Monday, September 28, 2009

Freelancing Moms - Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Create an Income From Home! by Sarah J. Cameron

If you are a stay at home mom, you may be looking for ways to earn an income, while raising your kids at the same time. Can it be done? Can you have the best of both worlds? The answer is an astounding YES! You can earn a good income without sacrificing the joy of raising your children.

How? By becoming a freelancer. As long as you have a computer, a phone and an email address, you can earn an income. Here are some benefits of working as a freelancer.

1. You set your own hours - You have the flexibility of working only when you want to work, as long as you get your projects completed on time. You can work while the kids nap, before they get up in the morning, or after they are in bed for the night.

2. You work at home - Most people nowadays have a fully equipped home office with a computer and basic software. You do not have to commute or drop your kids off to a daycare centre.

3. Do What You Love - Whether your passion is writing, designing, creating, drawing, or sales, there is a freelance position for you. Firms hire people for all aspects of their business.

4. Work as much or as little as you like - you can take on as many jobs as you think you can handle. You are not limited to working for only one person or company. At first, you may want to only take on one or two projects, but as you get more experienced, it is possible to work on three, four or even five jobs at a time. It is entirely up to you. The number of jobs you take on will also likely depend on how old your children are; younger ones need more attention while older children are usually more independent.

For most moms, being able to stay at home and raise their children is a top priority; but in these economic times, many want a bit more security and a bit more money in the bank. Freelancing can give you both income and freedom.

Do your research to find reputable companies and individuals that are hiring and what they pay. This may take some time and effort, but worthwhile in the long run. If they like your work, many will hire you for other, similar tasks. This can ensure a steady income for you and your family.

FreeLancer.co.uk is the leading site where you can find freelancers and freelance projects of all kind, where businesses connect with independent professionals to get work done.

Providers: Get a healthy Second Income from Hundreds of Freelance Jobs!

Businesses: Access a Vast Pool of Skilled and Tested Talents Online!

Get the best of Freelancers and Freelance Work

Freelancing - Is it Worth It? by Ryan Huff

The art of being a freelancer is known by several names; 'Independent Contractor', 'self employer', 'sole proprietor' ... etc but they all mean one thing, 'your the boss'. Freelancing is taking your art, your craft, your skill and profiting from it without the assistance or direction of someone else. Simply being your own boss my sound attractive enough on the sur- face to make you want to jump off of the 'employee bridge' but have you fully considered what being a freelancer means?

I am a freelancer myself so by no means is this a plug to advocate corporate slavedom, I just want to make sure that before you jump you know how high the bridge is.

Lets talk a minute about what it means to be an employee; you have some measure of security (even in today's world), you usually have some form of insurance coverage for medical expenses, you have people trained to handle your income tax deductions and some employers go beyond and offer savings/retirement account contributions ... just to new a few. You can have all of this and more as a freelancer, but you have to pay for it yourself.

So if you have all those assurances as an employee, why does anyone want to be a freelancer? The most common answer is earning potential. As an employee your employer tells you how much he/she is willing to pay you for a certain amount of your time and effort. As a freelancer how much you are being paid isn't predetermined. You have unlimited earning potential as a freelancer whereas an employer will generally be unwilling to pay an unlimited amount for a particular job.

As a freelancer, you get to enjoy the freedom of making all the choices that you can't as an employee but would like to such as; choosing where you work, choosing how long you work and choosing with whom you work ... just to name a few. As an employee, all those factors are predetermined. Should I become a freelancer?

Well, no one can tell you for sure but I can give you some tips and guidelines that you can use to either prepare to be a freelancer or gauge yourself to see if you are ready to be a freelancer.

Have you determined your 'break-even'? After income tax is paid (net), how much money do you need each month to pay all your bills and stock the refrigerator, how much money do you need to 'break-even' (it's a good idea to figure in a cushion for the unexpected)?

What is the likely hood that you'll consistently make an equal or greater figure than the figure from question 1 each month?

Are you willing to or can you reduce your standard of living without sacrificing qual- ity of life (i.e. if you had to, could you lose the cable, the gym membership ... etc)?

Have you educated yourself or secured the resources of someone who can help you with self-employed tax deductions? There are several tax benefits to being self- employed that are substantial enough to take advantage of, you need to be aware of them and use them.

Do you feel that without the direction of an employer you would be able to focus and stay on task and not succumb to the temptations of being lazy and unmotivated?

Do you have a financial cushion? Do you have enough money to survive on without any income for at least 6 months?

The answers to those questions are self explanatory but if you answer 'no' or 'I don't know' to any of them then I would think twice about jumping off the 'employee bridge' right now, go back and evaluate the area that your weak in before you jump. If your rock solid then the only thing anyone can tell you is to 'trust your gut'. For me, freelancing is the best decision I have ever made.

