- Entrepreneur: Has five excellent tips on treating freelancing like a real business (which of course it is). One point I haven’t given much thought to, but should, “Yes, a website is a must and Twitter is a fantastic schmoozing tool [...] But if you can’t list 75 people in your industry you know well enough to invite to coffee–freelancers and staffers alike–you’re missing a critical component of small business marketing.”
- Fast Company: For U.S. freelancers, there is one HUGE disadvantage of freelancing and especially making the jump to it: providing your own health care coverage. Some tales of health insurance for freelancers do not help the cause at all. You can, however, do your part to advocate for better health care coverage for freelancers [Freelance Switch].
- Freelance Switch: One great quote that everyone should listen to: “There is almost never a perfect time to do anything. It will rain on your wedding day, your website won’t be perfect, or your teeth might not be perfectly loose. That won’t matter to you though. You have your goal. You know what’s driving you to find success. You’ll find that success by looking for the least inopportune moment. That’s just another way of saying to find the best possible moment while giving yourself room to make a few mistakes.” Read on for 5 steps to freelancing success.
- ReviewPLS.com: Determining your project pricing is a very inexact science. Sure, you may have your hourly and go by that but, a lot of times, other factors come into play such as the employer’s budget, how bad you need the work, etc. Freelancing your price quotes can take a lot of the guess work out of it.
- Pro Blogger: Here’s a novel idea… if you run into blogger’s block, blog like a cartoonist.
- Consumerism Commentary: If you’re a new blogger, put up dozens of Adsense ads all over your website and are waiting for the loot to roll in, then you may want to read this article on some expectations you might really want to have.
- Pro Blogger: … Then you may want to read the real factors that generate traffic to your blog. Hint, it’s not the Adsense.
- Social Fish: If you’re now still serious about blogging, here’s a handy slideshow to bookmark on the 11 must-do’s for the serious blogger. The tips are spot on.
- Web Worker Daily: Here’s proof that the world won’t disintegrate around you if you happen to take one off from Twitter.
The Week In Freelance: February 19th
Posted: February 19th, 2010
The Week in Freelance: February 25th
Posted: February 5th, 2010
- ReadWrite: Something all freelancers can use… a nice list of legal resources at your disposal. Note that these are primarily geared for U.S. businesses. If you know some other good legal resources outside of the States, feel free to let me know in a comment below.
- Freelance Switch: Has advice for new freelancers as a list of quotes from other seasoned vets. My favorite: “Make sure you are marketing your business every week, even when you are swamped.”
- Freelance Switch: How do you do your bookkeeping, or do you scramble to know if you are are in the red or not? Mary Shaw offers excellent advice… use Outright which is free and simplifies your bookkeeping.
- Freelance Switch: Has 7 elements of a successful website for freelancers. One thing you don’t see on most: post your approximate prices for your services.
- Freelance Folder: Brings up a good point when it comes to client-freelancer relationships: “Freelancers are often handicapped when it comes to creating good client relations. Many of us do most of our work from home. We rarely see our clients face to face and most of our communications are through e-mail. We hope that our clients are happy, but we never have the opportunity to see the expression on their faces or read their body language or hear their tone of voice.” Read on for ways to overcome this.
- Entreprenuer: Has 5 really good business tips for freelancers that you really should be doing anyway. Personally, it’s taken me years to learn these the hard way.
- Psychotactics: Many freelancers have their pet projects to hopefully garner some recognition and fill up the piggy bank. How often do we fail to follow through on them though? Sometimes they even, reluctantly, get scrapped. Sticking to the 70% principle may just keep that project alive and get it done in the near future.
- ProBlogger: While we’re on pet projects, have a read on the reasons that are holding you back from completing them. Lesson: simple, just get it done.
- The New Man: Think your path to freelancing was a rocky one? Have a listen to this (absolutely funny) podcast interview with Esquire writer, Chris Jones, interview with Esquire writer, Chris Jones, and his homeless stint in Arizona.
