Freelancefolder

Tools to Help You Learn Copywriting (or Get Better at It)

Posted January 31, 2011 in Tools/Resources, Writing

Copywriting is an essential skill, not just for business, but for life.

Even if you have no intention of making a living as a copywriter, it’s worthwhile to learn how to communicate more persuasively.

Copywriting is the use of words to sell. Copywriting techniques apply to both the written and the spoken word.

Copywriters write the ads you see in magazines and newspapers, commercials you hear or hear on radio and TV. And nowadays, copywriters also write the web pages and other online copy that tries to persuade us on the ‘net.

You can use the same principles copywriters use in your daily life as well. For example, when you’re writing to your neighbor asking him to keep his dog from doing his business on your front lawn, it helps to have some copywriting skills.

Here are a few simple (and some fun) tools that can help you become a better copywriter:

[Click Here to Read More...]

5 Rules for Breaking Out of Self-Imposed Life Imprisonment

Posted January 30, 2011 in Inspiration

You and I are responsible for whether we live our lives in freedom and liberty, or whether we live a life constrained by the chains of self-imposed imprisonment.

We cannot blame our parents, our education, our country our politicians or anyone else for the state we are in.

We must stand up and fight like a full grown man or woman, by taking our life in both hands, and grabbing what it has to offer us with enthusiasm, passion and resourcefulness.

But some respond, ‘But I’m not talented. I don’t have enough money. I’m not sufficiently educated. I was born on the wrong side of the tracks. I wasn’t…’

Stop! Stop! Stop!

Here are five rules that, if you follow them, will equip you to break out of your current restrictive prison into a life that is free indeed.

[Click Here to Read More...]

Kill Your To-Do List

Posted January 28, 2011 in Productivity

We’re all well acquainted with the concept of the to-do list. Whether or not we get along with them is another matter entirely.

Sometimes to-do lists just don’t cut it, and at the end of the day, the checked boxes are buried amongst all the empty ones. Well, gee, if that isn’t a morale boost, I just don’t know what is.

In this post, I’ll discuss a to-do list alternative–The Single Day Schedule. I’ll explain how freelancers can use this better system to become more productive.

[Click Here to Read More...]

Six Areas of Technology All Freelancers MUST Stay Current With

Posted January 27, 2011 in Productivity, Tools/Resources

Freelancers operate in a rapidly changing technological environment. I don’t use the same computer software and hardware that I used eight years ago, and neither should you.

Freelancers who don’t keep up with the changing technologies may soon find themselves out of business. While you don’t necessarily have to be on the cutting edge of new developments, neither should you lag too far behind.

In this post, I’ll identify several areas of your business that you should monitor regularly to make sure that your technologies are current. I’ll also list some resources to help you keep up.

[Click Here to Read More...]

How to Get More Exposure for Your Freelancing Business

Posted January 26, 2011 in How-To, Marketing

Just like any other business, a freelancing business needs exposure to gain more clients. Not only will exposure get you in front of your potential clients. It will also increase your perceived authority and credibility.

In this post, you’ll find 15 different ways to get more exposure for your freelancing biz. I’ve left out the traditional ways freelancers spread the word, such as business cards, brochures/fliers, and print ads.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything.

[Click Here to Read More...]

MediaLoot is Halting Sales of Unlimited Subscriptions on March 1st

Posted January 25, 2011 in News

Our sister-site MediaLoot has just announced that they are halting sales of unlimited-download subscriptions on March 1st. Existing members can keep their subscriptions for life, but if you’re a new member you will have to sign up soon to get unlimited downloads.

For those of you who don’t know about MediaLoot, it is a subscription-based resource site for graphic and web designers. Members can download an unlimited number of icons, textures, website designs, and more for $19 per month — less than $1 per resource if you use the service regularly.

Check out this page for more information →

How to Keep from Being Overwhelmed by Your Email Inbox

Posted January 25, 2011 in How-To, Managing Clients

After you’ve been freelancing for a few years, you may find that your email inbox is overflowing–even to the point where answering email messages threatens your daily productivity.

Having an email account is vital to the success of most freelancers. After all, email is how many of us communicate with our clients.

But, a disorganized email inbox can easily grow to become a time-sucking nightmare. This is especially true if you are flooded each day with more emails than you can realistically answer.

If you can relate to having a disorganized inbox, then this post is for you. :)

In this post, I’ll discuss seven effective techniques for taming your email system. Keep in mind that I am not recommending a specific email system. Most of these tips will work with most popular email systems.
[Click Here to Read More...]

How to Attract Your Target Clients

Posted January 24, 2011 in Getting Clients, How-To

We’ve talked before about choosing the kind of work and clients you want to work with. Knowing who you want to work with is great, but how do you find them? We’re lucky enough to be in an industry where there’s no shortage of work, but a lot of that work isn’t worth our time and effort, so it’s important that we remain somewhat picky with who we decide to work with.

Attracting your target client instead of working with just anyone has several benefits. It allows you to get the kinds of projects you really want while working with your ideal client. No need to tell you how working with your ideal client can lift a ton of stress off your shoulders, right?

So how do you attract that perfect client? What if you have no idea who the perfect client is and should be? Read on my fellow freelancers!

[Click Here to Read More...]

You Probably Already Do Know Your Very Next Client

Posted January 23, 2011 in Managing Clients, Marketing

A common freelancing stereotype is that a freelancer never knows where or when his or her next job is coming from–or from whom. For most of us, though, this stereotype is only partially true.

Odds are that your next client is hidden somewhere among your Twitter (or other social media) followers, your previous clients, or your friends and acquaintances.

Time after time, whenever we’ve asked freelancers where they find clients and they give us the same two answers: through referrals and repeat business. Those answers don’t surprise me at all because that is where most of my own clients come from.

In this post, we’ll give you some tips to help nudge some of your future clients (that you already know) towards doing business with you.

[Click Here to Read More...]