September 3, 2013

Freelancing Projects – Breaking up the tasks in your project

Breaking up projects into simpler tasks will enable one to finish the tasks at hand efficiently. How do we go about breaking up the tasks? It is necessary to identify the specific goals, for the project first, to know how to go about breaking up the tasks. Some of the important tasks in your project will be as mentioned under.

Time schedules: Time schedules needs identification and compliance. Time bound activities are marked off and highlighted. Those subtasks will get priority over others. A project will have specific dates as time lines and a project sheet would clearly demarcate these time lines indicating when and how each tasks needs completion.

Management of the project is the next step. This has to have the predefined objectives mentioned clearly. In short, project management will include all those tasks or steps that we are discussing here. It includes planning and control techniques of the project aiming at efficient completion. There are various tools one can use to achieve their goals, depending on the ability to manage the complexity of the project in hand.

Budgeting is the most important step in a project that will take up most of the time, during the initial stages of a project. A freelancer has to pay careful attention to budgeting. All the tasks involved in the project need accurate measurement while budgeting. Unless the budgeting planned and controlled, the project cost may become too high and unaffordable. Then the project becomes ambitious in nature and may end up shelved.

Process oriented and project oriented reporting structure is worked out to enable the project to run like well oiled machine. All functions needs separation into manageable tasks and sub-tasks and reported on for a project cannot run effectively. The breakdown of tasks provides a structure to the project which builds into small definable goals to achieve end result. Only controlled reporting can give control and insight on how well a project is faring.

Execution of the processes identified for execution needs monitoring as per requirements. This will involve collaborating with every individual involved in the project. Deliverables are monitored to ensure that the project on time lines. This includes acquiring and distributing information required for the project. Direction is required while executing the project.

Monitoring the project is another aspect that needs ample time. This includes measuring an ongoing activity against the baseline that was determined for the project. Identifying error and putting the effort back into bringing the corrective measure also is involved. Where ever there is, a flaw, they need identification and change after approval. This again should not affect the basic goal of the project.

Risks involved in a project needs assessment as well. This is possible by monitoring each of the tasks and the reporting in details. Hence, it is important for a freelancer to have exposure to all these simultaneously.

It is common to come across gaps wile doing a particular project. How do we identify such gaps? Some of them may not be gaping and will require an expert to identify them. So while on a project it is advisable to have continuing updates on the progress from all quarter. This will enable a person to easily identify his flaws, which will in turn affect his work and the project at the end.

Once the project nears completion, many other aspects will determine the value of the work. One such is the effectiveness of the design. The deployment of the project for operations purposes of the business needs attention. The lesser the hiccups in this stage the better.

Closing of the project also involves a lot work. Training to people involved in operations is given. Any error that is noted is worked upon on a regular basis to ensure that the capability of the project is enhanced at every possible step.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer, Freelancers Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
September 2, 2013

A tribute to freelancing veterans

Freelancing veterans remembered here are the people who have sown the seeds for this area of work to develop to what it is now. Many years ago when freelancing was not very popular, few people would have had an idea of starting a new trend. They must have struggled to get themselves interviews and audience with employers who are likely to offer them work.

This is the time when we need to remember them and thank them for the effort they put in to legalize freelancing. Today, they have enabled employers to lead to a large workforce working at different places and different time zones adding value to work done in office spaces and elsewhere.

It is good to know a few veterans, if you are into freelancing. They are sources of much experience and exposure and can guide you well in your work. All this while we were speaking of talent and skills that will make a good freelancer stand out. But, somewhere we have forgotten to mention the experience that a veteran would have to offer. All the training that you may attend may not match up to the experience a veteran can share, to help you learn a few ropes in the freelancing arena.

Most of them must have worked their way up from a very young age. Talk to them about the challenges they have faced at the beginning. They would have valuable lessons to share. Many willingly share their stumbling blocks and learning, so that it sort of guides the new comers.

There is quite a bit to learn on how these veterans would have done their marketing for themselves. Many would have used methods which are outdated now. Careful thinking can revive some of those techniques to adapt to the new world and new generation of freelancers.

