23
votes
Judging sincerity of freelance job offers
What you are dealing with is known as a "Sales Pipeline." (Step through the Slideshow) And you are getting the steps out of order. That's what's causing your frustration.
As a tech person (like ...
- 470
15
votes
Accepted
Judging sincerity of freelance job offers
Wasting a day hoping for work to arrive if you have other work lined up is on you.
Don't start any work before you have a signed contract. If they sign a contract, the likelihood that they are ...
- 266
12
votes
Judging sincerity of freelance job offers
it could be that he is just under time pressure and while the change in commitments is unfortunate, future opportunities may make up for it
This is your statement from above. This tells me that you'...
- 5,303
9
votes
How to decide what Upwork projects to bid on?
First, as more of a philosophical angle, it's better to look for high value client, not high value projects.
[Quick note, I've not really used UpWork since the departure from oDesk, and I'm not at ...
- 2,030
8
votes
Accepted
Can I modify clients testimonials?
This answer is based upon my 20 years experience of having legal departments review testimonials and approve/refuse edits. I am not a lawyer though. Almost every piece I design has many, many ...
- 17.4k
7
votes
Accepted
Client asking me to do a coding challenge
Sure, it's happened.
It's similar to if someone said to you, "I will only pay $5 per hour" for something you know they can't get from any other qualified person for less than $80+. Just ...
- 701
6
votes
Judging sincerity of freelance job offers
Contracts and deposits. Deposit paid before any work starts.
If the work is too short for a contract, then payment in full before work starts. And still write a contract.
Rush work? There's no such ...
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5
votes
How do I balance the risk of pricing myself out of a job vs. not getting any work at all?
You'd be better off trying to pick up some work through recruiters than ridiculously lowering your rate. The longer you stay in projects where the client doesn't value your work, the more annoyed you'...
- 5,303
4
votes
Accepted
How important is it to be a nice guy to your clients?
Mutual kindness, gentleness and thankfulness is very important to keep long term good relationships with clients.
I have many clients who could go to any other freelance but they always wants me ...
- 2,044
4
votes
Client asking me to do a coding challenge
It is reasonable for a client/company to run a practical test before hiring somebody. However, given that such a test takes time and effort, it is also reasonable that you ask to be paid for it - at ...
- 288
4
votes
Accepted
How to say "How long will the interview process take?" without being rude?
Longer-term clients are typically going to have a longer-form interview/onboard process, even for freelancers, as they're investing more time and money into you and the project you're going to be ...
- 391
3
votes
What is implicit common practice in licensing software (client Javasript) for evaluation?
OK. Your client doesn't want to sign a licensing agreement. Here's how to look at this:
If the work has not already been performed, and you do the work, it's technically a work-for-hire, and the ...
- 5,303
3
votes
Accepted
"Work faster and I'll pay you higher,"?
"Will clients still want to work with you even if you increase your
rates, based from your experience?"
Some will, some will not. But if you never change your price, how will you know? As a rule of ...
- 1,750
3
votes
How do I balance the risk of pricing myself out of a job vs. not getting any work at all?
There's really no solid information to go on here.
Not sure what "ridiculously low" means... 80% your normal rate? 50%? 25?
No clue long have you been in the field? If you are pricing to match ...
- 17.4k
3
votes
Judging sincerity of freelance job offers
As Peter's and keshlam's answers point out, an up-front contract goes
a great length to help here. I agree, except that for tasks that may
take max 4 hours, and perhaps are needed in a rush, this ...
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3
votes
"Work faster and I'll pay you higher,"?
One thing to remember when you're a freelancer: You work for yourself, not for your clients. You are offering your clients services. If you feel your rate is too low, you raise your rate. ...
- 470
3
votes
Accepted
How to hurry a client into a decision?
You don't need to be so polite. Business is business.
I'm not suggesting being rude by any means, but being forthright and upfront will serve you best. You pretty much have to provide an ultimatum. ...
- 17.4k
3
votes
How to hurry a client into a decision?
As a rule of thumb, you should never "wait" for a client. Instead, only make binding offers which are time-limited (i.e. valid for two weeks or a Month) and keep talking with other clients. Also, if ...
- 1,033
3
votes
How do you know if a client is serious about your service?
I provide estimates, details, etc.
Wait a week.
If I hear nothing, I'll reach out once. Asking if they have any further questions I can assist with. Often a client may tell me at that time that ...
- 17.4k
3
votes
How can I find clients and communicate with them directly
You are asking how to be in business. According to Peter Drucker, a business needs two things, marketing and innovation.
Marketing is what we do to identify who to sell to, what to sell to them, and ...
- 1,567
3
votes
How to say "How long will the interview process take?" without being rude?
Just ask them, there is nothing rude about clarifying timeframes or anything else.
If you lose an opportunity you lose it, it's not a big deal, you just move forwards and look for another.
As a ...
- 201
2
votes
How to decide what Upwork projects to bid on?
So I started on Upwork about a year ago, have completed 5 projects and apparently am now considered top rated.... My selection process:
Only consider clients that have a history of filling roles and ...
- 413
2
votes
How do I balance the risk of pricing myself out of a job vs. not getting any work at all?
The temptation is always to lower rates when work isn't coming in. My rule of thumb is to only lower rates if you can get the job by lowering 5% or 10% max. Otherwise, it's just the wrong kind of ...
- 611
2
votes
How important is it to be a nice guy to your clients?
If you're a nice guy, clients will like you. But they also want to try to take advantage of you.
The more important is to be a professional guy. Utmost professional. When you are a professional, it ...
- 14.3k
2
votes
Should I request a down-payment if I'm paid by the hour?
Down-payments are a legitimate means of gauging a client's seriousness about the project and ability to pay. While there is nothing inherently wrong with requesting a down-payment, some clients might ...
- 121
2
votes
Enquiries from overseas
Whether dealing with local or overseas clients, you ideally want them to take a stake in the project before starting (otherwise it can be easy for them to walk away for whatever reason).
I achieve ...
- 2,028
2
votes
Be fair if client offering more work, but owe money to person that paid you for previous work?
This is simple.
Do not work with client until he pays cool guy and then he needs to pay you IN ADVANCE of any work. What makes you think the client will not do the same thing to you as he did the ...
- 474
2
votes
Be fair if client offering more work, but owe money to person that paid you for previous work?
Disregard that you know "this cool guy" and examine the facts.
You know this client has failed to pay others. Why would you be any different? Why would this non-paying client feel compelled to pay?
...
- 17.4k
2
votes
Direct PayPal invoicing or contract through freelance website for new client
I have never used any online freelancing platform for any client. All communications are direct, including contract negotiations and payments. I dislike "chat" overall, it's too easy to allow ...
- 17.4k
2
votes
Client asking me to do a coding challenge
Yes, Maximum time the clients and the company do this. First they give you some task and check you, if you can successfully do the challenge. Actually they look for your enthusiastic approach, problem ...
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