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Tag: freelance project

  • Project Management Tools for Freelancers

    Would you rather choose a job opportunity where you get to decide who your client is, choose your workload and have the flexibility of working at anytime that you deem fit? Because that is exactly what freelancing is all about. Owing to these reasons, many young adults have taken up freelancing jobs in various domains such as web development, content development, marketing and other fields. As lucrative as it may seem, freelancing does not come easy and demands its fair share of time investment and management software.

    This is where Project Management Tools come in. These tools help users in planning, scheduling, and delegating work, collaboration with different team members with organised dashboards, storing files, and tracking your progress through resource management and reporting. Such tools can be of great help when it comes to taking up projects, as they help freelancers in almost all aspects of managing a project. In this article, we compare the top five Project Management Tools for freelancers, in terms of features, pricing and utility.

    List of the Best Project Management Tools for Startups
    A project is any type of work that has to be done within a defined beginning andend time. The work is short term or temporary therefore has defined scope andresources. A project is a kind of singular goal which requires no routineoperation but to accomplish the goal, a specific set of operations …
    StartupTalkyNiku Mandal

    Project Management Tools

    Asana

    Asana Project Management tool
    Asana Project Management tool

    Asana is Project Management Tool for freelancers, which focuses on team work management and allocation of work. The list view feature of Asana helps users to identify what work needs to be done, and where and when it is due. You get to spot overlapping tasks and Asana helps you identify the unscheduled and independent tasks which you can replace with the one’s overlapping. Moreover the board feature helps your team to focus the task at hand by creating stage wise work, so the project is easily manageable.

    Solutions by Teams

    • Solutions for Marketing teams: Asana helps Marketing teams by planning a course of action that reduces the work load and creating a clear vision of expectations and goals. It helps you develop a marketing strategy and and execute it with instant requests and approvals eliminating ad hoc tasks.
    • Operations: Asana helps users by automating manual tasks and streamlines efficacy by reducing errors and reducing time spent on common projects. Moreover the Status feature in Asana helps turn progress into visual data to help track progress with ease.
    • Sales Management: Asana helps get all the information to respond to customer requests and establish common projects as templates and visualize progress. Templates such as Pre-Sales Deal support, Pipelines and Account tracking help teams to get insights on their sales data and customize workflows.
    • Product Management: Asana has been hailed as one of the best tools to market products and for good reason. It helps to plan product workplan along with priorities, reach milestones and have better coordinated product launches with resource shifting whenever required.

    Solutions by Workflow

    Asana offers solutions categorized by workflow such as Project Management, to track and manage team projects and Workflow Management which helps you create custom processes to cater to your needs. It also allows you to manage calendar to create and manage work by schedule along with remote collaboration, which has become the need of the hour, given the pandemic has halted travels and commute. Moreover, be it prioritizing tasks, or boosting productivity, Asana helps users be agile and flexible, which is the backbone of freelancing and hence is considered one of the best Project Management Tools for freelancers.

    Pricing model for Asana

    Basic Premium Business Enterprise
    Comes free of cost Costs $10.99 per month per user when billed annually, and $13.49 per user when billed monthly Costs $24.99 per month per user when billed annually, and $30.49 per user when billed monthly Depending on the scale of enterprise, user needs to contact the sales team to find the actual cost
    Build for teams and individuals new to freelancing For teams that have been in freelancing for a while and want to build projects for portfolio To manage professional work for institutions For large scale organisations
    To manage tasks and achieve goals for beginners with all the basic features for freelancers Best for teamwork projects and comes with Dashboard, Advanced search and reporting and Admin console and much more Comes with all amenities of Premium version along with advanced integrations and custom rules building Advanced features suited for enterprises such as user provisioning, custom branding, and online support

    Trello

    Trello Project Manager

    Trello is a team management tool for freelancers which helps users collaborate and coordinate with any team for the simplest projects such as a client meeting, webinar, or a website launch. Like any other project management application for freelancers, it helps users to draft out a schedule, create and follow up on deadlines, adding comments and attachments. Moreover its workflow automation tool, Butler helps you surge your productivity with rule based triggers, calendars, due dates, cards, and board buttons.

    Butler: Workflow automation tool 

    Pricing model for Trello

    Free Edition Business Class Edition Enterprise Edition
    Comes free of cost Costs $9.99 per month per user Costs $17.50 per user per month for 100 users and the cost per user decreases with increase in users
    Offers 10 Boards per team and unlimited cards and lists with just 10 MB per file attachment All the free features along with 250 MB per file attachments and advanced checklists and priority support All the Business class features with Powerup Administration, Oranization wide permissions and public board management
    Simple automation with Butler with 50 command runs per month Strong automation features with 1000 command runs per team along with 200 per user Best in class automation with unlimited buttons, rules and unlimited commands

    Wrike

    Very similar to the first entry in the list, Wrike offers Project Management solutions by teams and by use cases. Like other tools, Wrike offers remote collaboration between employees of an enterprise or team of freelancers with customizable dashboards and workflows. Moreover real-time comments, dynamic reports, and notifications Wrike offers streamlined flow of information for seamless team management.

