Freelancing has become one of the major money earning resources in the current financial slowdown. There are many freelance job websites such as Elance, LimeExchange, ODesk, Guru etc. which provides individual freelancers, SMBs & SMEs with concrete platforms to find and execute a freelance project seamlessly.
It is important that before starting a freelance project a freelancer must understand the basics of carrying out a project successfully. Here are a few tips on successfully completing your project on any freelance job website:
1. Bid on the project - Before placing a bid any freelance project, a freelancer must ensure that his profile is 100% complete with relevant information to convince the buyer to consider him for his project. Add relevant work experience, work samples, recommendation, achievements etc. However, the bid must be competitive and realistic based on proper estimation of manpower/skill requirements and hours required to complete the job.
2. Project Contract - It also one of the important requirements as it increases transparency, mutual trust, and helps in monitoring the project at every stage. A freelancer can specify the scope of the project, milestones and corresponding payments and discuss them with the buyers through a Project Contract draft.
3. Initiate a Checklist - At initial stage of bidding of the project it is important to prepare a checklist of important tasks and pre-requisites. The freelancer can then send it to the buyer telling him about the information about the project to get started.
4. Split the project in small portions - To minimize the risks of freelancing it is always good to break a freelance project in small parts. The milestones set for each stage of project would help a freelancer monitor and keep a note of work completed and the remaining project to be completed.
5. Prepare a list of to-do items – Another important requirement for completing a project successfully. A freelancer should brainstorm and plan a strategy for handling the project effectively. It is important to prioritize the project deliverables to achieve the timelines set for the project.
6. Communicate and collaborate – It important to communicate and collaborate with your clients to build strong and long term relationships. Collaborate features like PMB, IM, chat, call email etc. are available on every freelance job website.
7. Keep updated - It is important to take instant action on client’s queries and concerns. Answering all his work related questions can help enhance your credibility in the eyes of the client. Help him in keeping a track of tasks, logging issues and defects which can be tracked to closure and complete your project successfully.
8. Stay connected - In order to get more
freelance projects from old client and associate, a freelancer should always stay in touch with the client and develop long-term business relationship. He can connect to him through various social networking tools available in the market such as LinkedIn, Twitter, facebook, myspace etc.
Hope that the above mentioned tips will help you in successfully executing the freelance project online. Please provide us with your feedback and suggestions as always.
