Freelancefolder

Free Report: Why Some Freelancers Thrive and Others Barely Survive

Posted January 5, 2009 in Business, Tools/Resources 11 Rockin' Comments »

Most of you know that freelancing can be an up-or-down business. Some people do really well from the start, and others, unfortunately, struggle for years before reaching their goals.

So what’s the difference between the successful freelancers and the unsuccessful ones? What makes one business work while another can’t keep up?

Those are the answers we’ve put together in this free report, along with other information about how you can place yourself solidly in the group that’s destined for success.

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7 Pieces of Timeless Business Wisdom

Posted December 31, 2008 in Business, Inspiration 19 Rockin' Comments »

Some business advice changes all the time, but there’s also some advice that’s relevant and useful no matter what year it is, or what business you’re in.
 
In honor of the new year, we’ve compiled a quick list of 10 bits of wisdom that are as timeless and useful now as they were years ago.

1 — Push through your limitations

“The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.”
— Thomas Edison

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Open Thread: How Do You Handle Client Payments?

Posted December 15, 2008 in Business, Open Thread 46 Rockin' Comments »

Taking client payments is a topic that’s frequently overlooked by books and other how-to guides, mainly because it seems like such a small thing. All you have to do is work, and then get paid — right?

Well, kinda.

The tricky part is in the details. Do you take cash, checks, credit cards, or Paypal? Do you require payment up front, 50/50, or payment when work is finished? Do you need to send an invoice, or maybe a receipt, or both? How long should you wait before charging a late fee, or should you charge one at all?

While most experienced freelancers already have a system down, many beginners are still trying to figure out what works best. So let’s try to provide some good examples for any freelancers who are just getting started. Try to answer these questions in the comments:

1. What payment methods do you accept?
2. Do you send an invoice, a receipt, or both?
3. When do you require payment from the client?
4. Do you charge late fees, and if so, how much?
5. Any other thoughts or advice?

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Why Freelancing Is Freakin’ Hard

Posted December 12, 2008 in Business, How-To 51 Rockin' Comments »

Despite how magnificent it can be to work for yourself, there are some things about freelancing that just plain suck. And no matter where you specialize, these vicious drawbacks usually find a way of asserting themselves.

What drawbacks am I talking about?

• Dealing with the feast & famine cycle
• Managing every aspect of business entirely on your own
• Finding time to market yourself, do client work, deal with clients, keep up the administrative stuff, and still grow the business
• Balancing work and life (and often family) while dealing with all of the above
• Getting sick, going on vacation, or otherwise not working 24/7 while still dealing with all of the above

Now if you only look at these negatives, freelancing seems like a pretty bad idea — that’s definitely not the case. It’s important to acknowledge the challenges of freelancing, though, so that you can manage them and learn to free yourself from the usual limitations.

And that’s what we’re going to do in this article.

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3 Powerful Ways To Bring In More End-Of-Year Business

Posted December 9, 2008 in Business 5 Rockin' Comments »

The end of the year can be a dry time for some freelancers — potential clients are on vacation, hectic schedules mean emails don’t get returned, and on top of that, the troubled economy is taking its toll.

With so many businesses tapped for cash, is there any hope for ending the year strong?

You bet there is — as long as you exercise a little creativity and get the ball rolling now, there is plenty of opportunity to end the year strong.

Here are three ideas that can help you fill up the coffers before December is through:

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How To Start a Freelance Business Today (Tools for Beginners)

Posted December 5, 2008 in Business, How-To 26 Rockin' Comments »

Have you been reading about freelancing for weeks now?

Do you think that freelancing could be an excellent hedge against these harsh times? Have you done your homework adequately, and are you at last you’re ready to start your very own freelance business?

Congratulations!

But, before you start there are a few important things to consider. You’ll need a skill or a product to market, you’ll need some basic equipment, and finally, you’ll need a plan.

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