Freelancefolder

How To Successfully Work With People Long Distance

Posted April 30, 2009 in Business, How-To 48 Rockin' Comments »

As a freelancer and as a web-worker, one of the biggest challenges that I face nearly every day is that of working with people who I’ve never met face to face. Although a few clients contact me by telephone, most prefer to deal with me through e-mail (which is actually my preference too).

Since experts say that nonverbal communication accounts for well over half of how we interact with people, working through the Internet can sometimes seem a bit like playing a game of golf blindfolded.

I have to admit that when I read an e-mail from a client I sometimes wonder about his or her state of mind when they wrote it. Since I have no visual cues to go on, it can be easy to let my imagination wander as to the client’s state of mind.

Here are some of the things that I wonder about:

• Do those choppy sentences mean the client is angry, or just in a hurry?
• Is that client’s compliment to me sincere, or is she being sarcastic?
• Is this client being totally honest and upfront with me?

Without seeing a client’s face or reading his or her body language, it can be pretty hard to know if you’re getting the full message. A telephone call can reveal the client’s tone of voice, but you still miss out on seeing their body language. (There are webcams and other tools that can help with this, but it’s nearly impossible to find a client who will use them.)

While it can be a challenge to deal with clients over long-distance, it is certainly possible to do successfully. In this article we’ll look at some ways to make it work.

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5 Ways To Get More Done By Not Doing

Posted April 29, 2009 in How-To, Productivity 20 Rockin' Comments »

Freelancers and web workers are always searching for ways to become more productive. What works for one person may not work for everyone else, so it’s a constant struggle to find productivity tips that fit with your personality.

That’s where this article might just come in handy. It seems like the topic of productivity is always associated with doing something, so to break that monotony of becoming productive by doing things, let’s take a look at some of the things that can help you get more done by actually eliminating stuff to do.

Most people call it the elimination approach, but I refer to it as “the ditching approach.” Let’s go ahead and see how we can get more done by not doing stuff.

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Twitter For Freelancers (A Basic Overview)

Posted April 28, 2009 in How-To, Tools/Resources 39 Rockin' Comments »

If you spend any time online at all, you’ve probably already heard of a social media site called Twitter.

Twitter is quickly becoming mainstream, and is growing at an incredible pace. In the past month alone it’s been mentioned on radio commercials, in a television advertisements, and I’ve even heard non-internet savvy friends discussing it. Many popular celebrities are tweeting these days.

Some of you probably already have Twitter accounts and actively use them to promote your business. If that’s your situation, we’d love to hear about your Twitter business experiences in the comments.

Many of you, however, may have delayed your involvement with Twitter. Maybe you even have an account, but just aren’t quite sure how Twitter can help your freelance business. If you fit into one of these categories, then this post is for you.

As an overview, this post won’t cover the literally dozens of Twitter add-ons and utilities that are available around the web. We will, however, give you some basic suggestions on how your freelance business might be able to benefit from using Twitter.

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Open Thread: What Makes You Valuable?

Posted April 27, 2009 in Business, Open Thread 10 Rockin' Comments »

The idea of having a unique value has appeared several times before on FreelanceFolder. We’ve previously run open threads about elevator speeches and slogans, both of which center on the idea of explaining the things that make you valuable.

But this time, I want to look at something even more basic than a slogan or an elevator speech — your core value itself. What is the most basic reason your customers come to you? What is that one thing that makes people willing to pay for your services over those of other companies or freelancers? What value do you provide that convinces people to hire you instead of just doing it themselves?

Knowing what makes you valuable is the first step in working to improve and market that value. If you can improve upon your core value, you’ll quickly find that customers will pay more and be even happier with your services. If you can properly market your core value you’ll find a huge supply of clients just begging for work to be done. Fully understanding this basic element is key to being very successful as a freelancer.

So, let’s get to work. Answer the following three questions in the comments, and let’s see if we can make a difference in your business:

1. What is your core value? Is it convenience, a unique knowledge, a certain specialty? Something else entirely?
2. How can you improve upon your core value? What would make that central element of your business even stronger?
3. Knowing your value, how can you improve your business? How can you use the above knowledge to make your life and business even better?