What else can veterans offer from their experience? Veterans can offer insights on different styles of work. Some of the older methods may not be prevalent now, but one can revive a few of their styles of work in an innovative way to suit today’s need.

Many of the veterans would have a winning streak in them, which is the reason for their success in work. It is important to learn how they have coped with the demands of their job. The humane element which is missing these days was present during their times. Suggest that the younger generation learn these traits from the veterans. They will give you enough stuff to remember for a life time!

Veterans will have lessons to share on self assessment and evaluation of oneself. They will share with you details on how to keep records of your work. They will also tell you how to plan and construct your career path.

Another area where veterans can provide insight is on pricing. They will share valuable lessons on how you may quote for your work. The present generation is not aware that a good reputation far outweighs the financial status of a person. Hence, try to learn these age old values, which these veterans practiced. Not that they did work for free, but some of them actually was not materialistic or even greedy.

What else can a veteran share about freelancing? He will share lessons on how to balance life and work. He will tell you lessons about how he enjoyed his time with family and friends. He will have stories and funny events that happened in his life during his younger days. Memories of moments that the younger generations miss out due to their involvement in the rat race of life! The competition that is prevalent among younger people to show off and to become winners all the time. Talking of this, yes, the veterans will teach you to take your failures in your stride. After all, life is about winning and losing. It is all in the game.

While you go through the glossary of their life, you will realize that there is no good or bad work. Any work that a person does is honorable. One has to be sincere towards the work he does. That is what veterans in freelancing or any other industry will teach you. That is what the great Indian leader and freedom fighter, Gandhi, says. This is the message that resounds all over the world, even as centuries pass by. The ultimate truth that the next generations will watch and learn from their ancestors and from their experience!

So here, I am saluting those veterans once again. You have shown us the path and we are grateful for it.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 31, 2013

Helping freelancers get better and better while working for you – For the client

Every employer would like to have a freelancer working for him and also him to work better and better. With every work assignment that he gives, the client would like to see improvement. The challenges that are ahead are quite a few, to get this done. The freelancer has to learn, work, contribute and stay on and continue to do better.

The usual method of providing internal trainings imparts the knowledge required to understand and do the work accurately. Such training will pertain specifically to the type of work the freelancer is involved in. This training goes a long way to help upgrade the knowledge about the new trends and innovations pertaining to the work.

Yet another method of getting people to do better is by providing training in related fields of work. Thereby the employee gathers new techniques and uses it to do better at the current one that he is working on. Incorporating certain techniques from related fields of work will add value to the output, since the knowledge base of the freelancer enhances thus.

Another necessary training, on the agenda, should be in time management. The freelancer is then better equipped to handle assignments to keep up with the time lines for delivery of work. Spending time procrastinating can cause discomfort to both parties involved. Even training in yoga and mind control helps.

There are other means to get better as well. This will include using mental techniques to kick start the day. Using energy management to control the mind and body enables an individual to be in control. “To do” lists help a lot. Listing tasks such that they enable you to complete them one by one by not stressing you up is a great way to finish work well.

It is important to learn not to over commit. This way one takes on work that one is capable of completing within a stipulated time.Employers can guide the freelancer to assess the work that he is undertaking. This will improve productivity of the individual bringing about better output.

Giving appropriate feedback also is a training that helps gear up the productivity of the freelancer. A freelancer should know what is right and good about his work. Accordingly, he can garner his skills. Not knowing about the other person’s view of the work done can only plunge him into darkness. He needs this guidance as well!

Most of the time, we find that there are online training offers for freelancers who take up a certain kind of job. Questions about the effectiveness of these remain unanswered. Generally, the ineffectiveness of such online random training is a truth never discussed since many do not want to share or discuss unpleasant experiences they have undergone.

On the contrary, there are quite a few resources available on line which will enable a freelancer to get up-to-date information from a variety of business leaders and thought leaders. There are also courses available online which when used will help brush up existing knowledge and skills. Some of these courses are available as videos to enable the student understand better. A freelancer could go through any of these to understand more about his area of interest.

