Value of Freelance Writers
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Being a freelance writer can be a lucrative profession – but only if you make the most of your talents and resources. Today, the most effective way to do this is by carrying out a PR campaign instead of carrying out assignments individually. A campaign may initially cost more for the client but it produces better results and is more cost-effective in the long run. The freelance writer in turn receives bigger payment and has a steadier source of income.
 To multiply one's writing sales, a freelance writer needs to convince their clients of the advantages of conducting a PR campaign. The most effective way to do this is by explaining the short-term and long-term benefits of a PR campaign. Clients often request for individual assignment because they want instant results, but this can also be done in a campaign. For example, the freelance writer may write an ad copy – which can be used immediately – and then follow it up with other promotional materials that are part of a campaign. A freelancer can also get more writing sales by offering to provide a full campaign that covers all phases from conceptualization to completion. In this way, the freelancer doesn't serve only as a writer but also as a marketing consultant and overall service provider. If there are tasks within the campaign that a freelancer can't do himself (such as the tie-in services), he can simply outsource it to other freelancers. This is one reason why maintaining a wide professional network is necessary for freelancers.
Additionally, a smart freelance writer will use their knowledge to provide suggestions on how companies can make the most of a PR campaign. They will be able to explain and recommend novel marketing concepts and turnkey solutions that will not only ensure the success of the campaign but might also be able to improve their clients' business. This service will normally be separate from the work they do as a writer, but they can also choose to make it part of a package deal.
Tags: Freelancer, Create Work, Writing, PR, Assignment
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Online Project Management
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Many companies are now operating through the collaboration of different divisions that may be thousands of miles apart, even from different countries. This is the result of innovations in the Internet that is the major force behind globalisation and offshore outsourcing. Today, a campaign may be divided into different projects, each of which may be carried out by teams from all around the world.
But these advances still have some problems, of which one of the biggest is how to manage each project from a distance. Fortunately, this is now easily addressed by online project management tools and systems. Even when a project manager oversees a project only through the Internet, the management tools ensure that each business process is performed according to plan. Some of the necessary qualities of a good online project management tool are:
• Help in planning while being flexible. Online project management systems can serve as a guide when drafting a plan for a project. Each system follows a procedure that may also be applicable for the project at hand – this makes both planning and execution easier. However, the management tool and the manager should be flexible and able to adapt to unexpected changes in the execution of the project.
• Make the execution of the project more efficient. All projects have three dimensions – time, budget and quality – that need to be employed to create the best result. Good organization and utilization of resources is necessary for the success of all projects and it is up to the manager to decide which management tool will best make that happen.
With the right online project management tool, a manager can create a “virtual office” that can be more efficient than the traditional office in completing projects. Furthermore, it can make the activities and deliverable easier to visualize so projects are not derailed by uncertainty and are easily checked to be on the right track.
Tags: Virtual, Projects, Online, Project, Management
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Worth of Project Management
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If you're a project manager, you probably have had the problem of not having enough resources for your project. In particular, getting enough people (and the right ones) to do the work can be very difficult, especially if you have to compete for the budget for hiring them. Here are some tips you can convince the upper heads to give you the necessary means to get your project going:
Setting the Value of Your Project
• You have a high priority project. The priority of a project is largely set by the company executives. So if your project aims to achieve the goal of the company owner or president, you are more likely to receive funding or bring in the most competent people to your project.
• Many people will benefit from your project. People will be more willing to give you what you need if they will get something in return upon the success of your project. Most managers will help you if your work will lift off some of their own loads or make their work easier.
• Your project will have a big impact on the company. You can also get the resources you need if you show how your project will improve the company. You can even reallocate resources from less profitable projects, and use it in yours where it will create a much more positive effect.
Approval through Other Means
• Showing a cost/benefit analysis. When company executives see that it will cost the company more to not approve your project, then they will sensibly get you the resources you need.
