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	<title>Freelance Shack</title>
	
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		<title>5 Ways to Make More Money as a Freelancer</title>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:07:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Motivation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=776</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So, you’re freelance career finally has lift off.  You’ve got a couple of clients under your belt…your portfolio is getting fatter….you’re feeling increasingly confident about your abilities and career choice.  And best of all, you like what you do.  But there’s one thing missing:  the big bucks. How can you get the money to really [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So, you’re freelance career finally has lift off.  You’ve got a couple of clients under your belt…your portfolio is getting fatter….you’re feeling increasingly confident about your abilities and career choice.  And best of all, you like what you do.  But there’s one thing missing:  the big bucks. How can you get the money to really flow?  There’s no shortage of answers. For starters, here are five ways to start raking in more cash.<strong>    </strong></p>
<h3><strong>#1. Increase Your Rates</strong></h3>
<p>It’s obvious, isn’t it?  Increase your rates and you’ll make more money.  We know this and yet we freelancers are notoriously timid about raising our rates.  We’re afraid any increase will drive away existing clients and turn off prospective ones. While these are valid concerns, if you put too much stock into them, you’re not going to last long as a freelancer.  A freelance career is not sustainable unless you’re being paid what your time is truly worth.</p>
<p>To assess the true value of your time, do your research.  Find out what the going rate is for work like yours as performed by freelancers of a comparable skill level.  If your rates are lower than your peers, you can feel confident that there’s room for an increase without your business drying up.  Talk honestly and confidently to existing clients about an impending rate increase, explaining the reasons behind the increase and remembering to discreetly remind them of any value you’ve added to their business.  With new clients, there’s no need to explain anything – but you might want to spend more time soliciting clients with deeper pockets.<strong>     </strong></p>
<h3><strong>#2. Keep Meticulous Time Records</strong></h3>
<p>Since becoming a freelancer, I’ll bet the old adage “time equals money” has never seemed more packed with vitality and truth.  As a freelancer, every minute counts.  That’s why you need to closely monitor how you’re spending your time: your habits might be causing you to leak money.  Whether or not you bill by the hour or per-project, get into the habit of writing down everything you do in a day, making particular note of how much time you spend on individual assignments.  (You can use apps such as Chrometa or iTimeSheet to make it easier.) Keeping a close eye on your time will help you to avoid undercharging per-hour clients, ordetermine a more accurate rate for per-project clients. Just think: if you forget to bill 15 minutes of work everyday, if your hourly rate is $40, you’re losing $50 per week, or $200 a month!</p>
<h3><strong>#3. Think Passive Income</strong></h3>
<p>When you sell your service, whether it be writing an article or designing a website, you only get paid for that work once.  But if you sell a product, you can get paid for that product again and again without having to put in more work or time.  Why not supplement your freelance income by creating and selling a product that relates to your talents and would appeal to your target clients?  Consider writing an e-Book or a workbook, creating a Premium WordPress theme or an instruction video,or selling stock photography.  Although you’ll likely need to invest many hours upfront, the payoff can be huge later on.</p>
<h3><strong>#4. </strong><strong>Teach Your Skills</strong></h3>
<p>Even if you still feel wet behind the ears in your freelance career, there are people out there who are greener than you.  And they want to learn the skills that you have.  Considering offer your services as a teacher or consultant. Start talking up this aspect of your business with friends and family, and at networking events or social functions. Approach a local community college with ideas for a class, or you can even offer a special online class through your own website.</p>
<h3><strong>#5. </strong><strong>Develop a Strong Marketing Plan </strong></h3>
<p>When freelancers hear the word “marketing”, many of us either sigh or wince. Do we <em>have</em> to?  Of course we do.  A freelance business is like any other: without a regular marketing push, it’s likely to stall and flounder.  While the feast and famine periods of freelancing are inevitable, if you are not on top of your marketing, your famine periods will be much longer than necessary, costing you ample dough.  Take a few hours to develop a marketing plan to be carried out over the next 12 months. Your plan should include your income goals, strategies you intend to implement for achieving those goals (e.g., direct mail, cold-calling, email prospecting, etc.), and a timeline for executing those strategies.You’ll be surprised at the difference a little marketing can make to your bottom line.</p>
<p><strong>About the author:</strong></p>
<p>This guest post is by Michael Law. Mike has extensive experience as a freelance journalist and online marketer, and has worked with leading Sydney immigration and <a href="http://www.lawpartners.com.au/compensation-specialists/">compensation lawyers</a>. If you&#8217;d like to get in touch, you can send <a href="javascript:DeCryptX('njdibfm/qfufs/mbxAhnbjm/dpn')">Mike an email</a>.</p>
<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/why-reduce-reuse-recycle-is-key-to-your-freelance-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Why Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Is Key to Your Freelance Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-trick-of-charging-more/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">The Trick of Charging More</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Managing Cash Flow In Your Freelance Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Simple Tips to Generate Leads for Your Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/6-productivity-tips-for-freelancers/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">6 Productivity Tips for Freelancers</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="explaining freelance rate change">explaining freelance rate change</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="how to get more money when your 16">how to get more money when your 16</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="how to make more money freelance rates">how to make more money freelance rates</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="increasing your freelance rate">increasing your freelance rate</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="make more money">make more money</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="make more money freelancing">make more money freelancing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="michael law freelance journalist">michael law freelance journalist</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="who has more money shak">who has more money shak</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" title="www freelanceshack com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/">www freelanceshack com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/QnXP9svn27w" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Importance of a Daily Schedule</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/xBf_g62gLjs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:32:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4 hour week]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily schedule]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dicipline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce workload]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=762</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When we gave up a job to work from home as Freelancers we probably had visions of a productive home office, that would provide us with being paid for doing something we love to do, combined with the freedom of self employment to take care of our life responsibilities For many of us however, the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When we gave up a job to work from home as Freelancers we probably had visions of a productive home office, that would provide us with being paid for doing something we love to do, combined with the freedom of self employment to take care of our life responsibilities</p>
