Want A Month's Worth of Paycheck by Year's End? Reduce Your Overhead Expenses (Part 3)

This is the last installment of this three-part article series, and I'll talk about two essential elements that comprise part of the routine of a freelancing professional.

Here's how to save up on --

Transportation and Meals

There are times when you have to go out and do research in a public library, or venues that allow access for research. You would need to plan your course of action carefully in order to maximize your days out. 

Setting a budget for transportation fares and meals is very important, especially if it will take more than a few days for you to find all the resources you need in libraries and other venues. 

A budget will prevent you from spending unnecessarily, causing you to deduct very little amounts from your cash flow. Consider the following in order to cut costs:

• Pack a water bottle in your bag.
• Bring a couple of sandwiches so as not to be tempted to turn to vending machines for soda and salty chips. Whole-wheat bread is best because it's extra filling.
• Take the jeepney, bus, or train whenever possible. Riding taxi cabs can rack up horrendous amounts of cash.

I have talked about this in greater detail in a previous post (click here to read).

Want A Month's Worth of Paycheck by Year's End? Reduce Your Overhead Expenses (Part 2)

In this next article installment, I'll cite additional ways for you to have a substantial amount of savings by year's end. Here's how you can save on --

Health Care

• If you're freelancing in the Philippines, I strongly suggest that you start making contributions to Social Security System and PhilHealth. Google "SSS contributions" for further details.
• If you started freelancing in your 20s and 30s, you will probably be less likely to be prone to serious illnesses. Still, you should think about getting yourself covered for routine check-ups like annual physical exams and dental and ocular inspections. When acquiring health insurance, simply settle for the one that would be most affordable given your monthly cash flow.
• The cheapest health insurance still remains to be eating healthfully and exercising moderately. Make physical fitness a part of your daily routine.

Equipment

• You need not spend Php40,000 or even Php30,000 on a new computer. Pre-owned desktop and laptop computers that are still in good condition can now be bought at olx[dot]ph (click here to view site). Be forewarned, though, that making transactions in this site would mean complying to certain guidelines.
• There are a multitude of free software that can be downloaded from reputable websites. Be selective enough, and make sure to choose the ones that are virus-free and will be most practical for you.
• Forego furniture stores and visit garage sales, or ask friends or relatives if they have an old desk that you can repurpose.
• If you would need to send your manuscripts and CDs through snail mail, National Bookstore sells brown envelopes with bubble wrap inside in various sizes. Apply for a Laking National Bookstore card to accumulate points for your other purchases, like pens and stationery.
• Save up on folders and brown envelopes by buying a separate USB for backing up files like copies of your Freelancer's Contract, collection letters, replies to promissory notes or negotiation letters, and records of transactions. 

Want A Month's Worth of Paycheck by Year's End? Reduce Your Overhead Expenses (Part 1)

Would you like a cool, one month's worth of salary (around Php12,000-Php15,000) by the end of 2015? Take time to re-evaluate your overhead expenses, and see where you can cut costs.

Here are several suggestions:

Bills

To save on electricity:

• Unless you're a film critic or you write guides to increase one's chances in winning video games, limit screen time (TV, internet, video games, etc.) to no more than two hours a day. 
• Limit the time you spend on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) unless you use these sites as platforms to promote your freelance business.
• Make it a habit to unplug appliances from their sockets when not in use. A MERALCO advisory claims that this will save you Php300 monthly.
• Have your meals planned a week or even two weeks ahead, and then assign Saturday or Sunday afternoon as the time when you cook food in bulk. You can freeze them in the refrigerator, and then, come meal time, heat just enough portions for you and your family.
• If you prefer to have your meat, chicken, and fish grilled, invest in an electric grill to save on charcoal (this would also mean less time cleaning up). Consider grilling huge portions of chicken and fatty fish so you can have enough for lunch and dinner.

To save on phone bills:

• Consider getting a telephone-and-internet "bundle," and opt for the cheapest plan. You can make and receive phone calls at home, and setting up a free Skype account would mean additional ways to get in touch with you.
• If you have to be on the road a few days a month, get a post-paid plan that allows you a free cellular phone. Settle for the most affordable plan that will bring you the most benefits.

To save on utility bills and home maintenance expenses:

• Always have a couple of LED bulbs handy. LED bulbs come cheaper since they're lower in wattage, but they give off more than adequate lighting.
• Plan your laundry and ironing. Since freelancing at home may mean a lighter load, you can limit the frequency of laundry to twice a week at most.

The Power of A Testimonial (Part 4)

I'm now going to round up this article series with this last piece of advice:

You don't need to reveal your client's name nor the company he's representing after the testimonials, especially if you agreed to grant him his Right to Confidentiality.

