| Running your own Internet business solo can be tough. There's so much to do! But the good news is, you can get help. Hiring freelancers for time-consuming or "technical" tasks doesn't have to be expensive. And as we teach in our Internet Money Club business-building program, it frees you up to focus on the important stuff: your marketing. In his article today, Glenn Fisher, managing editor of Shortcut Publications (part of the Agora Inc. family based in the United Kingdom), shows you how to avoid the freelancers out to take advantage of you... and hold onto those who can help you grow your business much faster than if you tried to do it all yourself. -----------------------------------------------------Highly Recommended----------------------------------------------------- Why Julie Gladly Left Her Six-Figure Job With the help of Brian Edmondson, real estate expert Julie Broad quit her job and started an online business. "As a result of Brian's guidance, I earned $500 my first month, $2,000 my second month, and $5,000 my third month," says Julie. "I'm confident I will continue to earn $10,000 or more every month from now on." Now, Brian will walk YOU though every aspect of getting an Internet business up and running.
"An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew, hoping he'll quickly learn how to chew it." Roy Ash How to Get the Most Out of Freelancers
By Glenn Fisher In the words of the poet John Donne, no man is an island. And when it comes to starting your own business online, that means there's no reason to think you have to do everything yourself. If there's a particular element of setting up an Internet business that's got you stuck -- writing content or designing a website, perhaps -- rather than giving up on the whole idea... Hire a freelancer to do it. Here are some tips to help you get the most for your money... -
It may cost a little more, but it makes sense to use sites like www.elance.com, www.rentacoder.com, www.guru.com, and www.odesk.com to find people who will do a good job for you. These sites hold the payment until you say you're satisfied. This helps to protect both you and the freelancer. (You can't run off without paying, and the freelancer won't get paid until you sign off on his work.) -
If you're not using one of the aforementioned sites and, instead, are dealing directly with the freelancer, don't pay for the entire project upfront. Stagger your payments so you don't lose all your money if the freelancer doesn't perform. And if you are paying for the work at an hourly rate, ask the freelancer to submit a timesheet detailing exactly what he did and when, so you can be sure you are getting your money's worth. -
Ask freelancers applying for your job for samples of their work and testimonials from satisfied clients. Aside from the obvious reason, this will help you weed out "serial bidders" -- people who apply for every freelance job going, even if they're not really suited to it. -
Be wary of new members of websites like elance.com who have no client feedback. They could be old members using a new login name to avoid being associated with negative comments from people who have used their services. -
In your advert, ask for a specific (and unusual) bit of information -- maybe something like "Include the word 'flotsam' in the subject line of your e-mailed application." If they don't do it, you'll know they have not paid close attention to your requirements. (Not the kind of person you want to work for you.) Bottom line: When you work with freelancers, be clear as to what it is you want and be fair. If they do a great job for you, reward them. If their work leaves something to be desired, be firm and demand better. As long as you choose your people carefully, you can get high-quality work done at a low price -- and that will give you an enormous advantage as an online entrepreneur. [Ed Note: When you're starting an online business, your most important job is to come up with the best possible way to sell your product or service. How do you get the rest of the work done? By passing it on to freelancers who specialize in the technical or creative tasks you don't have time for. That's just one of the techniques you'll learn as a member of ETR's Internet Money Club (IMC). Search engine optimization, website building (without technical hassles), copywriting, e-mail list building... it's all covered in the IMC. Registration is open for a very limited time. Go here to find out more. After studying business, economics, politics, and creative writing -- and working for many years in local government -- Glenn Fisher joined Shortcut Publications as the editor of their flagship publications, Shortcut Bulletin and Shortcut Confidential. Glenn has developed a loyal following for both publications, helping and inspiring readers to achieve personal and financial freedom. To receive Glenn's free, daily e-letter, go here.] -----------------------------------------------------Highly Recommended ----------------------------------------------------- Nobody's Going to Visit Your Online Business... Unless You Give Them a Reason Everybody and his uncle has a website these days. But 99% of them aren't making any money. The first step in gaining Internet wealth is getting people to visit your site. Until now, that has been difficult. But thanks to a technique you already use every day -- but don't recognize the potential of -- you can attract thousands of "primed to buy" visitors. And it's totally free. That means ZERO marketing expenses. Read more...
"Thank you for the thought provoking message by Robert Ringer in today's ETR. "I never miss reading my ETR. It always gives my day that boost I need to get started. I usually never comment -- today, however, I would certainly be ungrateful for not thanking you. Michael Masterson and Robert Ringer are two of my favorite people and I never miss reading what they have to say. I have met Michael at ETR's wonderful Bootcamp and look forward to one day meeting Robert."
Butch Wells -----------------------------------------------------Highly Recommended----------------------------------------------------- "But I'm not a writer!" As an Internet entrepreneur, you have to learn to recognize effective sales copy -- if not write it yourself. Whether it's e-mail subject lines, sales letters, insert ads, pay-per-click ads... bad copy is just too damaging to your business. But even if you're not a "writer," you can learn to apply the secrets of profit-producing copy from master copywriters as part of the Internet Money Club program. Find out more here...
The Language Perfectionist: Frequent Mistakes, Set Aright By Don Hauptman Some linguistic errors occur repeatedly. One of my favorites is the bungling of prix-fixe, a term that even some classy restaurants misspell in various creative ways. Below is a collection of other common gaffes -- and how to avoid committing them. - "We were on tender hooks waiting for her to come back -- when she did [and] she was breathing on her own, I cried with relief."
The correct expression is on tenterhooks. Once upon a time, tenters were frames and tenterhooks were used to stretch cloth across them. Thus, on tenterhooks is a metaphor for being in a state of suspense or apprehension. - "Lind is an internationally renown scholar who has served as a visiting professor for education and educational research...."
The word renown is a noun; the adjective is renowned. Someone who is renowned is distinguished and famous. But don't use the noun in place of the adjective, as the writer of the above sentence did. - "I was just wondering if anyone has dalmations and if their temperament is good around children."
The breed of dog favored by firefighters and Disney animators is a Dalmatian. Spell it properly -- and capitalize it, too. - "I would never take the train when I am on a business trip but since I am backpacking this time, I have to -- for old time's sake...."
We do nostalgic things not for the sake of old time but rather old times. Thus, the possessive plural apostrophe should be placed at the end of the word: old times' sake. - "The president simply couldn't... convey his passion and convictions in the plain words of plain folks, and to breech the chasm between the People's House and the people's houses."
This sentence contains a double mistake. First, the verb the writer evidently had in mind is correctly spelled breach. But then, that's not right either because he clearly meant bridge (to connect), not breach (to break or tear). [Ed Note: For more than three decades, Don Hauptman was an award-winning independent direct-response copywriter and creative consultant. He is author of The Versatile Freelancer, an e-book that shows writers and other creative professionals how to diversify their careers into speaking, consulting, training, and critiquing.]
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