• Using personal relationships. If you can't convince resource providers of the value of your project, but fully believe that it will benefit the company, you can try to use your personal relationships with higher ups to approve your requests. Just make sure that you're working for the company and not for just personal gain.
Tags: Projects, Resources, Company, Business, Management
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The New Way of Job Seeking
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For most people, the old way of job seeking – going to different offices and personally handing your resume – has become so inconvenient and impractical. It requires people to spend a lot of time and effort travelling and dealing with application personnel (it's worse even for parents who still have to hire babysitters), and it's not even that effective. But all that is circumvented in the new way of job seeking – going online
Job hunting on the internet is fast, requires little resources (just a computer and an internet connection) and applications are quickly returned so applicants don't have to wait long wondering if they'll be hired or not. Online job seeking is also preferable as there is hardly ever a shortage of job posts for anyone working in any industry, plus job posts are regularly updated, allowing for more timely applications.
Nowadays, there is a multitude of job search, employment and career sites on the internet, some of the largest being CareerBuilder.com, SimplyHired.com, and Monster.com. It's easy to sign up on these sites and membership is usually free. The advantage of joining these sites is that they post vacancies on all position levels, on practically all fields, and offers part-time and full-time jobs.
Another option for people who want to work freelance is to join freelance sites like oDesk.com, eLance.com and RentACoder.com. In these sites, companies, agencies or even individuals post jobs, which the freelancers can bid on. These sites usually either charge a membership fee or take a percentage of what members earn from each project.
People looking for a specific job or position can also try joining forums, related websites or making specific search engine queries. Using a search engine, such as Google, to search for a particular job (e.g. “IT specialist Somerset”) will direct you to other sites posting such a job. Joining a forum or a website on the particular industry you want to work is also good as they are usually the first to post any job vacancies.
There are other ways to look for job openings in the internet – you can also use Craiglist, follow the site of a target company, or build a professional profile in a networking site – but the above suggestions should already help a lot. For a higher chance of getting hired, it's necessary to have an impressive virtual C.V., good recommendations and, if possible, an online display of sample works.
Tags: Work, Online, Job Seeking, Applications, Freelance
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The Value of LinkedIn
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LinkedIn is possibly the best way to build and maintain professional contacts today. Presently, it has over 120 million registered users – the largest membership among business-related social networking sites – who use the site in various ways to improve their business, making LinkedIn an indispensable business tool. Below are some of the ways you can use the site to your advantage. Create an online professional profile. It’s what LinkedIn was created for, and it does it very well indeed. Your profile is like your C.V., only much better: it shows your career or business history, who you have had, or are having business with, and what they think about you. This way prospective business partners will have a good and immediate picture of you and your business. Update your business status. If there’s an important event in your company – for example, you began a partnership with a major corporation – you can announce it on your status. You can also post about milestones in your company or other big events. Another way to use the status is by posting about special deals that you’re offering to your clients. Hire people easily. A large fraction of LinkedIn members are individuals working freelance, looking for a temporary work or on the lookout for a new employee – any of which you can hire according to the needs of your company. If you need professionals to work part time, full time, as inters or on contract, simply post your requirements on your profile page and wait for the applications to arrive. Know the word on your company. The Company Buzz is a great feature of LinkedIn (via Twitter) that works by letting you know what people are saying about your company. This could be very important as it informs you of any negative comments people might have about your company and therefore let you correct whatever may be wrong in your business. Connect with the right people. LinkedIn will connect you with clients and customers, but just as importantly, it can also connect you with people who can improve your business. These may be companies or individuals who can offer solutions to your own problems. By working with them and making them a part of your network, you make sure that your business is running at its best capacity.
