Every freelancer doesn’t get paid at point or another at some point during their career.  This is just a simple inevitable fact that freelancers face, some clients won’t pay- and didn’t intent on paying when the project started.  Freelancers must learn to protect themselves from nonpaying clients since an important part of freelancing is getting paid for the work that you do.

Get Money Down

Many freelancers simply ask for a deposit to protect themselves.  This deposit can be any amount you are comfortable with from 20% to the full price of the project.  If you ask for a deposit it is important to clearly communicate with clients your refund policy should the project be cancelled before it is completed. 

Many freelancers worry that clients won’t be willing to pay a deposit when they are just starting out.  This generally isn’t true.  Most legitimate clients are more than willing to pay a deposit, especially if you clearly communicate the project objectives, payment schedule and similar requirements.  With a new client, it can work well to request a smaller deposit and a larger advance payment after some work has been delivered.  Even if you have worked with a client in the past, it is still wise to get some sort of a deposit to protect yourself.

Do Your Research

The Better Business Bureau and similar companies can be a great resource for freelancers.  It can be helpful to check out large clients and their histories before starting a project.  Similarly, you should check out all freelance brokerage companies before agreeing to do any work where the payment will be processed through them.  This way you will know if there have been any complaints or problems in advance.

Communicate

More often than not, nonpayment can be avoided if clear communication exists.  Talk to clients in detail before the project.  Find out their exact wants and needs.  Clearly explain payment expectations, payment deadlines and similar considerations.  When someone hasn’t paid, address the concern.  There is nothing wrong with sending a client an email explaining that you have delivered work and haven’t heard from them.  Tell them that you are just checking in to make sure they are happy with the product they have received.  Ask about your payment if necessary. 

Stick to Your Word

Remember that to protect yourself, you need to stick to your word.  If you have stated that a payment is required before you start work, wait for the payment.  Don’t bend rules or assume that clients will pay later.  Don’t work if you aren’t getting paid or if payments are late.

Clients that won’t pay are unfortunately a part of being a freelancer.  However, by taking these precautions you can limit your losses and avoid fraudulent freelance work sources. 

Freelancing can be difficult. You are required to get everything you need to work successfully on your own. Free tools available online can make freelance work much easier without having to spend hard earned money on various programs. Here are a few of our favorite free tools for freelancers online.

Firebug – FireBug is a freelance web designers best friend. This free site allows you to modify and edit HTML coding, check and debug JavaScript and more. Using this program you can also monitor sites and network usage so you can monitor and analyze your site and its needs. This free tool is a must have download for freelancer web developers.

Picnik – is a fast and easy way to edit photos for your freelance needs. No download is required, simply visit the site, upload a photo and get to work. They have many free editing tools for freelancers, or anyone needing quick modifications to a photo. If you love the service and want more options, Picnik offers a paid service as well.

BrowserShots – One of the hardest parts of web design is figuring out how your coding will work in each browser type. BrowserShots is a free tool that freelancer webdesigners can use to check their site and its compatibility on all of the top browsers.

SlimTimer – Freelancers often struggle with knowing how much time to bill each client. The free services provided by SlimTimer make tracking and billing clients much easier for clients. Simply create a free account, log in, track time to a client and SlimTimer will do the rest keeping track of time spent and total amount of hours to bill to each client. Save time while making your freelance billing much easier.

Open Office - Software is expensive and freelancers are more often turning to Open Office for their free open source productivity software options. Whether you need word processing, a spreadsheet or a presentation package, Open Office may be the solution you need. This software can open, edit and save in formats compatible with most standard office processing suites.

These free tools will help you more successfully navigate the freelance world without spending your hard earned money.
Do you have any great free resources for freelance work to share? We would love to hear about them.

Many make the decision to quit their day jobs and start working from home as a freelancer to make child care easier.  While you will no longer have to take your children to day care, working as a freelancer and as a full-time parent is a juggling act. 

Sometimes it can seem that your freelance work and your children just aren’t compatible.  Children can lead to constant distraction, loud and difficult calls with clients and little time to actually get any work done.  Luckily, children and freelance can successfully work together allowing you to enjoy both your children and the opportunity to work from home.

Create Work Time and Play Time

You are home everyday with your children which is a rare opportunity; take advantage of it.  One of the best ways to manage children and freelance is to make work time and play time.  Many freelancers find it works best to schedule specific blocks of time for each activity.  If your children know that you work until 1 and then do something fun with them, they will be more likely to respect your working time.  Be sure that you explain that you have to work hard during your work hours to make time for the fun you will later have.  It may work well to plan specific activities for them to look forward to.  When freelancing it is important to create a divide between work and play so that you have time for both important activities.

