services again."
Not so good - "I have completed various similar projects."
Much better - "I have completed 19 similar projects in the last year."
Make these three simple changes to your bids and job applications and youll win more clients, jobs, and projects.
About The Author
Winning Freelance Work has even more methods guaranteed to get you more clients, more jobs, and all the freelance work you can handle.
Find out more: http://www.writingstuff.com/fr01m.html
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Working With a Freelance Editor – Writing
Working With a Freelance Editor
Jennifer Tribe
If you are interested in creating information products, you will very likely deal with editors throughout your career. You may need someone to edit a book, review a special report, or tighten up a magazine article. Even if you are a brilliant writer, it always helps to have someone else look at the work with fresh eyes.
Most of these editors will be people you hire on a freelance or project basis. To get the most out of such a relationship, it helps to be clear about what you need and what you can expect.
To start, you should know what kind of editing you are looking for. There are many different levels and varieties of editing. Probably the three you will encounter the most are substantive editing, copyediting and proofreading.
Substantive editing
Sometimes called developmental editing, substantive editing looks at both the content and structure of a manuscript as a cohesive whole. Does the story or argument flow logically Are there obvious gaps in a certain area Too much information someplace else Substantive editing can involve re-ordering large chunks of text, removing text, adding text, and even rewriting.
Copyediting
Probably the most misused of all the terms, copyediting is often used as a catchall phrase for any and all kinds of editing. Strictly speaking, however, copyediting checks for errors in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation and other mechanics of style, internal consistency, cross-referencing, labeling and so on.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final review of a fully formatted and typeset manuscript. It is meant only to catch small errors such as the odd spelling mistake or hyphenation snafu that might have been missed at the copyediting stage, or that appeared during the layout process.
The above definitions are fairly standard but there are variations. Not every editor defines editing terms in the same way. It is therefore crucial that you discuss in detail the exact nature of the services your editor will provide.
You will also want to clearly discuss the fee arrangement. Some editors charge by the page or word, while others charge by the hour. Still others charge a flat project fee. One method of charging is not necessarily better than other. Just be sure you know what you will get for your money. If you are being charged by the hour, ask the editor to provide an estimate up front of how long the project will take so there are no surprises when the final invoice arrives.
The best way to avoid misunderstandings is to have a written contract signed before any work begins. A contract will typically include a
detailed description of the services to be provided
statement of the fees and payment schedule, and
timeline for the work to be completed, including any project milestones.
Depending on the scope and nature of the project, your contract may also include a number of other considerations. An important clause to include, especially on a book project, is one that deals with copyright. You want to make sure that, as the author, you retain all rights to the material no matter how much editing or rewriting the editor may do on your behalf.
Many editors will supply a contract, but be prepared to create one yourself if they do not.
Here are a few final tips for working with an editor:
Some editors specialize either by format, by topic, or both. For example, an editor might be a specialist in audio scripts or might focus solely on medical books. You may want to look for an editor with particular expertise in your subject matter, especially if you are writing about a highly specialized field.
Be open-minded towards an editor
Freelance Writing Markets, Poetry Markets – Highly Paid -v- Unpaid – Writing
Freelance Writing Markets, Poetry Markets - Highly Paid -v- Unpaid
Consulting Editors, AskProfessors.com
Amazing as it may sound, there is a real shortage of good writers and poets. Try telling that to the thousands of writers and poets who get daily rejection slips.
As far as they are concerned, writing is virtually impossible to break into no matter how hard they seem to try.
There may be a number of reasons why they dont succeed:
Their writing is not up to standard - as far as the particular publishers or editors are concerned;
They dont bother polishing their writing before submission;
They knock on the wrong doors - sending materials on a random basis;
They have failed to do basic research;
The list goes on.
1000s of publishers
There are of course thousands of publishers, especially online, who are willing to publish your work without payment. Such publishers cant or wont pay writers or poets.
Professional writers on the other hand command handsome fees. They make a good living out of writing.
Anyone can become a professional writer. You just need the determination to succeed. If you dont have a natural gift, you can learn to write well. This can be by self-study, online, or at a college or school near you.
High quality professional writers demand anything from $1000 to $5000 per project - and the best earn substantially more. A project may involve just one page or a few poems.
Why do most aspiring writers and aspiring poets fail
In a recent survey conducted on behalf of http://www.WritingHolidays.com, it became apparent that most writers and poets were not willing to invest time or effort in training or acquiring the necessary skills.
The survey revealed that most writers and poets were happy to plod along by trial and error rather than investing in a decent course. They accordingly fail to reap the rewards that are there for the taking.
They remain amateur writers and poets whilst their professional colleagues cream off the best paid writing markets.
The survey compared writers and poets to other professions. Lawyers, Accountants, Doctors, etc., are all highly paid. They all undergo training before the rewards are forthcoming. Yet, most writers and poets believe that the riches will come to them without spending $1 on training or developing skills.
One per cent. of writers or poets may get lucky. They may have been "born writers or poets" - they succeed without any training. The rest slog away - hoping that one day they may make some money from writing.
The good news
The good news is that there are 1000s of paid writing markets that are waiting to be exploited. There are more assignments than writers or poets.
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About The Author
Consulting Editors, Authors and Writing Mentors at http://www.AskProfessors.com - creators of the Affiliate Intelligence and Writing systems. Network for Authors, Freelancers, Poets, Reviewers, Homeworkers
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