Tags: LinkedIn, Network, Business, Company, Online
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How SEO Writing Works
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Students, housewives, retirees and laid off, job hunting workers can earn some – or even a lot of – money working from home writing SEO articles and blog posts. These are jobs often advertised on job sites; it usually requires 350 to 500-word articles/posts about a broad subject (such as fashion or physical fitness), where the client provides a particular keyword or set of keywords which have to be included in all articles/posts. But how does this work? You might wonder. And why are keywords so important? To understand that you have to know the basics of SEO.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, the process of increasing the visibility of a website and its content pages in search engines without paying for it and using only the search engine's algorithm. Good SEO is more natural and credible as it aims to get higher ranking for sites and webpages in an honest way – through good content and quality backlinks. You can get backlinks (or links going to your site) in different ways, but the best ones are the ones from high-ranking sites. Good content is good writing paired with the right amount of keyword density.
Keyword density is simply the degree of how much your keyword or “key phrase” appears in an article or blog post. For example, if you have the key phrase “wedding videography” appear five times in a 400-word article, then that article has a keyword density of 2.5%. The generally accepted range of keyword density is 2-3%, as it is at this range that the article or blog post will still sound natural. Too much keyword density is risky as search engines may think that you're trying to abuse their algorithms and block your content instead.
So the key for writing successful SEO articles and blog posts is working with search engines. Normally, a keyword should only be placed on the first paragraph of your content, once more somewhere in the body, and another at the last paragraph. Good SEO writing could actually pay very well, with experienced writers being able to bill £15-30 per article – and that's only for well-written, keyword-rich content will little research and stylistic flair. So if you think you have some talent in writing and good organizational skills, it's probably good to give SEO writing a try.
Tags: Home, SEO, Writing, Keyword Density
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Building Professional Networks
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Networking is a way for individuals and companies to exchange business solutions and resources. It's a relationship that aims for both partners to gain something, preferably at the least possible cost. In business, it's certainly indispensable and it could mean the difference between growth and stagnation. Below are four ideas on how to start, maintain and improve your professional network.
Starting a partnership. You can introduce yourself and your business in two ways – personally (using business cards) and via online. Both are just as important. When you personally meet potential partners, you have the chance to make a good impression and give them something to remember you by. Introducing yourself online, however, may be more convenient for everyone involved. You can introduce yourself online by emailing people or by directing them to your website or professional profile page.
Promoting Yourself. It's not a wise idea to push your business on other people. Instead of doing this, make them want to hire you by showing them your company's capabilities and how you can help them. You can do this when you meet them by finding a good timing, then telling them how you provided a solution to someone who had the same problem they have now. Again, going online is another option that may be more convenient, as you can put all necessary information on your website or profile page.
Keeping in Touch. People will check you out if you make a good impression, but they may forget about you if you don't maintain regular contact. To make clients remember you, you can mail them about new products or offers, have them subscribe to your in-house digest or even by occasionally discussing your shared interests with them. Having an online professional profile page is very advantageous for networking as it makes building connections with clients and co-workers a lot easier to do and maintain.
Enlarging Your Network. Of course, if you want people to remember you, it follows that you also have to remember them. Keep a record of all your partners and clients and update it every now and then. If you can't provide a particular service or product to someone who needs it, direct him or her to someone who could. In this way, you improve your professional standing by serving as that person who can direct people to the right product or service provider. Additionally everyone becomes part of your network.
Tags: Professional, Network, Business, Clients, Online
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Advantages of Outsourcing
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If you want to start an online business but can’t handle all the work requirements alone, the best way for you to proceed is to outsource your personnel. Whether you’re providing a product or a service, hiring outsourced personnel is an effective and efficient method to meet your target results at the least cost and fastest time possible. The major advantage of outsourcing is that it will free you up to do the more integral or vital tasks of your business as you can allocate the basic tasks to your outsourced personnel. This means you can focus on how to develop and run your business instead of doing the menial work. (Of course this also gives you more time to relax.) Versatility is another advantage that comes when you outsource. This is because you only have to hire as mush employee as your business needs. Once the assignment is done, you can easily end the contract and the person you outsourced will not complain or argue. Outsourcing also provides versatility because you can hire people depending on your particular needs, such as promotion or content creation for your business’ site. Some people do not fully trust outsourcing, and with good reasons. However, there are so many people offering their services online who have a professional attitude and who can deliver what they promise. Defining traits of these people are that they are available for communication and that they regularly update you regarding the progress of the job. Outsourcing is clearly an advantageous way to conduct business. It requires less management and gives you more time to attend to your business’s core functions. Furthermore, it allows you to adapt more easily and meet the needs of your business better.