<p>For many of us however, the reality is we wake up in the morning full of intentions to complete a chapter of the book we are writing or to make a start on allocated assignments, only to find at the end of the day we have actually accomplished very little.</p>
<p>Sound all too familiar?  Most of us have are probably nodding our head in agreement.  We can probably all relate to taking a little longer over our morning rituals of reading emails or checking our social media accounts in the name of “work”.  When we are ready to work we face writers block or have a feeling of overwhelming fatigue we find hard to shift.</p>
<p>If this is your experience, here are 4 simple, but very useful strategies to help Freelancers control their day and increase productivity with minimal effort and little change of routine.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Have a daily schedule mapped out</strong>:   Plan your day and prepare a to-do list that is achievable. Include the things you have to do AND the things you want to do.  Multi task where you can by combining different tasks together.</li>
<li><strong>Work solidly for a set period of time</strong> but take frequent breaks to enable you to then surge again.  A little like the popular “fat burning” routines that people are getting such great success from.   Short exhausting stints and a cool down break produces pleasing results.</li>
<li><strong>Achieve one task on your to do list at a time.</strong>  Enjoy the feeling of ticking off that one item and seeing the list become shorter as the day progresses.</li>
<li><strong>Decide if you work better with or without a distraction.</strong> Use music if it keeps you focused, but turn it off if it causes you to loose concentration. Schedule other distractions like checking emails for a specific time each day.  Resist the temptation to keep your social networking sites open whilst you work.  Don’t forget to reward yourself for completing a task.</li>
</ol>
<p>Unless we are very strict with ourselves schedules tend to be broken more often than they are kept. Despite all our good intentions, unexpected interruptions happen to freelancers and we can still find ourselves in the middle of an unproductive day, where little has been accomplished and we are far behind on those deadlines.</p>
<p>What steps can we take to regroup and turn our productivity around?   The most useful advice is don’t panic.  Don’t get frustrated and angry with yourself and others.  Don’t stop planning either.</p>
<h3>Three simple steps may prove helpful.</h3>
<ol>
<li> <strong>Take a look at what you still have to accomplish</strong> and rearrange the tasks so that you can achieve the urgent and important tasks and leave the non urgent ones for another day.</li>
<li><strong>Where possible reschedule any non essential appointments</strong> and tasks to minimize the need to leave your desk for any length of time until the work is completed.</li>
<li><strong>Reduce other responsibilities</strong> for the day by having an emergency back up plan you can call on when absolutely necessary to create some extra time.</li>
</ol>
<p>The humble daily schedule may seem an unnecessary task that adds to an already over full “to do” list, but in a distraction filled work environment, it is the freelancers best asset to improve and maintain optimum productivity.</p>
<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/three-things-every-freelance-writer-should-have/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Three Things Every Freelance Writer Should Have</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/6-productivity-tips-for-freelancers/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">6 Productivity Tips for Freelancers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-market-your-property-using-social-media/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">How to market your property using social media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-dirty-dozen-12-things-which-kill-creativity/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">The Dirty Dozen: 12 Things Which Kill Creativity</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Simple Tips to Generate Leads for Your Business</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of daily routine">importance of daily routine</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of a daily SCHEDULE">importance of a daily SCHEDULE</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of daily schedule">importance of daily schedule</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of schedule">importance of schedule</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of a schedule">importance of a schedule</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="why are daily schedules important">why are daily schedules important</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="the importance of a daily routine">the importance of a daily routine</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="the importance of a daily schedule">the importance of a daily schedule</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of daily plan in life">importance of daily plan in life</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/the-importance-of-a-daily-schedule/" title="importance of daily plan">importance of daily plan</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/xBf_g62gLjs" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>5 Ways That Freelancers Bleed Money</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/yRdFL2ywsWU/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-that-freelancers-bleed-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:48:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Essentials]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=756</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Freelancing gives workers freedom, but pitfalls often arise that challenge profitability. Rather than earn a decent amount of money, many freelancers end up disappointed with little to show for a lot of work. Although frustration may tempt some to give up, they should instead look out for the following 5 ways that freelancers bleed money. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Freelancing gives workers freedom, but pitfalls often arise that challenge profitability. Rather than earn a decent amount of money, many freelancers end up disappointed with little to show for a lot of work. Although frustration may tempt some to give up, they should instead look out for the following 5 ways that freelancers bleed money. Just a few adjustments can result in a much better bottom line.</p>
<h3>The Coffee Tax</h3>
<p>Many freelancers have trouble working from home all the time. So its natural to head to the local coffee shop where the Wi-Fi is free, but the coffee isn’t. Being out of the house is nice and seeing other people stimulates the mind almost as much as the coffee, but after a few drinks, a sizable portion of your income for the day has already been spent.</p>
<p>Try going places like the library or the airport where you can enjoy a change of pace without feeling the pressure to spend money.</p>
<h3>Software Purchases</h3>
<p>Freelancers take a big hit when they buy expensive software. Packages like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite are just two that seem essential, but cost a lot of money. Most of the time, software purchases are avoidable through the use of open-source or free alternatives.</p>
<p>Instead of Microsoft Office, freelancers can use Google Docs without losing compatibility. Word processing, spreadsheets presentations, email and calendars all come free with Google without losing Microsoft compatibility. Similarly, freelancers can use Inkscape rather than Adobe Illustrator, Instead of Adobe Creative Suite and GIMP instead of Photoshop.</p>
<p>Alternative applications have similar capabilities as their counterparts, yet come without their hefty price tags.</p>
