6 Tips for Freelancers - By: JayaKumar Patchala

1. Learn your craft well. Improve upon your skills before bidding on freelance projects. Be prepared to answer any questions that a client might be having. Not all freelancers are highly skilled, but it pays to be a highly skilled freelancer. Do not forget to get your tools ready and handy. If you are searching for tools or you start learning to use a tool after signing up for a project, you are ill prepared. You need to master every tool that you use. In your spare time, work upon the templates that you can readily use for a client.

2. If you are just starting out as a freelancer, try to get work from other senior freelancers instead of dealing directly with clients. Many highly rated freelancers have extra work. They need assistants. What you will gain from assisting them is that you will know the exact way of doing things as a pro. You will have a mentor guiding you. You will know the current standards and proper execution of a project. As you gain experience, you can handle clients directly.

3. Always be specific with clients about project scope and deliverable’s. Misunderstanding or lack of communication can lead to disastrous results. You can be over-worked and under-paid or the client may feel that you cheated him. The contract should include the minute details regarding project milestones, standards, deliverable’s and payments. You as a service provider need to take up yourself the responsibility for smooth completion of the project. Do not hesitate to ask or tell the client about what you require to complete the project.

4. Understand your strengths and limitations. Stick to what you know and can do well. Never go for a project because you feel that you can do that or there is a lot of money in that. Take up only those projects that are similar to ones that you have already done or that are done in your mind while reading the project description. You should have a clear execution plan even before you place a bid. Most service buyers are normally looking for experienced freelancers and a fast job. They are not looking for research and development scientists who can find a way. You have to show the way and lead them through the path.

5. Don't waste time, your or client's. If you can't do something or can't get it done, simply withdraw from the project. Do not keep client in the dark. Similarly, tell your client that your time is valuable and ask for their full co-operation. If you keep on doing projects that drag for forever, you will not only lose other opportunities, but also your confidence.

6. Beware of proxy bidders: Many freelance sites are infested with proxy bidders. Proxy bidders are people that place a bid on a project with a sole intention of playing around. They will not do any projects on their own. They are helping other freelancers or just want to knock you out for some reason. For example, a project has 30 bids posted. It is possible that 10 of them are posted by people belonging to the same company under different usernames with varying bids.

They have a better chance of winning the project. Another example is, a freelancer bids as low as $100 for a project that easily costs a $1000. The freelancer that bid low gets the project only to leave it midway or to demand a higher amount later to complete the project. There are also service buyers that post fake projects or demand everything under the sun by paying you only a paltry fee. Such things are common at several freelance sites. However, top freelance sites are taking stringent measures against such practices. You will need to develop skills to deal with such situations. Getting into disputes is not always a good idea as you can be isolated for being a bad person.

Try to avoid such websites or people. Remember, you need to stay at a freelance website till you get some recognition. Once you have successfully completed a dozen projects or so. You can establish your own business and can get work directly from clients. So, during your stint at a freelance site ( A list of top freelance sites can be found at : http://freelance.devhub.com ), try to build relations with your clients that can bring in more business.

About the Author

Jaya Kumar Patchala is a freelance web designer and internet marketing executive. List of freelance websites: http://freelance.devhub.com, SEO and SEM blog: http://hotbizsol.vox.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/JayaKumar--Patchala/16204

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