Women are at a great advantage when running an entrepreneurship is concerned. In developing countries, there are quite a few organizations which the Government promote to ensure job security to women. There are loans available and proper guidance ensuring that women gain success in the world that is getting more and more competitive as days go by.

The success of a freelancer is in running his own business of freelancing, well. What is required is a focused effort on the work. Training may or may not help. Many times people opt for freelancing after a considerable stint in corporate world. Hence, they already will have the training and development done during their career.

Getting a business degree will help in boosting your image, as far as clients are concerned. They would want to know your educational back ground in order to assess whether you can promote their product. A qualification from a reputed university goes a long way in building the trust that is required to bring forth a business deal.

And last but not the least are training workshops which bring together freelancers from various industries thus enabling exchange of expertise on a common platform. More of such learning helps the freelancer to contribute better, with time.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer, General Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 28, 2013

Remembering where to find topics on the subject you write about

Remembering where to find topics for your subject is a major challenge most freelancers face. Many times the editor or the employer just introduces a topic to the writer, to develop content on. Many other times, and in most cases, the writers get the opportunity to determine the topics by themselves.

To have a general idea on the topic in hand is good. This then is broken down to subtopics or paragraphs, to cover the overall subject matter that needs representation. Finding subtopics for creating output can be easy. Jotting down the points as when it comes to your mind helps. But in most cases, this may not be sufficient.

So one has to do a little bit of research while determining what goes into the article or book. There is a wide variety of methodology available today. One such is the internet. The theme can look upon or researched on the net and zeroed upon. One has to use imagination and creativity to ensure that the output created is interesting enough to keep the reader asking for more.

Yet another method of researching is to examine books available in the local library. After going through the print material, your conventional ideas can further develop to suit the topic of interest that the writer is writing on. This also leads to augmented knowledge on the topic in hand. Again, books and the internet can only guide you to certain extend.

Apart from the above, life’s experience of the writer will help create more thought provoking content. Each individual is different and each individual will have his or her own experiences in life, which are different from others. So writing personal experience will command more bonus points since it appeals to the editors as well. More appreciation comes forth for the work thus done and this will see the writer blooming well into his career.

Every situation that we come across has a story in it. A creative writer can generate a full fledged page of article from simple life situations.

When it comes to topics related to science and technology the above may not apply. Here one has to really understand the subject matter in detail to attempt writing. But understanding such subjects is easy as well. Most of the time there is a logical step to follow. The writer has to discover the logic and grasp the topic and he will easily find a way through to write about the same.

Comparing the work done by others and translating it to simple understandable work is one domain of expertise where writers can test their knowledge and creativity. Similarly, agreeing or disagreeing with thought leaders is another way of kick starting a new thinking process. Such writing activity done on a regular basis ensures that the writer’s thoughts are active and captivating always.

A writer can generate topics of interest, to write about, from friends and acquaintances as well. While in a conversation, or during an activity, numerous themes of interest appear and opportunities to write about them arise. Which means if there are two or more people interested in the same subject, it is worth writing about. Some of these appealing trends might only last for a few years but it is worth following the story to know your capabilities, on generating public interest on a topic. Here capabilities also point to your effectiveness in writing about a current topic and scoring on readership as well.

Keeping your own journal of topics, on where to find them is helpful. When asked to write about topics which are not current, but from the past, this may be of a huge help.

Finally, researching and reading on subject matter can only help in understanding the topic in hand. But the writer has to have talent to recreate an output which is appealing to the audience and should think of what might impact writing in a positive way. What is more – having the right words and context while you write is important. It helps harness the right audience to view and read your work.

Optimization of work helps in building better readership and more and more work will follow. Content authors to get the readers appreciate their work by ensuring original output each time they write. Here the subject and output need to be synchronized to enable the reader to relate to what is written

A happy client is what we need at the end of the day. A well documented article is a reference point for future. So everytime you write, ensure that your writing is an example of good work for future reference.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 27, 2013

What should be your goal when you decide to freelance

What most freelancers forget to think about, when they decide to freelance is what goal should they set for themselves? Starting to work without a definite goal in mind will only lead to certain confusion, especially once the project is half way through.

