Making money online is a very well-positioned discussion. The
various thoroughfares of the debates though are beyond the scope of this
article. However I want to concentrate on one aspect that everyone
looking to make money on oDesk, Elance or any other freelancing site for
that matter, must pay attention to while bidding for jobs - quite
simple indeed.
Get interesting.Do something extraordinary
My experience: As a newbie to the field of online freelancing, making money online was made to appear ostensibly easy. Just dive in and start making money - effortlessly. That is what I was set up to think. So upon getting me a laptop, this was my thought process: internet access - check; a decent profile on all the online marketplaces available - check; a couple of exams - check; and the enthusiasm to make it happen - check. I had done all that was necessary to start cashing in on online jobs. How mistaken I was. And so began my rocky, devastating job hunt. And here is where I (eventually) present my case.
The culture of pitching for freelancing gigs in general is a vociferous snore. It frights. One cover letter is recycled over and over: "Dear sir (even when job poster is a lady)"; "I have lots of experience"; or "I promise to deliver on time." And the same "your application for the job XYZ was declined" or "simply preferred other candidates" becomes frailer and frailer. You feel like the most qualified candidate for this gig or the other, but you feel lost in the enormous, crowded freelancing marketplace.
As a newbie, this is how I felt. But then I asked myself, why should I feel lost? Right at my fingertips was the one thing that could land me that first gig. To cut a long story short, I created a killer cover letter and developed a kick-ass profile complete with a portfolio of all services I could provide. That sprung me up above the enormous marketplace, aided me in landing my first oDesk job, and the rest as they say is history.
And that's my adorable story out there. My point is, there are never-ending discussions on freelancing forums over the lack of jobs, but very little talks of how to tackle the issue.
Adam Pacitti, an unemployed Irish guy bought outdoor advertising from his last savings begging potential employers to hire him. Ridiculous you may think. Nevertheless, his ridiculousness proved to be a very reasonable way to quickly scuttle through the noisy pile of job applicants. He got the attention of not only over 100 potential employers after his story turned viral. He dared to kill the monotony that employers were going through on a daily basis.
Now, relate this to your career as a freelancer. Using the available freelancing platforms and their amazing features to "do something different" is feasible for any freelancer ready to think outside the box.
Things you can do include writing a kick-ass cover letter tailored to the particular job post, to attaching a relevant sample, or even simply sprucing up your profile. In essence, it is possible for different to become the norm rather than the exception. Use the approach to your advantage in landing that freelancing gig, and make money while at it.
Get interesting.Do something extraordinary
My experience: As a newbie to the field of online freelancing, making money online was made to appear ostensibly easy. Just dive in and start making money - effortlessly. That is what I was set up to think. So upon getting me a laptop, this was my thought process: internet access - check; a decent profile on all the online marketplaces available - check; a couple of exams - check; and the enthusiasm to make it happen - check. I had done all that was necessary to start cashing in on online jobs. How mistaken I was. And so began my rocky, devastating job hunt. And here is where I (eventually) present my case.
The culture of pitching for freelancing gigs in general is a vociferous snore. It frights. One cover letter is recycled over and over: "Dear sir (even when job poster is a lady)"; "I have lots of experience"; or "I promise to deliver on time." And the same "your application for the job XYZ was declined" or "simply preferred other candidates" becomes frailer and frailer. You feel like the most qualified candidate for this gig or the other, but you feel lost in the enormous, crowded freelancing marketplace.
As a newbie, this is how I felt. But then I asked myself, why should I feel lost? Right at my fingertips was the one thing that could land me that first gig. To cut a long story short, I created a killer cover letter and developed a kick-ass profile complete with a portfolio of all services I could provide. That sprung me up above the enormous marketplace, aided me in landing my first oDesk job, and the rest as they say is history.
And that's my adorable story out there. My point is, there are never-ending discussions on freelancing forums over the lack of jobs, but very little talks of how to tackle the issue.
Adam Pacitti, an unemployed Irish guy bought outdoor advertising from his last savings begging potential employers to hire him. Ridiculous you may think. Nevertheless, his ridiculousness proved to be a very reasonable way to quickly scuttle through the noisy pile of job applicants. He got the attention of not only over 100 potential employers after his story turned viral. He dared to kill the monotony that employers were going through on a daily basis.
Now, relate this to your career as a freelancer. Using the available freelancing platforms and their amazing features to "do something different" is feasible for any freelancer ready to think outside the box.
Things you can do include writing a kick-ass cover letter tailored to the particular job post, to attaching a relevant sample, or even simply sprucing up your profile. In essence, it is possible for different to become the norm rather than the exception. Use the approach to your advantage in landing that freelancing gig, and make money while at it.
MakeALivingFreelancing.com offers practical resources targeting
online freelancers to help them make a living from their freelance
income. For more on making money online and getting jobs online, please
visit us at http://www.makealivingfreelancing.com
Founder of The Make A Living Freelancing blog, Eva is a mobile money expert, international development professional,business plan writer, freelance non-fiction writer and blogger. For the past 4 years, she has lived, worked, and played in at least 2 continents in any one year. You can follow Make A Living Freelancin on tweeter @Freencin4ALivin and follow Eva on Twitter @evaloistweeting
Founder of The Make A Living Freelancing blog, Eva is a mobile money expert, international development professional,business plan writer, freelance non-fiction writer and blogger. For the past 4 years, she has lived, worked, and played in at least 2 continents in any one year. You can follow Make A Living Freelancin on tweeter @Freencin4ALivin and follow Eva on Twitter @evaloistweeting
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