Tags: Outsourcing, Work, Online, Business, Company
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Top Five Work-at-Home Jobs Today
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Advances in communication and internet technology have caused great changes in how people work. Whereas it was previously necessary for all employees to go to the office to work, for many professions today, conducting business or doing one's work is much easier and convenient if done online and at home. If you're tired of your regular 8-hour job and want to work at the comfort of your own home, try out one of these online based jobs.
Freelance contractor – Most jobs can now be done by freelance contractors. Some of the most often contracted freelance jobs are writing and editing, computer software programming, image and graphics creation, and data processing. Recently, increasingly more lucrative jobs are offered by freelance contractors. These jobs include legal services, medical services, company accounting, and architecture and fashion design. Like in any other profession, pay rate increases as your portfolio develops.
Virtual Assistant – Virtual assistants work much like freelance contractors in the way that they skilled workers providing different services and working at a “virtual office”. Virtual assistants, however, is different as they are contracted to perform different tasks (they may, for example, be able to write, illustrate and process data). Most virtual assistants are outsourced offshore, although there are also many clients who prefer to have a virtual assistant who lives in the same country as them.
Blogging – Imagine writing about something you're passionate about or something you're deeply interested in. Now, imagine getting paid for doing that – and that, to put it simply, is blogging. Running a blog site can cost as little as £45 to as much as £450, depending on the quality and range of service you want in your blog site. Bloggers earn mostly by the advertisements posted on their site, and with enough traffic a blogger can earn up to thousands per month.
Affiliate Marketing – Now this job – if done well – can bring in big money. Basically, affiliate marketing sites work by selling the products (and occasionally services) of other people. They earn when they direct customers to vendors, who then give the affiliate marketer a share of the profits of the sale. Affiliate marketing sites are easier to maintain than blogs and a group of sites is also easier to manage, which means that you can build more sites and thus earn more money.
Survey Taker – While technically it can't be called a profession, being an online survey taker can also bring in extra cash. It's very difficult to make it a permanent job but it's very suitable as a part-time work. Surveys are performed by companies to gain information about customer preferences, so if you're a survey taker you get paid by basically just letting the world know what you like.
Tags: Skilled, Create Work, Internet, Websites, Online
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Starting a Freelance Writing Job
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Having a freelance writing job is a great way to earn an extra income. Some writers who have taken freelance writing as their primary work even earn more than they ever have while holding a regular job. If you want to get serious about freelance writing, here are some tips that can greatly help you:
Take the job seriously. Freelance work allows you to do your job at an arrangement and setting that you prefer. However, it does not mean you'll only work if you're in the mood. You must maintain a professional attitude and good working ethics. Make sure that you do your job well, that you deliver what you promised and to take pride in your work.
Build up your portfolio. Create an impressive resume by citing your previous works and providing excellent writing samples. Provide as much information and reference as you think is necessary to give prospective clients a better idea of your working ability and capacity. It would greatly help to have a website where you can freely display your accomplishments and advertise your services.
Maintain a good working schedule. It can be very tempting for freelancers to keep readjusting their work time to suit their own preference and the assignments' demands. But if you do this, you'll carry the risk of gradually decreasing your productivity. It's best to have a fixed schedule when to work and how much output should be done given a certain time.
Make friends with other freelancers. If you're just starting to work freelance, clients won't be on a rush to get you. But if you have good relations with more experienced writers, they might pass on to you the assignments that they can't manage anymore. You can also network with your clients who – if you do a good job – will likely refer you to their friends and associates.
Tags: Freelancing, Networking, Writing, Virtual, Friends
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