Put Them to Work

Children love to be part of the work going on.  If you need something for your children to do while you work, consider finding a job for them to do.  The tasks that are appropriate will be different with every child, but with a little creativity, you will be able to find a fun task for your kids while you work.  Older children may enjoy stuffing invoices into envelopes, filing or organizing while younger children may be able to put stamps on envelopes, open mail or shred unneeded paperwork.  School age children may also enjoy quietly doing their homework at a table in your office.

Work in Segments

Children don’t work on a traditional eight hour schedule.  As a freelancer, you don’t have to either.  When working with children at home, it can work well to break work into smaller chunks.  This allows you to find activities for your children without expecting them to sit quietly all day long.  You may work a little later, but you will find the day goes a lot smoother.

Openly Communicate

Our children understand more than we think.  If you need a few hours of quiet time, talk with your kids.  More often than not, if clear communication exists, they will respect or at least try to respect your needs.  Talk with them about your projects.  Take time to explain what you are doing and to show them your latest project.  Take an interest in your kids and sharing your work with them. 

For some reason, freelancers aren’t the best at time management. Sure, you set your own schedule and you get your work done, but often you probably spend hours surfing the internet or watching a favorite show. With no boss to keep you on task, it is important to learn to effectively manage your time. After all, time is money and every freelancer could always use a little more of both.

Set a Schedule
Everyone else works 9-5. Freelancers work whenever. Maybe a little in the morning and some more late at night. Some work after spending all day at their job. Others choose to work on weekends. To get the most of your freelancing efforts, set a schedule and stick to it. Determine the hours that you will work and try to work during these hours. People often assume that freelancers aren’t busy and can be available whenever. Let others know your work schedule so that you can actually get work done.
Work During Work Time
Freelancers are famously distracted. And for good reason. After all, you spend the majority of your time in front of a computer either working or looking for work. This leads to endless possibility for distraction. Successful freelancers learn to turn off the distractions and focus on work. Consider rewarding yourself with a short break after staying on task for several hours. Separate your work and your personal pursuits and complete both during the proper times.

Remember to Diversify
Freelancers have a lot of things to do. Part of learning to manage your time is being able to spend the right amount of time in each section. You need to find time to work, apply for jobs, complete bookkeeping and other financial tasks, shop for supplies and respond to correspondence and emails. Part of being a freelancer is learning to balance each of these tasks. Use a planner and create a schedule for each day. Make sure you do all of these tasks to avoid ending up in a mess down the road. Being a freelancer is more than just completing your tasks.

Make a commitment to work a little harder on your time management skills. It will lead to increased profits and a more successful freelancing business.

This list took a while to compile, but this should be a great resource for those of you who are looking for outsourced or freelance work. If you have any other sites that you know about, please mention them in the comments.

Job Boards:

1. http://www.odesk.com – ODesk is a great way for freelance contractors and employers to connect. This site is a bidding style site where freelancers can build a profile, take skills tests and gain feedback and credibility. Hourly jobs are guaranteed payment on this site. There is no monthly fee. A simple 10% commission is exacted off of each contract.

2. http://www.elance.com – Elance charges a small fee to employers looking to post jobs. Freelancers have the option of selecting a free profile or paying a monthly fee for additional services. They offer an escrow service as well as dispute resolution.

3. http://jobs.freelanceswitch.com/- Freelance Switch offers a fully moderated job board to help you find freelance jobs in a variety of arenas like programming, web design, graphic design, writing and more. There is a small monthly free which is fully refundable within the first 30 days if the service does not meet expectations.

4. http://www.guru.com/pro/index.aspx – Guru is the world’s largest freelance marketplace. They offer a unique escrow service that protects freelancers and their clients. Jobs are available in almost any freelance field imaginable like websites, photography, design, broadcasting, fashion, legal, accounting, writing and more. This is a great job hunting resource for all freelancers.

5. http://www.freelancejobs.org/professionals/ – This service offers a completely free job board. This means that neither the freelancer or the employer will have to pay a fee. This makes this resource a great money saving way to find jobs. There is work in almost any freelance category imaginable.

6. http://www.freelancejobopenings.com/ – This is a free job board with several job links for freelancers. Links to other freelance job sites are also available through this site.

7. http://www.writingbids.com/ – This site is a great way for freelance writers to stay on top of the many jobs available across the internet. Here you will find recent top postings from a variety of job boards including oDesk, Elance, GetAFreelancer.com and more. This site makes searching many writing jobs easier since you only have to visit one site.

8. http://www.graphicdesignbids.com/ – Graphic Design Bids.com is a haven for graphic designers. This site scours the web to provide you with top jobs from multiple sites. It makes finding the jobs you are interested in quick and easy. You can search several days or specifically have the site filter only positions new the current day.