There are a few things regarding business transactions that need to be kept confidential, and freelancing is not exempted from this. Whatever intentions your clients may have for wanting to keep things private, you should respect that as his preference.

I have mentioned in one of my earliest posts that you should provide your clients with the Right to Confidentiality, where you write down in a separate portion of your Freelancer's Contract that you will keep the details of your transactions under discretion.

While you will come across clients who will find it perfectly fine that you cite their names along with the work you've done for them for your portfolio, there will always be a few others who prefer not to have the details of their projects disclosed to a third party.

And the Right to Confidentiality is something that you, a freelancing professional, must not break no matter what the circumstances are. It's easy to prove your competence, much like acquiring and honing your skills. But gaining the trust of your clients and building a solid reputation will be much harder than you think.

So once you have collected a sizable number of testimonials (say, four to six, or even more), simply exclude all of your clients' names. Potential clients will never assume that you merely made up all those glowing testimonials proving your worth as a freelancing professional. 

The Power of A Testimonial (Part 3)

By now you may have realized how beneficial a glowing testimonial from a satisfied client can be. Here are the next few guidelines you would need to consider in order to achieve your goal of presenting yourself to potential clients:

Remember to proofread what your clients said for clarity and cohesiveness.

Usually, clients seek freelancers, especially writers, because they themselves aren't blessed with the ability to put words together to achieve their desired results, or they find it time-consuming to handle the operations of their business and still take care of marketing their products or services.

If you're not a writer or copy editor, get in touch with a fellow freelancer whose expertise includes proofreading, and ask him to streamline your clients' testimonials until they're lucid and concise.

In order to cut costs, you can negotiate with your fellow freelancer that you'll return the favor by offering one of your services that's not included among his set of skills, should the need come up in the future.

Be selective with the testimonials that you'll include in your marketing materials.

To illustrate, you should have a separate web page in your freelancer's website for at least three testimonials. Place them beside or underneath your portfolio, or the page where your contact information is provided.

If you have a couple of specialties, like corporate resumes, websites' landing pages, blogging, or shooting webinars, provide at least two testimonials for each specialty. 

The Power of A Testimonial (Part 2)

In the first part of this article series, I cited how a glowing testimonial from a satisfied client can boost your marketing strategy and get more potential clients to notice you.

In my 11-year stint as a freelancing professional, I have grown more and more convinced that a testimonial not only reduces a freelancer's marketing budget, it also works better in convincing potential clients to give you a try.

That's because testimonials, when written in a way that calls attention to you as a peak performer, only means that you've done the necessary work to build a solid reputation. 

Given the numerous benefits that a testimonial can give, it only makes sense to learn how to use it for maximum results.

The following is not an exhaustive list, but just a few general guidelines on soliciting testimonials:

Get in touch with three to five of your most recent clients and ask them to put in a good word for you.

You can do this by emailing or calling former clients or any repeat client of whose whereabouts you may be keeping tab. Since a testimonial would only need to highlight your competence and skills, it need not turn into a rambling of "how great you are," and surely the client need not rave over you.

Notice any recurring compliments or key phrases.

It's too generic when a client says that "Sally Kimbell is professional, resourceful, and easy to work with." If you possess a specific set of skills that you've utilized in a variety of projects, you want to make sure that these skills are highlighted in the best way possible.

Now, your "hard skills" are not more important than your "soft skills" (e.g. negotiating, being prompt when it comes to deadlines, etc.). Rather, your soft skills are what enable you to utilize your hard skills to the fullest, and this is what needs to be emphasized most to make a testimonial glowing.

Notice the impact when a testimonial is phrased this way:

"We were about to attempt an ambitious project that required a near overhaul of our company's website. We knew that in order to stand out, we needed a seasoned article writer who's also knowledgeable in SEO and is in tune with the interests and preferences of young adult, cosmopolitan women who frequent upscale places all over the metro. That's why, upon recommendation by one of her former clients, we decided that Sally Kimbell is the one most suited to do the job."

Here's another one:

"What made James Smith such a joy to work with is him being very systematic with the tasks we outsourced to him. All throughout the duration of his contract, he would make follow-up calls to our office to ensure that he was on the right track. Although it was apparent that he can work with minimum supervision, his desire to be accountable until the project was done was his most winning attitude."

See the difference? 

Come back next week for more on this article series.

The Power of A Testimonial (Part 1)

A testimonial -- brief yet concisely written -- can either make or break a freelancing professional. While it's good to cultivate your work ethics and perennially aim to exceed your clients' expectations, keep in mind that you should devote part of your routine to promoting yourself and your services.