    Project Management Tools for Virtual Teams
    Project management [https://startuptalky.com/tag/project-management/] software assists employees, administrators, and teams with managing team goals andlong-term projects, as well as coordinating individual tasks. Project managementsoftware accomplishes this through a range of tools to manage wor…
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    Project Management tools for remote teams

    Solutions by teams

    Wrike offers solutions ranging from Project Management and Marketing teams to Professional Service and Product Development encompassing most of the aspects for a Project Management Tool. Real-time visibility helps you avoid delays with proper planning and delivering result through them. Also, Wrike offers need based templates to cater to your specific needs. The Product Management solution offers a central product vision to break down silos, improving team coordination and managing resources efficiently to extract maximum output from the team.

    Solutions by User Case and Workflow

    Solutions for use case, provided by Wrike include:

    With features such as full visibility and minute details for enterprise level project management, to unification of group communication and actionable takeaways from meetings and discussions for Agile projects, Wrike works like magic and has earned its spot on the best Project Management tools for freelancers.

    Pricing model for Wrike

    Free Version for 5 users Professional Edition for 5/10/15 users Business Edition for 5-200 users Enterprise Edition for Unlimited users
    Comes free of cost Comes at $9.80 per user per month Comes at $24.80 per user per month Varying cost according to the plan, requires the user to contact support
    Basic features such as Task Management and Activity Streaming All basic features along with subtasks and advanced integrations including MS Project and Excel Basic features along with real-time reports, graphic analytics request forms and other features All business features in addition to directory integration, 2 factor authentication, audit reports and other advanced features
    Offers 2 GB storage space Offers 5 GB storage space along with 15 GB video upload space per month Offers 50 GB storage space along with 15 GB video upload space per month Offers 100 GB storage space along with 15 GB video upload space per month
    Offers Gantt charts, shareable dashboards, and collaborators Offers Salesforce integrations and branded workspace Offers Network access, Buiness Intelligence, and advanced User Access Controls

    Thrive

    Thrive Project Management

    Thrive has been a go to Project Management tool for many professional freelancers and amassed positive reviews owing to its user friendly interface and efficient and smooth running. Thrive helps users to be updated on projects with performance reviews, deadline insights based on past projects and manage tasks. Time sheet of Thrive is one of the most seamless to handle and maintain and gives users the easement of manually controlling it in case of errors. It also allows you to assess the hours put into work, so you can charge for the time you have spent working on a project, without any hassle.

    Thrive also allows users to create quick and appealing invoices, which are simple to create and send, with instant field submission, hence saving time. Another reason you can use Thrive is because it allows integration of Business Intelligence making it easy to interpret figures and facts, along with insights into your expenditures, both, one-off and recurring. Additionally, Thrive also offers a client section, which comes in  handy when your client list grows, so you can keep check on what all you have completed and what remains.

    Pricing model for Thrive

    Thrive offers an extremely simple pricing model, that costs $19 per month per user for the individual user version, while it costs $20 for team based version, per month per user. The features it offers in both editions are the same including invoices, expense assessment, time-sheet, clients, analytics, and resource management.

    Bonsai

    Bonsai Project Management

    Bonsai is a user friendly Project Management tool for freelancers, that specializes in integrating applications and automating workflow for seamless business management. With creative and custom invoices, Bonsai sends automated payment reminders on your behalf to your employer. Moreover, with a Projects and Client CRM, it helps you organize your documents and files while keeping a track of time with an automated time-sheet.

    Bonsai allows you to generate a contract template which can be e-signed in no time while also helps you in simple task management built for all kind of works, ranging from website development to photography. Moreover, Bonsai encompasses major countries including UK, Canada and Australia, and supports about 180 different currencies.

    Pricing model for Bonsai

    Workflow model Workflow plus model
    Costs $19 per month Costs $29 per month
    Offers unlimited clients and projects, proposals and, contracts Offers White-labelled client experience with client forms and questionnaires
    Offers invoicing, payments and client CRM Offers all features of Workflow model along with Workflow automation, Calendly integration and subcontracting
    No Priority support Comes with Priority support

  • Best Ways To Manage a Freelance Project

    Freelancing has helped people to put their skills to work and earn a lavish livelihood through it. It has broken the myth that a job in an MNC will help you accomplish your dream to buy a BMW! It’s a great feeling to be your boss but challenging simultaneously. Management is one of those skills that must be imbibed in your DNA because if you can’t figure out the workload and deliver things on time, you will surely lose your clients, no matter how experienced you are! So, let’s peep into the brains of successful freelancers and find out the way how to manage a freelance project. Below we have discussed some of the ways to manage a freelance project like a pro.

    Ways to Manage a Freelance Project

    Be The Best Of All Your Competitors And Offer Unique

    Imagine a scenario of a Content Writing organization that has a team of content writers. Now, there are lakhs of organizations doing the same thing. So, the smart move would be to offer graphic designing and website building services also! Rather than hiring some more freelancers, learn and teach your team designing and web development. This will help you attract more projects.

