How to earn money as freelancer working at Odesk

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One way to start earning money online is to freelance work.

Many companies, organizations and individuals have the need to hire professionals to develop high quality work at a lower cost. Through our website, both can contact without having to embark on a long and costly search. Unlike job boards, negotiations between users are entirely within the site and each step is controlled by us to ensure the safety of operations.

The process begins when a company or person publish a project that needs doing, which also include on-line arrives via e-mail to all potential applicants from the field. Interested users ask questions to evacuate their doubts and, who published the project responds to these questions. This helps to clarify the details of the project to offer properly.

Item experts are postulated to implement the project by their labor supply where the project or the proposed solutions are offered to develop, indicating the price of labor, delivery time and details of its proposal. As the bids received, the user who posted the project may also address questions to the candidates to clarify the details.


Doing things right, with oDesk is a lot of money. Not only for the work you can do by participating in various projects, but due to the possibility of moving towards a more and form your own virtual organization. We will leave the option of virtual organization for the next chapter, but for now we present you the means to begin with oDesk.

My recommendations for those who just started with this system are:

Sign up for oDesk. This can take you a few minutes from here, but after registering must complete a mandatory test is quite simple but the demand to have a level of basic knowledge of how the platform: How to apply, such as taking jobs, how to handle time, such as copper, etc. It may seem a bit tedious but it really worth doing the simple test will not take you more than 20 minutes.

Complete your profile. As is typical of working systems online, you should complete your profile with information about what you do, your work, experience, portfolio, etc. After you’ve completed’ll introduce you to available jobs.

Choose your hourly rate. At first you might want to choose a relatively low rate hours. You have the oConomy that lets you compare with other providers of oDesk how much is being charged for certain technologies, eg. working PHP, ASP.NET, accountants, data entry, etc. Try to choose a time that rate is below average, though not much lower. Please note that your task is to increase it after a little more. If you lower your hourly rate long after you hire who may not look kindly upload it, for example, $ 6 to $ 20.

My advice is to choose projects that start small, you know you can do with some speed, allowing you earn a good feedback. The feedback is-almost-all in oDesk, someone with good feedback will probably have more chances of getting a job and raise the hourly rate.

Do not feel frustrated if you do not choose to first, at the beginning it is reasonable that costs a little, but if you keep getting short term projects and relatively easy for you, then you will be improving your feedback, increasing your number of hours at oDesk and getting new job offers in your inbox. Then you get some feedback and you can apply to other projects or long term, and even get a job or long-term fixed rates actually very competitive, even with the first world.

In summary:

* Register
Get good feedback * postulándote small size projects or you can make fast.
* By the score they give you for making the job satisfactorily, you postularte to new projects, increase the rate hours to a most competitive price and get more work.
* Soon, in WebLatam see how to create your team and your own virtual organization.

Teleworking is becoming the preferred modality for many workers. Not only because it actually allows mobility and use of time during the day, but also provide the flexibility that one would also allow more money than the average Hispanic workers. He still has much work to grow the distance, even migrating to what is today began to be known as mobile work.

Filed Under: Top freelance websites

Top 7 tips to improve freelancer work

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

One of the critical points or Self Freelance work is to ensure you receive fair compensation for your work. Freelancer I am sure each has at least one experience that did not receive his money or was too little. In our website you can submit your quote ServicioMex24 by the price and a brief commentary. If the client decides adjudicarte the contract need to be prepared to deliver a detailed, itemized document.

Top 7 tips to improve freelancer work :

1. Taking into account the client’s budget.

Speaking with your client first, sometimes not clearly tell you what your budget, because they try to hire you for the minimum amount possible. The budget stated in the client’s request is not always based on actual efforts to carry out a job. To better understand the budget, make your own worksheet. Ask the client in the section of questions about their objectives, scope, working time and on budget. A client determines whether a process is formalized and recognizes the professional efforts of a well-defined scope.

