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What Every Freelancer Should Know About Bidding And Winning Projects
ROUD TO BE A FREELANCER you about! So, Read on!
"Oh, he is still jobless! HOW TO WIN YOUR FIRST PROJECT AND
...Doesn't do much apart from MANY MORE PROJECTS THEREAFTER
sitting on the computer and
making what he calls a ‘career’!" Winning your first project can be
If this is this how your mom quite a daunting task, since you
describes you, welcome to the WWF have no feedback and no past
(It is World Wide Freelancers’ record to show off. But as they
club….What were you thinking? An say, where there is a will, there
Article on ‘Freelancers turning is a way. So, let's find the way!
Wrestlers for a living’….well…you Let me first reveal an insider's
won’t have to turn to anywhere secret. Here it goes: Project
else for a living after you are managers don't choose the best
through reading this article!). freelancer over others (for there
Whether you freelance part-time is no way they can test your
or full-time, first of all, I abilities to determine whether
admire your courage for standing you are the best), rather they
up for your convictions and eliminate the 'others' to be left
claiming freedom, control and with the 'chosen one'. In other
flexibility in your jobs and words, winning a bid is not as
lives by opting to be a much a selection process as an
freelancer! Yes, I know, life elimination process. It all boils
isn’t exactly easy for a down to marketing and selling
freelancer. I am myself one. But, yourself successfully. Yes,
it can be a lot better for a lot you've heard it right! You win a
of us, if only we know, how to project largely because you have
make projects fall in our lap one a winning strategy to market your
after the other! And that’s skills and sell yourself and you
precisely what I am going to tell make all the right moves.
away prices, not even for the
There are broadly 3 steps to sake of competition. At the end
selling yourself successfully: of the day, you need to sustain
yourself. Isn't that the whole
1. Kick for a start - Stand out point of having a job? That's why
to attract attention it's important that you estimate
2. Build up some steam - Enhance your skills, abilities and
the interest expertise honestly and fix a
3. Raise a toast - Snap up the decent hourly rate for your
deal services. Go ahead and do a
survey of the average pricing for
STEP 1 the job, if required. Then sit
down and work out the estimated
In a virtual marketplace, there time it is going to take you to
are provided four channels for finish the project.
your first communication with a
project manager -Bidding your 2) Now you can figure out what's
price, Project Completion Time, going to be your bid for the
Bidding Details and Private project. So, go ahead and place
messaging. Each of the four your bid. Later on, you may even
channels is a tool in your hands offer some discount on the final
that you can wield to convert the price estimated in this manner
project manager into 'your' depending on the premium you put
client. Let's find out how. on winning this particular
project and still end up with a
Your Bid: decent price for your services.
So, in short, learning to be a
1) As a beginner you can't ask good business manager is your
for the stars. Nevertheless, you first step.
should not be available at throw
3) If you find the details carefully and then send bid
provided in the project details, in which you communicate
description insufficient to to each prospective client your
estimate your costs, then make an rationale behind the pricing,
indicative bid and mention the your time estimates, also talk
same in the bid details that you about constant communication in
communicate to the project case you are awarded the project.
manager. And don't hesitate in
requesting the prospective client Private Messaging:
for more information. It would
only go to display that you are 5) Now, we come to the last but
seriously considering their the most powerful tool in your
project. hands- the Personal Message you
send to the prospective client.
Your Bidding Details: You must use this opportunity to
convince the client that you have
4) As the old Chinese proverb the potential to carry out the
goes, ' If the first words fail, assigned tasks with flying
ten thousand will then not colors. Introduce yourself and
avail'. So, don't give in to the your skill set in a brief, clear
temptation of pasting the same and to the point manner.
pre-written script on every
client's message board as you'll Instead of listing all the nice
be easily caught on this one and adjectives in the dictionary to
even if you don't get caught, the describe yourself, just mention
absence of a project-specific what you would do to demonstrate
context in your message won't those qualities. For instance,
bode well on your chances of instead of saying that you are
winning the project. Study the hard working, organized and
requirements of each project punctual, convey the same by
mentioning that you've planned, beginning.
based on your estimate, to
dedicate 7 hrs each day for seven 2.Grammatical errors, misspelled
days to finish the project well words and typos won’t be
in time. pardoned. Run spell check,
proofread and confirm correct
Always back up your claims about language syntax before hitting
your competence by hard facts. the ‘send’ button.
