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THE WEEKLY BRIEF UPDATE1. #Achillesgate2020 Update I’m just past the seven-week mark in my rehab and I have to say… …I’m crushing it. I feel like if my Achilles had to fight Megatron it could give him a run for this money. I’ve been working with Dan Pope from Champion Physical Therapy & Performance in Waltham, MA and he’s been having me work on my gait the past few weeks attempting to put more weight into the forefoot of the affected side. I’m still in the boot, but we did manage to take a wedge out last week. And I think we’re gonna begin to experiment with some BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) shenanigans this week to help stave off any further atrophy of the calf muscle. Onward! 2. Oh, hey, have you checked out my new CORE @ Home platform yet? It’s designed so that I can deliver workouts you can perform at home – pants optional – using minimal equipment. You have two options:1. Subscribe for FREE and receive one workout per week. 2. Subscribe for $29.00 and receive three workouts per week (in addition to special bonus content). My hope is that it helps take the thinking out of things and keeps people more accountable to workout more consistently despite not having access to their normal gym. For more information go HERE. SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE AT HOME NOT WEARING PANTSThe New Hybrid Workout Plan – Bryan KrahnCOVID-19 has changed everything. LOVED this perspective from Bryan on what the “new normal” will likely be for most people as they begin to contemplate heading back to their big box gyms. Lies Your Pilates Teacher Told Ya – Trish DaCostaI’ve always appreciates Trish’s perspective on things and how she’s able to keep a level head on often controversial topics. I also appreciate she actually lifts weights…;o) The Exercise That Was Condemned By Everybody – TC LuomaHA – raises hand. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/07/stuff-to-read-while-youre-pretending-to-work-7-17-20/
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On Wednesday, July 22, more than 200 professional photographers will be taking free headshots for people around the country who are out of work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative will create 10,000 headshots in every state in the country, providing a crucial service to those in the job market who use platforms like LinkedIn or personal websites. The 10,000 Headshots project was created by photographers Tony Taafe, Peter Hurley, and Lauren Lieberman. Together, they are the founders of Headshot Booker, a booking agency. Commercial real estate company Brookfield Properties will be providing locations for the shoots, and local photographers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., are volunteering their time to create the photos. New York City’s Rob Feiner, of RZF Images, is one of the participating photographers. “Our community, like so many others, was hit hard by COVID-19 and we were looking for ways to help our neighbors get back on their feet,” he said, noting that, according to LinkedIn, people who include headshots on their profile receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. Headshots are also critical to a successful freelance portfolio site and social media presence. When you're building your business online, it’s important to give potential clients as much information about yourself as possible. A well-written bio can convey your personality and experience, but without a headshot, it’s hard to inspire that personal connection that is the key to getting the gig. To be eligible for this free service, you need only to have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and currently be looking for work. These free headshots sessions can be booked online now. Find the one closest to you and book your 10-minute session by Tuesday, July 21, to take advantage of this special one-day program. Finished headshots will be made available for download for free from photo sharing site SpotMyPhotos. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/17/free-headshots-for-job-seekers/
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Check out my latest article over on T-Nation.com. I went with a little change of pace compared to my normal content wheelhouse:
Deadlifts, of course! Deadlift Perfection: 4 Easy CuesIn this one I discuss how to figure out your best stance for deadlifting success as well as some of my go to cues to help clean up deadlifting technique. It even includes a 20-30 minute video of me taking Dani Shugart through the process. Check it out HERE. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/07/deadlift-perfection-4-easy-cues/
