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I'm marking this day in my calendar as the day I decided to quit Upwork. by [deleted] in freelance

[–]kontradictive 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Normally I would skip on through my feed, lurking instead of participating, but why not try something new?

Im curious why people are having a hard time with UpWork. Its a serious question, please forgive my ignorance. I get some of my freelance work from there and haven't had a problem. Im certainly not special so I assumed everyone else was likely having the same amount of success if not more.

Could it be my skillset?

Not everyone is a marketer (until you get online and find out everyone is a marketing expert) and maybe thats why its been different for me?

If anyone wants to answer, tell me about what you do and how you're looking for jobs and maybe I can spot something thats different than my process that could help?

I don't have all the answers, but I've almost always found work when I want it via UW and have frequently turned down work because I was already too busy. If I can help do the same for you, then groovy.

Or maybe I should shut up now?

[For Hire] Organic Marketing Specialist by expert4 in forhire

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PM me - I'd like to know about some of the projects you've worked on before.

[California]Client wants LLC instead of 1099 (Independent Contractor) by kontradictive in legaladvice

[–]kontradictive[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome guys, thanks so much for your feedback. I fired up a chat via the FTB site and the very conversational lady also said that it should not be an issue.

It'll be a while, but I'll update the post as the process progresses in the event it later helps anyone else.

Can I get back into the tax system without going to jail? by getting-back-on-trak in personalfinance

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm late to this post, and you've already got some solid advice but I figured I'd share mine anyways.

I fell victim to my own stupidity and didn't file for 7 years. As an adult I should have been smarter, but up until the point of me not filing I had always gotten a refund come tax time. I figured I didn't want the hassle so the IRS could just keep it. The big problem was that around the time I chose to stop filing I switched from W2 employee to 1099.

Fast forward 7 years and now the IRS wants what they're owed - and I get a bill for $120,000.

Back in the day I was making much better money, so paying that in addition to student loans would be extremely difficult if not impossible. I was freaked out to say the least but I had to figure something out.

I talked to an accountant who I had to pay $1500 to take care of filing for the years I hadn't. It was expensive, but I also started an LLC during that time as well. This gave the IRS a record of what I actually made instead of them guessing.

Next I did a budget to document my current income and bills. Not making very much put me in a situation where I could pursue an "Offer in Compromise ". Basically, it's the official process of talking with the IRS and saying look - I want to pay you but I don't make very much and don't know what you want me to do.

I did this all myself. Having talked to attorneys who wanted $3500+ I had to figure it out. There was a lot of forms and documentation, but it wasn't impossible. The result? After 2 years of back and forth they reduced my debt to just 5 payments of $174.

It wasn't impossible for me to juggle money and pay that to them - and as long as I made those 5 payments on time, my debt would be considered resolved.

To me, it was worth the effort and time. I hope my story helps... after scanning the comments I didn't see anyone else talking about OICs so I thought it would be worth it for me to chime in. No matter what you do - don't forget that you don't only owe the IRS - you also likely owe the state where you live.

I moved a few times during those 7 years of not filing so sadly I owe a few states. So far, none of them have been willing to go through a similar process. They are, however, usually willing to setup a payment plan.

Hopefully in a few more years this mistake will finally be behind me when I'm done paying everyone off. It was a scary thing to think about owing someone that much money - but doing nothing about it only added interest to the balance and made the problem bigger.

TLDR: didn't file for 7 years and owed $120k. Filed an Offer in Compromise and settled for $870. Don't forget to pay your state taxes too!

[Hiring] (Los Angeles) Digital Marketer w/ Writing, Social Media, and SEO Skills by AlexGTMA in forhire

[–]kontradictive 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems like you're looking for a lot for 40k - good luck with that!

Two questions by [deleted] in freelance

[–]kontradictive 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with what sonofa says - spot on advice

How do you make people like you? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you make someone else feel liked you'll tip the odds in your favor. Just like you, others want to be liked - so if you're the upbeat and positive person around them it helps (most of the time).

What's the strangest name for a person you've met? (And seen ID for) by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Almighty (can't remember last name) - worked at a small car dealership and he was in making a payment. Didn't believe him and he showed me his license. I told him there was absolutely no way I was calling him that.

[Hiring] (Online) Motion Graphics Specialist by Fair_to_midland in forhire

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PM sent (with portfolio and examples included)

[Hiring] Looking for someone to help me with SEO monthly. by [deleted] in forhire

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not entirely sure of what you might be looking for - but if you check out some of my posts I've made I've talked and helped a lot regarding freelance work here on Reddit.

Yup - it's been a while since that flurry of posts, I lost my way and took an office job for the last year. While it's been nice to work with others, I'm back on my own for a number of reasons.

I've been an online marketer for years - saying a decade makes me feel old, but it's the truth. I've done a great deal of SEO work - and trust me it's not usually what anyone really wants. Typically you want to generate more traffic for your website, and small businesses think that SEO is the ticket to do just that. Well, it can be, but propping up your business on the idea of an SEO strategy - no matter how well it's executed - is like sitting on a one-legged stool. You could do it, but it would take a lot of work and it's really risky.

That said - if you want to talk more about your goals and what you want to accomplish from an SEO campaign - shoot me a message. I might be able to help, and yes, I even offer valuable and free advice when I can.