All I can say is that once you jump give it your best effort, don't be to quick to burn your freedom and come back to corporate slavedom.

Ryan Huff is a freelance web developer, technology mentor, martial artist, business developer and an avid internet marketer. You can connect with Ryan at http://rthconsultants.com or follow Ryan at http://twitter.com/rthconsultants.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Freelancing Advice For Student Freelancers by Gino Hitshopi

Most students studying in University will undoubtedly experience money troubles, debts and lack of time to find even part-time work! Even those with part-time work will be employed in a bar, pub, restaurant or retail shop. Most will not be working at a place that is related to their degree course and most will not be benefiting from working here other than to earn a bit of quick cash. As times are changing, competition is rising for students after they graduate which is why it is important for them to begin researching and preparing for their career after they leave.

Some students opt for the freelancers work, as in they will independently or via an agent, approach various companies offering their services at a cheap price. Due to the current economic climate in the UK most companies have had to make cutbacks and most of these cutbacks begin with the staff! Some businesses that have been struggling financially, with one of the very things that they cannot afford to maintain are staff salaries.

A fully qualified professional with plenty of experience may demand a much higher salary for work that could be completed by student freelancers, with the same or as much skills as the professional. Of course there is the issue of experience, however when hiring a student they are able to not only give the employer their time and dedication. This is due to their motivation to use the work they complete with the employer as part of their coursework or end of year project that may count towards their overall mark.

For students it is not just an opportunity to earn some good money, but also to make new contacts with reputable companies. These companies will also have the advantage of gaining work from students who usually brimming with new ideas and who are also in first-hand contact with current events. For example, student journalists could work as freelancers and cover current stories on entertainment events or educational information.

The price that students charge will often be a lot lower than what a professional freelancer would charge, as the students primary objective is to gain as much experience as they can. Furthermore, students may even open up an opportunity for future employment with the company that they work for which is why most will approach the larger more reputable companies.

As students the best way to approach companies is to contact them directly or have a recruitment agency to approach them for you. Some agencies are specially set up for students who are struggling financially whilst studying and lacking the time to work elsewhere. A lot of students are also more interested in working within their chosen career path or within a sector related to their degree course, which is why approaching these agencies will benefit in them reaching their overall goal.

For businesses this is a good opportunity to gain new information from potential staff and also increase brand exposure in a different market. If more students become familiar with the company brand, the more chances they will gain in being introduced to potential clients.

Gino Hitshopi is an expert on finding freenlancers jobs for students having worked as a freelance writer in the past when studying at university. For more information on student freelance jobs visit http://www.studentgems.com/

Freelancing - Do You Have What it Takes? by Tony Jacowski

Freelancing can be done in many industries. The most popular, of course, are computer programming, website design, writing, editing, IT services, contracting, and construction. The term 'freelance' basically means that you go from one project to the next, and only get paid for the work that you actually complete. When you choose to go freelance, you will be in charge of your own financial destiny. You need to be aware of what your services are really worth, and willing to tell people how much you charge without backing down or letting them tell you what they want to pay. A good freelancer will charge less than top dollar, because they will get more work that way.

You shouldn't expect to be an overnight millionaire when you get into freelancing. Starting out will be slow, and you won't likely make a lot of money until you establish a name and reputation for yourself. However, the harder you work, the more money you can make in this field, which is why many people turn to it as their way of working. As a freelancer, you have to be motivated to get the job done, driven to stick to deadlines and meet clients' needs, and you have to be able to manage your time well. If you're not capable of what the client wants, don't be afraid to extend the deadline. They want YOUR services after all, not the other way around.

When you get into any kind of freelancing that allows you to rely on the internet for finding work, you need to watch out for scams and people who are going to take advantage of you. A good practice to ensure the safety of everyone is to require half-payment up front and then the rest upon completion of the project. This will protect either party from getting ripped off in the end. Freelancing is a great industry to get involved in, but it takes a lot of commitment and dedication on your part if you actually want what you do to be both lucrative and successful.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org/ ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Freelancing and the Power of Partnering by Walter Apai

When a business decides to outsource, it is looking for a solution. It has a pressing project but lacks the internal resources to do it itself. Chances are, some poor marketing director has walked out of a boardroom meeting, faced with a recurring problem: the deadline has been set, the work laid out in front of him and he has no way to get it done. At this point, our poor marketing manager doesn't want to spend hours searching the Internet for the right web designer, review another pile of résumés for the perfect copywriter and plow through stacks of portfolios for a graphic designer... Our marketing director wants to pick up the phone, find a solution and put his mind at ease.

