Welcome to this training on Increasing Freelance Opportunities Through Bides. I am your trainer, Nathan Sumner.
Today we are going to cover the following aspects of how to secure more freelance work through bids: Bidding-strength in numbers Freelance websites Customizing a bid Writing an effective bid Social Media Advertising Other Advertising
Securing freelance work is all about the numbers. In fact, think of it in terms of sales. The more avenues you use, higher the chances are of getting freelance work. In other words, it’s not about luck, it’s about probability. As you can see, oDesk states that it takes on average 45 bids before a new freelancer secures their first project. There are approximately 10.3 million freelancers in the U.S. Because hundreds of avenues exist, you must use all avenues, such as freelance websites, Craigslist, and Social Media sites to name a few.
A great place for new freelancers to start bidding for work is on freelance websites, such as oDesk, Elance, Ajeva, and Freelancer. Although there are many websites that cater to freelancers, these are the most popular and have the most work. A word of caution however: You will want to follow the training videos in order on each site to maximize your profile and bid on work correctly. Remember, your reputation is at stake.
Every freelance bid should be customized. Remember, you are applying for a job and no one likes to see a bid and cover letter that was created as a template. You should also research the project owner. Do they have a website that you can refer to for more information? Did they give you an example of what they want the final project to look like? Also, look at previous projects they offered to see a trend. Relax and spend quality time on each bid. Use keywords from their ad to include in your bid. They want to see if you are paying attention to their needs. Finally, write about how your skills specifically match the requirements of the project.
Each of your bids should be written professionally. If necessary, have someone proofread them before you submit them. Next, it’s a good idea to drop the project owner’s name (if available) throughout your bid letter (cover letter). People like to know you are putting their needs first. Most important, include either links or attachments to your portfolio of wok. This is your time to shine! Toot your own horn! It’s a great idea to include any testimonials from your previous clients to show your proven track record. Finally, invite the project owner to interview you via phone or Skype. This gives a personal touch and gives you the opportunity to elaborate on your previous work.
We all know and use social media websites for fun. However, many freelancers secure work using them as well. You will want to create a profile on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Each website has its own job search feature. On twitter, simply type the keywords “web design freelance job”. Next, post your project availability on your news feed periodically for each social media website. You should also post in your news feed each time you finish a project and provide a link to the website you created. Finally, emphasize testimonials from past clients (usually found on Facebook and LinkedIn).
Yes, it is okay to use Craigslist to post an advertisement for your services under the “gigs” area. It’s not a bad idea to use your local Craigslist to post because that gives a project owner to meet with you face to face if they wish. However, be careful. The best way to create an ad for yourself is to create it using HTML coding and save the entire ad as jpeg image so spammers will not get your email address. Next, create nice HTML coded email advertisements to send to business owners you know. You can also create a sticker ad for your laptop using SkinIt.com. They are inexpensive and allow you to customize your ad. You would be amazed at how many projects I secure when people see my laptop at coffee shops. Finally, turn your car into an ad. VistaPrint allows you to inexpensively customize door magnets for your car!
It’s now time for your assessment! This assessment has two (2) parts. First, create a profile and bid for one project on either oDesk, Elance, or Freelancer. Second, write an advertisement showcasing your web design services on either Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
For more information, please feel free to review these references:Brewer, D. (2009). Top 10 job boards for freelance web designers. Dustin Brewer.com. Retrieved from http://dustinbrewer.com/top-10-job-boards-for-freelance-web-designers/Elance, Inc. (2011). Use the pyramid approach to build web traffic. Retrieved from http://www.elance.com/p/blog/2011/07/use-the-pyramid-approach-to-build-web-traffic.htmlEvans, S. (2009). How to find a job on Twitter. Mashable.com. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2009/03/13/twitter-jobs/Kawasaki, G. (2009). Ten ways to LinkedIn to find a job. How to Change the World. Retrieved from http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html#axzz1SVghJVHuKiviat, B. (2009). Using Twitter and Facebook to find a job. Time Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903083,00.htmlMasood, A. (n.d.). How to find web and graphic design gigs on Craigslist. Ezine Articles. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Find-Web-and-Graphic-Design-Gigs-on-Craigslist&id=2519796oDesk. (2011). 5 social media tools and how to use them to find work. Retrieved from http://www.odesk.com/blog/2011/07/5-social-media-tools-and-how-to-use-them-to-find-work/Sayno, M. (2010). Hot freelancing jobs to watch for. Ajeva.com. Retrieved from http://ajeva.com/blog/2010/06/hot-freelancing-jobs-to-watch-for/SkinIt. (2011). Laptop skins. Retrieved from http://www.skinit.com/devices/laptop&page=1&browseBy=popularVistaPrint USA. (2010). Customer testimonial for VistaPrint’s car door magnets. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqXoI1XD0fA&feature=player_embedded