- Tremendous News: Looking for more Twitter followers? How about seven ways that no one will ever tell you about (cough… laugh).
The Week In Freelance: January 29th
Posted: January 29th, 2010
- Smashing Magazine: Besides those New Year’s goals (or have you forgotten those yet), there is a checklist of those small, forgettable tasks we all need to go through each year. Does updating the copyright date on your website ring a bell? I finally got around to cleaning that grime off of the keyboard keys myself.
- Freelance Switch: Sometimes our careers as freelancers are filled with trials and errors. If you keep on taking the punches, you eventually land on your feet swinging your fists. Here is an inspiring story from Martha Retallick on her journeys through not-so-ideal jobs, schooling at Stanford and how she really found her niche in freelance work.
- Dumb Little Man: Looking for some ways to earn some extra cash as freelancer? And without involving illegal activity? Here are some ideas with insider tips you that might not have thought of.
- Brazen Careerist: There are bound to be some legal issues that arise in your freelance career or you may just have a question on a legal issue concerning your business. Get an answer free through an attorney forum. Note that this serves for businesses in the U.S.
- TutorialAday.com: Has a must-read article on effective pricing for web designers which can apply to other freelancing fields as well. Great for learning to set your boundaries and charging for what you may otherwise not charge for.
- Scott H Young: Has 20 ways to stay productive while working at home. Here’s one tip: GIVE TWITTER A REST FOR ONCE!
- Plugin ID: Glen shares a fear that we can all probably relate to. “I’m afraid of looking back on life when I’m older and seeing nothing but reactivity and missed opportunities.” While, in this case, it relates to blogging, it’s worth a read to put your career in perspective as well. Don’t be that old man or woman who was really the one who came up with Google but had a hangover that day.
- Econsultancy: Do you say any one of these five statements to your clients? They may not like you for it.
- Copyblogger: Writer’s block is a time-killer for writers and bloggers that afflicts us on occasion. It sucks. Period. Have you tried one “foolproof” technique to fight it? Quotes.
- Grace Smith: Has a list of ten freelancing websites that you wish existed (but probably never heard of).
The Week in Freelance: January 15th
Posted: January 15th, 2010
- Freelance Switch: If you are a graphic designer, web developer or publish anything online, then there is always that little bit of fear in the back of your head that your work may get ripped off. In the event this does happen, how do you prove that the infringed work is your own? Well, there’s a new service, called Myows, on the block to help protect your work.
- Freelance Switch: It’s easy to take for granted, but being organized with your record keeping saves you a lot of time that can be used for working on projects. So here are seven great tips to get you started. I can’t stress #7 enough: back up your files as much as possible.
- Feedgrids: I stumbled upon one of the best articles I’ve ever read that deal with protecting yourself from clients who may decide to screw you over. The lesson: get everything in writing and be as detailed as possible.
- Kyle Wiebers: And while we’re on the subject, learn to bulletproof your contracts. Includes a sample contract.
- Web Worker Daily: Lists other sites that you haven’t heard of, besides Linkedin, to network and find new clients.
- DesignM.ag: Better than a January sale… 29 resources for graphic designers operating on a tight budget. Curiously interesting: Fivesecondtest, where you can upload user interface designs and have others give you feedback on them free of charge.
- Inspired Mag: Passive income is a great way for freelancers to supplement their income but, set up correctly, can also get you through those lean times when there isn’t so much work. Here are 7 essential readings to get you familiar with passive income and generate some ideas. Note, the title implies that the readings are for designers but apply to other freelancers as well.
- Plugin ID: Read Glen’s five ideas that he has put to use to get more work done. I’ve personally tried the first two which has helped me quite a bit.
- Copyblogger: Has a great idea that I never heard before to break that writer’s block… reading through quotes for ideas and inspiration. Worth the read for the writers.