2. Take your time to prepare your quote.

It is important that your bid covers all the responsibilities of the client and the contractor, expectations, requirements, payment methods, terms of changes outside the contract, and anything else that applies in your case. Many times customers think in a bigger scope or want to change the course of the project. Put it in writing you can avoid misunderstandings.
In the reverse auction portal, at the time of quoting a job, you can only give a price and a brief commentary. Use this review to inform the customer that once awarded the contract, are you going to give a detailed document.
March. Cobra per hour.

Instead of offering a price for the project and then discovering that your calculation was short of actual costs, simply link your listing to the estimated hourly cost and a fixed period (eg 400, – Pesos / hour for 30 hours). Not only does quote a job easier, but also understands that a customer is buying a block of time that you think will be enough to finish a project. A customer would accept more if you need more hours to meet work, versus a project quote a fixed price where a customer hands grabs you.
Calculate your optimal share is easy. As Freelancer you must be able to estimate the efforts to carry out a job. Take your hourly rate and adds extra costs, such as telephone, internet, materials to the commission you pay on ServicioMex24.También need to define a minimal fee, which is the minimum price for which you work. This price may be, for example 70% of your quota optimal.
Depending on circumstances you can quote the following from the optimum and minimum fee:
- Looking for a long term relationship with a client
- You are desperate to find work
- The new project will help you build your portfolio

4. Improve your cost estimates by 10% -20%.

Particularly if you are starting work on your own independently, it is normal to want to impress customers with your best quotations of the market. However, eye, careful not to get in a situation where salts lost or have to put extra effort too, just to achieve the objective.

The auction portal, it is sometimes advisable, especially for early works, contributions under the normal price. So you can win new customers and projects, and most of all good grades, which in the long run will ensure continued work on the site. Be flexible with prices. Taking into account the overtime you will need to fulfill your job, eg administration, research, communication, etc. Become please include this extra time, because customers ask for more time or more money, usually not a good idea. Your contribution will probably still cheaper compared to that get the customer tenders of large enterprises.

5. Define expectations

If you are bidding on a project for a fixed price, also inform the customer of the extra costs to make changes. If you are quoting hourly rates for a fixed period, keep informed about progress on the job at any time. Customers do not like surprises. Keep an open system and status reports.

6. Requests an advance.

Apart from small maintenance jobs or very small projects (under 5000, – Pesos), always ask for an advance. This shows the seriousness of a client and is unlikely to leave the agreement in the middle of the project. For medium-sized projects should have no trouble getting 50% of the total value. If a very large project can apply 33% to start and collect the rest in payments defined.

7. Set time of last payment

For example, if you’re developing a website, the last payment will be at the time of airing the website. For other works is the final installment of a product or service. Define the payment dates set to prevent the customer take advantage of the situation and the payments are delayed or not paid.

Filed Under: Freelancer advice tips

Top 3 myths about freelancers

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Yesterday, Elios published an interesting article on how to get work as a freelancer, who posts often requested, as well as some well-known sites where we can start working.
However, there are some myths (as in all professions) who are on freelance work, which often are generated by society and others are established (conscious or not) by themselves freelancers.

1. Myth: freelancers remain busy in their personal things, I can not trust them for my work. Fact: The lifestyle is very flexible if, but for them the work is very important, not only gives them money to live, but the reputation gained will be useful for future work.
2. Myth: The freelancers have less resources, I’m not sure about the quality of work they get. Fact: Freelancers often have prepared an important complement of tools for the job. The experience and skills they acquire is often superior to that of a person belonging to the staff of a company.
3. Myth: The theory that bosses can not have become defaulters. Reality: They are your own boss and demand even more, since it is their venture and not another. The benefits are higher, and losses as well, as they are not guaranteed a fixed salary.

Filed Under: Freelancer advice tips, Job advice

Top Tips for print typography – graphic designer as freelancer

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Typography is a huge part of the design and layout is a huge part of the rates. You can not just throw text on a page, must be well placed and organized in a clean way to add to the information being presented. Here are 11 tips to help typographical correctly transmit information that is printed.

