Josiah Mackenzie

I’m running a product naming contest over at Youthcove to come up with a new name for a new (free) product I’m developing.

Come up with a name, and you can win some nice prizes.

The first version of my newest project is finally ready:

Why another blog directory? I created RSS Blog Directory to be very webmaster-friendly. I will soon be adding tools that allow website owners to take full advantage of the power of RSS syndication. One of the biggest benefits of RSS is that it can automatically provide a website with fresh content, which in turn can increase search engine rank.

So for now, add your blog or RSS feed, and keep checking back for the new features!

During my career as an entrepreneur, I’ve used freelance websites such as Guru.com and Elance.com extensively. I’ve also been on both ends of the process: submitting bids on job listings and also posting dozens of job listings myself. While doing this, I’ve noticed a pattern that differentiated successful freelancers from ones who are not as successful. These observations are summarized into the following suggestions:

Customize Your Proposal
This shows you’ve taken the time to read it. If it is a larger job, consider tailoring your resume to match the job. If a freelancer submits a customized proposal to me, I know she cares enough about my project to do a good job on it.

Perfect the Art of Persuasive Writing
Your bid is essentially a sales letter. Those who integrate the art of persuasion in their proposals are far more likely to win jobs than those who do not. Even if you don’t consider yourself an expert in sales letter writing, don’t be discouraged. The vast majority of freelancers put no effort into this, and their proposals read something like this: “Hey, I can do this job. Contact me for more info.” Hardly persuasive. Even a small amount of time invested in writing a proposal that sells your services will put you ahead of the rest who do nothing.

In order to save time, I recommend spending the time needed to craft two or three paragraphs of persuasive content that you can use as a “template”. Then take that and modify it for every bid you make.

Attach Examples from Your Portfolio
Just as you should tailor your bid to each job, provide examples of your work that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. You don’t need to list everything you’ve done, just 2-3 highly relevant examples. If someone is looking to hire a writer, they probably won’t be interested in your graphic design skills.

Encourage Communication
Good communication starts with providing multiple ways for a potential employer to contact you. In addition to traditional means of communication such as phone and email, add your instant messenger information. It is often handy for employers to be able to contact you through instant messaging services, so be sure to provide it.

Follow Up
Within a day or two of placing your bid, contact the employer again. If possible, provide some new samples of your work, and possibly some comments on how you will go about completing the project. Ask if the employer has any questions about your proposal. When I’m managing dozens of job listings, a freelancer who follows up with me catches my attention.

Provide a Custom Sample
On one of my job listings, a professional created the script I needed, showed it to me, than submitted his competitive bid. On my end there was no risk of hiring an incompetent person – the project had been completed! Of course this is relatively risky for the freelancer, but you wouldn’t have to create the entire project – just show the employer that you are capable of doing the job. (Note: if you do this successfully, I would venture to say your job winning percentage will increase dramatically!)

Employers are worried about losing time and money with freelancers who don’t perform as promised. The key to successful bidding on freelance jobs is to show employers that you will provide quality work for them within their time and money budgets.

I’m becoming a huge fan of the web-based tools provided by 37signals. As I mentioned earlier, my company recently started using Basecamp to manage projects and clients.

Backpack, The Web-Based Personal Organizer
Today, I signed up for the personal edition of Basecamp, Backpack. Backpack is a web-based tool that allows people to manage their lives: you can create to-do lists, jot down notes, save files, and collaborate with others using the “writeboards” feature. I think it will be extremely useful since I often work from other computers while traveling and in internet cafes. And even when I’m not near a computer, I’ll be able to access the information from my Treo.

37signals Understands A New Trend In Software
The products that 37signals produces are different from their competitors. Much different. These differences can be put into three categories.

Their Software is Simple
Most software companies try to create software packed with hundreds of features. Most users only use a couple of these features, while the rest cause frustration and a steep learning curve. Software from companies such as 37signals adheres to a minimalist approach, which cuts development costs, reduces customer support inquiries, and provides for a higher level of customer satisfaction.

Their Software is Web-Based
Publishing software that runs from any web browser eliminates the cost of creating versions for each operating system. Web-based software is also easier to support, since there are no installation problems for customers to encounter. Additionally, customers are able to access their software from any browser, whether they are at home or halfway across the world on a business trip.

Their Software is Subscription-Based
Subscription-based software allows the customer to make a number of smaller payments instead of one large payment up front. This can result in higher revenue since the customer perceives it as more affordable. It also prevents the problem of software piracy. Who would give out their subscription information if they knew it would affect their own account?

For these reasons, I predict most future software will be built around this model. It’s more efficient for the software companies, and easier for the customer to use.

I think it would be cool to have a Wall Street Journal-style hedcut of myself for my blog. Don’t you agree?

I’m not sure if this technique can be done in Photoshop, or if an artist has to create it manually. Anybody know the answer to this?

A couple months ago, I was introduced to Basecamp through a company I was working with. Their workers are all over the globe, so a central headquarters was needed to ensure adequate communication and progress on their projects.

Basecamp met the need perfectly. Through any web browser, you can create projects, timelines, to-do lists, and exchange files. I was impressed.

So impressed that I created an account for my company. Even though I’ve only used it for a couple days, I already feel more organized! And since I’m in the process of hiring several people as staff, it should make work even more productive.

If you have not done so already, I would encourage you to create a Basecamp account now. They offer a free plan that is excellent — fully functional, no time limit, and no credit card needed to sign up. Check it out!

Book: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Author: Michael Gerber
My Rating: 5/5

Michael Gerber believes that the reason most businesses fail is because they are started by people that have skill in creating a product, not in running a business. This lack of business savvy is what causes the majority of startups to fail.

To avoid this, Gerber tells his readers to work on their business, not in it. He recommends developing a business model that is systems-dependent, rather than people-dependent. This way, you can ensure consistent excellence from your company without overseeing day-to-day operations.

The E-myth by Michael Gerber is full of practical advice for operating your small business successfully. I would highly recommend it to every entrepreneur.