- {Grow}: OK, it’s 2010 and you finally decided to start that blog. Wordpress or Blogger set up? Check. Your theme design in place? Check. Wrote your first post? Check. Now what? Well, here are some tips for the beginning blogger that I couldn’t have said better myself.
- Freedom Education: How to believe in your dreams, put into 3 steps that make complete sense. It will make you wonder why you haven’t done these in the first place.
The Week In Freelance: November 20th
Posted: November 20th, 2009
- Freelance Folder: Brings up four guaranteed ways of keeping freelance work flowing in. They aren’t what you would typically think either.
- Freelance Folder: It’s safe to say that it is very difficult for a freelancer to turn down work. There are times, however, when turning down projects may actually be the right thing to do.
- Web Worker Daily: Having bad clients doesn’t mean you have to “break up” with them eventually. Sometimes learning to manage them is all that’s needed to improve your relationship.
- Web Worker Daily: If you are a web designer, have you tried Haystack to search for clients and scope out the competition?
- Freelance Writing Jobs: Raising your freelance rates is something we all want to do but we are often more afraid of angering our clients as a result. Maybe some good reasons to raise it will convince you otherwise.
- Bkmacdaddy: Did you know Twitter can get you new clients? See how it did for Brian.
- Zen Habits: This is, by far, the right attitude to take on freelancing that I have seen.
- The Positivity Blog: There are times, whether in our freelance careers or not, that will be just plain shitty for us. There are always these five things you can be positive about, regardless of how bad it gets.
- Dumb Little Man: If you are like me then you go through some days where you are busy as hell, but nothing seemingly gets done. Change this by following a few tips that will help you work smarter and more efficiently.
- Change Your Thoughts: Sometimes coincidences can dramatically shape our lives for the positive. Did you know there are ways to increase the factor in which coincidences can happen?
The Week in Freelance: November 6th
Posted: November 6th, 2009
- Web Worker Daily: Tells you to do one little thing before accepting that job over the web. Hint: Get to know who you are working for.
- Freelance Apple: Lessons freelancers can learn from Warren Buffett.
- Smashing Magazine: If you are a designer, ever consider taking it offline for inspiration on your next work? An important step: “The first step to getting into the habit of finding offline, or “natural,” inspiration is to stop looking at online inspiration in the first place. For many designers, online is the first place to look. It shouldn’t be.”
- oDesk: Brings up a good point that price isn’t always a determining factor when selecting a freelancer for projects. Get to know the other factors involved.
- Freelance Shack: Every freelancer will run into a bad client once in a while. You know, the type that appears shady from the start or makes you work more than you than what is required. Learn to identify and dump them.
- Inspired Mag: Has an interesting article on how to successfully launch a design startup with social media and no budget: “Our total marketing budget at Obox Design is about $100 a month. Usually at the end of the month we have $92 left. The only thing we have spent money on so far is a subscription to PeaShoot App… which we barely use.” Secret: it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
- The Simple Dollar: To reduce the stress and burnout of freelance work, “let go of the sense of importance you have about your work. It’ll be the best career move you’ll ever make.”
- Zen Habits: And while we’re at it, here’s how to stop being a workaholic.
- Zen Habits: Ever feel like you’re not good enough at what you do? Or worse, enough so to question why you are freelancing in the first place? This article will turn around that belief.
- Rated Colleges: After reading the above article, have a look at 100 amazing how-to sites to teach yourself anything.
- Goodlife Zen: We all go through rough patches as freelancers. Knowing the four secrets of the ninja will give you perspective to overcome those with ease.
- Dumb Little Man: We still have two months left, but have you accomplished all of your New Year’s resolutions yet? Or even one? Here’s a helpful list of steps to finally getting things done. Utilize them to help you accomplish goals as a freelancer too.
- Dumb Little Man: How many browser bookmarks do you have that you found amazing but haven’t returned to look at again? Maybe some useful ebooks piling up on your harddrive? It helps to know how to filter those out and take action on what you find useful.
