What I NEVER did was write : "Dear Sir/Madam.. " --- I don't even know WHY I don't do that but it's because I figure that the way was to show you're a polite decent human being is to submit a comprehensive resume along with THAT PROFESSIONAL LINKED-in PAGE. I do always say after a NON pro-forma application letter something like : "I thank you!". Oh yes, instead of writing "Dear Sir.Madam" I write "Hello there !" Sure that may smack of utter unprofessional-ism UNTIL they READ my profile, my Linked-in page and my REAL PUBLISHED WORKS which I have saved in jpeg.
Now, this works for me and I have my personal reasons and again I may be wrong. In my "book", anyone who wants to be called "Madam" or "Sir" right away usually does not "click" with my personality type. Second, more providers at Odesk are just like ME -- they can be "buyers" too. Sure, they're going to pay, BUT, I give them the best work I can.
I get a LOT of repeat clients and I VALUE them. I usually am LUCKY to somehow attract people like Bob -- heck he's hired me for the 4th time -- and my rates get higher. There is Ira who has hired me twice to do a travelogue and a couple of repeat buyers who "fall in love" with my style, in fact, they even say so in my feedback -- not kidding! There's Harvey who pays me 5 bucks per 500 words and heck, that is NOT at all bad because i can do 5 articles (sometime even more in a day) which means 50 bucks.
Was it easy? Not until I put my mind to it and got my first job. Today I have three assignments and I have no idea why I am here blogging. Another thing I did, was try and "see" what most of these jobs were. Most of them were re-writes. I LISTEN to complaints like : " I hired this _____ian and I want this rewritten, I paid by the hour and this is what I got so I need a REALLY good rewrite!" Then I submit a better rewritten version and say something like, "well, you paid the guy/gal a dollar for that... whaddya expect???". Usually, and this happens like 80% of the time, the buyer says : "Yeah, you're right..." Most buyers are reasonable. If you submit a good piece of work they KNOW that they should pay YOU higher than the rest. If they don't know that, you can advise them to "get a new writer.."
I always try and make friends and see what makes THIS buyer "click". I know if a guy wants to giveaway an E-book or if he/she wants to sell it at Clickbank. I know by instinct when someone wants an ezine article and the "catchiest" way to start a sentence.. I ask myself , "would something like this be interesting enough for me to read through the end?". Most of these buyers aren't RICH. That;s why they want to sell E-books through Clickbank and if I happen to be the one HIRED to do that, I make it damn good. If you g through my Odesk feedback, you'd probably think that most of my buyers were crazy because of the "mighty great" feedbacks they've given me. No, they're NOT, they just know that LIKE THEM, I want to get rich too have my piece of the PIE too... I perfectly TRY and understand them because maybe I see what they want and need .... Get my drift???? I try and mentally figure out what they NEED and WHAT THEY WANT TO DREAM ABOUT. I even , at times, wish so much that their E-book manages to makes millions for them. (YES, I do) Yah know, I believe in sending out good vibes... and they know that. They feel that.
Oh and I do not believe in tests... some will tell you to take more tests. I used to believe in THAT until I found out something LIKE a site where all the answers can be found. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.. okay, I know that sounds so cliche', BUT it's true :)
Oh and I do not believe in tests... some will tell you to take more tests. I used to believe in THAT until I found out something LIKE a site where all the answers can be found. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.. okay, I know that sounds so cliche', BUT it's true :)
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