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Automation is one of the hot fields in the business world right now, and marketing automation in particular is taking the marketing world by storm. You might see term “automation” and think Skynet is coming for your job. But there’s no reason to be concerned! Automation will not replace us freelancers. In fact, it’s going to make our jobs better than ever before and provide new opportunities for freelancers to provide valuable services. Thoughtful implementation of automation allows marketers to: ● Build relationships and engage on a personal level with clients in an infinitely scalable way. ● Focus on the tasks only the human mind can handle, like strategy, detailed analysis, and content creation, by taking care of repeatable and rules-based tasks. ● Collect data and apply detailed analytics to provide insights to marketing teams, enabling hyperpersonalization of marketing efforts in unprecedented ways. Marketing automation has enormous potential, but it takes knowledge and experience to implement. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to plug in — every organization has its own needs. This means there’s an opportunity for independent consultants and specialists to step in and guide businesses in establishing their automation processes, or even manage those processes in an ongoing manner. You may already have the skills to be an automation specialist and not even realize it. If you don’t, they’re likely to be skills you can easily pick up. Here’s how to get started: Understand the Playing FieldLet’s look at some high-demand focus areas within marketing automation. Whether you want to specialize in one particular field or become a generalist, these are areas where you can really shine. Email AutomationIt’s highly likely you’ve already done this one. If you’ve managed e-newsletters, built marketing campaigns, or even used an email follow-up tool, you’ve built skills in marketing automation. As an example, let’s look at follow-up emails. The average office worker receives 121 emails per day. They’re juggling reading and responding to them with all their other duties, so it’s an unfortunate truth that follow-up emails are critical to actually getting a response. As a knowledgeable email automation specialist, you can advise your client on deploying a tool that automatically follows up on emails until a response is received, and provides analytics such as open rate and click through rate to see if the recipient is engaging with your client’s emails. Another email marketing automation example is tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact that deploy trigger-based emails (such as emails that automatically go out to clients that take actions on your website, or that haven’t interacted with you in a certain amount of time) or use segmentation to provide tailored and personalized marketing via email to customers. Customer Relationship Management AutomationCRM software is key to the hyperpersonalized experience that is a main selling point of automation. Many small to medium businesses may have been convinced to invest in a CRM suite such as Salesforce or HubSpot, but might not actually be using it to its potential, or they may not know which of the thousands of tools and platforms would work best for them. While every CRM suite works differently, the general concepts and skills do transfer, so if you become a master at one, those skills translate to others. Whether you’re helping businesses integrate their CRM with other tools, implement a new CRM system, or simply train their personnel on how to get the most out of the tools at their disposal, specializing in CRM software within marketing automation means limitless opportunities to stay busy. E-Commerce AutomationThe explosion in e-commerce isn’t going away any time soon, and many store operators have no idea how much marketing automation can help them. There are a plethora of great tools and integrations optimized for use with major e-commerce platforms like Magento and Shopify, and it’s a challenge for entrepreneurs to know which ones work for them, or how to get the most out of them. That’s where you come in! E-commerce is key to provide the personalized and seamless experience customers expect. Providing customized recommendations, trigger-based emails for abandoned shopping carts or customer reactivation, and content delivery to customers at the right time for where they are in the buyer’s journey are huge opportunities for store runners, and there’s plenty of data there to make it an easy sell. You can generalize or specialize in a specific platform and build a great freelance niche by helping clients get the most out of the tools available to them. Make Your MarkHow do you establish yourself as a black belt in marketing automation? First, take a good hard look at your experience and skill set and determine how they fit into your narrative. You might be surprised at how much experience you can prove by emphasizing the automation aspects of your existing skills. Read up on platforms, tools, and best practices. Make sure you deploy the right keywords to show mastery of the field. LinkedIn SEO is critical to helping potential clients find you; using marketing automation keywords will make sure new clients discover you. Don’t forget to use your headline, include relevant projects, and ask for endorsements! Many automation tools and platforms offer certifications and training that you can take and then include on your resume. HubSpot, a popular CRM platform, offers training, as do email marketing suite GetResponse and Adobe’s Marketo marketing automation software. Join the VanguardAt this point, it’s almost a mantra for successful freelancers: be adaptable, embrace changing trends, and technologies, and go where the need is. Marketing automation is a field where ambitious freelancers can get in on the ground floor and grow with the industry — it’s always easiest to become a rock star in a field before it fully matures. If you want to make an impact and do some valuable work while making sure you are always busy, marketing automation just might be the field for you. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/16/why-freelancers-should-learn-to-love-automation/