As the independent freelancer, you want to be the guy at the other end of the phone. Solve the marketing manager's problem this time, and chances are he'll call you again. But how can you be sure he chooses you for the job? Odds are you can't do everything. You've spent years honing your skills as a graphic designer, and the last thing you want to do is write web copy. The same goes for the copywriter, who doesn't want to waste time struggling with HTML code.

1. Be the Solution

Even though you can't do it all, you can provide a complete solution by partnering with others to fill in the blanks. For example, a web designer who partners with a copywriter can offer a turnkey solution that moves a website from initial concept to finished product. When providing a turnkey service, you suddenly make the jump from "freelancer" to "consultant". You are no longer providing a service, but rather are providing a solution. The more problems you solve, the easier you will find work and, ultimately, the higher your fee will be.

2. The Process in Action

Let's suppose our marketing director suddenly finds out he needs a website for a new product launch. He'll need artwork, web design and compelling copy to sell the product. Unfortunately, due to a recent "corporate restructuring", he has no in-house staff to turn to in order to get the job done. He picks up the phone and calls a local web designer, who tells him he'd be glad to take on the project, but that he can't help with the logo's design and that the marketing manager will need to provide the copy. Sure, our marketing manager has solved part of his problem, but he still has his work cut out for him. So he calls a second web designer and describes the project. The web designer tells him that he'd be glad to help. He asks the marketing manager if he needs web copy and graphics. When he says that he does, he replies, "No problem. I partner with a number of graphic designers and copywriters. If you'd like, I can contact them and put together a bid for the entire project. When we're finished, you'll have a complete website, ready for your product launch." Who do you think will get the job? At this point, the second designer is in control and in a position to make a much higher bid.

3. Form Partnerships

Now Don't wait until you need partners to seek them out. Otherwise, you'll be in the same position as the first web designer. Instead, seek them out in advance. Determine who you can trust, who you can afford and who will help you deliver the best product possible. Even more importantly, be sure you are comfortable working with these partners. As you look for partners, ask yourself some basic questions. Is this person reliable? Will he or she respond to the client's needs or fight every edit and revision? Does this person complement my services? Do we communicate well? Can I rely on him or her to meet deadlines? Ascertaining these details in advance will help prevent many headaches when working with clients.

4. The Win-Win-Win Situation

Ideally, a partnership creates a mutually beneficial relationship. For example, if a copywriter were to form a partnership with a web designer, he now solves a problem for the web designer. The web designer wants her websites to look as good as possible, which is difficult if clients provide poor copy. Thanks to this new partnership, our web designer can use the copywriter's services to improve the client's copy. The copywriter picks up a new client, the web designer delivers a better product and the client gets a much better website with little or no extra effort. A win-win-win situation for all.

5. Be Everything You Want in a Partner

When you work with a partner, consider it like working for a client: do your best work every time. Provide the level of service you would want to receive, and chances are you'll be working with them again. Provide a "solution" for your partner, and that partner will return again. Do that often enough and work will start seeking you out, rather than the other way around.

by Walter Apai

Webdesigner Depot is a resource for web design trends and resources. We also feature Photoshop tutorials, inspirational posts and free downloads. http://www.webdesignerdepot.com.

New Website Helps Businesses Avoid the 7 Deadly Sins of Website Re-design

Calling it the latest resource for Online Marketing Development Dizzy Heights has unveiled a new website at www.websiteredevelopment.com where visitors can retrieve valuable advice on how to redevelop existing websites without falling foul of common pitfalls.

According to Dizzy Heights Marketing Executive Meri Garcia: "Many site owners decide to redesign their sites without even considering the implications it will have on their current site visitors and on their business. The underlying problem is that most sites will only apply a rudimentary face lift expecting that this alone will attract countless visitors. This isn't always clear cut. You must optimise and localise your site if you want to succeed. You need to market it properly. What is the point of a re-design, if not?

Be careful with the changes

The incorrect planning and implementation of a new website can take your whole online business a step backwards if you are not careful. You can lose valuable search engine authority and ranking for your key pages or even your whole site traffic if you do not exercise an equal measure of caution and common sense when moving to your new site.

As Director of Dizzy Heights, the website company behind websiteredevelopment.com, Laurence O'Toole points out;

"We have seen sites lose all their search engine traffic after a site wide re-design or major upgrade. The millions of business owners who decide each year to upgrade or replace their existing websites are at risk of losing hard fought search engine rankings, visitors and sales by failing to ensure that their website design agency understands the fundamental factors that you must get right when transitioning from one site to another - even if you do not change domain".

