Free sites vs. free membership sites

When starting out as a freelancer, you will most probably do not have a lot of money on you. This means that when you are looking for that first job, you will be pushed to look for sites that offer you free memberships. Most of the sites that offer free memberships will often take a percentage of the total amount of money that you make while working through them. Although this may seem unfair to some people, it is actually a good way to work. This is because you get to work and then pay for the job later. This works very well with people who do not have a lot of money to work with at the start. It is also a very good model for the reason that if you do not work, then you are charged nothing. A good way to think of this is like when you go for a holiday for two or more months and you are not in a position to work. If you were on a paid site, that would mean that you pay for the two months even if you did not work.
Moving on to the paid membership sites. Most of these sites are very good to work for. This is because they often offer you a better pay then the free membership sites. Why then would someone go for the free ones if the paid ones offer a lot of money?
This can happen for several reasons:
• The first one is that the entrance conditions for these sites are very stringent. In most of the sites that I have tried to work and register for, the entry is often an interview where you have to write an article in a very short time span. This is often fifteen minutes. Given that you are coming up with a 150-word (usually) article and writing it in 15 minutes, you do not have a lot of space to work out the article. This means that you do not put your best into the writing and thus you most probably get rejected.
• The second one is obviously the amount of money that they charge for you to become a member. Some of the sites can charge as high as $19 per month for a membership. If you are just starting out and you do not have a lot of clients and work, you can begin to see why this would be a big problem for you.
• In most of the cases, there are a lot more clients in the free membership sites than in the paid sited. This is for the same reasons that a freelancer would choose a free site. A client does not want to pay for membership without the guarantee that they will get the best of the best. With that said, they would rather go for the free membership sites knowing that they will lose nothing if the articles or job is not of the quality that they need.
All in all, the choice for a free or a paid site rests on you. You have to look for the one that works better for you and go with it. Most of the freelancers often start with the free sites and then go on to register with the paid sites once they get the gist of the online workplace.

 

Choosing your place of work, i.e. your working website

Following my earlier posts, I had described what you need to do to be comfortable enough to start working. Then I talked about the need for you to know what areas you will be specializing in. After you have done all this, all that remains is for you to look for a job.

As you might know, most of the freelancers work online. This means that before you can start work you need to know what website you will be working on. There are so many of these out there but very few of them offer legitimate jobs.

What I mean is that there are some sites that are out there that are out to take your money and run. Most of them will ask you to pay a membership fee for you to join. You have to be very wary before you pay for the membership of any freelancing site. I am not saying that all of the websites that will ask you  to pay for their membership are scams, what I am saying is that you need to prove the legitimacy of the websites and the jobs that they offer before you dish out any money. This is because that are some very good websites that are out there that will give you consistent, better paying jobs than those that ask you to pay for membership..

In choosing the website that you will be working on, there is certain thing that you have to look out for:

• The first and most obvious one is if they charge fees for you to register. It is always good for you to join sites that are free but there are some very good ones that are paid for. I will explore this area in another blog. But this is a huge point for most people because you are looking for freelance jobs to get money. Thus you cannot pay for a membership if you have no money, right?
• The other is the amount of members that he website has. There are two types of members in any freelance website. The first are the clients and the others are the freelancers. I any freelance website, there is a chance that a percentage of these members are clients. And this means that the larger the number of members of the site, the higher the number of clients too.
• The other is amount of work that is available on the site. You may have to look for some website reviews for you to be able to tell which the websites that you would like to work on have a large number of jobs and those that do not.
• The pay that you can get from the website also varies from website to website and may be a sticking point for a lot of people. In this area you may have to talk to a few people for you to exactly know what pay to expect

With that being said, there are a lot more things that would make a person choose a freelance website over the other. All you need to do is find on that you find comfortable in and go with it.

 

why you need to define your niche as a writer

Versatility is one of the most important qualities that you must have as a writer. You have to have the ability to write on any topic at any time and at short notice. While this is a good thing and could work in your favor a lot of the time, there is a need for you to know what you are good at. When you are done defining what you are good at then you have to go on to perfect that. This is your niche. This has to be the type of writing that you feel you are the best at. This is the type of writing that you can do at any time without thought. Not forgetting that you need to do it pretty well.

So what goes into finding this comfort zone?

Well, first of all we all know what we are good at. If you are a writer and you do not, then you need to figure it out really fast. This is the area that will be your target and thus will be your market.  Defining this niche should not be too hard for you. But sometimes you may need to do a few projects for you to fully understand where your strengths lie. As you write, you will find that some topics are easier for you than others. These are the topics that you have to keep an eye on. After you are done seeing what works and what does not, then you need to find clients who can work with what you have. This is actually a vital aspect for various reasons.

