Do you want to have higher rate of winning a bid in a freelance auction site like VWorker, Freelancer or Scriptlance?
Most bidders use canned or premade messages to win jobs without making even a slight effort of editing their bid messages. Do you know that even a slight tweaking of your messages like mentioning some keywords from the Bid Request or Description could make a whole new world of difference?
Its really a waste spending hours copy-pasting bid messages when you dont even get a single project won. We have this innate nature of wanting to speed up the process or wanting an easier life. But fast and easy doesnt produce successful results. Hardwork does!
Why not apply the following tried and tested tips to win projects and while making the hours you spend bidding worth the effort:
1. While it is advisable to copy-paste bids to the bidding text boxes so to save time, pls do yourself a huge favor: Edit your messages and use keywords and phrases from the Description. You might simply just confirm what the main requirements are, it will work wonders.
If part of the description says "I need a PHP Coder who can create an automated uploading of images into my site" Then you would include in your message "Im an expert PHP Coder who has done a lot of automated uploading before.."
2. Address the client/buyer with his name or username. If a buyer's user id is Sammy123 then you should take advantage of that! Start your message by saying "Hi Sammy," Who would not want to be called by their first name? Its the sweetest word you ever hear. If his/her username is random like je233, then you would want to use it. Buyers know if you are really reading his requirements.
3. Take time to study the requirements, description, platform, attachments before you regret you underestimate, overestimate or your price. It really pays to ask questions or clarification if the Request is vague or incomplete.
It's better to take 10 minutes to compose your bid and then win than spending an hour bidding for 20 projects then win 1 project. You know which effort is tiresome right?
4. Don't bid when you are not sure you can deliver. If you are not knowlegeable about the requirements then don't waste your time on it. There are dozens of other projects within your interests or skillset waiting for you anyway.
5. Take time to followup the client/buyer.. Even after you placed your customized bid, take time to followup after say, a day or 2. Say like "Hi, Im just dropping by to check if you have any updates about your project" you could further say "I hope you are finding any problems choosing the right coder."
6. Treat your buyer/client as your customer or employer. Remember when you applied for a job? You know the drill: You would prepare for the interview, you do research about the company and the interviewer. Then you come to the office of your prospective employer for an interview. You would not just use "canned" messages to answer their questions, would you? If the interviewer asks you "What will you bring to the table?" (meaning, "What skills do you have to be an asset to this company?") Armed with researched information, you would give clear and concise answers that relates to what they do.
7. Be honest, straightforward and realistic with your bids and messages. K-I-S-S: Keep it Short and Sweet! Your buyer might be super busy. Consider that as well.
Hope this article will help you win more jobs in your next bidding!
Have fun!