9. http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/q-freelance – Simply hired is actually just a regular job database. Freelancers however can search the database for jobs that are freelance only. Simple enter the word freelance into the search box for hundreds of listings. Simply Hired is a great place to find freelance work in your local area or jobs not regularly listed on auction style job boards.

10. http://www.krop.com – Krop is a great place to build an online portfolio and find jobs. Using their free site, you can upload work and create an ad free professional portfolio to show potential freelance clients. They have a great job board with tons of leads for designers, writers and more.

11. GetaCoder.com – This site has great resources for designers and programmers. There are also some great writing jobs as well. The site can be a bit difficult to navigate and get used to, however it worth the effort since getacoder.com can help freelancers land some really great positions.

12. http://www.2-popforums.com – 2 Pop Forums is a relatively new freelance site that specializing in helping freelancers in the film and cinematography field find work. Very few sites are specifically tailored to this field making this a great resource for freelancers looking to work in film. The forum is moderated and is for paid positions and internships only.

13. http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/category/freelance-writing-jobs-job-baord – About Freelance Writing posts a daily list of available jobs for freelance writers. This site is an excellent place to start a freelance writing career. They also provide links to tips about freelance writing and articles to help you start your journey.

14. http://www.bloggerjobs.biz/category/blogger-jobs Bloggerjobs is a job board dedicated solely to jobs for bloggers. The jobs found on this site are generally looking for an experienced freelance blogger with connections. If you are a freelance blogger, this site is a great place to search for job leads.

15. http://www.scriptlance.com – Scriptlance is the perfect job board for programmers. They have over 200 new projects posted daily to their easy to use web interface. If you are looking for freelance programming, design or even writing work- try this site.

16. http://www.peopleperhour.com/freelance_jobs_work_projects/listings This world wide market place offers jobs to freelancer in many countries. In fact, they currently have providers in over 150 countries. A lot of the jobs are in the UK and the bidding on the site is listed in pounds. It is possible to make money on this site, no matter your country.

17. http://www.freelancemachine.com/ – This site offers a completely job board for freelance professionals. It has a low monthly subscription fee, $5 and is regularly maintained and monitored. This job board eliminates the costly commissions that many sites take out of negotiated contracts.

18. http://jobs.freelanceq.com/a/jobs/find-jobs – Freelance Q offers freelance jobs in almost any freelance field imaginable. You may listings for freelance architects, videographers, makeup artists and more.

19. http://www.project4hire.com/ – Project 4 Hire is a freelance job board and bidding site. Freelancers can bid on jobs at no cost to them. Once a contract is accepted, the freelancer pays a 5% commission up front before starting work. The client can pay this fee on behalf of the freelancer if they choose. They offer an escrow service for a flat fee of $20 or payment can occur through other channels.

20. http://jobs.smashingmagazine.com/ – Freelance developers, web designers and graphic artists will find many high quality leads on this job board.

21. http://jobs.37signals.com/jobs – Freelance technical jobs can be found on the 37 Signals forum. Regular 9-5 jobs are listed here as well so make sure you only search through the freelance listings.

22. http://www.artypapers.com/jobpile/ – Jobpile creates a list from top websites on the internet. This makes searching a variety of boards simple since new listings are compiled into one place.

23. http://www.theidealcandidate.com/ – The ideal candidate offers a referral program that can help you make money when you refer jobs to their site. Of course you can also search freelance jobs for creative and technology freelance professionals.

24. http://www.allin1freelance.com/ – All in 1 Freelance is a great place for freelancers to find jobs and communicate with each other. The website is free to use and specializes in providing excellent service and support to their users.

25. http://www.graphicdesignfreelancejobs.com/ – Freelance graphic designers can search 1000s of great design jobs on this site specifically tailored to their needs.

26. http://www.flexjobs.com/ – Flex jobs offers more than just freelance listings. It also offers telecommute and other flexible positions. Freelancers can rely on the jobs found here since they are all hand screened and legitimate. It is only $14.95 per month of $49.95 per year.

27. http://www.freelancewriting.com/newsletters/morning-coffee-freelance-writing-jobs.php – Morning Coffee is a weekly newsletter published on Tuesdays that is filled with potential jobs for freelance writers. You can see it online or sign up to have it delivered via email each week.

28. http://www.writersmarket.com/ – Freelance Writers will find that the Writers Market book and website will provide the information needed to break into print, online and book publishing. This site is filled with valuable information for freelancers. Most of their jobs are unsolicited jobs meaning the freelancer will need to create ideas and query a publisher.

29. http://www.capitaltyping.com/employment-application – Freelancers looking for data entry jobs know that this market can be particularly fierce. Capital Typing is one of the premier providers of legitimate online data entry jobs. You can apply here to become a work from home provider for their company.