Websiteredevelopment.com features a blog containing the latest advice and best practice on how to redevelop an existing website in a way that is not detrimental to your online business. It contains useful and practical suggestions and advice on key matters like "The 7 Deadly Sins of Website Redesigns" and best practice advice for redesigning your website.
of DVDs and videos.

http://www.websiteredevelopment.com is a new website that contains advice on how to redevelop your existing website without falling foul of common pitfalls and problems that many site owners experience.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Greeting Cards - For In-between Freelancing by Scott Lindsay

"U.S. consumers purchase approximately 7 billion greeting cards each year, generating nearly $7.5 billion in retail sales." *

Have you ever wondered who actually writes all of those greeting cards you purchase? Sure there are staff writers who may develop themes and specific greeting cards. However, there are numerous freelance writers who have received checks for the use of one or more of their greeting card ideas.

"There are an estimated 3,000 greeting card publishers in the U.S., ranging from small family-run organizations to major corporations. GCA-member publisher companies account for approximately 95 percent of industry sales." *

With so many greeting card publishers it is easy to see that this may be a market worth looking at. Many freelance writers who have sold ideas to greeting card companies find the idea a profitable means of using their downtime.

When these writers find themselves without a pressing deadline or if they have a few moments to spare, they will often jot down a few creative ideas. When they accumulate dozen or so ideas, they send them onto a greeting card company for consideration.

"The exchange of greeting cards is one of the most widely accepted customs in the U.S. There are cards for virtually any occasion or relationship, and they are widely available. Approximately 100,000 retail outlets around the country carry greeting cards." *

Greeting card companies often pay $25-300 for accepted original ideas. One of the best ways to match your idea with a publisher is to conduct some research of your own. For instance some card companies only accept non-rhyming poetry while others only accept humor. Some want inspirational thought while others deal in the cliché.

"Nine out of 10 Americans say they look forward to receiving personal letters and greeting cards because cards allow them to keep in touch with friends and family and make them feel they are important to someone else." *

The majority of the publishers in the greeting card industry will not provide online submission guidelines, but will supply them to you with a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Find a publisher you like, check out their website and ask for submission guidelines. Expect significant rejection, but know that the ideas did not take much time to develop during a time when there were no other pressing deadlines. Then when an idea is accepted you have the knowledge that this is an easy add on to your existing freelance writing structure that resembles fishing, but has a prettier end result.

* Statistics provided by The Greeting Card Association

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers and Christian authors FaithWriters is a great place for writing jobs

Freelancing - A Comfortable Working Option by Merlin Trau

The upsurge of the internet has led to the initiation of thousands of work-from-home opportunities for people who do not mind putting in extra efforts for earning some extra bucks. These people who opt for a myriad of online job opportunities are known as freelancers. Freelancers are specialists who lend their expertise in a particular job which requires the finesse of an expert. Companies who offer such online opportunities are on a look-out to reduce their expenses incurred on hiring a full time employee and find an expert to cater to their job requirements.

Today, it is a popular option amongst people belonging to industry domains like accounting, content writing, marketing, web designing, advertising, SEO, business development, language translation and research. Professionals belonging to these sectors opt for freelancer online jobs to lend their area of knowledge for online companies from the comfort of their home. Freelancing, by such professionals, is opted as a part time job which they do in their free time. Apart from the above professionals, online jobs are best opted by housewives who have lavish time to take up such jobs and earn a decent monthly remuneration for themselves. Many websites like freelancer-online.com provides a great platform to job seekers to find suitable work options.

Here are some of the most eminent benefits one is bound to gain after opting for the freelancing jobs:

Extra bucks: With the soaring prices of necessities, leave aside the luxuries; earning this bit of extra income has become the need of the hour. With these online job opportunities, you can make a decent income, ranging from $100-$1000, depending on the nature of work. As freelancing does not require any legal permission, you can conveniently start earning without acquiring any license or spending a penny on sundry like bills, credit cards, commuting etc.

Flexibility: The best advantage of opting for freelancing jobs are one's freedom to choose the right time and place to carry on with one's assignments. Though freelancing involves a strict compliance for deadlines, a freelancer can, however, choose his own set of working hours to complete the project. So, no more frequent interventions from your daunting boss. You fix your own time to work and to take a break. You're your own boss and thus manage your own time.

Convenience: For your freelancing job you are not bound to even step out of the realms of your home. All you need is a PC connected with a broadband connection to carry out your research work and remain in touch with your employer. No wonder, this is the best option for mothers, who can both earn their living while with bringing up their children.

Personalized work station: A productive work station always gives a boost to the employer's output. A mundane workstation in a regular office can deeply affect his productivity. Therefore, with freelancing as one of your working options, you can give a personal touch to your workstation. Right from planting flowers to tuning into the right radio station, you can ensure that every decorative in your workstation works towards your productivity.