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What's the point of writing if nobody's going to read it? In these days of time-pressured information overload, your writing must be easy to read, look easy to read — and be as short as possible. "Easy reading is damn hard writing," said Maya Angelou, a legend among American writers. Odds are, however, she didn't say it quite so elegantly or succinctly the first time she had that thought. She probably had to reread, rethink and rewrite it. A lot. Good writing is rewriting. You must reread and rewrite if only to find your mistakes, but please don't stop there. Only geniuses can write perfect prose in one pass. The rest of us must rewrite if we want to be read. Be readableIt's not good enough to be easy to read. Your writing must also look easy to read. And it must be as short as possible. Looking easy to read means short paragraphs and lots of subheads. Bullet points (where appropriate) can also make a document look and feel easier to read. Even so, being easy to read and looking easy to read still isn't enough. You can't afford to waste words, lest your work gets written off as TLTR (too long to read). A large part of the task of rewriting is editing. First drafts are invariably too long. The rewrite process must involve cutting out irrelevant information, self-indulgent prose, repetitive statements — and taking yourself out the story. It's not about you (except when it is). Furthermore, you must find your lead sentence; it might be buried somewhere in what you wrote. Your first sentence or paragraph is critical, because that's the decision point for many readers as to whether they read the rest of the story. Compare: The Penn Valley Ladies Garden Club is holding its annual Kids in the Garden Day this Saturday … (yawn) vs. Plant your kids in the dirt and watch them grow. Which of these makes you want to read the rest of the story? Likewise, how does your story end? Are you coming to a conclusion that you set up in the beginning? Is it a call to action? Does it pay off so the readers are glad they read the whole story? And what about the middle of the story? Does it have a logical progression? Does each paragraph lead to the next? If it doesn't, that might indicate you need to insert a new subhead for a new idea. Make a checklist or outline to make sure you've said everything that needs to be said. One editing attitude to adopt is to cut out all the good stuff so all you have left is the great stuff. Rewriting with the aim of cutting the length of an article almost invariably improves it. A one-pass wonder may be easier to write, but it's useless if nobody reads it or likes it. Why do it?Easy reading is definitely hard writing — but it's worth it. People will write you or come up to you and tell you how much they enjoyed your story. They'll say things like, "I read it all the way to end" or "You really made me think " or "I'm going to do what you suggested (donate, join, protest or otherwise respond to whatever your article was about)" or "I shared it with friends." There's no better feeling for a writer. So, do you want your writing to end up in the bottom of somebody's bird cage or deleted? Or would you prefer to be bookmarked, shared, talked about — and paid? via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/15/write-for-your-readers/
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If your freelance gigs have been dwindling or ground to a halt in the past few months, you may have found yourself looking to expand your scope. The good news: There are more niche industries out there than you can imagine, and new ones are popping up every day. And they all need talented, flexible, brilliant freelancers like yourself (naturally) to keep that growth going. All you need to do is know where to find them and how to translate your skill set so they know you can do the job. Here are some of 2020's fastest-growing industries, and tips on how to make the most of them. Target New OpportunitiesMarkets move fast and trends change constantly. A successful freelancer is one who not only adapts to these trends, but anticipates them. Why? Because whenever there’s growth in a new, underdeveloped industry, there tend to be few experts in the field. Entrepreneurs can build expertise in these areas to quickly take advantage of an opportunity with little competition. It’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Whereas the past few years saw popularity in trends such as personal coaching, influencer agencies, cryptocurrencies, drones, and artificial intelligence, this year's boom is more esoteric. According to research by freelance platform 99designs, the fastest-growing freelance industries in 2020 include:
