by Syaf | Aug 13, 2018 | Freelancers Guide
We spent so many times on a 2-hour meeting that could have been an email. You’ll notice the moment where there’s no specific agenda (worse if the meeting has one but nobody sticks to it).
It is pretty easy to run an unproductive meeting. Dragging discussion for hours, delaying your team from getting back to work to make actual progress.
Follow this tips if you want to frustrate your team with long, agonizing meetings:
No set-up until everyone is in the room
Why would you want to connect your laptop to the projectors 5 minutes before everyone come? Let your team see you plugging the right connector cable and configuring the display like a pro. If it doesn’t work, don’t bother to call IT for help until 10 minutes or so have passed. Your team will appreciate your effort and being in a meeting that doesn’t start on time.
Review previous discussions while adding nothing new
Allocate the first 30 minutes for “Confirmation of minutes of the previous meeting.” By pointing out notes from the previous discussion, you may deliberately remind your team which task is still in progress. At this point, avoid adding anything worth to the table. Instead, make it clear to everyone to focus on completing their task. Let them know not to waste time on any unproductive activities.
Don’t prepare an agenda, or skip it if you have one
Outlines for a meeting agenda keep the schedule to wrap the meeting on time. Your agenda makes the entire discussion more focused and involved. Avoid this by walking through your train of thought by talking endlessly on irrelevant topics rather than keeping everyone focus on the goals of the meeting.
Avoid making decisions during the meeting
A good meeting is about collecting information, weighing options and coming up with a solution. Running an unproductive meeting, you shouldn’t come up with a concrete decision and let your team assume what the next action plan is. You can always follow up on it at the next meeting.
Conclusion
I don’t have problems with meetings, but those unproductive ones that are wasting my time. Meetings are essential to make everybody on the same page, working towards the same goal. But it’s worth nothing unless everyone started getting things done.
This article was published on Medium.com.
by Syaf | Nov 29, 2017 | Freelancers Guide
I was invited to be one of the panelist, discussing about Running a WordPress Development Agency at the WordCamp Kuala Lumpur 2017, last November.
Here are some points that I’d like to summarize from that discussion that could be useful, if you’re running a small web agency:
- Spend Time Perfecting Your Skills. Many people will have a product or talent, but will receive little to no recognition because it isn’t good enough. I suggest spending enough time developing a product, be it a website or invention, that you would buy it.
- Dont Be Humble. I have a problem with this; I hate “bragging” about myself. But if you think that you are worth it, go for it! When proposing a project to a client, tell them you’re better than the rest, then say why.
- Cover Different Mediums. Promoting yourself over several different mediums, like in social media, person-person communication, or the internet forums, will help clients recognize that you are in the market.
- Have GREAT Advertisements. A great advertisement is worth it; they are the deciding factor in whether a client wants to come to you. If you think that you’re worth paying for an advertisement, this is great; a well-done, professional advertisement makes you stand out from the crowd. Which brings me to tip #5.
- Stand Out. This is the most heard lesson today. By being unique, you are recognized more; by being recognized more, you are sought after more. Going back to Tip #2, tell your client why you’re different, and better.
- Sometimes, You Make More By Not Making Anything. This means free-work. Volunteering at a place before working there not only shows that your dedication, but also it gives you a chance to display your qualities. This can be translated into selling a product, to; demos and freebies are one of the most surefire ways to gain interest.
- Conquer Your Fears. I know at first, I was scared to self-promote. But then I would think of my bank balance, and see it with thousands of dollars more. It really helps!
- Be Assertive. When promoting your services, never stray from your self-assurance. I recommend before selling that you become so confident that any questions you’re asked come straight from knowledge. Know your services back and forth, like the back of your hand.
- Learn From Your Mistakes. I always like to ask, when I’m turned down, why I was turned down. That way, if they point out any specific fault, it gives you the chance to take that in and learn from it. If you really want to show maturity, tell them that if they tell you, it will give you the chance to improve. Then, leave your contact info, because they might look for you in the future.
There you have it! It was a great opportunity meeting wonderful people at the WordCamp, and I hope for another great one, next year!
by Syaf | Nov 9, 2017 | Freelancers Guide
Freelance work always comes in waves. You’ll be the talk of the town one week, and then there will be nothing but silence in your inbox the next. Freelance dry spells are almost inevitable. So what is there to do during the down time?
Keep a Schedule
Even without regular work, you should be keeping to a regular schedule. Wake up at the same time every morning, get ready for work, then get settled in front of your desk.
Even if there is nothing for you to do at a normal, 9-5, you’ll still be expected to show up, at least for a bit. This will give you time to seek out work, touch up your portfolio and resume, and still leave you with a potential free afternoon binge watching on Youtube.
Stay Connected
Have some other friends that you know in the business? If you are a freelance writer, and have met a few other freelance writers, then why not get in contact with them? They might have a few ideas for your dry spell, a little extra work to throw your way (since you have nothing better to do), or might even be able to throw you a bone.
Get in touch with old clients that you haven’t heard from in a while and offer them a 10% discount. You never know what kind of business you can drum up just by keeping in touch.