First of all, goals ensure that the project is on the right track. Combine it with the right effort and you will achieve success in what you do.

To make an out line of what your goal is the first step in successfully completing the project. Once you land a project ensure that you are you have a clear idea about the content, the delivery schedules and the amount of work that will go in, to complete the project. Once that is done plan out each detail so that you don’t encounter surprises on the way.

Delivering the responsibilities well is another important factor in goal setting. Factor out SMART goals to measure and attain relevant goals. Bind then with specific and time bound vision and success is sure to follow! Further, focus on building on achievements such that you can quantify your work. Focus on achievements is yet another method in goal setting for a successful career in writing.

Apart from the above, one needs to also take into account how freelancing affects your lifestyle. Does your job allow you to have ample time with your family? Do you get enough space for yourself? Are you able to pursue your interests whatever is important to you?

Once you ponder on these questions, you will know where and how you need to scale up. Development of oneself as an individual is an important goal and this is as important as the work you are doing. You might be an achiever as far as your freelancing work is concerned but you need to have balance and all round development in life to ensure that you stay fit for the long run.

Another goal that needs focus in the freelancing arena is on the income you earn. Now, this depends solely on the individual and most times income seems important for survival. One has to work his way up to earn the income he has in mind. There are quite a few factors that are not in our control, where income is concerned. One can line up enough work to meet the income goals. But creative and good quality projects only qualify for better income or remuneration. Thus, income generation is significant with to goals related to improvement in output quality.

How do you manage your writing business? Most freelancers are in a difficult situation as far as managing their business is concerned. While you are the singular person managing your business, ensure that you are in the right track by setting relevant goals. Focus on your strengths thus enhancing your specialty and talent.

Priority deadlines need to be in the spotlight to manage your writing business effectively. Knowing what to zoom in on is important. Enhancing visibility is another aspect of goal setting. Your vision can lead you to greater opportunities.

Staying positive about your work is a goal that is set internally. Having a contract or agreement which is clear and concise will act as a foundation for your business. The goals set in earlier contracts can be redrafted to suit your current goals and requirements

Identify mentors and trainers to develop your talents. Having a mentor ensures availability of guidance to set a correct track for new and more advanced goals. Training is a requisite that will bring talent to the next level. Hence, it is important to identify mentors and trainers to improve your business and goals.

We now move on to the personal life of a freelancer. To achieve your goals on having a good personal life and to balance your career as a successful freelancer, one has to work on oneself. Self development to suit your work patterns and need should be high on the list of goals. Stream lining helps to achieve work life balance. Never let your duties sap your energy or make you fall sick. Balance your life to ensure more productivity. This is a skill which will last life long if polished. Set short term goals and then make long term solid goals to reach your destination.

Goals need writing down and have a look at them each time you sit down to write. It will help you focus on what you are doing. Do not allow other thoughts to enter your mind. Write down as per the flow and you will achieve what others have not done in quite some time.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer, Freelancers Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 26, 2013

Why do many writers prefer freelancing

A question worth pondering over is why do writers prefer to freelance? In today’s world, writing is a hobby or a vocation for many who are educated. While some write while at work, as part of their key result area, some do it as a hobby to showcase their creativity. There is another section of writers who publish the articles or books written by them. Yet another section uses their creative talents to do the work that interests them while also earning remuneration.

Yes, doing work that is interesting to oneself is the sole reason why an individual writer chooses to be a freelancer. While writing on any topic of interest, it is convenient to choose the area of expertise and join groups which require skills of similar nature. This results in growth of the writer, in the respective area of interest in terms of knowledge, experience, and exposure. Here the freelancer focuses only on a few known and interesting sections of writing.

Choice of language is a criterion which most writers are choosy about. While many are comfortable writing in English, there are quite a few who have flair in writing in their own local language. Translation related work – from one language to another – is one such area which offers real challenges to experts in vernacular language. Here again a writer freelancer who prefers to work on a particular language, as a specialized writer, benefits.