These are just a few of the industries that are taking off in 2020; there are plenty more you can (and should) look into. The best way to spot future opportunities where you can provide valuable expertise and happen upon a thriving industry is to use Google Trends; the tool analyzes the popularity of search queries across various regions and languages to help users discover trends in online behavior. You can use the data to look for freelance jobs within industries related to the top search terms. Or, you can use the trending topics to inform your content ideation, drive effective results, and retain happy clients in your sales pipeline. Find Your NicheBe sure to establish your freelance niche, if you haven’t done so already. A lot of freelancers — especially those just starting out — will try to land any job possible. Suddenly, they find themselves covering a huge range of topics that could include anything from premature hair loss to real estate regulations. While you might be excited to have the projects on your calendar, writing about topics you don’t know about or have no interest in often leads to low-quality work. It’s better to narrow your focus and stick to gigs related to a certain industry or skill set. By creating a freelance niche, you can demonstrate your robust knowledge, credibility, and expertise in a given field. Many times, clients are happy to pay more for the security that comes with your niche experience — but some niche industries are more profitable than others. Here are the average annual salaries for some of 2020’s highest-paid niches where you can look for lucrative freelance work:
You can also maximize your earning potential by selecting a few related niches and establishing yourself as a leading authority with trustworthy information, setting yourself on the path to grow your clientele to a six-figure income. Remember to keep up-and-coming industries in mind when you're creating niche content; for example, you could write health blogs for biohacking companies, educational information on the science of astrology, or about the CBD industry’s financial impact on the economy. Pro Tip: It’s not always all about the money. When choosing a freelance niche, I suggest selecting a few industries you’re both passionate about and well-versed in. Getting to write about what you love is one of the reasons why freelancing is so worthwhile. Land GigsOnce you build a robust portfolio that showcases your specialized talent, you're ready to grow your business and find work opportunities. You can network remotely and reach out to college friends or former colleagues who work in high-demand industries to see if they know of any opportunities. When applying for jobs, always include a cover letter, and don’t forget about lead generation strategies that can you can use to attract ideal clients when business is slow. Freelancing can be fun, fulfilling, and a means to financial freedom — but you need to know where to find the best opportunities for work and maintain a steady stream of gigs in order to be successful. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/13/the-best-up-and-coming-industries-for-freelancers/
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THE WEEKLY BRIEF UPDATEI got nuthin. I mean, I had to cancel my teeth cleaning appointment today. That’s exciting. Oh, hey, have you checked out my new CORE @ Home platform yet? It’s designed so that I can deliver workouts you can perform at home – pants optional – using minimal equipment. You have two options:1. Subscribe for FREE and receive one workout per week. 2. Subscribe for $29.00 and receive three workouts per week (in addition to special bonus content). My hope is that it helps take the thinking out of things and keeps people more accountable to workout more consistently despite not having access to their normal gym. For more information go HERE. SOCIAL MEDIA SHENANIGANS
STUFF TO READ WHILE YOU’RE AT HOME NOT WEARING PANTSExamine Personalized – Examine.comThis may seem surprising, but I hate reading research. It’s important of course, and I try my best to stay on top of current trends and to balance the teeter-totter between being evidence-based and respecting the power of anecdotal experience. But yeah, I’m more likely to sit down and read Elvish poetry before reading a full-length research study. This is why I am SO pumped to share with you Examine.com’s Personalized. To be as succinct as possible: they scour the internet for pertinent research you’re interested in, they summarize it, it gets copy edited so that you don’t need a degree from Harvard to read it, and then it’s peer reviewed for accuracy. They make it SUPER easy and it saves a TON of time. Today is your last chance to take advantage of their initial LAUNCH pricing:
