[Nfbc-info] innovative work from home self employment option

[Lisa Irving]

Hi,

 

I thought about some of our chapter members who are wanting to work, or want
to do something differently. Here's an article I came across in, "The Blind
Post",  an online monthly newsletter . 

 

From,

Lisa Irving 

 

### Tech news: This month from Char.

 

Freelancing Online

 

I think of the internet as the great equalizer. This means that many
barriers that blind people experience are lowered by the internet, and by
computers

in general. Getting work is one of these areas. Okay, it's still not easy to
get a job, but there are ways to get work online if you are persistent and

don't expect miracles. One of these ways is by freelancing. This article
will explain the concept, and how you can get started.

 

The concept of freelancing means that you are not working for a company, you
are contracting your services to a client for a given amount of time to get

a particular task done. You work for yourself. This is important to note
when doing taxes, ETC. The people you freelance for will not be responsible
for

filing taxes, you will.

 

Okay, legalities out of the way, here's how it works. Freelancing sites
offer you opportunities to sell your skills. Come up with a set of skills
that

you think you can offer. These can include writing, editing, email writing
and customer service, social media posting, audio editing, voice acting,
accounting,

virtual secretarial skills, or any number of other skills that you can do
from the comfort of your own home, on your schedule.

 

Once you know the kind of skills you will be selling you can set up a
profile on one or any of the freelancing sites out there. [I will list a few
at the

end of the article]. Often, the sites will have some skills tests you can
take to prove that you actually have the skills you say you do. Many of the
sites

offer a free option which will allow you to apply for a few jobs each month,
just enough to get you going. In order to apply for more, you will need to

pay a monthly fee, generally starting at $10ish. Though this may be an
additional cost at first, it is worth it, because in time it will probably
pay for

itself in spades.

 

Once you have your profile set up and some skills tests passed, you can
start browsing and applying for jobs. When choosing the one you're going to
apply

for, be realistic with yourself. Don't bid on anything you don't actually
have the skills to complete.

 

Applying for jobs can be the tricky part. You need to write a proposal
selling your skills and abilities. In a freelance marketplace, the skills
you have

to offer can be more important than the actual work experience you have,
which is why freelancing is a good starting option for those of us who
haven't

had a chance to work in a traditional job. But you have to sell your skills
in a way that clients will want to hire you. Here are some tips:

 

list of 5 items nesting level 1

. Keep your proposal simple and to the point. I have read proposal pages
long, that lost my interest within the first paragraph. Keep it short and to
the

point.

. Start with the thing the client will be most looking for. How much are you
going to charge, and how long will it take? This should be in the first
paragraph.

 

. Use your samples to speak for you. The sites will allow you to upload
samples of your work both within the bid itself and onto your profile. Have
relevant

samples that show you at your best.

. As I said, be realistic with your bid. Don't undersell yourself in order
to compete. More on this later. Also, be realistic about the time it will
take

you to complete a project. You can get yourself into a lot of trouble by
underrating how long it will take you to get a job done.

. Most importantly, make sure that your proposal is well written. Spell
check it, check for grammar mistakes, and make sure your writing is clear.
It is

the first thing from you that your client will see, and it needs to make a
good impression. Once you've applied for jobs, you wait. This is the hard
part

and the thing that can get discouraging. Don't expect to get the first job
you apply for, or even the first 20. You might, in which case you are either

very lucky or very good at selling your skills, but you might not. There are
two reasons for this. One is that freelancing sites tend to be based on a

rating system. Once you've got a job or two under your belt and have gotten
good ratings for your work, you will get jobs far more easily. Until you get

that first rating, though, clients will have no idea if you are any good,
and many will not give you a chance. Secondly, you are competing against
others

on these sites, many of whom are from other countries who can bid far lower
on a project and still have it be worth their time. This waiting period is

tough, and no mistake. But be persistent, and you will get something.

list end nesting level 1

list end

 

This is not a get rich quick scheme. It may take a while to get going, and
even when you've had jobs you may go through times with not much happening.

But you will go through just as many when you have no idea how you're going
to get it all done. At first, it may only be a supplement to your income. It

may never be more than that, but it might also become a major source of your
income. Either way, it is a really good place to get started earning work

experience and developing your skills. Good luck!

 

Here are some sites that offer freelance work. Note that these are
generalized. You can do a Google search for freelancing sites that are
specifically

geared toward the skills you offer, and you will probably find some that
deal with those skills specifically.

 

Peopleperhour.com

 

Upwork.com

 

Guru.com

 

Fiverr.com

 

You can find me on Twitter as charvor.

 

 

### From the pages of Donna's travel diary: