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Digg it UP - The Freelancers Field Guide to Contract Work
What are the differences between opportunity seekers and successful business people when it comes to building an online business? Let me use myself as an example. Ouch!As a Web Marketing Newbie, I really had no plan outside of slapping up a website and selling all kinds of goodies and then watching the money roll in. But, I discovered the wonderful world of the Business in a Box, which countless Gurus were offering at a measly $40 to $50 bucks a month. All that I needed to do was send a few of my friends to sign up under me and help me to evangelize the greatest thing since the wheel.Since these gurus made their fortunes using the same packages, how could I miss? They did all of the hard work, countless hours of trial and error, sweat and tears and money, but they're finally rich online money mavens. Now, they will share all of that knowledge with me, and all I have to do is do a little advertising and kick back. I thought that I found the Holy Grail of marketing online. No work involved. Sweet!Point is, there was always a better Biz in a Box, especially when the first 5 or 6 prior didn't seem to be doing much but alienating my friends and family and draining my pocketbook on pay per clicks, ads and what not!I'm not blaming the marketers that I bought into, after all, They developed t
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Advanced Field Tactics
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Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that
Although becoming a CPA is not a cakewalk, it pays to know what it really takes to become a CPA.College Education and Training in the Formative YearsThe way to the big job always takes years of preparation. A bachelors degree from your university or college in accounting or any related line of expertise is the first step. Using the job demands of entry-level positions in Federal and several State governments as a reference, a 4-year college degree is the norm; this includes 24 semester hours of auditing or accounting. But it is not entirely surprising to see some employers deciding to hire candidates with a combination they consider equivalent to the above, in education and a number of years of work experience.To practice as in independent auditor or a tax consultant or investment advisor, one needs to have two mandatory things.1. Certification from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, AICPA2. License from your State Board Of AccountancyThe Core Structure of CPASince early last year, 42 states along with the District of Columbia have adopted the recommendations of AICPA. CPA candidates are required by the new recommendations to complete 150 hrs of semester course work- that is an additional 30 hrs after the usual four years college graduation. The re
What is Outsourcing?
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Outsourcing is a great way to earn extra money or even a full time living. When a company outsources its work this means they are looking for people outside the company (you) to complete jobs for them on a contract or short term basis. Most freelance work can be found on freelance marketplaces across the internet. For a list of freelance websites search Google, or some of the freelance directories available.
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Getting Started
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The first thing that you should do is compile your past work history into a portfolio. Many freelance websites allow you to post your work online. The other option is to open a free hosting account and place your work into an online demonstration of your ability. Include references, past work, testimonials and anything else that highlights your talents. One thing this should not be is in resume format. The internet changes a lot rules for hiring employees and freelancing is changes them even more. Here you will find that experience and ability weigh more heavily in a hiring decision then education or status.
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Getting Hired Today
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The easiest way to find contract or freelance work is to visit one of the many freelance marketplaces available on the internet. A majority of the websites are divided into two sections, one for Freelancers (you) and the other for Project Managers (people looking to hire you). The first thing you need to do is register as a freelancer. Once registered be sure to upload a profile and details of your most recent work.
It is important to remember that work on the internet (especially when you are new) is built on trust. The best thing you can do to increase your chances of getting your bid selected is to put detailed information in your profile.
The basic setup for a freelance website is that the Project Manager will post the project and you as the Freelancer have the opportunity to place your bid for the work. A bid includes the time it will take you to complete, the price for the job and a short description.
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Placing the Bid
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Your bid should be a complete summary of the required work. It should be detailed, accurate and relevant to the project. This is why the biggest mistake you can make is placing a bid which contains: ‘can be done’ ‘I can do it’ or ‘No Problem :)’. Even these are better then the copy and paste bid description. This is something like “COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. WE GIVE U A 100% ACCURATE WORK.” These bids are not at all relevant to the project.
Each project manager would like to think that his/her project is the only one that you want. They want to believe that you are gearing your whole day into getting this job. Increase your chances and move ahead of the competition by placing a short, polite description that is relevant to the project. Here is an example:
“Hi _(Project Manger’s name)_, I have placed the details of my bid in the private message board. I look forward to working with you and can get started immediately. Thank you for your consideration, __(your name)__.”
That’s it for the bid. If your cost estimate and time to delivery are not completely off then you can increase your odds by posting in the private message board.
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The Private Message Board
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The Private Message Board is a feature on most websites that allows Freelancers to communicate with the Project Manager about the details of the job. Unless requested, this is the worst place to put your resume.
That’s right; don’t place your list of work history in your private message board. From the eyes of the Project Manager every one has the same resume unless you are getting interviewed for a job. If you have a resume, place it in your profile. The only mention of this material should be: “For additional references please see my profile located here: ___”
The rest of your communication should be about the project. Even if you already think you understand everything, ask the Project Manager about of specific details. This extra step will place you miles ahead of the competition. Asking questions shows that you are genuinely interested in getting an accurate description of the work involved. It communicates to the Project Manger that your bid will be exact and that you are excited about working with them.
In addition to asking questions, place your time zone and when you are available to work. Let the other person know that you are available via email and instant messengers. While you might be tempted, do not include your contact information. This is against most Terms of Service and gives the other person an impression of dishonesty.
The next thing you should do is repeat the same steps. It’s necessary to spread your chances over a few projects to ensure that you receive enough work. Unless you are experienced it is crucial that you start out slow. If you overload yourself with work, not only will you poorly perform on the work you were hired to do, you will receive bad reviews from everyone who hired you. The only thing worse then no feedback is having bad feedback.
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How to Get All Star Feedback
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Most websites rate each freelancer with a history of work called ‘Feedback’. This is a scoring system that allows Project Managers you have worked with in the past to record their experience with you. Starting out new you won’t have any feedback which will hinder your freelancing efforts. Start out slow by placing bids and communicating with Project Managers who post small, quick jobs. Go the extra mile with these people to ensure that they are happy and satisfied with the work. Check in consistently to report your progress, and make sure that everything is done to their exact specifications. When your work is complete, ask them if there is anything else you can do. Just one or two great feedback scores can boost your freelance efforts tremendously.
If you are desperate, offer to do work for free in exchange for a great review. Be extraordinary in your efforts to help and anticipate your employer’s needs. Not only will you receive great feedback but you might also gain a repeat customer.
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Advanced Field Tactics
****
Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that y
When a product is first launched into a market a firm will have to decide what price to charge.Penetration pricing This strategy uses a very low price to enter the market and gain market share. It makes sense if there are cost advantages to producing on a large scale. It can also be beneficial if the market is price sensitive, so that a lower price generates significantly higher sales.Price skimming This strategy uses a high price to enter the market. Even though the price is high, some people may still be eager to try a new product. Once sales from this group of people have been exhausted, the price can be dropped to attract a new segment. When this segment is exhausted the price can be cut again. A price skimming strategy is appropriate if the firm can protect its idea or invention so that competitors cannot enter with a cheaper version. It may be protected using a trademark (which protects the firm logo) or a patent (which protects a new invention). Price skimming also makes sense if the market is particularly price sensitive, so that a price cut would not generate a large increase in sales. This strategy is often used with new technology: the latest computer or computer accessory enters the market with a high price which then falls quite rapidly a year or so later.Competitive Pricing So
It is important to remember that work on the internet (especially when you are new) is built on trust. The best thing you can do to increase your chances of getting your bid selected is to put detailed information in your profile.
The basic setup for a freelance website is that the Project Manager will post the project and you as the Freelancer have the opportunity to place your bid for the work. A bid includes the time it will take you to complete, the price for the job and a short description.
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Placing the Bid
****
Your bid should be a complete summary of the required work. It should be detailed, accurate and relevant to the project. This is why the biggest mistake you can make is placing a bid which contains: ‘can be done’ ‘I can do it’ or ‘No Problem :)’. Even these are better then the copy and paste bid description. This is something like “COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. WE GIVE U A 100% ACCURATE WORK.” These bids are not at all relevant to the project.