1 .- Use a composition based on a grid *.
The grid is the underlying structure of almost everything you do in design, especially in print. She will help you create a clean and nice composition.
The grids are simply a structure of columns and rows. Typically, when someone mentions a grid, one can think of even in lines and columns, all the same size. In print you do not want everything to be the same size. A variation of size is required for a good composition well structured. A standard design consists of one or two columns, but be original and use three, four or five columns. Remember that these columns need to fit on the page, and every time you add a new column you have to reduce other columns.

This page is an excellent example of a composition based on a grid. Use a very complex grid to organize all types and graphic elements in a readable and organized composition. Also note, the grid is not perfectly defined, some objects are flowing out of the edges.

2 .- Alignment.
Speaking of composition. Also talk about the lineup. Alignment is another option that has a strong impact on the structure. For a more standard printing composition, it is obvious that the body of the text should be aligned to the left to hold the majority of people can say that needs to be focused, but the headline text can pull the composition. The left alignment is almost always the way to go, especially with text elements in bold. The alignment can also work right. Occasionally, one can run full-page aligned to the right, but often will not look good. Use right alignment in a smaller text as a footnote on page or in a legend can work with a composition right-aligned.
If your body text is aligned to the left, be aware and do everything else on the page also is aligned to the left. The most important factor in the alignment is to make sure everything is seated in the same place. This is when your strategic grid on the play. Each text object must be the same distance from the right (or left).

3.-Don ‘t restricted to the paper.
The size of the paper they’re printing can be a real problem sometimes, because it is difficult to fit all text on the page. The solution is leaving the page. All text, do not have to be within the small constraints of the page, you can let the text flow off the page What do I mean? In Logar to accommodate all the text, cut sides allowing text to flow off the page, If you cut a small part of a letter or a word, people still get the message, and have more space. Be careful not to cut too ugly. Keep it at a point where the text remains readable in the same way as if one could read it if you were completely in the paper.

This composition extends from the page, but is still completely readable. It also uses a good repetition, which I will speak later.

4. Spacing, margins, kerning and Interline.
Using a good spacing and margins perfectly measured is likely one of the most important aspects of printing and typography. Even the smallest space can affect how someone sees the design.
The point of what you are doing is the content. Then use some time in the legibility. Take a look at kerning, the space between individual letters and the interline spacing between text baselines. The interlining and kerning are the most important body of the text. If the grade is too interlining, can be distracting because there is too much white space. Make interline too small and the reader will be restricted to try to read the text.

5. Contrasts
The colors and contrasts can sometimes be difficult. It’s one of those situations when it can look really good or just plain not work. As with the kerning and interlining, ill contrasts can make the text unreadable. Finding the perfect balance for the body text is challenging, it needs to be strong enough to be visible, but not so strong that it becomes distracting.
The contrast is another technique to identify the holders and other important objects, the contrast level can help to blow up an object or make an object more subtle. Use a sharp contrast for text holders who want to be noticed immediately.
On the subject of color. Mention the use of inverse colors to draw attention to the text. For example, instead of using black text on white using white text on black.

6. Juxtaposed objects **.
I mentioned you should stick to a composition grid. Bueo, I lied. You MUST use a composition grid, but you should not restrict you to a perfect grid. Instead, try to juxtapose text and graphic elements.
Now, the juxtaposition will not work on each composition, but sometimes it can look very clean and organized, First of all, you only can juxtaposing objects of different color or transparency, in other words, will look messy and confusing.

This is probably one of the best compositions I’ve seen. Use a grid, good headlines and juxtaposition of objects. Watch the event on the left page. It is juxtaposed on the body of the text, but both still fully legible.