Education is another vast area of where experts in the field, as writers can contribute effectively. The role here is that of a Subject Matter Expert, developing content for curriculum. Good quality educational content will contribute to development of the intellectuals who are capable of creating a better world. Educational content has the power to influence children of a very young age, to mould their character. Imparting lessons and moral stories are a great way to inculcate values in the younger generation. So, here’s another specialized sector for freelancers to choose to work and showcase their expertise.

Opportunity lies in the translation of epics and religious books into languages which are popular. Epics have a lot to convey and someone who understands the complexity of the language used can do a very good work here. Again, the challenge present here, is to capture the accurate meaning of the word in the context of the situation, to deliver an effective translation. Here again freelancers and publishers compete with each other to write and publish abridged versions for the benefit of the readers.

What more can be said on freelance writers and writing? The above and more reasons contribute, to decision of the writer, to choosing freelancing as the preferred area of work. As you can see, if you have the expertise and knowledge to be independent and to contribute effectively, and ample creativity to support these, there are enough and more you can do, as a freelancer.

Some of the other decisive factors for a freelance writer does not concern the area of work as such but contributes to determining what the best option is.

Since a freelancer does not have a regular work schedule, he is free to manage his time effectively to get the best result. He may choose a convenient time to work, even have breaks whenever he feels up to it. All this without supervision and hence he is forced to be responsible for each of his action which directly impacts his creativity, his stance with his clients, and his success as freelancer.

As long as work is completed and delivered, there are no clear check points in this field of work. Complying with schedules set by the writer for self, and delivering quality work is important. But there are no set processes that will tie a writer down, except self discipline.

Talking about discipline, a disciplined worker can easily complete his work without much hassle. Whether he works as a freelancer or as a regular employee does not affect his decisions and determination to excel in his are of work.

Whether you are an accomplished writer or a beginner does not matter when it comes to output that you are creating as a freelancer. In any area, be it writing or development of software or photography etc, a first timer has the same opportunity as a veteran to showcase his abilities.

Hence, the trick is to try to give the best shot in whatever you do. Information pertaining to what needs to go into the output has to be top priority for a writer. The topic of interest of the reader needs top priority in the mind of the writer, as the most important guideline. Now, some readers may be choosy about the information that they are looking for. But as long as the writer is able to keep the interest of the mass, he is termed to be popular and effective!

Are there any guidelines to writing? A freelancer can enquire into this as well. There are guidelines to effective writing. As mentioned above, there are guidelines as to how to keep the interest of the readers. There exists a guideline on effective the communication and how it happens. Well, we shall cover all those topics one by one in the next few articles.

So, if you have chosen to be freelancer, here’s wishing you a great career!

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer, Freelancers Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 24, 2013

Dedication to a project as a freelancer

A freelancer is a person who does work for two relative things, one is to generate money and secondly who has an immense passion to do it.

Taking this in account, what a freelancer should ideally have to succeed is Dedication to his/her work.

Brief note on Dedication:

Dedication is an act of binding yourself to the work no matter how the situations are around you. An individual must take care of the given project as their own and also think about how the users will be benefited by the work they create and produce. While we talk about this, we in turn need to have in mind that the client’s expectations are met and put together a plan.

Steps to stay dedicated

Gathering requirements, creating a plan, setting expectations for yourself and meeting deadline are some key factors which drives you to dedicate to the work. Remember, there are a lot of people out there who has the same talent and have mastered the work as you do but the key to succeed as a freelancer is to perform the job with more perspiration, determination and interest. For instance, Java could be learnt through many websites, blogs, and videos; however the sense of learning involves dedication.

You ought to focus on your goal constantly and should aim for it unswervingly. Make sure you set your priorities right and go by it. Try to avoid taking multiple projects at one point of time. A freelancer should always embrace the opportunity given to them and persuade the job. When the opportunity given is realized the positive attitude of an individual is invoked leading to the steps of successes. Consider every chance as a stage where you can refine your skills and produce the best outcome.

