Being a Contractor, the Business Side of Things...

By Gayle Buske, President and CEO, Team Double-Click® and VirtualAssistingUSA;

You have to look at contracting a bit differently than you do a "regular" job. You have to look at it as a business, even if you're working at it part-time. When you think contractor, think entrepreneur. That's exactly what you are. There is always a need for you to budget your money and your time, as well as sell yourself and your services.

Set up a web site. This can be done so inexpensively these days. You can even purchase some inexpensive software to create your own. Use your web site to showcase your best work - whether it's writing, design work, or projects you've managed. Then, direct potential clients there to view your work. Almost every client wants to "see" you and your work before making a commitment to hire you. A web site is much less cumbersome for the client to see than sending them attachment after attachment to view.

Answer the phone professionally. Your home phone may double as your business phone. Good for you! I love the frugality of it. But set your business hours - say 9am to 5pm. During that time, let the kids know that only Mommy or Daddy is allowed to answer the phone. When it rings, clear your throat, put a smile on your face and simply answer with "good morning/afternoon, this is Gayle". It sounds so professional and clean. Don't bore the caller with an hour-long presentation. Remember, we're in the information age - we're bombarded with information - your client doesn't want a sales pitch each time he calls. Never answer with "hello?" or "Buske residence". Even though you contract and your clients know that (or they should), you still need to convey an air of confidence and professionalism. Clients want to know they're working with someone who is stable and professional. And even if you do contract as a part-time hobby, you want the client to know you're serious about what you do. If they don't think you're serious about what you do, they will think you won't take your assignments seriously either.

Manage your time. Even if you "go to work" in your sweats, be sure you still get up in the morning at the same time. Follow a regular routine - get dressed, brush your hair and eat breakfast. Even if you don't have much work to do that day, it's still important to think and behave successfully. If others think of you as a success, true success will follow. Part of this, is believing that you are, and can be, successful.

When the neighbor comes knocking on the door wanting to chat for an hour or two - kindly explain to her that you're up against a tight deadline and really need to get back to your project - even if you're really not. And, can you catch up with her a bit later or maybe on Saturday? After all, if she had a job and you went barging into her office, would she get away with sitting back in her chair or in the lunchroom with you chatting for an hour? No! So why would you allow her to do that to you while you're at your place of business?

And what do you do when Auntie Jane calls in the middle of the day. Same thing: Tell her that you're sorry you can't talk right now, that you have to get your work done or your client will be angry with you. Ask her if you can call her back this evening.

Firing Clients. Yep, you read right. It's okay to fire clients. I've fired many of them. If you can't collect the money they owe you or they're downright abusive, get rid of them. You don't need them. In fact, the time you spend worrying about them is much better spent going out and finding another, much better, client.

Send Thank You notes. Always, always, always thank your client for his business. Whether it's by voice, by email, by handwritten card, clients like to know that you appreciate the bones they toss your way.

The things you do. Create a standard signature, which appears at the bottom of your emails. Include a list of the areas you specialize in along with a link to your web site. You never know who will see that and decide that they need one or more of your services. Here's what mine looks like:

Gayle Buske

"Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never, never- in nothing great or small, large or petty- never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense." ~Winston Churchill

www.teamdoubleclick.com

"Providing the people ...virtually!"
Providing the following services:
~ Virtual assistants
~ Data entry
~ Internet research
~ Transcription
~ Creative writing

Offer solutions to your clients. Clients usually appreciate it when you offer a better or more efficient way to handling a particular job or situation. Offer to save them money by doing XY and Z instead of PD and Q. They'll love you for it!

There is no magic formula to being a successful freelancer. And working as a freelancer, you won't get rich quick. That's the bad news. The good news is that if you are diligent in checking the job boards and seeking out new clients and follow ALL of the advice we've given here, you can make a good living working at home. Everything we've spelled out here is common sense, but you need to do it and follow it to the letter to succeed.




About the author:
Gayle Buske is the co-founder, president and CEO of Team Double-Click® and VirtualAssistingUSA. As the head of a virtual staffing agency with over 57,000 virtual professionals in its pool, Ms. Buske is uniquely qualified to aid small business owners in their growth and development through virtual outsourcing. Virtual Assistants across the globe look to Ms. Buske and her organizations for guidance, mentoring and motivation.

Team Double-Click®, the country's foremost staffing agency for trained Virtual Assistants - Matching Top Virtual Workers with Top Companies! Visit www.teamdoubleclick.com or phone 888.827.9129 for a variety of full-service virtual staffing options.

VirtualAssistingUSA provides Virtual Assistants a place to upload their profile, advertise their services and get access to affordable training, marketing and billing assistance for their business. VirtualAssistingUSA gives small business owners direct access to our database of tens of thousands of virtual assistants - without the ongoing agency fees and gives them access to talent that is not available through other venues. Visit www.virtualassistingusa.com for more information.

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