    Also read : Tips To Become Best Freelancer In India

    I am a pen and paper person. I like to write things down.So I utilize a spiral notebook to accomplish all of my to-do’s for the day. I put the client’s name with their task list and then deadlines. So I record every detail. Same daily schedule for little and large tasks, with or without deadlines. Additionally simply be straightforward, defined limits with every customer, and don’t guarantee things you can’t convey. – Fernmaiden Fuentes

    Manage a Freelance project with use of technology
    Make proper use of technology

    Use New Technologies

    Use the best technologies available and offer some unique services. There are many tools available on the internet which you can use to increase your productivity. If you are in an online marketing space there is a lot of tools and software available which you can use to offer more services to your clients and also to track your work-in-progress. You can easily manage a freelance project if you how to use technology in your favor.

    I use a task manager, where I have every day’s to-do list separated by project and priority. I recommend Todoist. – Adriana Chionetti

    manage your freelance project
    Popularise yourself through social media

    Popularise Yourself

    Connections and links with people in communities can get high-budget projects to fall in your side. LinkedIn and other professional social media platforms are the best ways to do that. If you are a coder or a developer then your GitHub profile, Hacker Earth, Hacker Rank or SPOJ profile will automatically attract the companies. So, you don’t need to prove yourself in front of the interviewers. That’s why it’s important to build a strong network. With great network it becomes easier to manage a freelance project.

    Also read : Improve Your Freelancer Profile that Stands Out

    Set Remote Work Hours

    Though you have the freedom to work on the project anytime, professionalism has a vital role to play in your life. Make a proper time-table and have fixed working hours. In the lust of money, don’t just spend 24*7 working on the project. Deliver things on time and that’s enough!

    Make your every day as productive as possible and try to use your time more efficiently. That way you will be able to learn new skills to improve your portfolio.

    I make use of the Pomodoro method. It helps a lot. EEach Pomodoro is a 25-minute cycle followed by a 5-minute break. After the fourth Pomodoro, you take a 15-minute break. – Christina Ramas

    Keep the Client Informed

    If you have promised to deliver after 3 weeks then it’s not that you will call the client on the last day! It’s important and a nice practice to keep him updated weekly at least! Whether you face any setback or challenges, just write an email to the client. This will just increase the value of your freelance project during submission and appreciation.

    I have been battling with this since the time I had a go at setting off to an electronic calendar. This year, I went back to a paper planner with time blocked out for each client, priority to-do lists, and recognition that sometimes I may need to erase or rearrange. I additionally utilize a major whiteboard to list my customers initially, check off occupations as I finish them. These two methods together are working. – Bonniejean Alford Hinde

    Ask for Testimonials and Referrals

    Following up on building excellent rapport with clients. When you do this, it’s much easier to ask a client for a testimonial, which you should do!

    Tributes are a piece of showcasing yourself and are “professional proof” which increases trust in other imminent clients.

    Testimonials can be published on your Website, in marketing PDFs, and on LinkedIn. Having recent testimonials is vital as the older a testimonial gets, the more irrelevant it becomes. Referrals are a great way to drum up new work and clientele. A referral implies either asking your customer to legitimately prescribe you to individuals in their system who may likewise require your services or inquiring as to whether they know anybody who might need your services so you can reach out to them yourselves. As with anything new that you try, there will be stumbling blocks, but it’s all part of the learning process — and the learning process can be exhilarating.

    When you begin to shape some authority around freelancing, you’ll be considering approaches to comprehend new difficulties, for example, expanding your freelancing rate or discovering greater and better tasks to work on. Take the time to get your feet wet and learn the ropes!

    Also read : Best Digital Marketing Business Ideas for 2020

    Decide Your Prices Well

    People think very differently! Selling at a very cheap rate might force people to think that you might be missing something and may compromise with quality while high rates will return the customers at the very first sight. So, if you are quoting something higher than the market then you must offer some more than your competitors. Make it worth the money!

    Start with a table in Word/Doc/Notepad: 1. List all your clients. 2.List the quantity of articles or words (for me) to be presented that day PER Client. 3. Rundown the time you want to spend on it. 4. Strike off everyone when complete and add your time. – Geo Maria George

    Outsource Your Work

    Many freelancers done a mistake when they get a lot of projects either they don’t accept or they try to do everything on their own. Try to outsource your work and it will be more beneficial if you can build a strong team. A team plays a major role in the freelancing world, you can’t grow your business if don’t have a team. So, after reaching the top try to build your team of freelancers. Sometimes it can be hard to handle any freelance project but following proper guidelines you can handle it easily.

    Also read: How You Can Use Instagram For  Your Business

    No matter what you are doing in your life, management is a skill that you will need in every aspect. So make sure you are building your management skills along with other jobs. It will happen many times that you will get negative testimonials that time doesn’t give up and try to improve your skills more. Always try to deal with negative feedback as your mentor and learn from them. Learn time management as well and one day you will be able to manage your freelance project like a pro!