Unhandled Perception

The ability to win new client projects is an essential skill to any freelancer. It’s something we freelancers practice from the day we get started, and it’s usually a skill that builds over time.

Aside from just practice, there are actually a lot of things you can do to become better at winning new client projects. Winning projects is not a confusing process, and it can actually be broken down very methodically.

In this article we’ve done just that, and divided the project-winning process into five steps. Read on for an explanation of each step, and a few tips for what you need to do to win at each stage of the game.

Link:
http://freelancefolder.com/5-steps-to-winning-any-client-project/

Managing the files and reference materials that you’ve compiled over the course of a project (or even your entire career) can be a daunting task. You need to organize invoices, proposals, creative files, mock-ups, research sources and a myriad of other folders and files for later reference. And let’s face it: most operating systems have inadequate file management tools for power users.

Below are a number of apps and resources that you can use to manage your files and resources. Some are Web-based, some desktop-based and some are analog (i.e. paper-and-pen-based). The one that’s right for you will depend largely on your workflow and what you need to keep organized.

Decent list, with some tools that I have never heard of that seem to be worth investigating a bit further.

Link:
http://www.noupe.com/tools/…

Search all US trademarks filed since 1870 for free.

Link:
http://www.trademarkia.com/

Quick link:
http://sixrevisions.com/project-management/…

1. Giving out too much information
Some people are just looking for information on how to accomplish a project and not really looking to hire someone to do the project. Giving too much information in a proposal just feeds the people who are fishing for information. Proposals should outline what you will be doing and how this directly affects the client without revealing all the details about what it takes to accomplish it.

Example: Don’t say ‘Setup a Joomla based website’ when you can say ‘Setup and configure a content management system (CMS) to allow full control over the websites copy and structure’. The second part states what will be done and what benefit the client gets without giving out the details of the CMS system that you recommend or have researched to fit their needs.

2. Not protecting yourself or your client
Both you and your client should now how they are protected during the project. An example of some questions that should be answered in a proposal is; who owns the copy and graphics, when does the transfership occur, what happens if the project drags on too long (because of you or client delays), what is the payment schedule, how will reviews of the project be handled, whats included in the price and what may not be included.

Most of these questions would be in a Terms of Service and becomes the legal contract, signed by both parties, that the project follows. Having this in place often prevents issues from coming up since the questions have already been answered.

3. Not including enough information
A well written proposal needs to define what the client is receiving and what benefits they will get by using you over your competition. Never think you’re the only company they are talking to. Sure, you can leave them with a positive impression of yourself after the initial meeting but most likely the descision of who they will use will fall on the proposal. A proposal that best conveys the project to them and really hits upon all the benfits will do wonders in landing projects.

Think of the proposal as painting a visual picture of the project without saying specifically how you will accomplish things.

4. Not presenting the information in a professional manor
This one is simple and sometimes most overlooked. The layout and presentation of your proposal, in the client’s eyes, indirectly will represent the quality of the work you will be providing.

Make sure the layout is clean, neatly organized, consistent in its styling and free of spelling or grammatical mistakes. For an even better proposal oragnize the information into sections like: quote, scope of work and terms of service.

5. Leaving money on the table
Don’t undersell yourself. Alot of companies, especially freelancers, are afraid to price a project to its value for fear of losing the project. Sure its easy to undersell a project in attempt to get it but what you end up with is one of two situations: 1) The project cost is low enough that towards the end of the project you’re working for peanuts and aren’t happy. This results in a ‘just get it done’ attitude which affects the work or 2) By underselling yourself the client feels that your skills are directly related to the price you quoted them.

When your brother’s starting up a new business and keeps asking you for the best places to do things online like send faxes, get legal help, or find a virtual assistant, send him a copy of The Ultimate Small Business Owner’s Resource Guide. The book normally costs $35 for a print version, but it’s available as a free PDF download here today.

Link:
http://lifehacker.com/5053913/

CurdBee is a safe and secure web-based billing application from Vesess. Use it to send clients invoices and then collect payments via PayPal or Google Checkout, billing them easily in the currency you choose. It’s so simple, you won’t believe it till you see it.