<h3>Poor Recordkeeping</h3>
<p>Poor record keeping bleeds freelancers dry because they don’t have documentation for their expenses when tax time comes around. Unfortunately, the day before taxes are due is too late to start.</p>
<p>Throughout the year, freelancers should put in a little extra effort to keep receipts and document the facts surrounding them. Expenses add up quickly and so does the tax deduction at the end of the year.</p>
<h3>Too Much Outsourcing</h3>
<p>While completing a job, freelancers understandably must sometimes pay a third party for their expertise, but sometimes they cave into the temptation to outsource work just to make it easier. Whether writing content, producing designs or writing a software program, freelancers should do as much of the work themselves as possible to keep as much of their income from every job for themselves.</p>
<h3>Keeping Poor Quality Clients</h3>
<p>Freelancers often struggle to find work, so when they have clients that become drags on their time and mental health. Clients who change their requirements in mid-stream, demand too many revisions and expect additional services consume valuable time that freelancers can use to do other work.</p>
<p>Freelancers should keep a record of total time spent servicing a client and review if often. Those who seem to be more trouble than they are worth usually are not worth keeping. To protect their bottom line, freelancers should quickly jettison problem clients to protect their own bottom line.</p>
<p>Avoiding the 5 ways that freelancers bleed money listed here will help build a more profitable and successful freelance business.</p>
<p><em>This post was written by Matt from <a href="http://www.creditcardcompare.com.au/blog/">The Credit Letter</a> an Australian personal finance blog. He also writes reviews on <a href="http://www.creditcardcompare.com.au/low-interest-credit-cards.php">low interest credit cards</a> at www.creditcardcompare.com.au.</em></p>
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		<title>How to Plan a Simple Advertising Campaign</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/vrPPJcTn-F4/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2011 01:51:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising campaign]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campaign tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[performance tracking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[simple advertising]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=739</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Planning an advertising campaign is often a very daunting task.  The advertising world is a rough and energetic one, and there is always someone willing to take your money! The following tips will help you generate a campaign from scratch, and lead you away from some of the common pitfalls that freelancers can fall into. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Planning an advertising campaign is often a very daunting task.  The advertising world is a rough and energetic one, and there is always someone willing to take your money! The following tips will help you generate a campaign from scratch, and lead you away from some of the common pitfalls that freelancers can fall into. Remember, you can’t compete with the big boys when it comes to throwing cash around – focus on your target audience and pick media that will allow you to approach them in a cost-effective manner.</p>
<h3>1. Determine your business objectives</h3>
<p>If you are just starting out, you may want to concentrate on branding your services to be top-of-mind for customers. However, if you wish to generate revenue and new business, you may wish to push for a retail-oriented ad (ie, one that focuses on price and offerings). In either case, create some <strong>measureable objectives (See 6. Tracking)</strong> upon which to base the success or failure of your campaign.</p>
<h3>2. Determine your budget</h3>
<p>The size of this will determine which approach you can select. Got $1000 to spend? Focus on a guerrilla web campaign, or targeted print ads in corporate newsletters or publications. Got $100,000 to spend? Feel free to splash out on some TV, radio or mass print publications – just be aware that even $100,000 won’t get you too many spots on prime time TV.</p>
<p>Also, be aware that the media itself is only a part of the cost of a campaign – you also have production, artwork and printing as possible costs. And be realistic – a $50 Google adwords voucher will not deliver thousands of people to your website, especially if the keyword is hotly contested.</p>
<h3>3. Who are your ideal customers?</h3>
<p>If you are a local service freelancer, your ideal sphere of influence will be around your local area. If you are an online service, your influence may be widened to countrywide or even international audiences. If you are a corporate training or accounting freelancer, your focus will be on business to business channels. Who are your customers, and what do they want?</p>
<h3>4. Keep your message SIMPLE!</h3>
<p>The easiest way to build a message is to think:</p>
<ul>
<li>What can you do better than your competition?</li>
<li>What are your potential customers looking for?</li>
<li>How can you offer them what they need, whilst playing to your strengths?</li>
</ul>
<p>Again, keep it simple. If you can’t explain your core concept to a friend in 10 seconds or less, it’s too complex. The average person sees over 1000 ads per day, and to break through that wall of noise, your message needs to be clear, consistent and SIMPLE. Could you imagine concentrating on all the ads you can see in one day? Your head would explode.</p>
<h3>5. Determine your media (From step 3)</h3>
<p>If you are our local service freelancer from the example above, a local leaflet drop or paper may be the best way to get in touch with your audience. If you are an online business, google adwords or a medium-rectangle banner on a news site might be the way to go. Also, give your campaign some frequency – consumers generally need to see an ad around 7-10 times before the offer becomes top of mind. Blowing an entire advertising budget on premium but low frequency TV ads has been the downfall of many a marketing manager.</p>
<p>Generally, as a rule of thumb, <strong>TV </strong>is the most expensive but has the largest reach; <strong>print</strong> media (magazines and newspapers, amongst others) allows you to target demographics quite accurately and has a scalable cost, <strong>outdoor</strong> (billboard and mobile) advertising is great for simple branding or as a reinforcement for other advertising, and <strong>online</strong> gives campaigns a significant amount of data and flexibility with tons of different ways to reach customers.</p>
<p>There are obviously many other forms of media to utilise than those simply listed above. Try to create more than one avenue to a customer – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.</p>
<h3>6. Track your campaigns performance</h3>
<p>Try to place some kind of tracking mechanism within the concept. This could be a separate phone number or 1300 number, a tracking URL within an online ad, or a social media special. You could also give a special discount for those who notice the ad. The total amount of new business generated should be compared with the cost of the campaign to determine effectiveness, and the direction of your next campaign.</p>
<p>So, that’s it! Determine your objectives; find out what your customers really want, create a simple but memorable pitch shown in the right media for your target market, and measure the results. Good luck!</p>