Going by the saying

“Don’t ever give up.

Don’t ever give in.

Don’t ever stop trying.

Don’t ever sell out.

And if you find yourself succumbing to one of the above for a brief moment,

Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, whisper a .prayer, and start where you left off.

But never, ever, ever give up.”

One must never slip away from our ways to finish a goal. We must be steadily motivated and focus on the path of completion. This comes with involvement towards your work.

As an owner of the task you do, you need to make sure a complete work structure is maintained which will help you track the projects, budgets, client’s feedback and if possible you can even reuse some important notes. The quality of the work and the service you offer is valued at the top. Make it as a practice to serve the best out of you.

Dedication not only involves work, but also the way that you communicate to clients on time in-spite of the day to day challenges handled. You must make a schedule for the activities you do, and allocate time slot for each so that you remain devoted to what you do.

Do things right on time. make sure the work doesn’t get piled up. For example, if you get 10 jobs to work , and the deadline is two days don’t save it for the last day. Split the work in hours and get it done by one and half days and review the work you done. This kind of dedication is necessary to maintain the quality and the performance of the job.

Take some time in every day or week to organize your to do list. Make sure you sit and complete the work you start with and do not leave it behind. This will then be a burden and you will lose the concentration on the subject.

As a freelancer you take work for short term goals which helps you to keep learning and remain enthusiastic. This is the best opportunity you get to focus on the work. There are several groups which tell about dedicated people and their sacrifices which led them to heights. You must often refer to those and frame your path to succeed. Have belief in your own self.

The universal statement “Practice makes a man perfect”, it says more about hard work, dedication and the work. More you do work with dedication the more you achieve. Having talent but who does not work to put an effort will not be able to prosper, whereas the desire and the devotion you show to learn will boost your career.

Make some simple artwork in your room keeping in mind of the dedicational quotes you have come across. Create your own chart and the rules that you have framed for yourself and pin it. Every day when you feel low, go through them and rediscover your thoughts and approach. Always have in mind the goal to accomplish what you have started with.

At times rewarding ourselves for what you have done for the day helps finding out the gaps that you have missed. You will have the desire to fill in the gaps and learn more new techniques. This way of dedicating yourself to the work and not getting diverted too much makes you a better freelancer.

A popular sportsman Michael Jordan once said, “It’s my standards that make me successful, every day I demand more from myself than anybody else could humanly expect from me. I’m not competing against somebody else; I’m competing with what I am capable of” These amazing lines tells us more about the devotion he has in his oneself

If an individual understands the importance of following this as a continuous process, the progress level will increase and start to feel as an energetic sky rocket. The most important factor in creating an extraordinary quality of work is through dedication. Yet in a time of constant demands, we often neglect what we know is most important. In order to take your life to the next level, it’s crucial to make a commitment to living a more organized life.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 23, 2013

Do You Have It In You To Make It As A Freelancer

To be our own bosses is a dream come true job everybody in the world. Most people see freelancing as a chance of working on their own time, enjoying breaks when they want, billing hours from café while sipping a cup of fresh coffee and working, taking projects which they want, skipping a day without having to apply for leave or taking permissions. But are these perks enough for you to leave your regular job and take up freelancing jobs?

The answer is a straightforward ‘no’. On the surface you might see a freelancer as a master of his/her will but in reality before giving up your full time job or choosing between freelancing and full time job you need to know think carefully about whether you have the qualities and skills needed to make it as a freelancer. There are some things which you will need to give up and some things which need to adapt to succeed as a freelancer. In this post, we will take a look at some of the things, which will help you decide whether you are up to it, or not?

Can you survive with variable income?

A freelancer’s income depends on the type of project he or she has in hand. Some months you will have many projects in hand and earn more than your average but in some months you might not have so many projects in hand and the income might not be so much. Also you will not be paid when you are on vacation or have to leave a project in midway. Therefore, think whether you can manage your finances even in slump.

Also when you are just starting your jobs you might not be paid as much as you want, therefore can you manage in the starting days?