The Week In Freelance: October 9th
Posted: October 9th, 2009
- Speckboy: Want some insight to the type of clients you’ll run into as a web designer? Check out these collection of horror stories, quotes, and articles about “those” clients you are likely to run into. Trust me, you will too.
- Think Simple Now: As a freelancer, you need a strong purpose in order to succeed because, well, freelancing isn’t exactly easy. Start out with 15 questions to discovering your personal mission.
- Think Simple Now: Brings up an interesting point on The Four Hour Workday. Rather than work an X number of hours in a day and evaluating what you made per hour, instead its more productive to work and evaluate what actually gets done during that day. You may find that more work can get done when you stop associating an hourly rate with it.
- Freelance Folder: If you haven’t already jumped on the Twitter train, maybe five reasons freelancers can’t ignore Twitter are enough to convince you.
- Blogging Tune: Of course, you could already be one of those freelancers who has their social media bases covered. If you blog, too, then you’ll appreciate some ways to manage the online information overload that comes with it.
- TheCareerproject.org: I happened to have stumbled upon (pun intended) a database where you can view profiles of thousands of professionals in a wide variety of fields (no subscriptions or fees). Some of the information you can view are yearly income, work environment, how they got their jobs and their backgrounds before getting the jobs… just for starters.
- Freelance Shack: Usually the reason freelancers are afraid to raise their rates is because they are afraid they will lose clients (and even business) in the process. If you do the math, though, you will be convinced that raising rates would be a good decision.
- Smashing Magazine: Some helpful do’s and don’ts of creating contracts with clients.
- Zen Habits: You will at some point experience some drama as a freelancer: disagreements with clients, slow periods, more disagreements with clients, etc. Well, chill out and save it for your mother.
The Week In Freelance: October 2nd
Posted: October 2nd, 2009
- John Haydon: Have you ever had those moments where it was absolutely clear the goals you want to set out, especially as a freelancer? Then one day, poof, you forgot about them. It’s time to reboot your Big Why.
- Freelance Folder: In freelancing you will make many mistakes. The beauty is we all make them and, really, the best way to learn is to keep putting your hand on the hot stove. Here are four mistakes you can learn now so you can at least get these out of the way.
- Freelance Folder: I’ll admit, I never was into project management software until I realized it can save you a lot of time and keep you organized. You might want to try out one of these five which are free or low cost.
- Webitect: Has ten things you don’t know about scoring web design clients. One surprise: “Job boards are not the place to look.”
- Freelance Writing Jobs Network: Deb has 85 hacks to help your freelance writing career. These can definitely apply to other freelancers as well.
- Webdesigner Depot: A great how-to on branding yourself and your freelance business.
- Web Worker Daily: As a freelancer, you have to protect your work equipment against loss or theft. Think for a second, what would happen if your laptop and all the work inside it all of a sudden is in the hands of some dork who bought it for $100? Now read these three ways you can protect yourself.
- Web Worker Daily: Lessons learned from someone who has worked over the internet for over 20 years. One of them that I can’t stress enought myself: “Back up obsessively, like your life depends on it.”
- Freelance Shack: 12 Things which kill your creativity. Learn to break them.
- Wisebread: While your killing what kills your creativity, feed yourself with 59 ways to get a bright idea.
- Junta42: Do you have a blog with no one visiting it? Don’t worry, keep writing, be patient and visitors will come. It also won’t hurt to have a look at how you can get more people to visit your website.
- Copyblogger: It also won’t hurt to read how you can get your visitors to read every word in your posts.
- The Simple Dollar: If you are blogging for the dollars you think you will get out of it, though, read how Trent Hamm from The Simple Dollar first started blogging and earns money from it. It’s not as easy as you think.
- If you are a freelance programmer or get this joke:
There are 10 types of people in this world.
Those who understand binary, and those who don’t.
Then read on for more.
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