The first is that when you do something that comes so easily for you, you are bound to do it better. This is because first of all you are not struggling to do it. Next, you are having fun with it. This translates into little or no stress or pressure on your part because mentally you actually know that you can handle the task at hand.  Finally when you understand where your strengths lie then you will find it easier to apply for and complete jobs. This is actually a vital aspect of the whole freelancing. You will come to see that finding jobs that are in your area of expertise becomes easier. Completing the jobs that you so apply for becomes a breeze for you then because you love what you do.

One of the most common and most fatal mistakes that a writer can make is to hop around looking for jobs. Specificity will get you going because you will find it a lot easier to work on what you actually get. Hopping around niches and hoping that you will perform well in all areas that you handle will not work for you. Studying one niche, the one that you love and find easier will take you places. So pick the niche that you are best at, work on it, improve it and you will see that tasks will get easier and you will not have to struggle so much when working.

 

Freelance Writing Style

If you have been introduced into freelance writing and have already gained a little income from it, you cannot wait to get more. It is nothing more than an obsession when you are passionate about freelance writing. There are a lot of writing jobs that you can choose from, and there can be a lot of freelance writing sites that you can affiliate with. Indeed, there are just many career advantages in freelance writing. Earning a fair amount of income while doing your passion is an ideal condition that all freelance writers aspire for.

What are the common benefits of freelance writing?

• You enjoy better freelance writing opportunities
Since that first day you ventured into freelance writing, you are already beginning to build your reputation. The more you indulge into freelance writing, the more you will get writing jobs. Not just that, you can have more freelance writing…

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Freelance Writing Style

An abundance of opportunities is always present in the freelance writing world. There are a lot of writer jobs for articles, blogs and similar online contents. There are also a lot of freelance writers swarming in the cyber world. However, there are only a few freelance writers who actually avail of such high-paying freelance writing opportunities. The reason is because many freelance writers take a lot of writing jobs without evaluating their quality.

There is enough impetus to make a lot of money in freelance writing. Many writers who are already working in a company would also moonlight for freelance writing just to avail of this opportunity. Sadly, because of limited time and the bulk of freelance writing jobs, some writers would just write for quantity over quality. This self-defeating mentality conditions such freelance writers to work beyond their comfort level just to get paid rather than build their…

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what makes for a good workspace?

You may have heard and understood that you need to define the space that you will be working in in order for you to give the jobs that you will be taking all the concentration that they need. Once this is done, you will find that you will constantly be providing quality work and thus you will have happy clients who may come back for more.

In order to have the perfect workspace, you need to have a space that fulfills most if not all of the below criteria:

1. It must be spacious and comfortable- this means that the place that you choose must have enough space for you and whatever furniture you may want to put in there. You also need to ensure that once you get the furniture or the workstation, it will be comfortable enough to work in.
2. It should be away from distraction and noise- this is very important as it will give you the chance to work in peace and give your jobs the concentration that they deserve. It also ensures that you will have some alone time to plan for and timetable your jobs in silence and with all the concentration that is needed.
3. You need to have comfortable furniture in there-you will find that you will have to sit for long periods of time while you work. Thus it is a good idea to get furniture that will be comfortable for you and that will not let you tire no mater how long you sit. You also have to have furniture that will let you rest and stretch from time to time i.e. the space afforded by the furniture should not be too restrictive.
4. The space should have adequate air flow- we need oxygen to think. Thus you need to have proper circulation of air as it gets too uncomfortable to work in stuffy spaces. The good air flow will also ensure that it will not get too hot in the afternoons. Do not forget to have the option of shutting the airflow for the cold nights that you may need to work.
5. Have the space customized to fit your own needs-this is actually very important because if the space is made to your specifications, then you will; fit in more easily and thus will be able to work more comfortably. Also ensure that all the things that you need are there. If you need a tea pot, then have it. If you g\feel a microwave should be in there, then have it. Do not forget to have air conditioning if you feel that you need it.
6. Lastly, have all the amenities that you need- the most important thing to have is power. This is must because you will be running computers and phones in there. Thus get a place that has reliable power supply. If you can, have the internet installed in the workspace because you will find that you will be using it a lot.

You have to balance usability and workability. This means that you need to have a space that you will be comfortable in and at the same time that you can work comfortable in. please try to get the space that you are sure will work for you. remember that you do not have to rent the space as you can curve a small space In your house for this. Also keep in mind that what works for me might not work for you and thus you need to have the space made to your specifications and in the way that you will find it easiest to us and to work in there.