Each project manager would like to think that his/her project is the only one that you want. They want to believe that you are gearing your whole day into getting this job. Increase your chances and move ahead of the competition by placing a short, polite description that is relevant to the project. Here is an example:
“Hi _(Project Manger’s name)_, I have placed the details of my bid in the private message board. I look forward to working with you and can get started immediately. Thank you for your consideration, __(your name)__.”
That’s it for the bid. If your cost estimate and time to delivery are not completely off then you can increase your odds by posting in the private message board.
****
The Private Message Board
****
The Private Message Board is a feature on most websites that allows Freelancers to communicate with the Project Manager about the details of the job. Unless requested, this is the worst place to put your resume.
That’s right; don’t place your list of work history in your private message board. From the eyes of the Project Manager every one has the same resume unless you are getting interviewed for a job. If you have a resume, place it in your profile. The only mention of this material should be: “For additional references please see my profile located here: ___”
The rest of your communication should be about the project. Even if you already think you understand everything, ask the Project Manager about of specific details. This extra step will place you miles ahead of the competition. Asking questions shows that you are genuinely interested in getting an accurate description of the work involved. It communicates to the Project Manger that your bid will be exact and that you are excited about working with them.
In addition to asking questions, place your time zone and when you are available to work. Let the other person know that you are available via email and instant messengers. While you might be tempted, do not include your contact information. This is against most Terms of Service and gives the other person an impression of dishonesty.
The next thing you should do is repeat the same steps. It’s necessary to spread your chances over a few projects to ensure that you receive enough work. Unless you are experienced it is crucial that you start out slow. If you overload yourself with work, not only will you poorly perform on the work you were hired to do, you will receive bad reviews from everyone who hired you. The only thing worse then no feedback is having bad feedback.
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How to Get All Star Feedback
**********
Most websites rate each freelancer with a history of work called ‘Feedback’. This is a scoring system that allows Project Managers you have worked with in the past to record their experience with you. Starting out new you won’t have any feedback which will hinder your freelancing efforts. Start out slow by placing bids and communicating with Project Managers who post small, quick jobs. Go the extra mile with these people to ensure that they are happy and satisfied with the work. Check in consistently to report your progress, and make sure that everything is done to their exact specifications. When your work is complete, ask them if there is anything else you can do. Just one or two great feedback scores can boost your freelance efforts tremendously.
If you are desperate, offer to do work for free in exchange for a great review. Be extraordinary in your efforts to help and anticipate your employer’s needs. Not only will you receive great feedback but you might also gain a repeat customer.
****
Advanced Field Tactics
****
Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that
Once you undertake the development of a business you utilize a variety of entrepreneurial skills. You find yourself working hard to keep things going, but there’s a real sense of satisfaction in the work.Recently I was told of a woman who had started her twenty-first business. In each case the business was related to cooking. The good news was this woman was a capable businesswoman and an excellent cook.The problem for this woman was that she got tired of running a business very easily. She would get a business established and grow weary of the day-to-day grind and would set a date to close the doors. Her husband was a carpenter and had systematically refurbished twenty separate properties for his wife’s business ventures.This woman recently started a coffee shop with a variety of baked goods for sale. The business hadn’t been open 3 months when a separate coffee shop opened in the same retail complex. When she discovered the new business she threw her hands up in despair and asked the owner of the second shop if she could come to work for her.You see, there is an invisible wall that is sometimes difficult to overcome. That wall is moving beyond the difficult work of day-to-day business where you are needed in the monitoring of all aspects of the business. Some, like the lady in our s
That’s it for the bid. If your cost estimate and time to delivery are not completely off then you can increase your odds by posting in the private message board.
****
The Private Message Board
****
The Private Message Board is a feature on most websites that allows Freelancers to communicate with the Project Manager about the details of the job. Unless requested, this is the worst place to put your resume.