30. http://www.blogpostsforsale.com/ – Freelancers that want to make money blogging should check out this money making opportunity. Basically this site aims to unite bloggers and advertisers.

31. http://www.designcrowd.com/ – Freelance graphic designers can post their projects here and wait for interested clients to respond. Additionally they can respond to open requests by clients. Payment is issued via PayPal.

32. http://www.writerlance.com/ – This site connects freelance writers with buyers. There is no charge to use this service but each contract requires a 3% service fee or $3 whichever is greater.

33. http://www.freelancefree.com/search.php?showstatus=open – Freelance free is not one of the easiest to use or most attractive job boards available. It may have some good jobs for various freelancers looking for something a little different.

34. http://freelance.geekinterview.com/Data-Entry – This is great place to find freelance data entry jobs.

35. http://www.teamprojectsonly.com/ – Team Projects Only is especially aimed for freelance programmers. Technical writers and graphic designers may occasionally be able to find some good leads here as well too.

36. http://www.burryman.com/freelance.html – Freelance writers may find new job leads on the Burry Man Writers Center Job Leads Board.

37. http://www.trabajofreelance.com/ – Trabajo Freelance is a freelance site for those in Latin America. Spanish speaking freelancers may be able to find some good leads here.

38. http://www.freelanceindia.com/ – This site is the largest freelance site in India. Providers from across the world are welcome to find work here. The rates do tend to be lower than US sites however.

39. http://www.python.org/community/jobs/ – This job board is only Python programming jobs. They aren’t all freelance but occasionally jobs will come up for programmers with this specific skill set.

40. http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites – When using Craigslist to find freelance jobs, be careful. They aren’t always legitimate. However, many freelancers find that this is a great often underused resource to find freelance work.

41. http://www.freelance-market.net/ – This is a market for freelance photographers. Here they can get in contact with those that buy photos as well as learn how to better hone their skills to attract new job leads.

42. http://metafreelancer.com/ – This is a freelance site with opportunities for many different freelancers. They offer translation jobs, multimedia, writing, design and more. They have safe transfer payment to protect both the freelancer and their client.

43. http://freelancewritingservice.com/index.php – This site offers freelance academic paper writing. Freelancers can apply here if they are interested in working here.

44. http://freelanceopportunities.org/ – This site ahs great opportunities for freelancers that other sites don’t mention. They have information for freelance musicians, artists, writers and more.

45. http://www.academia-research.com/ – Freelance writers and resume preparers will find lots of academic and business work on this site. They offer payment twice per month using many direct transfer methods.

46. http://www.genealogyfreelancers.com/index.php?action=show&page=freelance_opportunities – This site offers a one of a kind service to freelancers looking to work in the genealogy field. This site is one of the only ones to offer freelance genealogy work.

47. http://faithwriters.com/ – Christian writers will find support, jobs and information on this site for freelancers.

48. http://www.peopleperhour.com/ – Christian freelancers can search their job listings for specific freelance opportunities.

49. http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/ – Media Bistro offers job boards and a profile posting service to help freelance writers find work and earn money. Listing a profile is a great way to have one of the 100,000 editors that use this site find you.

50. http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/markets.htm – This site can help freelance writers learn more about the many freelance markets available by offering writers guidelines and more. There is a small month fee to use this site.

51. http://www.developertutorials.com/writers.php – Freelance tutorial writers can earn money working for Developer Tutorials writing tutorials and how to guides.

52. http://freelancewritinggigs.com/webandprint/category/monday-markets/ – Each Monday, freelance writers will find an up to date list of available markets and writers guidelines.

53. http://www.contractedwork.com/ – This freelance marketplace offers work for programmers, designers, writers, administrative professionals and more.

54. http://www.worldwideworkathome.com/jobboard.html – These listings are not all for freelancers but all jobs can be done at home. Many jobs are for freelancers.

55. http://www.authenticjobs.com/ – Authentic Jobs is a great place to find freelance programming jobs online.

56. http://www.freelancewebprogramming.com/ – This site doesn’t always have a lot of jobs but for the few it does post, there is much less competition than some of the larger site. All the jobs here are for freelance web programmers.

57. http://www.freelancercareers.com/ – This freelance site is for academic writers and editors as well as translators and resume writers.

58. http://www.cyberedit.com/hub/jobs.shtml – This job board specializes in helping freelance editors find work.

59. http://www.brainfuse.com/register/becomtutor.asp Freelance Tutors can visit the BrainFuse site for potential tutoring opportunities.

60. http://www.freelancer.com/sellers/ – Freelancer is one of the most popular freelance marketplaces. Bidding on jobs is free as a commission will be taken out of the total project amount.

61. http://www.writers.ph/ – This site for freelance writers helps not only in finding jobs but with dealing with clients as well. They have 24 hour telephone support to help you succeed as a freelancer. This site is mainly intended for writers in the Philippines.