Make available to the client a
sample of your work, a 3.Follow the KISS. In other
demonstration, any reference words, Keep It Short and Simple.
checks you can provide or Your message must not end up as a
whatever proof you can give of lengthy rambling around the bush
your credibility. And all this in circles. Talk about the
while, play by the rules or project in some way in every
you'll be out of the game! What sentence you type. Hint: use the
are the rules? Well, here is a key words mentioned in the
small list for your reference: project details.
(Visit our website
http://e-guru.in for 4.Study the client’s profile
comprehensive details!) carefully, dig out hidden
information about him/her and use
1.You are not supposed to message it to personalize your first
your prospective boss in your message. You’ll be able to warm
chat room language, and you’ll be up quicker and better.
surprised by how many of us do it
and to what extent. A few of us 5.Neither beg for a project nor
just stop short of “asl plz”! You come across as a boasting and
must reek of absolute pompous snob. Maintain a
professionalism right from the reasonable balance between the
two ends of the spectrum. you get a kick out of mindless
Position yourself like a self-sabotage. You will surely be
customer-oriented brand for the kicked out of the website and
buyer. barred if you do that.
6.Let your enthusiasm for winning 9.Focus on using your service
the project and working on it provider’s rating and feedback
shine through your messages. system to forward your ambitions.
Your ratings and feedback will
7.In your bidding details and stay there for the whole world to
your personal message, always watch and marvel at. You can
communicate in the project’s generate a tremendous amount of
context and in terms of how can work inflow by providing your
you bring this project the best services once you bag a
success that it deserves, all the project because your service
while addressing the client by quality is going to show in your
the username mentioned in the profile!
project. Avoid assuming a Mr. or
Ms. If you don’t know for sure. STEP 2 AND STEP 3
Just addressing as ‘Dear User
name” would do. Don’t talk in You've caught the project
terms of what a great craftsman manager's attention by displaying
you are but talk about your your sincere interest in their
vision for this project, how you project and your eligibility to
see it happening successfully and handle it through your
in time! well-crafted bidding details and
a powerful introductory personal
8.Never bite the hand that feeds message. You've come across as a
you. Do not give out your contact promising candidate for the
details in your messages, unless project by showcasing your works
and samples. So, you make the cut for you.
in the first elimination round. Always hope and work for the best
What next? In all probability, but be prepared for the worst.
you'll be contacted by the client Freelancing isn't the easiest
through the message board at this job, people!
stage. No need to worry even if
you are not! THE FINAL WORD
Maintain a fresh presence on the Remember that you are your own
clients' message board by one-man company and freelancing
updating them about your latest is your business. Approach it,
activities relevant to their manage it and run it with the
project. Post messages to make same élan and poise with which
the client feel you understand you would run a conglomerate!
their needs. Stay pro-active. You've got to get serious if you
Once the client warms up in their want serious results! Bring
communication with you, you’ll absolute professionalism and
come to know you've got them ethical practices to the fore.
interested. Think big. Most importantly,
create a well chalked out
And I can help you only till strategy with your short and
here. (I've got to keep some long-term goals in mind. Create a
secrets to myself...! Visit our solid ground to establish your
home site http://www.e-guru.in own brand and then see how your
for more guidance! ) Now the ball dreams take off on a flight to
is in your court. And, it's fulfillment!
entirely your savoir-faire and
business sense, or the lack of it A NEW BEGINNING
that can make or break the deal
About the Author:
"The author invites you to visit http://www.e-guru.in/ and take a sneak peek into how businesses and freelancers are reaping benefits of outsourcing and how YOU can join the bandwagon too."
Read more articles by: Jason T
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