Click HERE to get more information. Complimentary Circuits: Effective Programming Made Simple – Kevin MullinsAs is the case always, Kevin provides a bevy of useful info in this article. READ IT! How to Overcome the 8 Biggest Diet Problems – Krista Scott-DixonDieting or “locking in” sound nutritional habits always tends to be the elephant in the room for most people. For some it’s eating when bored, for others it’s a sweet tooth. And for others it’s simply all just too confusing. Krista helps to drown out the noise. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/07/stuff-to-read-while-youre-stuck-at-home-not-wearing-pants-7-10-20/
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Got 15 minutes? Time to boost the potency of your freelance website. Whether you have a degree in English or you couldn’t write your way out of a paper bag, you can use pro writer know-how to make a few quick and easy tweaks to your freelance website. It’ll only take a few minutes to make a big impact with these five easy fixes. 1. Get that headline poppingIt’s really, really easy to get wrapped up in the headline or tagline for your site. Folks get so absorbed in being original or clever, they can totally lose sight of the goal. If someone reads the headline — or at least scans the header section — of your home page, will they know who you are and what you do? Will they see themselves in it? Your home page needs to let the reader know that they’re in the right place. Make it crystal, sparkling clear that you’re the person who can solve their problem. Think about what you’d tell your friend’s mom about what you do, in about one line. "We do [service] for [customer industry]" is never a bad bet. Let’s look at a couple of headlines from some design sites: “We build websites that work. And fix ones that don’t.” — iknowwebdesign.com Cool, we get it! Sounds like you’re not going for a very adventurous customer, but someone who’s looking for a safe bet. “We Can Help Take Your Business to the Next Level.” — Anonymous Vague, boring, not convincing. What are you actually doing to accomplish this lofty, ambiguous goal? Make your headline clear, concise, and just specific enough to catch your ideal client's eye. 2. Bolster each page’s call to actionEvery page on your site has a reason to exist. And each one should have a call to action — something for the reader to do next. Think about the function of each page of your site. Who’s landing on your home page, and what action do they take next in the customer journey? Do you want them to sign up for your newsletter or book a consult? Are they ready to do that from the home page, or do you need to coax them along with a peek at your killer portfolio first? Use CTAs to guide potential clients down the path you want them to take, rather than just clicking randomly around on your site and leaving. Once you’ve figured this out... 3. Level up your button copyWhat do your website buttons say? “Buy now”? Or maybe “Learn more”? You didn’t spend that much time thinking about them, did you? Most people don’t. But buttons are where conversions live — and conversions are why your website exists in the first place. There are LOTS of thoughts, theories, and practices for writing button copy. In short, make it about your customer. Consider adding a little helper text near your button if it’s not totally clear what magical journey is in store for someone who clicks. 4. Offer a guaranteeFor freelancers, the idea of a guarantee is scary territory. There’s no way you want to lose cash after you’ve spent time serving a client. But it doesn’t have to be the pervasive 30-day money-back guarantee. It just has to be about reducing risk for your potential client. Buying from a new freelancer is a big leap of faith. How do you make it easier for the client to say yes? Do you offer revisions, discounts for larger orders, or payment plans? Can you bundle services? Can you lay out very clearly what your process looks like, and how available you are, so that more meticulous decision-makers feel comfortable making the next step? 5. Proofread. Again.I know, you’ve already proofread your website copy! But the problem is that humans suck at proofreading their own stuff. Trust me, as a former copy editor, it is embarrassingly true. After you make any changes to your site, proofread before you publish. Proofread it again the next day, when your brain is fresh. If grammar is not your strong point, hire someone to proofread it for you. We’re talking about a low-three-figure amount to just make sure everything tidied up. (Yes, you CAN ask a buddy to do it for free, but we’re freelancers here, and we understand that you have to pay for professional services. Unless your mom is a proofreader. Then you can ask her. Though, really, you should offer to pay your mom. Moms need stuff, too.) via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/10/5-fast-fixes-to-make-your-web-copy-sparkle/
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A few years ago on Mike Robertson’s Physical Preparation Podcast (<— you should check it out if you haven’t already) I listened in as Memphis Grizzlies’ Director of Performance, Chris Chase, went into detail on the concept of the Trainable Menu. It was such a simple phrase, yet so eloquent of an idea that it:
I’ve written several blog posts and adopted the concept as my own in the years since, even championing the hashtag #findyourtrainablemenu on Instagram. It truly is a splendid way to re-frame training (and program design) into highlighting what people CAN do rather than what they can’t. The Trainable Menu RevisitedOne of my biggest pet peeves in the industry is when coaches or personal trainers treat program design as this one-size-fits all phenomenon; as if it’s an Old Navy knit scarf. It drives me bonkers. To take the mentality that a 60 year old “computer guy” with a history of low back pain (and who hasn’t touched a barbell since Dalton was practicing shirtless kung-fu and busting heads in the movie Road House) should have the same “menu” as a 21 year-old college basketball player is, well, dumb. Don’t get me wrong. Across the board – whether we’re talking about computer guys, basketball players, baseball players, someone training for fat loss, or Orcs – there are going to be more commonalities in everyone’s trainable menu than differences. Meaning, most are going to be squatting, deadlifting, pushing stuff, pulling stuff, throwing stuff, carrying stuff, performing single leg work, doing an array of dedicated core work, and otherwise just getting after it. However, where the difference show up are in the types or variations of those movement patterns being performed. As an example, if I am working with a 6’7″ basketball player I’m probably not going to be too concerned with his or her’s ability to squat ass-to-grass. I mean, it’s possible they’ll be able to do it (and do it well), just like it’s possible I’ll someday make-out with Jennifer Lopez. But, it’s unlikely. Rather, more often than not, if I’m working with a tall(er) individual, their trainable menu (which is an amalgamation and compromise between their health/injury history, training goals, ability level, and anthropometry) will consist of things like box squats, rack pulls, elevated Trap Bar deadlifts, pin squats, and the like. Likewise, I can take the same train of thought with regards to any sport. For instance, I work with a fair number of endurance runners here in Boston; a handful of which train yearly for the Boston Marathon. Do I have them deadlift? Can Gandalf smell the color blue? Of course I do! Strengthening a runner’s hamstrings and glutes and developing the ability to put more force INTO the pavement – in short: getting strong(er) – will undoubtedly help with getting to the finish line faster. However, none of them are competitive powerlifters or Olympic lifters so I could care less whether or not they deadlift with a straight bar (or from the ground for that matter). Every trainable menu should take into account an athlete’s sport, the demands it places on the body, what (s)he needs to do in order to succeed at that sport (from a movement standpoint), and then the cost-benefit of the exercises being prescribed. To steal my own quote:
A more germane angle to take would be what I am going through currently with my Achilles injury. For the past several weeks I have been highlighting some of my training sessions on my Instagram feed. My goal in doing so is to prove to people that I remember vividly as my wife and I were driving home after rupturing my Achilles I was sitting in the passenger seat actively building a mental rolodex of exercises I KNEW I was still going to be able to still pull off:
Heck, even 1-week post surgery Hallway Lightsaber Battles were on the menu… I didn’t attempt anything asinine, and in fact, took a full three days post-surgery to just chill and sleep like a champion. But I’d be lying if I didn’t reach a tipping point on Day #4 and was like…I…NEED…TO…DO…SOMETHING. By Day #5 I was back in the gym doing a little of this and a little of that, and if felt gooooooood. Seated DB Bicep curls and 1-Leg Hip Thrusts never felt so empowering. In my mind it was more about starting the healing process (without being an asshat about it) while also giving me a much needed mental boost. I’m now six-weeks post surgery and fully weight bearing on my affected side (still in a boot, though). Just the other day I performed my first bilateral RDL @ 135 lbs. Nothing crazy in terms of the weight on the bar, but I’m constantly tweaking and adjusting my Trainable Menu to match my current capabilities. I have zero doubts this mindset is going to help expedite my recovery and rehab. That’s the beauty of the Trainable Menu: It’s applicable whether you’re an athlete prepping for a competitive season or you’re someone trying to train through an injury. It’s a powerful mindset. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2020/07/the-trainable-menu-revisited/