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<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-things-to-make-your-small-business-appear-larger/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">5 Tips to Make Your Small Business Appear Larger</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Simple Tips to Generate Leads for Your Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/bling-freelancers-get-rich-or-freelance-trying/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Bling Freelancers: Get Rich or Freelance Trying</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/fun-tools-for-freelancers/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Fun Tools for Freelancers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/analyze-this-using-google-analytics-to-monitor-and-improve-traffic/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Analyze This: Using Google Analytics to Monitor and Improve Traffic</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="advertising campaign planning">advertising campaign planning</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="simple advertising">simple advertising</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="how to plan an advertising campaign">how to plan an advertising campaign</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="planning an advertising campaign">planning an advertising campaign</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="advertising campaign plan">advertising campaign plan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="planning advertising campaign">planning advertising campaign</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="campaign planning in advertising">campaign planning in advertising</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="an advertising campaign plan">an advertising campaign plan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="how to plan advertising campaign">how to plan advertising campaign</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-plan-a-simple-advertising-campaign/" title="Ad campaign planning">Ad campaign planning</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/vrPPJcTn-F4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Stepping into the Shoes of a Freelancer Writer</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/8NJhKhaQbOo/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:31:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day in the life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=731</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Freelancer opportunities provide people from all over the world the chance to earn income for the skills they provide to independent or company employers. Freelancing really has become the next big thing. There are a wide variety of freelance skills that are in high demand. Be it search engine optimization, copywriting, creative article writing, website [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Freelancer opportunities provide people from all over the world the chance to earn income for the skills they provide to independent or company employers. Freelancing really has become the next big thing. There are a wide variety of freelance skills that are in high demand. Be it search engine optimization, copywriting, creative article writing, website design and press release writing. A great Freelancer can offer services that not everyone can do, and from my personal experience, I believe that freelancers are a pretty bright bunch of people especially given that many freelancer jobs take specialized skills that aren’t usually taught in schools.</p>
<p>Marius has been a freelance writer based in the Philippines since 2009.</p>
<h3>So what is a day in the life of a freelancer actually like?</h3>
<p>I know quite a few freelancers and I also know about their different work ethics and their approach when they are working a job. For freelance writers like me, a usual routine includes daily submissions looking for article writing jobs. My employers will typically send me a series of topics or reference links for the articles they would like to have prepared for the day. Some employers may be looking for five, some 10 and some even more. My personal preference, is to choose smaller article numbers so I can ensure the quality of my work is compensated rather than quantity.</p>
<h3>Is writing freelance hard work?</h3>
<p>Writing articles isn’t rocket science, but sometimes it isn’t as easy as it may seem. You are often provided with keywords or topics to write about but the truth is that sometimes it can be really draining trying to squeeze another article out your brain that is filled with emphatic phrases and meaningful sentences. That said, at the end of the day, it is usually very satisfying, not just because of the pay, but because of the praise and the appreciation of your employer.</p>
<p>Being a Freelancer can offer you some very interesting work. An acquaintance of mine who is freelancing and is a graphic designer is making a living being a ‘doodle artist.’ His approach is quite different from article writing. When he finds inspiration, he draws or “doodles” it. After he finishes a design, he puts it up on his social network account, or on his online portfolio and puts them up for sale. His usual clients are bands from all around the world that need designs for their fan merchandise. It must be awesome for him to see his designs being used by some pretty sick bands. I’m sure that feels really good for him, hell it even feels good for me just writing about it.</p>
<h3>What are some of the pitfalls of being a Freelancer, and what can you do about it?</h3>
<p>Of course like other regular workers, freelancers also have challenging issues to deal with. Every freelancer has off days, sometimes you get periods where the work is not coming, or you find yourself in a slump, and you can’t generate great products, whether it is articles, web site designs and graphic designs or whatever. Disturbances in your internet connection can be a major pain that we sometimes have to endure.</p>
<p>Then, there’s the biggest fear of all freelancers. The risk working and sharing your skills via freelancing and not getting paid. Most freelancers only ever have internet or skype communication with their employers and the payment is never 100% sure. There was one time that I wrote for a certain employer who paid me every two weeks. The first three months were pretty good, but after that, he ran away without sending the next one and a half month payment, not a word, he just straight out bailed. It was a truly sad and bitter experience for me, and I am sure a lot of freelancers also experienced something like that.</p>
<p>This sort of thing usually happens in the first few weeks or months of starting with a new employer. Some of the things you can to avoid this happening to you are: 1) Making sure you check out the feedback on the employers profile 2) Check the business credentials of the person posting the job against the information on their web site 3) Don’t be frightened to ask for partial up-front payment and milestone payments particularly for larger jobs, and 4) and most importantly maintain communication with your employer and your own personal integrity.</p>
<p>In summary, being a freelancer for me has been a very positive thing. As long as you develop good working relationships with your employers and you work professionally, you won’t have many problems.</p>
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<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/sam-georges-takes-the-reins-of-freelance-shack/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Sam Georges Takes the Reins of Freelance Shack</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/should-you-take-the-check-even-if-youre-not-into-your-client/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Should You Take the Check Even if You&#8217;re Not Into Your Client?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-hypnotise-potential-clients/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">How to Hypnotise Potential Clients</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/10-tips-for-getting-your-next-client-on-linkedin/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">10 tips for getting your next client on Linkedin</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/communicate-with-the-customers-properly-freelance-writing-advice/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Communicate with the Customers Properly: Freelance Writing Advice</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="обувь freelance">обувь freelance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="a day in the life of a freelance writer">a day in the life of a freelance writer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="shoe making freelancer">shoe making freelancer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="shoes freelance">shoes freelance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="What are freelancers biggest fears?">What are freelancers biggest fears?