62. http://www.writingcareer.com/writingjobs/index.php?c=1 – This site has a job board for freelance writers. They have several links to writing contests that help freelance writers to launch their career and make some extra money.

63. http://freelancefolder.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8 – Freelance folder has a forum where freelancers and potential employers can communicate about jobs. It can be a great way to make contacts and get jobs.

64. http://www.humanrewriter.com/jobs/ – This freelance writing site is only for US freelancers with valid tax information. The sites main purpose is rewriting articles so that they will be unique content. They pay into your PayPal account.

65. https://be.freelancersunion.org/gigs/ – This job board is sponsored by Freelancers Union and has great leads for all types of freelancers.

66. http://www.journalismjobs.com/ – Freelance writers and journalists will be able to find jobs in their area and also online only at this site.

67. http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php – iStock Photo is a great place for freelance photographers to sell their work and for other freelancers to buy it.

68. http://www.recycledpapergreetings.com/artists.htm – Freelance writers and artists can make money creating text or illustrations for Recycled Paper Greetings.

69. http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html – Blue Mountain Arts regularly hires freelance poets for their greeting card needs.

70. http://jobs.poewar.com/ – At Poewar, writers will find a variety of freelance offerings from creative positions to blogging to web content. Freelancers will even find great grant writing and consulting positions. As an interesting note, this site offers a special section of jobs specifically intended for writers in Canada.

71. http://www.webprojobs.com/ – This job board is a great resource for computer professionals. Freelance programmers will especially find benefit at this site. Searching this site will provide freelancers with freelance, work from home and other jobs for freelance web professionals.

72. http://www.freshwebjobs.com/ – Fresh Web Jobs states that their company’s purpose is to bring together businesses and web professionals. There aren’t a lot of listings at this site, but freelancers will find that the jobs listed here can be quite lucrative. This site is worth checking out.

73. http://gigs.37signals.com/ – This job board has been used by top companies like Facebook and American Express. Freelance designers, programmers and developers will find this site very useful. Occasionally customer service jobs for freelancers will also be found on this board. Non-freelance positions may also be available.

74. http://programmermeetdesigner.com/ – Programmer Meets Designer is a great job hunting resource for freelance designers, programmers and writers. Its primary purpose is website creation and so freelancers skilled in these aspects will find the site especially useful. Writers can specialize in website content creation while designers and programmers will work on actual site creation. This site has many jobs that are not commonly listed on other job boards.

75. http://www.noagenciesplease.com/ – This site is a free listing service for freelancers. You can find jobs, which typically offer an hourly rate or projects which pay by the task. There is a variety of positions on this site for all types of freelancers.

76. http://www.sologig.com/ – This website traditionally has traditional job listings for experienced professionals. Freelancers searching this site will occasionally find projects and on going freelance positions.

77. http://www.freelancerunplugged.com/jobs/ – Freelancer unplugged complies listings from multiple top freelancing sites. These lists are regularly updated and generally contain about 5 jobs from each of their featured sites. Freelancers in every field should make this site a daily read.

78. http://altpick.com/classifieds?type=Contract/Temporary – Alt Pick offers newsa calendar and a searchable database of job listings for creative freelancers. The site often doesn’t have much work posted, but when it does, the positions can be quite unique and ideal for freelancer writers, actors, artists, etc.

79. http://www.coroflot.com/public/jobs_browse.asp – At Coroflot, creative freelance designers will be able to find targeted listings. Jobs listed include web design, creative design, interior design, design education, advertising, architecture and more. All types of freelance designers should make this site a part of their daily job hunt.

80. http://www.freelancers.net/ – Freelancers in the UK regularly use this site to find work. While freelancers outside of the UK are welcome to use this site, its intended audience is those in the UK. The site is easy to navigate and searchable. This site is free to use and also offers portfolio posting services to help freelancers gain more clients.

81. http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/category/freelance-writing-jobs-job-baord/ -Monday through Friday, freelance writers will find daily listings of hot writing jobs available. These jobs are gathered from across the internet making it easier for freelancers to find work. Rather than searching several job boards, visit About Freelance Writing each day and save time.

82. http://www.freelancebbs.com/ – This site connects freelancers and businesses. Free registration is required but is quick and easy. Freelancers can post searchable profiles so that businesses in need of freelancers can find them easily. This site is ideal for freelancer writers, designers, developers, photographers, IT professionals and more.

83. http://www.sunoasis.com/freelance.html – Freelancer writers have been turning to this site for jobs since 1997. Freelance writers registered on this site can get up to the minute updates from Twitter. In a competitive market, learning about jobs quickly can be critical.

