Caribbean Export OUTLOOK 3rd Edition

Our Competitive Advantage 66

similarly important in the production of world-class services offerings and are often difficult to source locally in our small Caribbean markets. Researching, vetting, and contracting service providers takes place quickly and seamlessly on online marketplaces, where service consumers can quickly filter by skills, years of experience and user ratings, providing an instant range of tailored services options. Despite the potential competitive advantages online marketplaces and freelancing in general offer, Caribbean businesses have not actively pursued this opportunity – nor have Caribbean policymakers. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom in Pakistan, for example, recently launched a country- wide programme to train one million freelancers through their ‘DigiSkills’ programme, which seeks to train Pakistanis in core skills such as English, digital literacy, digital marketing and e-commerce management, alongside the development of technical IT skills. In the Philippines, the Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT) offers freelance skills training in rural areas of the country in an effort to boost access high-value opportunities online. So, why isn’t the Caribbean actively playing a role in this online revolution? Is it our inward-looking nature, our lukewarm embrace of IT in our businesses, our tempered response to global trends or our uncertainty of the freelance economy? Whatever it is, this revolution will never quell. The sooner we get on board, the sooner we can reap the benefits of the evolving global services economy. References http://ilabour.oii.ox.ac.uk/where-are-online-workers-located-the- international-division-of-digital-gig-work/ http://ilabour.oii.ox.ac.uk/which-countries-and-occupations-are-embracing- the-online-gig-economy-ask-the-online-labour-index/ https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/strategy/articles/how-online- marketplaces-transforming-traditional-services-models.html https://tribune.com.pk/story/1544773/2-export-earnings-pakistans- freelancing-industry-thriving/

Online Freelance Marketplace 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED IN AN

01

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail

• Set your freelance goals. • Are you freelancing to earn income in addition to your day job? • Do you eventually want to become a full-time freelancer? • Are you freelancing as a stepping stone in achieving another goal? • What’s your income target and how did you come up with this number?

02

Jack of All Trades, Master of ONE

• Identify your area(s) of skill and then drill down to identify one specific niche that you’re outstanding at or really enjoy. • Often specializing is associated with quality in that area. So, if you’re a graphic designer, be sure to highlight that you specialize in the production of ‘infographic design for the tech sector’.

Find the Right Fit 03

• Do some research and identify the marketplace that’s right for you. • A good way of doing this is identifying your target clients and researching what platforms they are most likely to use. For example, while Freelancer is the largest online marketplace, it can be very competitive and often price-driven. • A niche platform, (like Toptal for software developers) supports competition based on quality, but the client base will be smaller.

First Impressions Last 04

• Be punchy and friendly. • Craft a strong value proposition.

• Build a portfolio that well-reflects the skills you’ve highlighted. • Use case studies to articulate how you have solved your past clients’ problems. • Share your soft skills (e.g. quick, attention-oriented). • Ultimately, you want to craft your profile in a way that clearly differentiates you from the others as well as the value you can offer to clients. • Update your profile on a regular basis.

Customized Proposals 05

• While it’s ok to start with a basic proposal template or checklist for reference, be sure that you carefully craft each proposal, emphasizing the customer’s needs and how you can specifically address them. • One freelance expert has shared his ‘magic’ proposal formula –

1. A personal greeting and signoff. 2. A specific reference to their post. 3. One actionable piece of advice. 4. A question about the assignment.

5. One relevant work sample. 6. Something unexpected. 7. Suggestions for follow-up.

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