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="what can i write in summary about me in freelancer">what can i write in summary about me in freelancer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="what is freelancing jobs in footwear">what is freelancing jobs in footwear</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="writer skills">writer skills</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="writing a article on shoes">writing a article on shoes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" title="freelancerwriter">freelancerwriter</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/8NJhKhaQbOo" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>How to Move From a Full-Time Job to Freelancing: Part 1</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/25DMxzOgCz8/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-move-from-a-full-time-job-to-freelancing-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:42:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sam G</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Essentials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[common miskakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance startup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelancing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[full time to freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to freelance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[start freelancing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=710</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;re thinking of flying the corporate coop and becoming your own boss, then today is your lucky day. If you dream of busting out of the cubicle wasteland and finding greener pastures as a freelancer, then you&#8217;re in good company. Like most things in life, you must crawl before you can walk but never [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&#8217;re thinking of flying the corporate coop and becoming your own boss, then today is your lucky day. If you dream of busting out of the cubicle wasteland and finding greener pastures as a freelancer, then you&#8217;re in good company.</p>
<p><strong>Like most things in life, you must crawl before you can walk but never fear this guide will show you how it&#8217;s done.</strong></p>
<p>The best way to start working as a freelancer is to begin part time. If you don&#8217;t have a job when you start, then you should look for a full-time job that is flexible and has a low demand for your work output &#8212; a job packing grocery store shelves is a good example. Having a low demand job means you won&#8217;t be exhausted at the end of the day and gives you a chance to gradually get the ball rolling.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s be honest here, <a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/">being a freelancer is financially risky</a>, especially in the beginning, so it&#8217;s important to have some financial security. By entering the arena as a casual freelancer you will have enough time to figure out if you will be successful in your chosen field.</p>
<h3>Don&#8217;t ditch the day job</h3>
<p>Where ever you are, being a freelancer is a great opportunity &#8212; the ability to set your own hours and work from home is incredible. However earning your entire income from freelancing alone can be difficult. A rare exception to the rule is becoming a freelance contractor so you can be assured enough hours every week, this can prove to be just as difficult.</p>
<p>So until then it&#8217;s best if you keep your current job as it will give you more security, especially if over time if you realize that freelancing is not for you. Working full-time and freelancing in your spare time requires sacrifice, hard work and good organization. But to slowly construct your own business and to succeed you must be willing to put in the hours.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, another suggestion would be to get a part-time job and freelance part-time, this will give you alot more time to improve your technique and grow your business. A big part of heading down the path of freelancing is the actual journey, in other words, learning your skills and gaining experience is important. If you try to do this without having a job, you can be too pressured by the lack of money and won&#8217;t have learning and growing as a priority.</p>
<p>Not having to worry about daily expenses can be a big help to jump start your freelance business.</p>
<h3>First impressions count</h3>
<p>There is hardly ever a time when a client won&#8217;t ask you for samples of your previous work, so be prepared and sell yourself with a portfolio. Having a good quality portfolio is one of the best techniques to <a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/">attract new clients and customers</a>. It is true that you have to do some extra work, perhaps even some for free, so you have enough material to add to your portfolio, but this isn&#8217;t as hard as you think. While you are collecting pieces of work, you are also becoming a better freelancer. If you are just starting out and have absolutely nothing for a portfolio, ask one of your friends or family to give you a fake project to work on. The point of a portfolio is to showcase your talent.</p>
<p>Make sure your portfolio is picture perfect when you show a prospective client. Never mind that you have not been hired as a copywriter, web designer or whatever before. Just be sure that everything you do is at the best quality possible . If you want to succeed as a freelancer, you should only show off your best work, that means don&#8217;t include every job you have ever done. Remember one bad piece subtracts from your best work and can ruin the first impression of your entire portfolio.</p>
<h3>Experience before income</h3>
<p>If you want to succeed as a freelancer, first try to find projects that help you develop yourself professionally instead of those that are better paid. As stated before, this is alot easier if you have a steady job. For example you can work for nonprofit organizations, friends or potential customers, giving them a taste of what you do.</p>
<p>People love to talk and word of mouth advertising is priceless. The more work you do, the greater the chance someone will hear about you and be attracted to hire you. As you do more work you will gain more and more exposure, although at first it may not seem as profitable, this investment of time and generousity will pay off in the long run.</p>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>These are my views. If you agree or disagree, feel free to comment below, I would love to hear what you think.</p>
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		<title>New Design for Freelance Shack</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/ye5WRiFb1Qw/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:15:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sam G</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance monkey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelancer monkey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[in with the new]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[out with the old]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strong typeface]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=676</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s that time of the year when we say, Out with the old and in with the new. We&#8217;ve entered the new financial year and as promised Freelance Shack has been updated with a fresh new design. The old clip art logo has been ditched for our new mascot, freelance monkey, we&#8217;ve cut back on [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It’s that time of the year when we say, <em>Out with the old and in with the new</em>. We&#8217;ve entered the new financial year and as promised Freelance Shack has been updated with a fresh new design.</p>
<p>The old clip art logo has been ditched for our new mascot, freelance monkey, we&#8217;ve cut back on the useless clutter and gone for a stronger type face for articles, hopefully making them easier to read. The goal was to stick to the default feel without annoying exisiting readers who like Freelance Shack just the way it was.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoy the new look and would love to hear your feedback.</p>