And freelancing professionals know that advertising one's services can rack up considerable expenses, especially if one pays for web hosting, or needs to have a stack of business cards professionally printed.

Now, if you've had tenure in the workplace before deciding to turn freelance, surely you're aware that citing the names of former colleagues or supervisors, or anyone who can vouch for your competence at work, is one of the sure-fire ways to speed up a job search.

Likewise, asking a satisfied client to write a glowing testimonial for you can serve as proof that you're reliable and trustworthy. And a testimonial can be obtained at no cost at all. You can just ask a client to jot it down verbatim and then proofread it yourself.

Potential clients are more likely to notice a freelancer who's proven his skills and mettle, and once they log on to your website and read all those wonderful stuff you've done for your former clients, surely that would convince them that you're worth a try.

Since testimonials can make you more appealing to potential clients, it's worth taking some time to learn to utilize it to maximize its benefits. Tune in for my next several posts as I provide a few guidelines in using testimonials.

How A Features Writer Can Save Up on Magazines (Part 2)

In my previous post, I introduced the first two ways an aspiring features writer can save up on magazines. Here are my three other suggestions:

(3.) Examine the racks in your doctor's or dentist's clinic.

Haven't you noticed that most clinics usually have a stash of magazines in their waiting room? Waiting to get a consultation or treatment can eat up a significant amount of time, so clinics have magazines to keep patients entertained. 

I visit my dentist twice a year to get a prophylaxis, and occasionally I go to a dermatologist, too. I've noticed the wide array of reading materials in the waiting area, dealing with topics that have to do with health, fashion, lifestyle, and housekeeping.

Bring a notebook the next time you have an appointment scheduled, and while waiting for your turn, do a market study by scanning the magazines available. Take into consideration the names of the managing or associate editor. Better yet, if you see a web site, write it down and log on to it later.

(4.) Ask your family members, friends, or any other acquaintances if they have magazines at home.

This is an excellent way to discover new titles that may not be popular in newsstands, since there are magazines that can be bought only through subscription and people receive them through postal delivery.

(5.) Keep tab of clear-out sales.

There are book shops that don't intend to compete with major bookstores and prefer to cater to a limited number of readers instead. These are the kinds that periodically have sales to get rid of their surplus of reading materials. With discounts that go as high as 70 to 80 percent, an aspiring writer is sure to enjoy purchasing magazines while staying within a budget. 

How a Features Writer Can Save Up On Magazines

Freelance writers who pitch their ideas to magazine editors can testify to the feeling of fulfillment that the result of seeing their names in print brings. Magazines are also some of the highest paying markets in the field of freelance writing, since they usually offer payment word-for-word. 

If you'd like to give magazine writing a try, you would need a dose of creativity and the ability to look at a topic from different perspectives. But first, let's deal with the practical side of writing feature articles.

You have to learn to conduct an effective market study. A market study involves observing the different types of magazines that are sold in newsstands.

Now, ask yourself, "What are the topics with which I'm most comfortable writing?" Or, "Which topics am I willing to know more about through research?" It could be anything, from business, parenting, food, technology, photography, travel, sports, or fashion.

Your next step would be to obtain previous issues of several magazines that publish articles about the topics in which you're most interested. If you're relatively new in freelance writing, buying a lot of magazines at once is sure to break your budget. 

Also, since paper costs a lot these days, publications that come out regularly in print have found it necessary to increase their prices steadily.

However, with a little bit of creativity, imagination, and skill in negotiating, you can do a market study without running out of funds.

Here are a few excellent ways to obtain magazines at very little cost:

(1.) Look for back issues at well-known bookstores and racks right outside grocery stores of major shopping malls.

The majority of managing or associate editors require aspiring contributors to study a years' worth of issues if their magazine comes out monthly. That means going through 11 to 12 issues. 

Back issues are usually priced at 50 to 60 percent lower, or even more. It's common to find popular titles originally sold at Php125.00 to Php150.00 reduced to Php40.00 to Php60.00. For the aspiring magazine writer, this is a real bargain. 

(2.) Ever heard of Book Sale?

When I was starting out as a freelance writer, this second-hand book and magazine shop was my go-to store for magazines. I can consider Book Sale the equivalent of a gold mine for aspiring freelance writers. 

Book Sale offers all sorts of magazines that are published locally and world-wide. If your dream is to eventually have a byline in Time, Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest, or Good Housekeeping, spending time in Book Sale would be a wise investment. Book Sale can be found in most Shoe Mart department stores.

In my next post, I'll mention other cost-effective ways to get hold of magazines.