7. Change her, but be consistent once.
When making a multi-ended, you must stay consistent with colors, fonts and sizes across all pages.
I told him to change, but, What I meant is that you need to switch the composition of the typeface. Since you are working with a grid system, alternating the composition of the grid. Change the number of columns and rows, and the size of each. Try this while keeping the “feel” of the other pages.

8. Make a line with graphic elements.
Do not forget that the font is not the only part of the print, you must incorporate images and other graphical elements. The rates should be established in a way that flows with graphic elements such as images. There are a few techniques to get your available flow. The first is the spacing (the spacing is obviously important today) Create an appropriate margin size between the image and text. You could also take the opposite route, which would burden the text on the image. You could place the text directly on the image, but most likely better have the text flowing off the image.

Here is a good example of text superimposed on the image. Notice how transparency was used and the image remains visible.

See how this magazine has organized the text elements on a large background image.

9. Make it interesting.
I have spoken of the importance of white space, but space does not necessarily mean that it is a minimalist composition. In print, minimalism is useful, but can not be too minimalist. The impression has to be interesting and intriguing. How does one go about doing more interesting to typography?. There are several ways.
Attractive colors – First, use interesting colors that are attractive to the eye. Avoiding use the standard black and white. To go with that, be sure to use more than one text in the font color. Use different colors for different elements in the hierarchy.
Repetition – Another technique is to repeat text objects on a page. Repeat words they have certain ways as well look good. Only asegúratede repetitive words do not distract from the main content if used on a page with other important elements.

10. Remember the Hierarchy
The hierarchy is the term used to describe the variation in typographic elements such as headlines and text. In other words, it means you need to have a variation in sizes and weights between headlines and body text. The variation of sizes is necessary, because it allows the reader to recognize the difference between these elements in typography.
The headlines are one thing where you have to be cautious. The reader first sees the headline. Make the owner look good enough to leave the audience wanting more.
Also keep in mind that the hierarchy does not have to fit in a certain order. You can locate a holder next to the text rather than simply put it to the top.

11. Blank: Nothing is Everything.
Believe it or not, a large element of printing is nothing. White space provides a professional feel and minimalist, but can also be incorporated into a complex composition. Use plenty of white space in a composition is a smart practice, but only if used correctly. A good way to integrate it into the font is to keep all the fonts in a small area of the page, and leave the rest as white space. This creates a very clean and pleasant view.

Look at the two pages. Now this is thinking in the end, using nothing more than space, but is a good example of how nothing can add something.

Filed Under: Freelancer advice tips, Web Design tips

How to create freelancer portfolio

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A letter of introduction – portfolio which offer your services as a freelance is very important. It transmit to your clients as you work and your work experience. The customer has to do at a glance the service we can offer.

Presentation

This is to comment briefly on what you do, though this as a simple book, and that is important. Your customer will be assessed by your work as an employee rather, or that it should matter more than our current jobs.

In short you are concerned about where we work and what we do, without going into further details.

Here we must pause a little and think about what the client needs, to try to give some kind of solution or ideas that can improve your business. The very thankful that we will give you choices and as I have suggestions on how to improve your corporate image or the services he offers.

If the project is already designed by the customer, we must propose solutions, but without going into too many technicalities, because you might not know much about programming or design. From a security view it on our proposal to offer simple to use and very productive or very visual example.

Fees

One possible tactic to continue to evaluate our work in terms of hours available per day and monthly earnings average out of our pay per hour. This way when you head to your client you detailed arguments the number of hours you devote to your project.

Recently I was advised to order more than what you need and that partly so, but it is also true that a quality adjusted budget that we give is a good argument that the client side requires us to justify their spending on your project.
recomendacion4. Recommendations or profile

A good technique is to tell about someone who can speak well of yourself. One good way is through a blog or personal Web site, which is working as quickly as you imply in view of work life.

By commenting on your work online the customer can see at a glance that you agree and respond to what is needed.

Contact

Finally a good farewell. if you have a website we want to emphasize, a final recommendation.

One way of contact, for me the essential, by phone or email, are quite immediate.