<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/sam-georges-takes-the-reins-of-freelance-shack/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Sam Georges Takes the Reins of Freelance Shack</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/17-designs-for-the-holidays/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">17 Designs for the Holidays</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/not-yet-branded-top-10-brands-for-sale/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Not yet Branded? Top 10 Brands for Sale</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/communicate-with-the-customers-properly-freelance-writing-advice/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Communicate with the Customers Properly: Freelance Writing Advice</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/fun-tools-for-freelancers/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Fun Tools for Freelancers</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="shack clipart">shack clipart</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="old shack clip art">old shack clip art</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="clip art of old shack">clip art of old shack</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="old shack designs">old shack designs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="NEW DESING CLIPART">NEW DESING CLIPART</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="frelancers clip art">frelancers clip art</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="freelance clipart designer#hl=en">freelance clipart designer#hl=en</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="freelance clip art">freelance clip art</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="CLIPART OF A SHACK">CLIPART OF A SHACK</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/new-design-for-freelance-shack/" title="ClipArt freelancers">ClipArt freelancers</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/ye5WRiFb1Qw" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Branding 101 for Freelancers: Making sure you stand out from the crowd</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/WzLJofozPAU/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:13:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sam G</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brand awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[branding 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance brand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelancing brand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stand out]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=650</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If someone asked you what your brand said about you and your freelance business, could you tell them? Do you understand what branding means? Do you realize that you have a brand, even if you don’t have a logo or a tagline for your business? Your brand is the perception people have about you and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If someone asked you what your brand said about you and your freelance business, could you tell them? Do you understand what branding means? Do you realize that you have a brand, even if you don’t have a logo or a tagline for your business?</p>
<p>Your brand is the perception people have about you and your business based on the information they receive about you. It is a promise of the benefits a business will receive by engaging your services. It is communicated through visual aids such as a logo, brochure, website or stationary items, and also the way you present yourself, write proposals and emails.</p>
<p>In what can be a very competitive field, having a clearly defined brand is an ideal way for freelancers to set themselves apart from the competition, stand out from the crowd and justify higher rates of pay. The best thing is that it doesn’t have to cost your life savings to do!</p>
<h3>Find your unique selling point</h3>
<p>What is it that makes you the <em>only</em> person for a client’s job? Why are you better, faster, more professional and the best value for money? Having a unique selling point is an ideal way to distinguish yourself from other freelancers and justify your higher rates of pay.</p>
<p>Your unique selling point needs to:</p>
<ul>
<li>be specific and to the point</li>
<li>be unique</li>
<li>sell your services</li>
</ul>
<p>Saying something like: <em>‘John’s Writing Services can help you with all your copywriting needs’</em> doesn’t actually set John apart from everyone else offering copywriting services – it’s certainly not unique and doesn’t really sell John’s services.</p>
<p>However, something like <em>‘Delivering your writing jobs on time, every time – guaranteed!’ </em>differentiates John by guaranteeing that his work will be delivered on time in an efficient and professional manner.</p>
<p>If you operate within a specific niche, you may want to go even further and sell yourself as an expert in this area, such as: <em>‘Sue’s Tech  Translations &#8211; English to Japanese Technical Writing Translation from a Qualified Engineer and Writer.”</em></p>
<p>Your unique selling point becomes your business tagline that can be used in conjunction with a logo to provide a positive first impression of your business.</p>
<h3>Designing a logo</h3>
<p>Getting a logo is the first step to take in terms of your visual branding. Your logo should be a unique visual representation of what you do and reflect the values, benefits and promises you want to communicate to your potential clients.</p>
<p>Your logo should be something that clients and the general public can easily identify with your business. It should make sense. If your freelance business is called ‘Sue’s Web Services’ and you target market is small professional businesses, having a logo that features a chicken on a bicycle is not going to convey the right messages.</p>
<p>It is important to research and brainstorm before designing your logo. Some things to consider are:</p>
<ul>
<li>What values, messages, promises and image do you want to convey to your potential clients through your logo?</li>
<li>What colours might you like to use as part of your visual branding?</li>
<li>Where will you use the logo – on your stationary, a website, in a brochure?</li>
<li>Do you want your unique selling point incorporated into your logo design?</li>
</ul>
<p>You can get a logo designed from as little as $50 from a freelance designer.  Before you engage any designer, make sure you check out their portfolio of past work and get a clearly defined quote of what you will receive for your money.  It is also good to get a cost for additional changes and alterations that may be required.</p>
<p>Before deciding on your unique selling point or designing your logo, make sure you check to see whether your ideas have already been trademarked by another business.</p>
<h3>Customise your business stationary</h3>
<p>Once you have your logo and tagline organised, you can begin customising your business stationary.  Add your logo and tagline to your:</p>
<ul>
<li>email signature</li>
<li>quotes</li>
<li>invoices</li>
<li>online profiles and forum signatures</li>
<li>letters</li>
<li>envelopes</li>
<li>blog</li>
<li>universal avatar</li>
</ul>
<p>This will begin to give your business communications a consistent look and feel, making them easily identifiable as yours.</p>
<h3>Present yourself</h3>
<p>You can have the most professional, modern and engaging logo and tagline but still fail in the branding stakes if you don’t align yourself with your brand.</p>
<p>If you are selling your freelance business as an efficient, professional service, make sure that you don’t miss deadlines or Skype with clients in your PJs. This sends mixed messages and more often than not, your actions will speak louder than words!</p>
<p>On the same note, it is important to ensure your voicemail and answering machine recordings are professional as this can be the first contact a client has with you – you want to make a good first impression.  State your name and/or business name on the recording and let people know that you are currently unavailable but will return their call as soon as possible.  A simple ‘Leave a message’ is not enough when dealing with business clients.  Also ensure your email address is appropriate. A client may not feel comfortable trusting their important project with <a href="javascript:DeCryptX('tfyznbnbAyz{/dpn')"><img src="http://www.freelanceshack.com/44afe1ac407fdfeb5ac8af13b6f53f07/se&#120;ym&#97;&#109;&#97;&#64;x&#121;&#122;&#46;com" class="cryptxImage" style="vertical-align:text-bottom" alt="se&#120;y&#109;a&#109;a&#64;x&#121;z&#46;c&#111;&#109;" title="&#115;&#101;x&#121;&#109;&#97;ma&#64;xyz&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;" /></a>!</p>