84. http://flay.com/jobs_category.cfm?CategoryID=23 – Freelancer graphic designers, especially those skilled with 3-D work will find that Flay.com is a great job hunting resource. This site only lists graphic artists jobs so artists won’t have to search through hundreds of jobs to find the applicable positions.

85. http://www.vfxtalk.com/index.php?pageid=jobs – VFXTalk should be a daily visit for freelance visual effects artists, animators, editors and compositors. Those looking for freelancers can also easily post to this free site.

86. http://www.jobserve.com.au/ – Australian freelancers will love the ability so simply search for jobs in Australia. Of course, other freelancers may be able to find work on this site as well.

87. http://www.creativeheads.net/ – If you are a creative freelancer, Creative Heads is for you. Freelancers can find great video game, animation, VFX and software jobs on this site. This site is free to use and is updated at least daily. Job postings are clearly stated with enough contact information for you to truly decide if the position is worth applying for.

88. http://jobs.awn.com/c/search.cfm?site_id=500 – Freelance animators regularly use this site provided by the Animation World Network. In addition to their job board, freelancers will enjoy their resume tools and career resources.

89. http://www.teamprojectsonly.com/ – Team Projects Only is a freelance site for team work. Team managers can manage teams to accomplish tasks more quickly than solo freelancers. This site has jobs for writers, programmers and others working in the web field. If you are a solo worker, feel free to register at the site. Once you have registered you can find other lone workers and start a team before you find your first job.

90. http://jobboard.geekup.org/ – UK technology freelancers will find UK listings for designers, developers and others in the technology field. A few new jobs are added daily making this site an important daily stop.

91. http://alldatajobs.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs – Are you a freelancer looking for data jobs? Then, All Data Jobs is the site for you. Freelancers in the data field will find freelance and permanent positions from top companies like Kaiser Permanente, IBM and more. The site can be filtered to only include freelance and contract positions.

92. http://freelance-seattle.net/ – While many times sites show freelance positions, it can be useful as a freelancer to find specific freelance jobs right in your own backyard. Freelance Seattle helps freelancers in Seattle to find local work. This site is non-profit and volunteer so you can find jobs without spending your money.

93. http://www.proz.com/ – This site is for freelance translators. It offers freelance work for translators in almost any language. Whether you specialize in Polish, Spanish Japanese or some other language, check out this site for some great translation job leads. There is also a great discussion board to communicate and collaborate with other translators.

94. http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/default.asp – Freelance Translators can post their profile to this site to let work find them. Businesses regularly use this site to find translators for projects.

95. http://charity.people4business.com/ – Sometimes as a freelancer, you want to give back. At People 4 Charity, freelancers and charity organizations come together for projects. You choose your rates and can choose to offer discounted rates if you are looking to help out these non-profit organizations. This site is based in the UK although freelancers worldwide are welcome to use its services.

96. http://www.xplace.com/ShowHomepage.xpl – Xplace knows that freelancing is a worldwide phenomenon. While job boards list United States jobs, Xplace has a special section of freelance listings just for those international freelancers.

97. http://www.onforce.com/ – Many freelance sites are for work from home professionals. On force is a great site for those freelancers in the IT field looking to do on site work. This site is for freelancers in the US and Canada. Signing up is free and you can instantly start to browse the hundreds of available positions. Payment is issued quickly, usually within 3-5 days, eliminating billing and non-payment hassles.

98. http://www.macfreelancer.com/ – Freelancers working with Macs may have difficulty with compatibility with many job listings. This site is specifically for those using Macs to freelance. Bidding is free but there is a flat $10.50 fee to accept projects.

99. http://www.freelanceauction.com/ – Freelancers can find work at this easy to use site filled with jobs. Bidding and registration are free. Simply pay a 5% commission off of the total bid or actual paid amount, whichever is higher. Funds are received via PayPal.

100. http://www.freelancelocaltech.com/ – As a freelancer it can be frustrating trying to compete with low priced bidders from other countries. Freelance Local Tech understands and has created a job board to put local businesses in contact with local technology freelancers. You can post a listing for your local area so that businesses can choose to work with local freelance contractors.

101.http://www.ksl.com/public/ksljobs/listings – KSL is actually one of the largest news sites in the world. KSL is based in Utah, but job listings come in from all over and some of the work can be done from anywhere.

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I just bought the Thesis theme and I love it so much that I put it on 15 of my websites.  It is SO easy to make changes that I can make most of them myself or use one of their “hooks” to easily make the change.  I was able to design my site to look exactly the way I wanted and I’m not a coder or a designer.  You can, with one click of button, drastically change the look of the theme, colors, layout, font, navigation, design etc.  It’s really amazing.

