Freelancefolder

How to Deal with the Unique Challenges That Freelancers Face

Posted January 25, 2012 in Getting Started, How-To

Sure, everyone faces some challenges from time to time. But, due to the unique nature of freelancing perhaps freelancers are a bit more susceptible to some challenges than others.

If you’re properly prepared, though, you can handle most freelancing challenges that come your way while minimizing your stress.

In this post, I’ll outline some of the common challenges that freelancers face. I’ll also discuss how to handle those challenges that are most unique to freelancing.

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4 Essential Elements of Freelance Business Planning

Posted December 7, 2011 in Getting Started, How-To

Some freelancers strongly advocate the use of business plans for freelancers. Other freelancers will tell you that you don’t really need a business plan at all.

So, which advice is right? Do freelancers need a business plan or don’t they? In my opinion, both opinions are correct.

While not all freelancers need to have a formal business plan like the kinds that you would take to the bank or to investors, all freelancers do need to engage in some sort of business planning. That’s just part of running a business. (However, do keep in mind that if you do plan on going to bank for a business loan, selling your business, or going public with business–then a formal business plan will most likely be needed.)

In this post we’ll go over the four essential elements of business planning that freelancers can’t ignore (even if they choose not to use a formal business plan). My goal is to streamline the process and make it easy for most freelancers.

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Open Thread: Why Did You First Become a Freelancer?

Posted December 4, 2011 in Getting Started, Open Thread

Everyone has a different story. Everyone starts freelancing for a different reason.

Some people want to increase their earning potential. Some people want to start an empire. Others are simply looking for a way to spend more time with friends and family. Still others may start freelancing for an entirely different reason.

Every freelancer has a set of goals that is unique to them. The beauty of freelancing is that with a little talent and a lot of hard work, it’s likely that you can achieve your goals as a freelancer.

That’s why today we’re asking you about your unique set of goals. We’d like to hear:

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How to Ace Your Next Freelancing Job Interview

Posted November 13, 2011 in Getting Clients, Getting Started, How-To

Most people don’t realize it, but freelancers frequently face interviews.

Unlike a traditional employee, who may go years without being interviewed once they have been hired, a freelancer may face an interview nearly every time a prospect considers them for a project. So, good interview skills are an important part of a freelancer’s arsenal.

In this post, I’ll provide some tips to help freelancers prepare for various types of interviews that they might face. I’ll also identify some good answers to tough interview questions that freelancers get asked.

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10 of the Most Surprising Things About Freelancing

Posted November 7, 2011 in Getting Started

It was over ten years ago, well before I became a freelancer, but I still remember.

“I don’t believe anyone could earn decent money through the Internet.” My friend confidently stated and…I agreed with her.

Can you believe it? I agreed with her, yet today here I am today doing exactly what both of us thought could never be done. There are many things that I didn’t know about freelancing until I became a freelancer myself.

I guess the first surprise is how very possible it is to earn money as a freelancer. There are many other things that I never would have dreamed of before I started freelancing myself. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has ever faced freelancing surprises…

In this post, I’ll share ten other freelancing “surprises” that most non-freelancers probably don’t ever think about.

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Which Business Structure Maximizes Your Freelance Tax Benefits?

Posted November 2, 2011 in Accounting/Bookkeeping, Getting Started

When forming any business, it’s important to consider the legal formation of the business early on. In freelancing businesses in particular, there are specific tax ramifications to the legal business structure that you select. This is particularly true in the U.S., and may be true elsewhere as well.

There are three main types of legal forms of business to consider when starting a freelancing business. These types include sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. In this post, I’ll discuss two of these three types of business in detail.

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The Easy Way to Start Freelancing: Keep Things Simple

Posted October 24, 2011 in Getting Started

If you have been trying to launch a freelance career in any genre, you have probably felt the sting of an oversaturated market more than once. There are so many people out there vying for jobs, many of them lacking skill but snatched up because of their ridiculously low price. While the buyers who try this route often have to learn the hard way that this is the wrong road, it doesn’t help you in the meantime.

But being heard over the noise and standing out doesn’t have to mean you shout louder than the rest; that just adds to the clutter. Instead, you should take a minimalist approach, stripping the layers of bulk away and following a more simple blueprint toward success. I guarantee that if you make it a little easier, you will be better off.

You may be wondering how you can apply minimalist ideals to a freelance career. It is all about getting back to basics and ignoring the call of more complicated promotion and activity. This will reduce your legwork and let you focus on your real career.

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Why New College Grads Should Consider Freelancing as a Career Choice

Posted October 19, 2011 in Getting Started

Your university days are over. Gone are those structured, hard working (sometimes), but overall sheltered, days as a student.

Making it in the big wide world is a daunting prospect for anyone, but in these tough economic times the difficulties and hurdles facing new graduates are bigger than ever. With rising student debt, youth unemployment and cutthroat competition for the small number of jobs available to hundreds of thousands of graduates, the prospects for university graduates may seem quite grim.

Nevertheless, there are opportunities for those tech-savvy graduates who are comfortable with social media and the online world. For those who are anxious to get their first foot onto a career ladder online, freelancing may be a great opportunity.

While the online world has a lot to offer new freelancing graduates looking for work, there are some fundamentals to learn first before diving in and losing your head.

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The Holistic Freelancer

Posted October 17, 2011 in Getting Started, Inspiration

What makes you the freelancer you are? (Hint: it’s NOT what you think it is.)

While it may be tempting to look for a simple, single factor that always leads to freelancing success, the real truth is that all freelance success is due to the sum of many parts.

There’s no single path to freelancing success (and this can be frustrating). As I’ve said before, what works well for one freelancer may totally bomb when another freelancer tries it. That’s because every single freelancer brings something different to the job. Who you are, as a whole, contributes to the freelancer you become.

Holistic means looking at the parts that make up the whole and that’s just what I’ll do in this post. I’ll take a look at the whole freelancer and examine how who you are impacts your freelancing business overall. Here are some of the factors that we freelancers bring with us into our freelancing businesses:

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