<p>Building your brand takes time.  You need to continually reinforce your values, benefits and promises through the effective use of visual aids and your own values and presentation.  It is important to operate your business with integrity to build trust and loyalty with clients and sources that send you work. Always be honest about your experience and ability to complete a client’s job to the standard required. Be loyal to your sources of work while completing projects they give you. If your employer asks you to work on one of their client’s projects, don’t poach the client from them by offering cheaper services (at least not within a reasonable timeframe after the jobs completion) and never put your client at risk by plagiarising work. This will help to brand your business as a professional, trustworthy and loyal service that is set apart from the competition.</p>
<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/not-yet-branded-top-10-brands-for-sale/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Not yet Branded? Top 10 Brands for Sale</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-things-to-make-your-small-business-appear-larger/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">5 Tips to Make Your Small Business Appear Larger</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/why-reduce-reuse-recycle-is-key-to-your-freelance-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Why Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Is Key to Your Freelance Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Simple Tips to Generate Leads for Your Business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/are-you-being-unfair-by-charging-one-client-more-than-another/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Are You Being Unfair by Charging One Client More than Another?</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="freelance branding rates">freelance branding rates</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="branding freelancers">branding freelancers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="brand for freelancers">brand for freelancers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="how to logo illustrator">how to logo illustrator</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="how to make sure you have a unique logo">how to make sure you have a unique logo</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="how to make sure your logo is unique">how to make sure your logo is unique</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="how to standout brand freelancing">how to standout brand freelancing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="logo selling point">logo selling point</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="stand by your brand">stand by your brand</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/branding-101-for-freelancers-making-sure-you-stand-out-from-the-crowd/" title="stand out brand unique selling point">stand out brand unique selling point</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/WzLJofozPAU" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Managing Cash Flow In Your Freelance Business</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/ZeCWXy_z9NU/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:18:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sam G</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Essentials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workspace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[check's in the mail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheque's in the mail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[client pay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[get paid on time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manage cashflow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manage freelance income]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unpredictable. That one word underlines pretty much everything to do with your freelance life, especially when it comes to managing cash flow. The uncertainty surrounding your income &#8211; the size of it, the frequency of it, the search for it &#8211; is an ongoing issue but with planning and foresight, that uncertainty can be reduced [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Unpredictable</em>. That one word underlines pretty much everything to do with your freelance life, especially when it comes to managing cash flow. The uncertainty surrounding your income &#8211; the size of it, the frequency of it, the search for it &#8211; is an ongoing issue but with planning and foresight, that uncertainty can be reduced and you can even introduce a touch of predictability to proceedings!</p>
<h3>Look ahead</h3>
<p>Do a financial forecast on a regular basis. Look at where your income is expected to come from over the days or weeks ahead, and when it might be paid. At the same time, chart your expected outgoings. That <em>unpredictable </em>word comes in to play here and there might be outgoings you can&#8217;t plan for. Look at past financial records and detect patterns that will help you prepare each new forecast and plan ahead.</p>
<h3>The cheque is in the mail</h3>
<p>Clients like paying bills as much as you do. Be prepared by having enough cash reserves to cover the bills while you wait for the average or tardy client to pay you. Allocate a portion of everything you earn to this &#8216;rainy day&#8217; account instead of splurging &#8211; once you have built up enough in reserve, you can revise the amount you put away and enjoy your financial rewards a little more. But in the early stage of your freelance career &#8211; in fact, at <em>any </em>stage &#8211; a little prudency goes a long way.</p>
<h3>How long will it take?</h3>
<p>Knowing how long each job will take is an essential part of managing cash flow as a freelancer. By accurately estimating the duration of each job, you can then calculate how much you will need to charge to cover your expenses and living costs over that period. By taking four weeks to complete a job you thought would take three weeks is effectively depriving yourself of a week&#8217;s income. Think long and hard and be conservative when making the estimate.</p>
<h3>Look out for outlays</h3>
<p>Whether it&#8217;s paying for photocopies at the library, or paying other freelancers to do some parts of the job, you will more than likely have outlays. These outlays can erode that lucrative figure you&#8217;re expecting on pay day. Examine every aspect of the job before you start and work out your potential expenses. This will help you budget and reveal whether the project is actually worth undertaking.</p>
<h3>What&#8217;s next?</h3>
<p>While you work devotedly on the job at hand, you may be forgiven for taking the occasional glance at your next assignment. Knowing when to apply for your next job is another very important factor in managing cash flow; after all, pulling out of your next assignment because you have yet to complete your current commitment is not good for the bottom line. Make sure you are well on track with what you are doing now before applying for your next project.</p>
<p>I can hear what you&#8217;re saying. &#8220;This is just common sense!!” Of course it is. But the number of freelancers who are no longer freelancers because they ignored basic financial advice is staggering. So take a hint or two and enjoy a successful, if somewhat unpredictable, freelance career.</p>
