Diana Marinova

Freelance Mentor & Marketing Consultant

Two Reasons for a Freelancer to Develop Flexibility

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Surprise, surprise! I had to take some unforeseen time off from blogging. I’m traveling for a couple of months far away from Europe and apparently keeping up with my projects while sightseeing and getting myself familiar with new cultures, people and activities proved to be challenging.

To make sure you won’t forget about me while I’m having fun, here are two reasons for you to develop flexibility right now. (And no, this post is not about the unimaginable physical flexibility that you need to work from home on your computer so many hours per week 😉

How Not to Handle Customer Inquiries

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I’m about to embark on a few weeks trip to the Netherlands and the US in a few days and naturally, I spend the majority of my time planning the trip, researching accommodation, booking airplane tickets, reviewing mobile carriers with good internet plans, and all those fun things that go hand in hand with working while traveling. In the process, I realized customer relations in the travel industry have a lot to do with prospecting as a freelancer. So let me tell you a story and what not to do when talking with prospective freelance clients.

Customized Cover Letter – Another Sure Way to Stand Apart from the Crowd

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Some time ago I shared one sure way to stand apart from the crowd – adding value for clients; instead of making a huge price discount, offer value-add services. Today, I’ll share another sure way to stand apart from the crowd, if you use websites like Upwork (formerly oDesk) and Elance – that’s writing a customized cover letter.

Why writing customized cover letters is a sure way to stand apart

In my freelance career, I’ve been a team manager multiple times and hired many freelance contractors. So I speak from experience on both sides of the fence—I have written many cover letters, and I’ve read my fair share too.

oDesk Relaunched as Upwork – Why Is That a Good Thing

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On May 5, 2015 oDesk relaunched as Upwork. The news dominated the internet for a day or so. Various online media and freelancers blogged on the topic, listing all the information they have received from the company’s PR department. But what does this name change really mean for us, freelancers and clients who have been using oDesk for years?

First, let’s see the official information about Upwork (formerly oDesk).

3 Things You Should Never Do when Negotiating with Freelance Clients

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A lot of freelancers get to the interview stage but fail to secure a contract because they do rookie mistakes. Most often, they don’t know better yet due to lack of experience. They may not even realize when their behavior is unprofessional or unethical.

To help you be a better freelancer and land more projects, I’ll share the top three things I continuously see freelancers do during negotiations with freelance clients, which in most cases cost them the project.

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