® Www.sssdirect.com

Sssdirect.com - A Freelancer's Guide To Meeting Project Deadlines

When it comes to meeting deadlines, one way to manage your timetable effectively is to divide the large jobs and farm them out to several freelancers.

Let's say you've been awarded a writing job to write an e-book on childcare with 10 chapters for ,000 over a 45 day period of time. Bid out each chapter separately among 10 freelancers and allocate, say, 0 for each chapter over a 25 day period. This way you don't have to worry about the deadline because you've given yourself a 20-day buffer and you stand to earn ,000 for your efforts.

If you are going to handle a project in this manner, then you must be able to rewrite the articles to make sure the entire book “flows” seamlessly and that the same style and tone of voice is consistent throughout.

1. Cultivate a strong talent pool

In many cases, this is the most important asset you need to subcontract work to others. Here are a few additional tips to help you out in this regard:

a) Know how to hire a good coder

There are four things you should look at when hiring a coder – their resume, their samples, their rating, and their client testimonials.

The last two are critical because it is easy to prepare a bogus resume and samples, especially on the Internet.

If you look at those four things and feel you have found the person you are looking for, hire them.

b) Know how to keep them happy

A happy coder always delivers better work than an unhappy one, given the same skill level. You keep your freelancers happy by dealing in a polite and professional manner, paying them on time and understanding them when they fall or falter (and believe me, they will miss a deadline now and then). Give them respect and they will give you their best.

2. Nurture your current roster of clients

Here is the main reason why quality counts – it is quality, more than anything else, that will make your customers come running back to you again and again. Always put a premium on quality. First-class work is sometimes hard to find, especially given a limited budget. If you consistently deliver first-class work, you assure yourself and your freelancers of a prosperous business well into the future.

There is a popular saying in sales which says that “It is eight times easier to get new business from your current clients than it is from cold calls.” In other words, make sure you ask your clients for referrals from people they know or work with who may need the service you provide.

Some freelancers hesitate to ask for referrals because they feel it is unprofessional. They feel asking for referrals is like asking for a favor. That is not the case. If you have faith in your ability to deliver good work you are actually helping your client because of your willingness to provide quality work to their friends or business associates. That will reflect well on them too. It is a two-way street.


Tags: Freelance, Freelancing, Freelance Employment, Freelance Jobs, Home Business, Writing

"Do I Have Writing Talent?" It's A Mistaken Question

Over the years, many people have asked me to look at their writing. "I need to know, do I have talent or not," they say. "Then I'll know if I should pursue writing or stick to accounting." Their request is seriously flawed, I'd reply.

Your Book Arrives From Your New York Publisher!

A large box arrives from a New York Publisher. It's here—YOUR BOOK! You hurriedly rip it open and take the first book out. There it is...YOUR NAME as the author of your first book. You forget to breathe and your heart skips a beat in excitement. You caress

Writing What You Want To Write: Personal Innovation

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. - Dale Carnegie Some of the special skills discussed in writing may have you feeling as if there is really no room

Writing Success: What Does It Mean To You?

Like most creative professions the question of a qualified success in writing is not easy to concentrate into one definitive answer. Just as there are a multitude of writing styles, so too are there many examples of writing success. Examples 1. "I

Writing Contests: Building Writing Credentials

One of the ways many writers can successfully add credentials to their portfolio if to participate in a variety of literary contests. This type of contest encourages writers to put their best foot forward in both creativity and attention to detail. It is

Writing Advice From The Experts Part #3

You must be prepared to work always without applause. - Ernest Hemingway Much of the wisdom available from established authors may be surprising in it's honesty and straightforward nature. The reason this is likely true is the authors in question have ha

Writing Advice From The Experts Part #2

The most valuable of talents is never using two words when one will do. - Thomas Jefferson There are many books that provide tips and guidance for publishing success. This series of articles takes you directly to a trusted source of wisdom – established

Writing Advice From The Experts Part #1

One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment. - Hart Crane Some of the best advice for writers in the 21st century comes from those who have seen their success

Writers Make Money Online

When you think of making money writing, you often think of freelance writing, ghost writing, and writing novels... all of which you can do on the internet. However, I'm wanting to talk about the hidden opportunities for good writers in internet marketing

Why The Information Age Is Dead!

The Information Age is dead. We stand at the cusp of a new era. We used to live in the Information Age, but you know how it goes when everyone jumps on the bandwagon. Too much of a good thing became a bad thing. I know you feel it. We both know that ever

Who's Telling The Story?

The point of view in any story is important because it provides a guide to manage the execution of your story. Most works of fiction use one point of view although a second perspective can be brought into the story for a short period of time. Third Perso

Who's Speaking: Choosing A Narrator's Voice

Have you given much thought to the voice of your narrator? Perhaps you assumed the narrator in your novel should remain neutral. Many writers believe that the narrator should have little in the way of identity and the use of a narrator is essentially a ne

What To Expect At A Book Signing?

One of the most thrilling moments for an author is when they are invited to participate in a book signing. This is often the stamp of approval many writers need, especially with their first book. Most bookstores see a book signing as a means of increasin

What Magazine Editors Value From Freelance Writers

Ask a bunch of aspiring magazine writers what editors are looking for when they read article queries and I'll bet most of them answer, "good article ideas." Well, sort of. What editors most want to find in queries are good article ideas from wr

What Is Freelance Travel Writing?

Becoming a successful travel writer involves some imagination, some legwork, and a powerful eye for detail to transform the rich experience of a place into a clear, exciting article. If you can do all of that, and if you're willing to put time into marke