Can you work alone?

As a freelancer you will have to work alone a lot. There will be no time for office gossips or taking help from your friends. Most of the times you will be sitting alone on the desk of your home or rented office space and working. Therefore it will be entirely up to you to make your workplace as conductive as work at you can.

Can you push yourself out of bed even when you have nowhere to go?

Most of the newbie freelancers fail because of they cannot push themselves to get out of bed because they have nowhere to go. Think about it hard whether you can pull yourself out of the bed and fix a working time for yourself when you have nowhere to go.

Can you take criticism and failure?

As a freelancer you will not get every job that you will apply for. Also sometimes it might also happen that the client will reject your work or criticize it rather harshly. You will have to take the flak alone and might have to meet very tight deadlines. Therefore ask yourself how well you can handle criticism and failure. You can take the help of your family and friends and they will be truly able to help you figure out your this nature.

Can you deal with difficult clients?

Each freelance project that you will be getting will have a different requirement and every client needs to be handled differently. Do you have any experience in handing difficult clients and do you have the ability to self-market yourself to even the pickiest of clients? These are the two questions, which you need to ask yourself before starting out as a freelancer. Remember everything including marketing, gathering the required equipment, doing research and delivering the project to the client will have to be handled by you and you alone.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 22, 2013

How to be an expert freelance Web designer

A web designer is a person who puts the dreams and vision of people in to reality on the Web. Ever since the advent of Internet , the demand of qualified and good Web designers has skyrocketed. There are many individuals as well as companies who offer various types of web designing services. In fact, each page that you open on the Internet has been ‘web designed’ by somebody. Therefore as a freelance Web designer, the opportunities in front of you are limitless. However, we all know that the best jobs go to people who know what they are talking about.

So what does it take to be an expert freelance Web designer? In this post, we will touch upon the ingredients needed to make you the expert and then in subsequent posts we will elaborate on each of these points.

Learn how websites work

As a freelance web designer, it is expected that you know about how different websites work. You need to know what the different types of websites are and what makes them work. You should be an expert in one programing language, Java script, databases, content management systems, RSS and mailing lists, and integrating social media.

Know how to troubleshoot problems

There is no such thing as a perfect website. As you work towards integrating the client demands you will face glitches therefore you should have a determined outlook towards troubleshooting problems. Sometimes you can work around them and sometimes you will just have to find a solution.

Keep searching for what is new in the web world

As a freelance web designer your search for what is the latest in the designing world should never end. You have to work hard towards keeping yourself updated to what is the latest your world. You can also check out the magazine and newspaper layouts to know what the client wants.

Work towards improving your communication skills

You cannot justify your skills if you don’t know how to communicate with the client. Since most of the freelancing work takes place online therefore you need be very concise in your communications. Also communication is a two way street therefore if you don’t understand what a client wants in the early stages, you will end up wasting a lot of time in correction and changes later on.

Be clear on the expectations

When negotiating for a project be clear about your expectations from the beginning. Let them know what payment you expect. This will help you in winning the client confidence and prevent any problems on the later stage. As to figuring out how much you can charge you will have to work that out by checking out the competition and doing a honest analysis of your skills.

Don’t say you can do it and then learn later on

The biggest mistake that a freelance web designer can make is to commit for something which they don’t know about and think that they can always learn it in the due course of the project. This is a big no-no. If you don’t know it then say that you don’t know it. It is very easy to detect a novice’s work and an expert’s work.

If you have messed up own it

In the course of your work, it is natural that you will make mistakes. The bigger mistake will be when you don’t own up to it. If you have made a mistake then accept it and do whatever you can to rectify it without wasting any time. Don’t wait for your clients to call you out, take the first step.

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancers Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
August 21, 2013

How to defeat desolation as a freelancer

Freelancer’s life is a puzzle. Each day an individual will have to go through surprises, joy, learning, pain, disappointment, growth and the list goes on. Staying motivated and energetic is a tip to solve this. Naturally you ought to develop best practices to reach your benchmark.