<div id="crp_related"><h3>Related Posts:</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/how-to-move-from-a-full-time-job-to-freelancing-part-1/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">How to Move From a Full-Time Job to Freelancing: Part 1</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/should-you-take-the-check-even-if-youre-not-into-your-client/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Should You Take the Check Even if You&#8217;re Not Into Your Client?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-to-make-more-money-as-a-freelancer/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">5 Ways to Make More Money as a Freelancer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/stepping-into-the-shoes-of-a-freelancer-writer/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">Stepping into the Shoes of a Freelancer Writer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/5-ways-that-freelancers-bleed-money/" rel="bookmark" class="crp_title">5 Ways That Freelancers Bleed Money</a></li></ul></div><h4>Incoming search terms for the article:</h4><ul><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how to manage cash as a freelancer">how to manage cash as a freelancer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="being freelance cash flow">being freelance cash flow</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="Managing cash income">Managing cash income</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how to manage cashflow in job">how to manage cashflow in job</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how to manage cashflow as a freelancer">how to manage cashflow as a freelancer</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how to manage cash flow in freelancing">how to manage cash flow in freelancing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="as a freelancer the cash flow is important">as a freelancer the cash flow is important</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how much to put away when freelancing">how much to put away when freelancing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="how much cashflow does freelancer need">how much cashflow does freelancer need</a></li><li><a href="http://www.freelanceshack.com/managing-cash-flow-in-your-freelance-business/" title="manage your freelance business">manage your freelance business</a></li></ul><!-- SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 Plugin --><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/freelanceshack/~4/ZeCWXy_z9NU" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Simple Tips to Generate Leads for Your Business</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/freelanceshack/~3/0PRiRRD1A48/</link>
		<comments>http://www.freelanceshack.com/simple-tips-to-generate-leads-for-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:38:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>freelanceshack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[b2b]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business referrals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cold calling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cold calls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[email blasts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mass mailing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[offering yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social bookmarking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telemarketing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.freelanceshack.com/?p=634</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lead generation is essential to any business, having a steady flow of potential customers can make all the difference to the outcome of your goals, whether it be finding higher paying clients or selling your ideas. You might provide an amazing service or package but if nobody is ever offered then how are they to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lead generation is essential to any business, having a steady flow of potential customers can make all the difference to the outcome of your goals, whether it be finding higher paying clients or selling your ideas. You might provide an amazing service or package but if nobody is ever offered then how are they to know about it? This where lead generation or <em>offering yourself</em> is clearly important.</p>
<p>To generate a steady flow of quality leads, you need to know some of the most effective techniques. Hiring the services of call center agencies to generate leads for your business is quite common, but if you prefer to do it in-house, here are some techniques that can help generate leads for your business and increase your reach to customers and clients.</p>
<h3>Business referrals</h3>
<p>Referrals from businesses that operate in the same or similar domain is a smart way to generate leads. This technique involves making sales between businesses, often referred to as Busines 2 Business (B2B). Depending on the industry which you work in, business referrals will differ so think about the relationships and workflows involved in daily operation.</p>
<p>A good place to start is your local business directory as it will have a good list of businesses to browse. For example, a company offering print and stationery items may be interested in hearing about your graphic design services.</p>
<h3>Cold Calling / Telemarketing</h3>
<p>Many call centers provide telemarketing services, which also are helpful in lead generation. One of their methods is called cold calling, which involves randomly calling prospects and passing on information to them about the products and services of your business. When planned properly and executed continuously, cold calling can be effective in generating leads through the large number of contacts made.</p>
<p>You can also use a more personalized approach by picking up the phone and calling folks yourself. It helps to know who your target market is and where to find them. Start by writing a small script that explains what you offer and ask if they are interested. You will have the oppourtunity to talk directly to your market and will likely have a higher hit rate.</p>
<h3>SEO strategies</h3>
<p>Search engine optimization or SEO is an indispensable aspect of lead generation to a business. It is a controlled and cost effective method that involves creating the website’s content, choosing appropriate keywords so that a company’s website goes up the search engine rankings and becomes more accessible to users. Choice of keywords is of particular importance here as it defines the target market to which a business is going to cater to.</p>
<p>Many large companies have their own SEO team to handle this task, while many others outsource the job to firms that specifically provide SEO services or hire a freelancer to perform SEO.</p>
<h3>Mass mailing</h3>
<p>Another effective medium for generating leads is email blasts. It is one of the cheapest ways of generating leads but can be quite a tricky one. Mass mailing is done by sending emails to a built or purchased list of addresses and if it reaches a prospective customer, you are in with a chance of getting a new customer. Keep in mind with this method you are competing with potentially hundreds of other messages, so it is important that yours is clear and gets to the point.</p>
<p>Always check the legality of sending mass messages or <em>spam laws</em> in your country. For example, in Australia sending unsolicited email is only considered an offence if performed by a robot or from a predefined list, in other words sending individual emails by hand is perfectly legal.</p>
<h3>Blogging</h3>
<p>Blogging is a great method by which you can generate leads online. You can write blog articles that are specific to the nature of your business. This will significantly drive traffic towards your website and your service. People will often seek out a specialist in a given area and will value your willingness to share your knowledge with the world.</p>
<p>If you make sure your contact details or <em>call to action</em> is clearly shown on your blog and is easy to find, this will translate into more leads.</p>
<h3>Social bookmarking</h3>
<p>With innumerable social networking sites rising up, they are also being exploited increasingly by many companies to generate leads to their company. You can also make use of these for your business. All you need to do is register at a well known social networking site and create a page for your company, adding information that is most alluring to most users.</p>
<p>Lead generation is a consistent, low cost method of advertising your business and selling yourself through the internet. The results can be significantly rewarding but it is important that you consistently keep following up the leads and changing your approach as online markets are dynamic and change constantly. Without follow up on a lead all the effort you invested can turn futile.</p>
<p>This information was provided by Wolf21, an integrated <a href="http://www.wolf21.com/">SEO Company</a> that provides a one–stop solution for business owners and marketing professionals who want more traffic, more leads, and more customers.</p>
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