SavvyLancer

Graphic design humor (warning: strong language)

Danalyn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:04:08 +0000

Here's a funny little video any freelance graphic designer should be able to relate to. Actually, it happens in just about any field – people don't understand the intricacies of what your job entails. However, in the real world, we can't all talk to our clients like this. If only… Ha!

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How twitter can make or break your business

Aimee — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:22 +0000

These days, even if you don't use Twitter, you're a rare individual if you haven't even heard of it. It takes the social media phenomenon to a new level. On Twitter you can see and be seen, in only 140 characters. This means it's quick, and it forces you to get to the point of what you want to say. To find out how good a writer you are, just try and tell all of your followers a lot of news in only one tweet! In a way, Twitter is far more specialized than other social media outlets like Myspace, Facebook and Youtube. You can say anything you want, but it must fit the character limit. With URL shorteners such as bit.ly and tinyurl.com, you can link to other content on your company website, blog, other social sites, etc.

Continue reading: How twitter can make or break your business »

5 Reasons a Resume Just Isn't Enough

Aimee — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:10:10 +0000

Hi, I'm Aimee. I'll be filling in for Danalyn on a few articles since she has so much on her plate at the moment. That's how it is when you're in high demand. We all want to be sought after for our skills right? This article will provide some good tips on putting your best foot forward to stand out from the crowd of candidates.

In the traditional brick & mortar workplace, cover letters may often get skimmed over or ignored altogether unless you really make a hash of it. Then it gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. However, due to the rise in online employment, cover letters have become more important than ever in securing clients and winning bids. Going from the traditional office job to work-at-home gigs can change the rules.

Continue reading: 5 Reasons a Resume Just Isn't Enough »

Freelancing with Windows Calendar

Danalyn — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:09:17 +0000

In the past 6 years, my freelancing work day (on the weekends, when I was working fulltime) has always gone something like this:

Wake up at noon
Goof off for an hour or so
Play eenie meenie miney mo to pick a client project to start working on for the day
Goof off for another hour
Actually get started on the job picked earlier
Get tired of staring at the that project
Decide to start working on another client project
Goof off for another hour or so
Finally get started on the project
Get sick of looking at it
Go back to the first project
Lather, rinse, repeat for a few hours
Go to bed at 6am

That's hardly productive. Looking at that list, I'm amazed I can even tie my own shoe laces! So starting today, I'm trying a different method.

Continue reading: Freelancing with Windows Calendar »

The Kenny Rogers philosophy to setting rates

Danalyn — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:15:43 +0000

The topic of rates often turns into a heated discussion, whether it's in the oDesk Community Forums or any other freelance outlet. I think it was summed up best by Rebecca in this post:

You know, I think the people who start the threads don't realize that this topic has come up repeatedly, and searching first doesn't occur to them – I never do that, to tell you the truth. So then they get the accumulated disgust of all the people who have been reading these things for months or years. And since they're always new people, it seems inhospitable.

In-person, people often don't think before they speak. On the internet, people don't search before they post. Either way, misunderstandings can occur and it will lead to resentment on both sides.

With all this hostility, pent up or otherwise, sometimes it's hard to get a straight answer. But in the words of Kenny Rogers, "There'll be time enough for counting talking when the dealing's done"…so let's talk rates, shall we?

Continue reading: The Kenny Rogers philosophy to setting rates »

oDesk feedback: Take the good with the bad

Danalyn — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:30:51 +0000

Like eBay, feedback on oDesk is an extremely important part of ensuring your success. Having great feedback lets potential buyers know that your previous buyers were happy with your performance – in other words: you did an excellent job for someone else, you'll probably do an excellent job for me.

However, you can't always please everyone. When this happens, oDesk makes it possible for you to hide your feedback comments (not the score itself).

But the question remains: should you hide comments?

Continue reading: oDesk feedback: Take the good with the bad »

Freelance National Anthem

Danalyn — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:26:28 +0000

I know, I defaulted on my resolution!

Right after I get some press, I completely ignored my blog and broke my resolution to post every other day! D'oh!

I will be back with some good stuff, though. I promise!

For now, enjoy this fun video by cinemasolo.

Continue reading: Freelance National Anthem »

oDesk Community: How to ask for help

Danalyn — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:31:23 +0000

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the oDesk Community Forums is there to help you. Whether you have a general question or need basic (non-account-specific) technical support, the buyers and providers on the forums are there to offer help, guidance, advice, and support.

However, as with all social situations, there are certain things you can do to get the most out of your experience – especially when dealing with technical issues.

Continue reading: oDesk Community: How to ask for help »

Finding help when you need it

Danalyn — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:24:59 +0000

Or perhaps this entry would be more aptly titled: Search first, post later.

Quite frankly, I get tired of seeing posts like this in the oDesk Community Forums. And it's not so much the posts themselves, but the sheer volume of posts that repeat the same statement two posts down.

I'm not the only one, either. The oDesk staff has better things to do than repeat themselves like a broken record, so the rest of the forum regulars are left to explain how the global market works…over and over…and over and over.

So I've decided to break it down here folks too lazy to search.

Continue reading: Finding help when you need it »

Building trust: Recipe for success

Danalyn — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:45:30 +0000

In a recent interview I gave¹, one of the questions asked was:

Any tips on developing trust with new buyers?

This is what I had to say about it:

Just do the job and do it well – that's the best way to build trust and credibility.

Because I had to keep my answers relatively succinct, I going to elaborate on that answer a bit here…

Continue reading: Building trust: Recipe for success »