Other Free Themes Are Hard To Make Changes To: There are literally thousands of WordPress themes you can use for your website, and many of them are free. But unless you have command of CSS, editing the theme to your specifications can be difficult and might require paying a coder. Even if you can craft a theme to your liking, the code may be sloppy which will affect the search engine spider’s view your site. The Thesis theme addresses this issue and many others. For those with limited knowledge of CSS coding.

Here are 5 reasons to buy Thesis:

1. Solid code: Although there is the option to edit CSS, Thesis boasts a point and click user interface that even a novice webmaster can handle. Since the code is written cleanly, it is already primed for search engine optimization.
2. Free updates: Many themes undergo an evolution of sorts, and when improvements are made, updates are issued. When you buy the Thesis themes, these updates are free
3. Built in SEO: Thanks to the pre-written code, search engine optimization is a snap with Thesis. Using the above mentioned point and click interface, you can easily set keywords, meta tags, and other optimizing features.
4. Easily embed media: Inserting graphics and video onto your site can be tricky. In fact, many WordPress themes are not equipped to handle various kinds of media, and if you want to add anything, you must edit the CSS. Once again, using the Thesis point and click interface, graphics, video, and other media can be easily added to your page. There are also options with what you can do with the various media as well. Rotating graphics is an example that once again, is a point and click away.
5. Support: There are many quality WordPress themes out there, but if something happens to go wrong, or if there are questions about the theme, the support is usually lacking. The fact is, that many WordPress themes are designed by amateurs, and even if the theme is solid, you are not likely to have any kind of support network.

The Thesis theme is ready to go “out of the box”, and from there you can modify to your specifications without much difficulty.   If you do happen to run into problems, the support network is substantial.

If you are looking for a way to easily modify your wordpress to have all the features you need, then, I would highly recommend Thesis.  It has such a user friendly interface and is SO flexible.  I do have an affiliate relationship with this company.

Maybe you have done some freelance work, but the opportunities are few and far between.  As with anything, mistakes are part of the learning process, and the lessons learned can be beneficial to you in the future. At the same time, you can cushion the learning curve by learning from the mistakes of others and avoiding these 5 common mistakes that can jeopardize your landing an assignment.

1. Not marketing yourself effectively: Let’s face it; if nobody knows you’re out there, you may as well hang on to your day job. Whether you are seeking an online gig, or submitting a proposal to a brick and mortar company, a resume, along with a portfolio of your work is essential.  The “Hire me, and I’ll show you what I can do,” approach is not an effective strategy for a freelancer.

2. Not understanding the employer’s needs: If you decide to plunge in without having a firm grasp on what the employer wants, they will probably recognize this, and you will have wasted your time. If by some miracle you do get the job, you will most likely be in over your head. Know what the employer wants, and know what you can deliver. Failure to do this can lead to payment issues, poor feedback, and wasted time for everybody.

3. Asking for too much: Most potential employers are pretty clear as to what they’re willing to pay, so seek out those that fall into your price range. Eliminating candidates based on asking price is normally the first thing a freelance employer will do. Even a stellar portfolio won’t help if an employer is set on a fixed price.

4. Not asking for enough: This may seem like a contradiction to #3, but again, most employers are clear as to what they are willing to pay. Asking for less than what you think you’re worth may give the impression that the quality of your work may match the asking price. A good portfolio can offset this, but at the same time, superior quality for next to nothing may give the impression that the work may not be your own.  Know your worth, and connect with those that are seeking the quality you are offering.

5. Not being able to meet an employer’s deadline: Keep in mind that most employers want their product delivered in a specific time frame. If you set your own date as to when a project will be completed, the employer will probably look elsewhere. You must be able to convince the potential employer that you will be able to deliver on their terms.

If you avoid these 5 mistakes, the chances of landing a freelancing assignment that will satisfy both you and the employer are good. Once you’ve landed an assignment, there will be new pitfalls to avoid, but again, you can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid those as well.

Here are our Top 5 Places to Find Freelance Work Online:

Guru.com – Guru is the world’s largest freelance marketplace. They offer a unique escrow service that protects freelancers and their clients. Jobs are available in almost any freelance field imaginable like websites, photography, design, broadcasting, fashion, legal, accounting, writing and more. This is a great job hunting resource for all freelancers.

Odesk.com – ODesk is a great way for freelance contractors and employers to connect. This site is a bidding style site where freelancers can build a profile, take skills tests and gain feedback and credibility. Hourly jobs are guaranteed payment on this site. There is no monthly fee. A simple 10% commission is exacted off of each contract.

Elance.com – Elance charges a small fee to employers looking to post jobs. Freelancers have the option of selecting a free profile or paying a monthly fee for additional services. They offer an escrow service as well as dispute resolution.

GetaCoder.com – This site has great resources for designers and programmers. There are also some great writing jobs as well. The site can be a bit difficult to navigate and get used to, however it worth the effort since getacoder.com can help freelancers land some really great positions.