Link:
http://curdbee.com/

WordLab brands itself as the “The Wordboard Naming and Branding Discussion Forum” where they have forums for naming a company, naming a product, tag lines, band names, club names… See where I’m going with this? If you need a name for something, anything, then check out WordLab.

Link:
http://www.wordlab.com/wordboard/

Link:
http://paycheckcity.com/W4/…

Contracts and forms for designers are an important part of any design business. No matter if you are a graphic designer or web designer, a solid contract or good pre-project questionnaire can make every project go smoother.

A good contract can go a long way. Not only does is provide you, the designer/developer, a level of protection but it forces you to properly define the project and deliverables. This way both parties know whats expected of them and the client knows what they will be receiving from you.

Link:
http://…/graphic-design-contracts-agreement-forms-webdesigner/

Step 2 – You need to know who owes you money.
You need to know who is past due, who is paid up. Some of these invoicing apps allow for due date tracking. Or you can use a calendar app (gcal, ical etc) to do that.

Let me add my #1 tip: Get QuickBooks as it will save you so much time and make things so much easier. It will also lower the cost of an accountant at the end of the year since your books are in a format they are comfortable with. I used to track expenses and invoice by hand. Man that was a mistake. Quickbooks has made it so much easier.

Read all at:
http://freelanceswitch.com/…/accounting-basics-for-a-freelancer/

A common list of issues designers have to deal with while working with clients on projects and how to avoid or solve those issues in a professional manner.

Link:
http://youthedesigner.com/…/20-horrible-habits-of-clients/

I have never agreed with one of these top 10 lists as much as I do with this one. If you are looking to be a freelance designer/developer you should really read this list and understand why what he says is so very true.

Have something to add that is not on the list? Leave a comment.

Link:
http://…/10-absolute-nos-for-freelancers.aspx

Every year thousands visit the garages where Hewlett-Packard and Apple were hatched. But the hottest tech companies out there weren’t all started in a car lot.

Link:
http://money.cnn.com/…/gallery.web2_0_stars

Many businesses still are very hesitant to embrace outsourcing as a means to growing their practice and increasing productivity. To help you decide whether outsourcing is right for your business consider the following common questions:

Q: How can I be sure private client data will be secure?

A: Superior security measures and processes; make sure you have a signed service agreement (including confidentiality guarantees). Some important security features to look for when choosing a vendor are if they support a paperless monitored work environment. Consider network security such as if their site is encrypted and uses a firewall. Also, verify how they hire their employees. Do they adhere to stringent background checks and do they require a particular level of education or training?

Q: Is it against the law or code of ethics to utilize outsourcing?

A: No, as long as disclosures are made to the client. There is typically a provision in most privacy statements that disclose that the firm may be a need to disclose client information to third parties who provide help in servicing their accounts. Most firms reference outsourcing directly or indirectly in their privacy statement in order to comply with the Graham Leach Bliley Act. In either case, as long as the taxpayer is assured that his/her return will be reviewed by the firm’s tax department prior to filing, they generally respond favorably to outsourcing.

Q: How can I be assured that the work being done meets the high quality standards that I guarantee my own clients?

A: Again, investigate whether the vendor employs a skilled staff. Verify that the vendor performs quality checks and audits by seasoned U.S. staff and conducts rigorous and continual ongoing training of the tax and accounting team.

Q. How can I ensure outsourcing will be successful for me?

A. Communication with vendor. In the end, it is up to both the vendor as well as the client to make sure the lines of communication are open. The more the vendor understands the needs and work flow of the client and the more the client understands the outsourcing process, the better the relationship will be for both parties.

BuPro USA is the leader in outsourcing services for accounting and tax professionals. BuPro USA is a U.S. and Indian based company that helps accounting and tax professionals become more efficient and manage their work more effectively. Their proprietary technology platform makes the outsourcing process easy to use for all accounting and tax professionals; no matter their size or business mix. Key benefits include: a lower stress work environment, better quality, lower costs and better end-client relations. BuPro USA is a privately held company based in Ferndale, MI. For additional information, please visit http://www.BuProUSA.com or contact us at: info@BuProUSA.com

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