That’s right; don’t place your list of work history in your private message board. From the eyes of the Project Manager every one has the same resume unless you are getting interviewed for a job. If you have a resume, place it in your profile. The only mention of this material should be: “For additional references please see my profile located here: ___”
The rest of your communication should be about the project. Even if you already think you understand everything, ask the Project Manager about of specific details. This extra step will place you miles ahead of the competition. Asking questions shows that you are genuinely interested in getting an accurate description of the work involved. It communicates to the Project Manger that your bid will be exact and that you are excited about working with them.
In addition to asking questions, place your time zone and when you are available to work. Let the other person know that you are available via email and instant messengers. While you might be tempted, do not include your contact information. This is against most Terms of Service and gives the other person an impression of dishonesty.
The next thing you should do is repeat the same steps. It’s necessary to spread your chances over a few projects to ensure that you receive enough work. Unless you are experienced it is crucial that you start out slow. If you overload yourself with work, not only will you poorly perform on the work you were hired to do, you will receive bad reviews from everyone who hired you. The only thing worse then no feedback is having bad feedback.
**********
How to Get All Star Feedback
**********
Most websites rate each freelancer with a history of work called ‘Feedback’. This is a scoring system that allows Project Managers you have worked with in the past to record their experience with you. Starting out new you won’t have any feedback which will hinder your freelancing efforts. Start out slow by placing bids and communicating with Project Managers who post small, quick jobs. Go the extra mile with these people to ensure that they are happy and satisfied with the work. Check in consistently to report your progress, and make sure that everything is done to their exact specifications. When your work is complete, ask them if there is anything else you can do. Just one or two great feedback scores can boost your freelance efforts tremendously.
If you are desperate, offer to do work for free in exchange for a great review. Be extraordinary in your efforts to help and anticipate your employer’s needs. Not only will you receive great feedback but you might also gain a repeat customer.
****
Advanced Field Tactics
****
Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that
Printers offer a complete line-up of printing products and services to cater to every printing need. Be it small scale or large scale enterprise, commercial or corporate, there are numerous printing materials that will prove invaluable to your business operations.Business printing products can be seen almost everywhere and does not limit itself to office spaces. Business printing can pertain beyond business cards, stationery such as letterheads and envelopes, folders and the like. Business printing materials also operates in investing on materials for promotions and advertisingYes, business printing’s presence is made more apparent in marketing and advertising strategies. A lot of printed materials from business cards to large format posters are used to promote your businesses’ products and services.Business printing is your first line of offense. It is an indispensable part of your arsenal for any kind of campaigns, needless if it is low budgeted or not. Many companies know the value of creating campaigns and using printed materials as platforms. It can effectively spread the word out about their products and services, and crush the competition at the same time.Your business can greatly benefit from business printing. Use printing products such as brochures, catalogs, flyers, posters,
The next thing you should do is repeat the same steps. It’s necessary to spread your chances over a few projects to ensure that you receive enough work. Unless you are experienced it is crucial that you start out slow. If you overload yourself with work, not only will you poorly perform on the work you were hired to do, you will receive bad reviews from everyone who hired you. The only thing worse then no feedback is having bad feedback.
**********
How to Get All Star Feedback
**********
Most websites rate each freelancer with a history of work called ‘Feedback’. This is a scoring system that allows Project Managers you have worked with in the past to record their experience with you. Starting out new you won’t have any feedback which will hinder your freelancing efforts. Start out slow by placing bids and communicating with Project Managers who post small, quick jobs. Go the extra mile with these people to ensure that they are happy and satisfied with the work. Check in consistently to report your progress, and make sure that everything is done to their exact specifications. When your work is complete, ask them if there is anything else you can do. Just one or two great feedback scores can boost your freelance efforts tremendously.
If you are desperate, offer to do work for free in exchange for a great review. Be extraordinary in your efforts to help and anticipate your employer’s needs. Not only will you receive great feedback but you might also gain a repeat customer.