Scriptlance.com – Scriptlance is the perfect job board for programmers. They have over 200 new projects posted daily to their easy to use web interface. If you are looking for freelance programming, design or even writing work- try this site.

These sites are some of the largest and most reputable places to find freelance work. There are literally thousands of jobs posted on these websites. We recommended setting up accounts with any of these sites that you aren’t already a member of. Freelance School does have affiliate relationships with some of the above listed sites.

New freelancers will quickly find that the freelance field is filled with traps and potential disaster.  Of course, this does not mean that freelancing isn’t a great way to make money.  It is.  It just means that freelancers must be very careful to make sure that they don’t fall victim to unappreciative clients that are ready and waiting to take advantage of them.

Here are 3 Things That Can Suck Your Money and Your Time if you aren’t careful:

Not Determining Rates Ahead of Time

One of the hardest parts of being a freelancer is determining your rates.  For new freelancers, rates will change often and quickly.  You may need to start out working for less than you are worth until you establish a clientele and perfect your skills.  Many freelancers find that a written rate sheet can help them determine how much to work for.  It is a great reference tool that should be comprehensive and updated often.  Don’t agree to work for less than your established rates.

Not Avoiding Problem Clients

As a freelancer you will work with hundreds of clients.  Each one will have different expectations and desires.  Learn to quickly identify problem clients.  An experienced freelancer will learn key phrases to avoid.  Don’t waste your time applying for freelance jobs that say things like…

• “I need a freelancer with great skills willing to work for $3 per hour or less.”
• “Lowest bidder will be chosen.”
• “Looking for a cheap freelancer to turn around my project in 8 hours or less.”
• “The last freelancer I hired did a horrible job. “

These red flags can alert you of problem clients.  These clients expect perfect work without paying the price.  Anyone looking for lowest bidder doesn’t care about quality.  Likewise, speedy turnaround should require additional charges.  If you are going to agree to a rush job, charge more.  It is a lot more work and stress for you.

Watchout For Freelance Burnout

Freelancers are a rare breed.  You are working day to day for many clients trying to make it on your own.  Don’t sell yourself short or agree to ridiculous conditions.  This will only lead to burnout.  Learning to find and avoid freelance red flags will make your freelance career more enjoyable, more successful and much less stressful.

Turning From Employment Searching to Freelance Work – So many talented artists are tired of competing head to head with hundreds of other talented artists for the high quality art jobs out there. Artists, like specialists in other industries, are turning to freelance work to support themselves and calling it quits with the battle for employment.

Finding Freelance Artist Jobs - With the economy in the state that it’s in right now, artists of all kinds, whether they specialize in graphic design, drawing, sculpting, painting or any other type of art, are struggling to find jobs.

It’s Easier To Find Freelance Work - With the current economy, the difficult job market might be a blessing in disguise for some creative artists. Freelance work is on the rise and many people are finding it easier to find freelance work than to find long term employment somewhere. Some are even becoming so successful in their new freelance careers, that they can make more income with freelance jobs than with the job they had previously.

WalletPop.com recently ran an article about this same phenomenon with “Unemployments Down, But Somethings Up – Welcome To the Gig Economy“.

New Resources To Find Work – For artists, there are new resources popping up to help them find work like this “Get Paid To Draw” downloadable book.

Photographers – Post Photos Online – There are many ways for a photographer to use their skills to make money online. There are a lot of photo sharing and downloading sites that enable you to charge for the download of your photos. There are resources to learn more about making money this way, like those listed in this guide to making money with photos. A lot of the information you need to find places to sell your photos you can find by researching online and experimenting with different photo sharing sites.

Find Artist Work on Freelance Job Posting Sites – There are a lot of graphic art jobs and even some traditional drawing jobs that are commissioned through the highly used freelance job posting sites like GoFreelance and other similar sites.

Artists that are out of work and looking to transition into freelance work can benefit from doing the following:

- Get creative and think of ways that you can create a downloadable version of your art that people can purchase over and over.

- Don’t be afraid to try lots of different job posting sites. Setting up new accounts, profiles and searching through and posting bids on jobs can be very time consuming. But, most of that work is done at the beginning of a career, once a few jobs are underway, you will find yourself narrowing down your searches to those sites that are giving you the best results.

- Give yourself time. To start a new freelance career can take a month or two before you see regular payments coming in. It involves starting a whole new system of making money. But, many artists will find that they can make more with freelance art jobs than they will finding a traditional job.

We Will Be Here To Keep Providing Ideas – Freelance School will continue to provide tips and advice to help you turn your freelance jobs into a real money making career. Some of the companies mentioned in our articles are affiliated with Freelance School. Take advantage of the tools and resources that we suggest to help build your job network.