Depending on the customer to whom we turn is always essential to have Skype account type that is quite oriented to employment, Facebook also recommend the face to a profession.

And this is all in this first article. In short talk to the customer of its project is essential and suggest any improvements or service of interest. If you offer a quality and price justified such quality that the customer has to appreciate.

Filed Under: Freelancer advice tips

Top 10 steps to start as a freelance

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

How to start working as a freelancer?

startSi want to venture into the adventure of working as a freelance, leaving your stable income, vacation, schedule of 8 hours in the comfort of your home, work in pajamas, scheduling flexibility and freedom but still do not know where to start despite having taken the decision will share some factors to consider to start.

A couple of weeks ago at a meeting asked me how I start work as a freelancer? my answer was simple: take the decision to do so. But surely there are more factors to consider to start. I think the most important thing is to be clear what the significance of being freelance, both the things you lose as you win.
10 challenges of being freelance

You must be aware not only a freelance job or lifestyle, it is also an attitude towards the profession. When you work for a company and do bad work is responsible to the customer is the company you work for when you’re freelance is your reputation that is always at stake.

* To show your work: you must work hard to publicize your work and find customers interested in doing projects.
* Portfolio of work: If you do not have one, because it will be necessary to design your cover letter with your customers.
* Income: are not safe or stable each month, you get used to be months of much income and others who may not receive anything as projects get. Optimize your resources and organize your finances.
* Organization of time: you must have discipline to work, organize to meet the proposed dates and guarantee optimized for more projects.
* Billing / taxes: you must meet all legal matters in your country in relation to self-employment to avoid problems with the client or legal matters.
* No work no pay: your mindset has to change, now working for an income guarantee based on your effort, you can not kill time as you did in the office and receive your pay and freelancers who do not work do not get paid.
* Price just: put a price just work you do and negotiated with the customer will always be a challenge, study your market, learn how to sell your knowledge and ability at the right price.
* Trust: you trust with your clients to ensure more jobs or recommendations for the future. Your reputation will create confidence in the people with whom you work.
* Proof: If there are months where you do not have projects do not waste your mind, be freelance is a challenge that only people can do with perseverance.
* Holidays: spend much time without them, to achieve a balance of income, learning to risk some things for others.

10 steps to start as a freelance

Let it be clear that there are no formulas to begin with, there are people who have never had a boss who are accustomed to working independently. Furthermore, I know people who have been working for the same company and want change but they know how. So if you want to start working your independence here are some tips to evaluate:

* Evaluate your skills: do not try to sell something you’re not, be very aware of your skills and Expertise to offer your customers safely.
* Build your portfolio: web pages can not sell if you do not have a well designed, if you have many designs or developments unless it itself is worthy of admiration.
* Create support stationery: business cards are never over, it’s always good to carry one with you with all your information to contact you.
* Choose a work area: it is important because it is the place where you will spend much of your time, try to be comfortable and have the basics to work.
* Optimize your resources: the beginning is always a bit difficult, so try to optimize everything you have: money, clothes, budget, energy, connection, etc.
* Find customers: any meeting, dinner or event may be time to find customers, try to be prepared.
* Meet with your time: do not be enthusiastic about wanting to impress while offering less traditional, remember your reputation is at stake.
* Set goals for the short, medium and long term: this will give you a vision of what you want to accomplish and not lose heart.
* Evaluate your budget: if you want to start this process, toil in financial support have you serve in emergencies.
* Do not miss the drive: If you spend several months and things do not go as expected, you should be aware that this is indeed part of the challenge, to assess how these fail and try again.

Share your experience

As I said at the beginning, there are no formulas for freelance work but certainly the experience of many may enrich our perspective. Some of the points they share are based on my experience and that of those who worked with me. So I invite you to share your experience in comments and answer questions How to start working as a freelancer? ” What was the hardest thing to start your freelance work?

Filed Under: Freelancer advice tips
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