****
Advanced Field Tactics
****
Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that
Being able to replace a compressor and fix a furnace is only part of what you do. The public expects at least that you are a competent professional. You may also have a few helpers and have established a nice sized business. You have a few choices to make along the way. Assuming you have some sort of business plan for the next several years, how are you going to achieve all your goals? Who will you turn to for advice? Your accountant, insurance agent, landlord, truck fleet dealer, or your parts supplier? Very doubtful. How about your Yellow Page rep?That’s not so hard to believe. After all, the best air conditioning guy in the world has to have customers. And most emergency consumers consult the Yellow Pages in cases of immediate needs. So, assuming that you have realized that a Yellow Page program is essential for your success, what do you have in mind? Who do you want to reach and how will you get there? Set aside a reasonable advertising budget that has room to grow as you do. Now, pick up the local directory and survey the YP heading. How many of your competitors are in the book and what are their ad sizes? What will it take to meet or beat them? Now you have an idea of size, it’s time to get to the ad itselfWhat makes you unique? Don’t say your price and experience. Everyone of them already say
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Advanced Field Tactics
****
Want to get more bids accepted, race ahead of your competition and be able to pick only the best job opportunities? That is exactly what this section is about. We have already discussed the best and worst things to place in your bids and pmb. Now I will show you how to move your freelancing efforts up a few notches.
Private Message Board Tactics: Once the Project Manager responds with the answer to your question. Reply with “If I understand the work correctly, you require:” then make a numbered list of the work required as you understand it.” At the bottom “If the above is correct, I can begin work immediately and have everything completed in under ______”.
This does two things, first it conveys to the Project Manager that you fully understand the work required. Second it shows the Project Manager just how much work is really involved.
Time: If your estimate of time to completion is 5 days and under write in your description and messages the time in hours, and always put “I can have this completed tested, installed and ready in under ___ hours.” That ‘under’ statement really gives the impression of speed and excellence in your work.
If your project will run over 5 days, write out the dates that you will have everything ready, not just the number of days. “Today is the 15th; on the 17th I will complete the first mockups. Then on the 20th I will complete the admin section”. Of course the hard part comes in keeping this timeline. If you can deliver each stage on time, and to completion you will receive great feedback, more repeat customers and great work opportunities.
Portfolio Tactics: If your portfolio is online, create a completely different portfolio for each of your talents. Not just a separate page, you will need to create a completely separate website. For example if you are a website designer, create a portfolio just for flash, one for straight HTML, and one for 3D graphics work. You can even divide by style of design. When you present your work to the future client, present the portfolio that best matches his/her needs. Even if you are multi-talented, presenting a list of relevant past work will give the impression that you are a focused, dedicated professional.
Presentation Tactics: Compile the information that you have received from the project description and the questions / answers from the Project Manager into a detailed proposal for your work. While the style of the proposal can change a simple effective method is to write it out on a simple numbered HTML page. Include the title of the project, your name and a bulleted list of the work required. At the bottom place any questions you have about the project in addition to your bid and the time to completion. Upload this page to your online portfolio and then post the link in the private message board. This one act will win your more bids then anything else you can do.
Follow Up Tactics: There are two types of webmasters. Those who post a project and it closes 1-2 days later because they know exactly what they want. Then there are those who post a project and wait 10-15 days before selecting a freelancer for the job.
For these Project Managers the best thing you can do is follow up. After placing your bid and inquiring via the Private Message Board the next step is to send the Project Manager a quick note after about 2 days. Something along the lines of “Hi, I just wanted to follow up with my bid and see if you had any questions or concerns. If you do please let me know and I will get back to you promptly. Thank you, _(your name)_.”
This action shows each Project Manager that you are thorough in your work and care about getting their contract.
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Additional Help
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You now have all of the tools that you need to get started. Each step has been covered from signing up to getting great feedback. We have also gone over some advanced topics that will help ensure your bid is accepted over the competition. You are ready to start freelancing today.
I look forward to hearing from you and I hope that you have found this guide helpful and informative.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Peter Ferrigan
http://www.ContractList.com
Admin@ContractList.com
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