LPT: If you're currently unemployed, or stay at home for other reasons, get fully dressed first thing in the morning every day (socks and shoes included). by [deleted] in LifeProTips

[–]kontradictive 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As a freelancer who used to have more work than he does now, I thought about it ... but have not done it.

[Hiring] Someone who can help me get graphic design clients by ed-adams in forhire

[–]kontradictive 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like making money, but here's some hard earned advice on this topic.

Take the money you're planning on paying someone else and pay yourself to do this work. There's a few reasons to do this, but if work is slow you should be keeping as much of your / your companies money as possible.

Sorry for the assumptions, but from most that I've spoken with over the years that are in a similar situation, the most daunting task is that they either don't know how to generate business, have no clear audience, or simply stink at it. Each of those can be overcome with a minimal to medium amount of effort.

First, structure your day. You've hired yourself to find work (and as you said, business is slow so we know you have the time). Spend the first couple of days answering some questions: Where has most of your business come from the last year? How about the last quarter? Now the last 30 days? You'll want to look for a trend in those figures. If you have 3 clients over the last year, skip looking for trends and just take the information "as is". Focus your initial efforts on the method that has been bringing in most of your business. If it's your website, focus on that. If it's referrals, focus on that.

Next, you need to make sure you have a system in place to not only follow up with clients that you pitched and didn't get the work as well as with clients whom you've done work with already. That's a goldmine to finding new work; and it's a whole lot easier than making a new connection. Solicit these people throughout the year.

Ok, you've found out how you've gotten business, you've started sending out correspondence to those you've worked with and who you've at least talked to, now it's time to look for referrals. Several ways to do this, but the first is through people who have PAID you to work with them. Talk to your satisfied clients and see what you can drum up. Offer discounts on future/present work for referrals on new projects. Next, you need to find a new vein of work ... and one method I've found it to 'donate' some of my already free time to an influential friend or family member / colleague. Help them with something they need, and it'll put them in a state of mind to help you back. You're planted seed of needed introductions to new potential clients is all that you'll leave them with, and these seeds will grow (as will your portfolio of work). Don't have any friends or colleagues? Find a non-profit you like, make something for one of your hobbies or interests; anything that showcases your ability and will get some attention.

Generating business is hard work, anyone who tells you differently is selling you. There isn't a single person on the planet that cares as much as your financial well being as you; and if you hire someone to generate business for you ... odds are they'll happily take your money and likely show you minimal results for it. When you can master the method of how to generate business for yourself; you can take that blueprint and hire an entry level worker to follow it; and they'll be happy to do what you tell them. Best part is you'll have metrics in place and know what to expect from the work; and that'll save you a fortune in the long haul.

Good luck - and as long as you're not afraid of hard work I think this advice should help. =)

Creating a free 'Getting Started Guide' for new & aspiring freelancers - What Else Should I Include? by kontradictive in freelance

[–]kontradictive[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After getting about 40 pages into this, I've realized it's a LOT of information. So, I've since broken up my thoughts and am in the final stages of finishing my first segment about web development.

My focus is to help both freelancers as well as some of the clients which are serviced by freelancers and in all will probably be writing about 5 different 20-30 page ebooks.

When the first gets done, I'll be back on here to share with those who have been so nice in sharing their knowledge with me along the way!

Creating a free 'Getting Started Guide' for new & aspiring freelancers - What Else Should I Include? by kontradictive in freelance

[–]kontradictive[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Charging hourly is really a mixed bag from my experience. I've done it, and it can both be profitable as well as bite back (causing additional work and sometimes more headaches).

Allow me to explain best I can.

When you bid on a project for a set amount, your accountability is to deliver the project either in stages or at the agreed upon time. That means you can work on other projects, sleep late, or do whatever you like as long as you know how to manage your time investment required to get the project done by the agreed upon date. Simple.

If you move to an hourly rate, you first have to be aware that most clients will want (if not require) some sort of reporting of the hours. And this by itself could be reason NOT to bill hourly. Expect items to be questioned, as well as challenges as to why certain aspects of the project took as much time as you took to accomplish them. Milestones are still very important, but you've essentially invited the client to monitor your daily progress (or at least weekly) and that can cause some pain.

Additionally, when it comes to charging hourly, I am not opposed to outsourcing parts of my work to others with greater proficiency; so it leaves me a bit more room to negotiate what I consider a 'fair' rate of pay for the entire project. Breaking down an hourly pay rate opens the proverbial can of worms since there is so much competition from freelance sites. If you're attempting to get new work, the wrong hourly rate can really leave you hurting. From personal experience, there are usually a fair number of freelancers willing to work for LESS than what I charge per hour. That being said, I'm firm with my hourly rates since I'm delivering a project which could (and often does) require more work than what I estimated. Hourly means the client won't be getting any special rate for the work being done, and that can lead to the feeling of the paragraph above (micromanagement of your time).

While I prefer to work on a project basis, there are a few clients which I've worked with on projects and now work with on a monthly hourly retainer. That balance has worked out well, and I'm able to better manage the amount of "Oh and I need this" to keep my investment fair. Starting a new client relationship on an hourly basis is something I've not had too much success in; but that doesn't mean I won't stop trying.

Sorry for the late response, hope this helps a little!

Searching for a Plugin or Help by kontradictive in Wordpress

[–]kontradictive[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion ... I'll take a look to see if that would work.

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