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The Freelancer’s Battle: Fighting Distractions and Staying Productive

Posted April 24, 2009 in Lifestyle, Productivity 32 Rockin' Comments »

Whether you’ve been freelancing for two months or two years, it’s likely that you fight an ongoing battle with distractions. To succeed as a freelancer, it’s vital that you gain control over those distractions.

I think that freelancers face a particularly difficult battle against distractions because we often work independently. If we get off track, there is no one there to notice or to remind us to get back on task.

Working from home, while having many advantages, can also lead to distractions. If you work from home, how many times have you started the day focused on work projects and sort of drifted into doing errands instead? (If you can relate to this scenario, you’re not alone.)

Winning the fight against distractions can keep you from missing deadlines, having to rush to keep up, or making mistakes due to your own procrastination.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps that you can take today to overcome your distractions.

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15 Firefox Add-Ons to Tame Social Media Addicts

Posted April 23, 2009 in Productivity, Tools/Resources 22 Rockin' Comments »

Freelancers and web workers have it really hard. People think it’s all fun and games sitting on a chair and working at home all day, but man, do we have to keep ourselves focused.

It’s easy to get side tracked quite a bit with a social media or news addiction, and not to mention the urge to check email every twenty minutes or so. To keep my mind from wandering excessively on the web I use quite a few Firefox add-ons. Below are fifteen that I use on a regular basis which have helped me maintain my productivity while still feeding my web addiction.

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3-Day Sale: The Unlimited Freelancer Ebook Now 50% OFF

Posted April 22, 2009 in News 5 Rockin' Comments »

Yup, you read that title correctly — for the next three days we’re going to be selling The Unlimited Freelancer Ebook for a full 50% less than cover price. For those of you who don’t like math, that’s just $14 dollars.

Why are we offering such a steep discount on a product that’s been loved by reviewers and selling like hotcakes? Well, there are a few reasons:

First, we’re launching the paperback version of the book next week. This discount is partially to celebrate that fact, and to let anyone who wants grab a digital copy for an amazing price. The economy has also been taking a toll on everyone, and I’m hoping that this sale might get the book into the hands of more freelancers.

The second reason for the sale is much less altruistic — I’m getting married in less than three weeks, and I really need to sell some books to help pay for the wedding. Seriously, I’m not kidding :-)

So, whether you’ve been waiting to grab a copy of The Unlimited Freelancer for an awesome price, or you just want to help support FreelanceFolder (and my wedding), head on over to the book page for more information:

Get The Unlimited Freelancer Now for 50% Off →

Customer Loyalty — Why You Need It and How To Get It

Posted April 21, 2009 in Business, Marketing 22 Rockin' Comments »

To make money and stay in business, you need customers. However, you don’t always need new customers — in fact constantly finding new customers can drain both your energy and your resources.

So what is the best source of work?

While new customers are great and vital to the growth of your freelancing business, repeat business is the true key to your long-term success. Loyal customers who regularly turn to your business will boost your income, keep your business alive, and contribute to a long and happy freelancing career.

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Open Thread: What Motivates You?

Posted April 20, 2009 in Open Thread, Productivity 29 Rockin' Comments »

Freelancing is a world in which motivation and self-discipline can make the difference between success or failure. Freelancers overwhelmingly work at home, and on their own, where there is nobody else to make you work hard and finish projects on time.

But each freelancer is different, and there is no single answer that will help you stay motivated. Some are motivated by the promise of future prosperity and expansion, while others want a stable job that let’s them spend time with their family.

Some freelancers stay motivated out of their fear or dislike for working at a big company, others are motivated by a love for their trade and are simply happy that they can get paid for it.

Knowing what motivates you is an important step towards staying disciplined and productive over the long-term. So, what is it that drives you to work hard?

• Are you motivated by the promise of future success and prosperity?
• Does the freedom you have as a freelancer drive you to work hard?
• Are you working because of the stability and value you can create?
• Are you driven out of fear or dislike of working for someone else?
• Do you work hard because you love your work and want to do more?

Tell us what motivates you in the comments.
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