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Many successful freelancers will insist that you should always ask for a respectable rate and comfortable responsibilities when you take on new work. They’ll insist that this should be the case even when you’re just starting out as a freelancer — and, to a certain extent, that’s true. However, setting, compromising on, and negotiating rates and expectations is much trickier than simply worrying about if you’re shortchanging yourself. For instance, there’s the simple fact that if you set your rates too high, you’re going to price yourself right out of getting any paying work in the first place. If you find yourself struggling to negotiate successfully with new clients, here are a few tips and suggestions to help smooth those troubled waters and guide you toward a win-win scenario for everyone involved. Communicate and OrganizeClear communication is crucial in the freelance world. With so much work taking place independently and out of the client's view, it’s essential that you respond quickly and strive to keep clients up to date throughout your working relationship. Good communication isn’t something that should grow over time, either. It should be in full effect from the first time you make contact with a potential client. Make sure that you’re thorough, concise, and honest in your wording. This not only sets expectations and avoids misunderstandings, it also establishes to the client that you’re a responsible freelancer — which can help give you an advantage in any back-and-forth negotiating that might take place. Along with staying in contact, it’s good to be well-organized when interacting with a new client. If you approach initial negotiations with a laissez-faire attitude, it can be difficult to have a healthy conversation, leaving the client unlikely to trust your abilities. Work to create a plan that clearly delineates expectations and underpromises results. Even if you need to compromise on elements of your plan or adopt a different one entirely, simply beginning the negotiation process with a structure in place signifies valuable authority and experience. Know How to Bill and When to Raise RatesPayment is a constant struggle in the freelancing world. Independent contractors are consistently underprioritized in the compensation department, which is why it’s critical that you establish a payment structure during your initial negotiations. At times, a client may already have a compensation process in place, and as much as possible, it’s worth trying to work within their system. However, it’s always wise to have your own alternative in mind. The good news is that it’s fairly easy to use a pre-designed invoicing template for your particular freelancing endeavors. Just set up a PayPal or Venmo account, and you’re good to go. In addition to an invoicing system, it’s important to keep an eye out for when you should adjust your rates. Rates are a double-edged sword. If you’re struggling to find work in the first place, you may need to scale down your rates in order to keep work coming through the door. This should be a temporary measure, and as new clients increase your workload and beef up your resume, you should be able to phase in higher rates again. On the other hand, if you’ve focused on a niche market, developed your skill set, or are just plain swamped with work, it may be a sign that it’s time to raise the price for your clearly valued services. Either way, it’s good to keep an eye out for the warning signs that your rates are holding up your business in order to be ready to address them when negotiating with a new client. Value Steady WorkAlong with understanding when to adjust rates, it’s essential that you remember the difference between steady work and temporary projects. When you're taking on a one-time temporary project, you'll want to factor in some time for you to get to know the new client's product, their expectations, and systems. But when you're looking at a long-term contract, you can price your project or per-word rate a little lower. Properly judging the value of a retainer-based system (even if it pays less than other work) can especially effective as you may become faster over time as you learn the client’s systems. This increase in work speed will naturally increase your hourly pay in the process. Always Sign a ContractFinally, no matter what negotiations you engage in and regardless of the outcome, it’s important that you get the entire agreement in written form. Always create and sign a contract that clearly states what the payment terms and expectations are. If a client already has a contract, make sure to read it thoroughly before signing. When either of those elements shifts seriously during or after negotiations, make sure to redraft the contract to reflect the change. If you have a contract to fall back on, it’s much easier to maintain harmony and peace once your initial negotiations are in the rearview mirror. Nailing Freelance NegotiationsNegotiations can feel scary, especially when you view it as a showdown between a small, helpless freelancer against a giant corporation. However, the truth is that freelance negotiations are genuinely taking place on a peer-to-peer level. Sure, you’re being paid by the client, but you’re providing a valuable service in return. With that in mind, enter each negotiation with respectful confidence. Don’t make unreasonable demands or overpromise. Instead, clearly communicate organized expectations and do your best to craft a solution that leaves both you and the client as happy as possible. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2020/07/08/how-to-negotiate-with-a-new-client/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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