Beginning with everyday schedule of a freelancer, it’s certain that his calendar is blocked for the whole day. Human nature is that someone has to keep pushing to do a task, while working as a freelancer from home; you will not have managers or leaders to control you and help you manage the work you do. This sits as a load on the top of the day to day activities and remains a burden. Know that, it’s your responsibility to plan and implement it right. You must maintain a clean slate and reorder your work every time it’s complete.

To help you tackle the solitude, here are some basic rules:

Maintain a work routine:

Make it as a habit to wake up soon daily. We tend to be lazy as we need not report our work and no one watches us. However its important we need to stick to healthy habits, start working as soon as you can. The longer break you take the lesser is the quality you provide to the clients.

Divide the tasks and put them in timeslots. Give yourself a buffer time and finish the task ahead and do a check on the work. When you do work in an orderly manner you will be well engaged and will not know the difficulty of being alone.

Exercises & break time

It’s always a good practice to freshen up mind and body to get new ideas. When you concentrate on a particular subject, sometimes you enter the level of saturation and will not be able to focus. The stress level builds up as you are not in the office oriented environment where people work together with you. It’s obvious that you need some break at that point of time.

Follow some exercises and keep your body fit to rejuvenate your ideas. Take a small walk, make yourself a cup of coffee, and hear some music. This will help clear your mind and reduce stress.

Create a stop line for yourself

Some of the tasks we do might extend late than expected to drive business. It’s because we would not have arrived at the best results. However it’s wise to know when we should really stop working on it. While you spend more time on it, you will lose focus and accumulate stress.

You must always have free time for you to enjoy rest of the things. You need to recover and get your mind filled with other things or you will get burned out and ruin the beautiful things for yourself. The more hours you work at once, the less productive you get. Remember to follow the timeslots created and your own rules on when to start and stop the day at work.

Keep your environment lively

Like i mentioned, the environment is a critical factor affecting one’s mood and the actions caused out of it.

While you work in Office you will have an entire team to take care of yourself and assist you in the job if you are stuck, whereas at home you are the master and the creator of your work. There are a wide range of forums which can guide you solve this. Join in a forum where people of your interest are present. Post your queries and you will get a quick fix.

One of the other reasons of isolation as a freelancer is we keep working from one place. To get a good productivity and be an efficient freelancer you must be able to handle this by,

Often changing the place where you work. Get some fresh air in the mornings and sit on a balcony. Change sceneries in your room to not get bored. Play some mild music and feel fresh. You have the advantage of visiting different states as you can work from home. Make use of the benefits and tackle desolation.

Stay communicated with the loop

You can create your own team of people and can stay connected. You can be relieved to know how far the rest of the people have progressed, what new trends comes in, how people manage their work. This motivation will drive you to work smarter and handle the competitive world.

Spend your leisure time with this group of people you have formed. Meet them for lunch and share your ideas. You can organize events of your own and keep in touch. You will not only support yourselves but all the contributors who undergo the same.

Manage projects you take:

You ought to manage your assignments as they come in. Do not take too many and get cornered to work. As much as staying productive is important, sometimes you just can’t. Taking multiple projects is one of them. This will lower down your spirits and leaves you alone making you to finish the job.

Opportunity keeps knocking for those who can do a neat job. Keep it light and simple so that you have the time to enjoy what you do. It will provoke the passion in you. Building up work will make you stick on it as a result will smash your schedule.

Focus on your personal life

After the long day that you have, do not get influenced to extend more. The bareness of being alone will prolong and make everything incomplete. Remind yourself to breathe and relax. At times like this playing games, working on your hobbies and spending time with your family and friends will polish and make you set for the following day!

The famous poet Wordsworth’s lines come to my mind “I wandered lonely as a cloud… “

When you can find a silver lining by assisting yourself and following some best practices there’s none who will have to survive alone in this world. It’s our perception of looking into things and managing them effectively.

Keep working smart and stay cheerful to develop new products each day..

K Saravana Kumar

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

Filed Under: Freelancer to Freelancer, Freelancers Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
«Previous Page
Next Page»