Straighten Up
When you’re super busy, your desk probably reflects it. If your desk is loaded down with papers, books, pens and other nonsense, it may be time for some cleaning. Make sure to file away important documents, straighten up the bookshelves, and don’t forget to dust!
Play with your Portfolio
How long has it been since you read over your website, your blog, your social media site, or your portfolio? If it has been a while, you may want to just make sure all of your information is completely up to date. Old dates and obviously outdated information will make you look less professional and might scare off a few clients.
Learn Stuff
There are so many places to take short, informational courses; you never know what you might learn. There are Photoshop courses in Udemy, SEO classes at Skillshare, and even writing courses on Youtube. And all of these are very cheap or free. You’ll never be short of something to do by learning new things!
Look After Your Business
Are you charging enough? Is your blog professional enough? Should you change your Facebook page to reflect the new niches you’re hoping to start leaning towards? A free few hours can help you to evaluate your business model, and see if your plan could use a few tweaks. Ask your colleagues or professional friends what they think of what you are doing. You never know where great advice can come from.
You also need to consider if you have a contract in place that you use with your clients. If you have been burnt in the past from a client not paying you or asking too much, then you should consider updating your contract so you can use it for all your clients over and over again.
Add to Your Portfolio
Even a spare hour you have is a spare hour you could spend on expanding your portfolio. Don’t waste it!
Take Some Time Off
Maybe you’ve been working too hard. Perhaps you can look for more work tomorrow? Take the day and go out. Go to the movie, bowling or just take a stroll. When was the last time you playing Daytona USA? Or perhaps you can volunteer. Maybe take a fitness class at the gym you have never taken.
There is a whole world out there, and you can tackle your work problems tomorrow.
by Syaf | Oct 11, 2017 | Copywriting, Freelancers Guide
Is your client cringing due to you missing an error you were meant to proofread? Does your revision sound much worse than the original writing, giving you the feeling you should just bow down and cry into a pile of tears? Face it, proofreading may be a tough grind at times, yet it is always an interesting challenge at hand. Here are a few things to keep in mind – and by “things,” I mean ten things. Five just seems, amateurish.
Number One: Excessiveness in Wordplay
So you’re there, reading over the paper you were assigned to edit, and you notice some word being used over and over again. As an editor myself, this could really tick me off, let alone you, as well. For this, mark each repeated word with a number, so that by the end of reading the article, you have tallied up the times it has been used. If it is three or less, it shouldn’t be too big a deal. If it appears to be four or more – dear goodness and donuts! Either omit the repeated words and revise some of the writing, or use rather a synonym for a replacement.
Number Two: Didn’t I Read This Somewhere Before?
Oh plagiarism, nasty plagiarism. Some writers, or maybe a ton, can’t find the ability to scribble original work, so they turn to copying someone’s work and claiming it as their own. Cowards! There are quite a few websites out there that are apt to determine whether or not the work is a copycat or a fresh, new piece of writing. Plus, even if it does sound similar, pay close attention to the writer’s style – which leads us to the next point.
Number Three: Stylizing Differences
Yes, everyone has their own unique style, yay. But is the author using consistency in his/her writing? It could be the focus on character concentration, specific word choices within sentences, or biased decisions on unfair topics, such as debating that a banana is juicier than an apple (see what I did there?). Always make sure that the author is utilizing his or her own vision and trying not to seem inspired by another author. If the unfortunate occurs, the criticism will not only be directed to the writer, but you as well. In fact, criticism is everywhere.
Number Four: Stick With the Topic
If the magazine, website or book is centered on a particular theme, then it is important that the author is being consistent with the said theme. For example, you’re the editor of a music-based magazine, in which the focus is on uprising music artists; the author then writes a whole section dedicated to the art of the The Wachowskis (they’re awesome, anyway). The section is nowhere close to a music topic. Irritated? Omit! Instead, have the writer change the section to music that is featured in The Wachowskis films that made artists famous.
Number Five: If there’s A Quote
A quote in an article or a piece of writing (in general, of course) is always a nice aspect, but always make certain that the quote is accurate and on point in the topic of the piece. And for goodness sake, always check that the person actually said the quote that is being provided rather than a dull “It was a terrible game” line.
Number Six: Those Dam Homonyms
Horrendous errors come when words are being misused awfully. Like that, were you paying attention, or were you watching the newest episode of your awful television program? Watch out for homonyms, for the results could be one ride of a wild maize. And if you did catch the errors in this numbered tip, give yourself a pat on the back.
Number Seven: And One More Time!
After you’ve read the piece, read it one more time! Maybe you missed something along the road and BOOM! another error, this time you made the mistake. How dare you?! It’s always important to peruse a piece twice, or even three times. You want this to be perfect, right? And, if you so please, take the second reading for a later time. It doesn’t have to be right away. Put some fresh eyes onto it within a few hours. You’ll be just fine, don’t cry.
Number Eight: Love Your Voice
This one is classic advice for proofreading: reading aloud. Face it, you did it at least once back in junior high when you were forced to read your annoying classmate’s paper on sci-fi flicks. Whether you read in a whisper or saying it out loud, it’s always groovy to use your voice to your advantage to keep an eye out for those terrifying errors.