 

A workspace is a must

One of the biggest and most common mistake that most of the freelancers make is to jump right into the thick of things and start searching for and filling job applications. while filling the applications is not a bad thing, there are a few things that have to be in order before the freelancer gets to working.

even before you apply for that job and even before you decide which website you would like to work at/in, you have to define the space that you will be working at. this means that you have to get a room or a space in the house that you are living in and designate it your freelance workspace.this is actually one of the most important things that you can do to propel your success.

but why have a workspace?

this is a question that you may be asking by now and the answers is simple. first of all, if you are serious about working and earning by being a freelancer, then you have to give your contracts the seriousness that they deserve,this mans that you have to first of all be in the right mind frame to work. this will be aided largely by the space that you have curved put that you will be working in. if the space is small and untidy, i can bet you that you will not be in the best frame of mind top perform your best and thus you will not succeed.

the other thing that you have to keep in mind is that there will be jobs that will demand that you concentrate. if you have a space away from any disturbances then you will be able to do so. the space will also allow you  to get jobs done with as little disruption as possible. this is something that you would like if you are working on high profile jobs.

by now you may be asking how you can choose the space and what you need at the workspace. watch out for the next post.

 

before you get started

After you have made the decision that you would like to leave the office and let go of that mean boss of yours and plunge fully into the world of freelancing, you have to start getting prepared to work as a freelancer. As such, there will be things that you will need to look into even before you decide to start looking for a job. One of the greatest attributes of a freelancer is patience. Patience to wait for a job that you applied for to come through for you and patience to wait for the contractor to pay because some of them take some time before they pay. Another thing that you have to have is the ability to define the skills that you have and thus the areas that you would like to get involved with.

The biggest mistake that most freelancers make is to try to get everything and work on a full plate at the same time. The downside of this is that they end up with half done projects and those that are complete are usually of low quality. The best thing to do is to always take a niche and stick to it. if you are a writer, then do not try to be a designer because if you do then you are bound to fail in one of the two.This is the very essence of knowing what you can do best and doing it whole heatedly.

After you are done defining what you can do best and what skills you need to have in order to succeed in the fields that you have chosen, it is time for you to assemble your tools of trade. For most of the freelancers, this is a computer, an internet connection and a phone. These are the tools that will help you reach the contractors and be able to work like you are supposed to.

You may need to define the space that you will be working in. This may be an area that you designate for your work if you are serious about working as a freelancer. The requirements of the workspace and the things that you need to look at when you are choosing it will form the basis of the next article.

 

why freelance work?

There are very few motivations that can make one leave their well paying job for a freelance job that they are not sure whether will be able to pay and sustain them. It is this reason that many people end up wondering why one would leave their 8-5 job for a freelance job that they are not sure is going to pay.

There are so many reasons why this may happen with most of the reasons being very personal and unique. If you feel that the job that you do does not satisfy you in the way that you would want it to then you are the perfect candidate for a freelance job. The freelance job will give you the satisfaction in the knowledge that you are working at what you love and thus you are using your abilities in the best way.

The other thing is that you need to invest very little in order for you to start as a freelancer. Most of the time all you may need is an Internet connection and a computer. Of course you will need knowledge on the areas that you would like to focus on as a freelancer. These are the basics that you need and as you can see you can start on your business with very little capital and a very small investment.

The range of jobs that are available to freelancers is so wide that there is something for everyone. In most of the freelance sites that i have worked for, there are always more than 50 categories that you can identify with and start working on. The reason that there is always something for everyone is also another reason for you to look into taking on a freelance job.

If you feel that the restriction of the hours that you can work in  your 8-5 job are very restrictive then you are also free to join a freelance site. At the end of the day it is all about fitting where you feel you belong.

There are certain things that you must put in order before you start on freelance work and these will be my focus on the next article.

 

freelancing is the new work module

With the way things are, more and more people are finding it hard to find decent jobs that they can do. Those that find the jobs are never entirely satisfied because the jobs are either too restrictive or they feel that they are not applying the best that they can into the jobs. With that said, a lot more people are starting to look for work online. do not be fooled, there are lots of opportunities for you to work online and there are a lot of opportunities for you to invest. The only bump on the road is that statistics say that almost 95% of all the websites that claim to make you rich are scams. What they do is enroll you into a programme that promises to make you a millionaire but you never see the money or the chance to do what they specified when you joined the scheme. you wait for that one email that will tell you have made some progress but none comes.I have been there.

Before i decided to start working as a freelancer, i had done a lot of these things. ‘ Auto-pilot’ programmes, cash making machines and the like. All that came to naught. with billions of websites out there and only 5% being legit, then you can see the task that is ahead of you when looking for legit freelance work or an online employment opportunity.

I have been working for freelance sites for the last few years and i can tell you there are some very good ones out there. all you have to do is find them and then apply some patience and you will start making a decent income online. you have to keep in mind that you will not have your money in a single day or a week. It takes at least a month to prove that you have the skills that you need and to find a decent employer.

Stay tuned to this blog as I hold your hand and help you navigate the murky waters that are freelance work spaces.