An actionable presentation on how to position yourselves at the global marketplaces. No matter what you specialty is, as long as you got the attitude this presentation will show you the tricks of the trade.

1. How To
Freelance
@thanpolas #HowToLance

2. You are what you are
Not what you say
@thanpolas #HowToLance

3. It’s a choice
6 to 18 months to get properly positioned
@thanpolas #HowToLance

4. You are a Company

5. A Company’s Divisions
● Strategy
● Marketing
● Sales
● Financial
● IT
● Operations
@thanpolas #HowToLance

6. You are a Brand

7. Let go of relics
soulara23@hotmail.com
http://elf-wizard.blogspot.gr
@LordOfSlips69
@triabita
@thanpolas #HowToLance

8. Brand Yourself
thanpolas
Logo
Brand Name
Your Brand
@thanpolas #HowToLance

9. Build your Brand
Your Homebase: http://thanpol.as
Twitter: @thanpolas
Skype: thanpolas
Github: thanpolas
email: thanpolas@gmail.com
url shortener: http://than.pol.as/Vu05
@thanpolas #HowToLance

10. Support your Brand
Facebook Twitter Github
@thanpolas #HowToLance

11. Showcase Yourself
● Github
● Behance
● [Put Your Specialty Service Here]
Open Source / Open Source / Open Source
@thanpolas #HowToLance

12. Distribute Yourself
● Blog Posts
● Twitter
● Reddit /r/[specialty]
● Comments
● Hackathons
● Events
● Facebook
● Hackernews
● Mashable
● Massive Sites
● LinkedIn
@thanpolas #HowToLance

13. Sales Pipeline

14. Where to start
www.odesk.com
www.elance.com
www.freelancer.com
www.staff.com
www.peopleperhour.com
● Each platform has
rating features.
● Aim for self-branding.
● Take inplace tests
● Experts+ use different
channels.
@thanpolas #HowToLance

15. ...designers
behance.net
studio.envato.com
wireframeplus.com
pickcrew.com
forrst.com
www.peopleperhour.com
@thanpolas #HowToLance

16. How to Bid
Be industrious!
● 50+ Bids / week (~6h work)
● Variable rates (+- 10%)
● Multiple platforms
● Optimize per hat
@thanpolas #HowToLance

18. Iterate
● My name is Thanasis, i am a freelancer
● I am Thanasis, web developer by trade
● I kick ass! Can you handle it?
@thanpolas #HowToLance

19. Measure Your Results
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20. How to close
Experts: Go for the jugular - Talk to the tech
guy
Newbies: Go for the non-tech clients, work
more for less pay
@thanpolas #HowToLance

21. Hourly vs Fixed
● Always prefer Hourly
● Non tech clients, go for fixed
● Tech clients, push hourly
@thanpolas #HowToLance

22. Rates Rates Rates
● Entry: $5 - $20
● Intermediate: $25 - $40
● Expert: $50 - $70
● World Class: $80+
(per hour)
@thanpolas #HowToLance

23. Tips & Tricks

24. Build your stash
● Bookmarks
● Repositories / Projects
● Snippets / Library
● Open Source / Open Source / Open Source
@thanpolas #HowToLance

25. Be responsive
● Answer your effing emails!
● Be always ON and GREEN on Skype
● Go the extra mile in elaboration
@thanpolas #HowToLance

26. Learn the tools of the trade
● Team organizing (Trello, basecamp, etc)
● Live / Async Collab (hipchat, slack.com)
● Skype / Google Hangouts
● Google Drive
● everytimezone.com
@thanpolas #HowToLance

27. Find a time-track solution
That fits your needs
@thanpolas #HowToLance

28. Never directly ask to get paid
● Protect your work (lo-rez)
● Credit as much as you can lose
● “Find the invoice attached”
● “The total amount due is $120”
@thanpolas #HowToLance

29. Ask to get paid on time
Getting paid on time is the token of
appreciation for your timely and hard work
@thanpolas #HowToLance

30. Summary
● You are a Company
● Brand yourselves
● Showcase your work
● Contribute / Participate
● Bid - Measure - Iterate
@thanpolas #HowToLance

31. Thank you!
Thanasis Polychronakis
@thanpolas
thanpolas@gmail.com
#HowToLance

32. Questions?
Thanasis Polychronakis
@thanpolas
thanpolas@gmail.com
#HowToLance