Number Nine: Stray Away From Distractions
Please, oh please, leave that tweet for later and concentrate on the piece of writing. With distractions, your proofreading abilities will diminish. That being said, put away your smart-phone, turn off your flat-screen television and whatever else normally eases your boredom. Okay, some music, such as classical or soft jazz, is acceptable, but put a rain check on that hip-hop you just purchased from the local record store. Aren’t lyrics of the essence in hip-hop? That’s what I thought.
Number Ten: Did Spelling Even Come to Mind?
Lastly, be attentive to spelling errors within the author’s writing. Keep a dictionary, or even the web, nearby to double-check for mistakes. Like, shouldn’t this be one of the top three in the list? Yes, it is that important. Spelling, grammar, punctuation, it is writing!
by Syaf | Oct 5, 2017 | Freelancers Guide
If you are just starting your new business, one of your major concerns right now could be how to professionally present yourself in the field you want to excel and compete effectively among larger business offering the same product or service like yours.
In today’s fast paced environment, every objective can be attained now with the help of the latest technology and of course the much needed revolving fund to keep your business abreast with the current trend and what your competitors are willing to offer to all your target clients.
Here are some techniques that any small or start-up business could try in order to have a competitive edge and perform closely with their rivals—the bigger companies:
1. Invest more in your advertising campaign
If you have adequate capital resources to spend, then invest in a reliable and certified marketing agency that can help you come up with a more realizable marketing plan. The best way to fully utilize your budget is scout for a good deal on all the marketing firms offering their services that promise to have your sales pitch soar high or get the needed traffic back to your site.
2. Avail the latest technology or equipment if needed
Even you are just new in the market, you can also provide what the bigger firms are offering the public. For example, if your business is concentrated into shirt printing, then, investing is a high-tech shirt design maker or equipment will give you more chances to compete with your rivals and provide also the same service that they are giving. The good thing about a start-up business is that you can still lower your prevailing rates, unlike with bigger companies they need to charge higher or maintain their existing rates in order to sustain all their expenditures.
3. Add a personal touch
Whether it is a small rented space for your showroom of your products or an online website featuring your newest product lines being sold, don’t forget to add a personal touch to your start-up business. Making your place well-presented, inviting to your walk-in clients and personally greeting them would make a big difference already as compared to bigger stalls which sometimes look snobbish when no one would even greet the clients, making them feel awkward or put-off to even enter their premises or stalls. Same applies with your websites, be sure you have an online customer service team who will be ready to attend to all your clients concerns and needs.
4. Improve your product or service from time to time
Being a newbie in this business, one aspect that you should never overlook is the continuous improvement of your product or service in order to cope up with the growing demands of your clients and the high rate of competency among your competitors. Strive to be the best in whatever industry you want to focus.
Running your own business really requires hard work, creativity and a lot of discipline. If you think all your best efforts are not enough for your motives to excel, then, the next best thing to do is follow the route of what big companies are doing to succeed. If they are using promotional gimmicks, then, it’s about time you do the same tactic in your own little way to get your consumers full attention. Never give up. Live within your dreams for self-fulfillment.
by Syaf | Oct 3, 2017 | Freelancers Guide
Managing a website project, whether it is big or small, both require good handling skills to the person assigned. Some individuals perceive that bigger projects are the only ones that need strict planning, enough capital and time, but contrary to this belief, even small projects do require the same amount of planning and management in order to gain success in the long run.
Expert project managers or team leaders usually apply these techniques when handling projects, whether big or small. Here they are for your information:
1. Proper communication
One of the most vital actions that could lead to the entire success of any project is proper communication from the top management down to the bottom line of its members, the employees or staff. A good project manager must be approachable and always ready to communicate effectively with his members no matter how difficult it may be, so that any misunderstanding or concerns could be opened out during the discussions. Making sure that barriers or conflicts are resolved promptly will surely help everyone to work wholeheartedly and harmoniously until the end of the project.
2. Clear visibility of the entire operation
An efficient project manager or team leader has the capacity to manage the entire operation of the project. He must know how to properly allocate all the resources needed in the good flow of work like adequate manpower to finish the entire project, sufficient capital or investment to make each task or target realizable and manageable and lastly enough time to finish the whole project successfully on the set date or deadline without any delays.
3. Good analytical skills
A reliable and efficient project manager or team leader must possess good analytical skills all throughout the project. He must have already a forecasted ROI (return on investment) once all the project requirements are met accordingly to the agreed plan. An expert project manager must have the ability to weigh all the possible outcome of the project on the basis of their guidelines. He must know exactly the proper course of actions or remedies to apply in case something goes wrong along in any of the stages of the project.
Managing a project, whether small or big, both have the same levels of challenges to the view of the person in charge like the project manager. Careful planning and detailed handling of all target plans and course of actions must be observed for the project to succeed in the end.
Remember the true success of a project or assignment is weighed on how both parties the manager and members have managed to work together and contributed effectively in the entire operation, leading to a positive outcome.
