Seven (07) Habits Of Successful Content Writers / Contractors

Freelancing is not easy. A few days ago a young girl told me that when she told an interviewer that she is a freelance content writer, he said she is into “easy money making”. Well, I don’t think freelance content writing is as easy as it may sound to many individuals. Freelancers are also known as contractors. It is high time to let the world know that these contractors work very hard in order to compete with hundreds and thousands of applicants around the world. They apply at different online platforms from where they earn their living by delivering their clients with top notch work.

Following are seven (07) traits, based on my personal experiences, which should be possessed by professional contractors. After all, it is all about bagging meatier contracts and maintaining healthy yet professional relationships with existing clients.

1. Be Proactive in Communication:

Communication is the life and blood of every business deal. One should be vocal, expressive and communicative when it comes to delivering the content or services to the clients. In fact, it is highly recommended to be proactive in order to communicate when not sure what to do. This always helps and the relationship of a client and a contractor is strengthened because of good communication skills. Rather than letting your client reach you, reach to your client yourself.

2. Never Hesitate in Asking a Question

Remember what our teachers and parents used to say when were kids? “Always ask if you don’t understand”. Similarly, in professional life for freelance contractors and content writers it is of prime importance to ask questions if the idea is not crystal clear. This will make a complete picture and with the help of this one can easily deliver the desired services. Save time by questioning your concerns and clarifying the confusions so that you deliver the best to your client.

3. Be Transparent

There are times when a project or task does not seem to be a sure shot success. Always share your concerns and give valuable suggestions to your client. After all, a client appreciates to work with a contractor who can give better ideas, strategies and plans to him. If you think that the task won’t work as expected by the client always share this concern with him so that the client, in future, does not put any blame on you or your work.

4. Response is the Key

Clients are very jumpy when they hire a contractor for any job and if they don’t hear from their contractors for some time they get even more anxious. And they can easily get on the nerves of contractors too. So, to avoid such a situation always respond to your client on timely basis. Clients appreciate a responsive contractor and easily trust them to carry out their projects.

5. Follow A Proper Timeline

It is all about meeting deadlines. If a client wants you to complete a task or project on a particular date, never miss it. For contractors, the most important element is to meet the deadline by following a timeline. This is very simple yet demanding. If you get in to the habit of delivering tasks on mentioned deadlines, contractors will definitely start not only liking you but chances are that they will soon hire you for other projects as well.

6. Positive Attitude Is All Your Client Needs

There are times when there is a clash of opinions between a client and a contractor. One wants results and other wants to do the work properly keeping different aspects in mind. In such scenario, always share your concerns and keep the communication or clash healthy. At the end of the day, client is always right! So, never go over board and always bear a friendly smile with positive attitude. Show your client that you want to work for him in order to deliver the best end product.

7. Add Value To Your Services

Many contractors these days over commit and are not able to meet the claims which they made at the time of starting the contract. For those, it is important to promise to deliver the usual as mentioned by the client and in order to impress them always deliver something extra. Value addition is the most important thing for a client.

With the help of above mentioned characteristics I am sure that many contractors / content writers will get benefited. These are tried and tested traits so, rest assured for the successful career. If you have any valuable points to share then comment to the post so that others can get benefited.

"Listen Amaya" - A finest Attempt That Shouldn't Be Missed

It is sad that meaningful cinema is only appreciated when there are known faces or better say star power is associated with it. Have you wondered how many great pieces of arts have you missed just because of the fact that those movies either didn’t had super stars or were not backed by heavy advertisements and marketing. “Listen Amaya” is one amongst those movies. This movie by Avinash Kumar Singh was screened at London Asian Film Festival and what else could it receive other than hoards of appreciation. I recently watched the movie over DVD and for 2 hours I only enjoyed each and every scene of the movie.

“Listen Amaya” revolves around two widowed individuals Jayanat (Farooque Sheikh) and Leela (Dipti Naval) along with her daughter Amaya (Swara Bhaskar).Leela runs a library cum coffee shop, named “Book A Coffee” with her daughter and Jayant is her routine customer, friend, admirer and what not. The story revolves around these three individuals and the complications, self-respect and egos associated with their relationships. The plot is based on very thin line where words don’t need to express anything but emotions do. It is remarkably dealt as well, on screen.

I have grown up watching Dipti Naval’s and Farooque Sheikh’s off beat movies, also known as parallel cinema of early 1980’s. Movies like Chashm-e-Buddoor, Saath Saath, Kissi Se Na Kehna, Katha and Faasle etc. were a complete revelation from mainstream cinema. Coming back to “Listen Amaya”, it simply touches the hearts of audience. There are many sequences where Farooque Sheikh and Dipti Naval express their emotions with extreme ease. Swara Bhasker (Amaya) expresses her uneasiness with flaw. The contradictory personalities can only be show-cased by a seasoned actress. She is another actress to look out for after Tabu, Nandita Das and Vidya Balan.

Music of the movie is very light. The beauty is that all the songs are situational (though movie’s length could have been decreased if the songs would be omitted). Direction is first rate and so is cinematography.

If you are looking forward to watch a simple, easy going, full of mature emotions movies then this one is the perfect one. “Listen Amaya” is all about emotions and performances. It is highly recommended for those who value quality cinema or let me say a meaningful cinema.

I would personally rate it 4/5 on the basis of story line, script, performances and close to reality.