Freelancefolder

What to Do About All that Stuff

Posted December 28, 2011 in How-To, Lifestyle

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You know the stuff I mean: ebooks, videos, books, training materials, blog posts you mean to read, and so on…

I have a small confession to make. I’m not new to freelancing, but I’m a repeat victim of the Shiny New Object Syndrome. Simply put, I love to try new things–whether they be ecourses, new social media tools, books, and so on.

You’ve probably guessed this about me already by reading some of my posts (especially those posts about trends).

The trouble with trying new things is that, if they aren’t managed properly, they can take clutter up your workspace and take all your available time.

In this post, I’ll discuss this problem and share a few simple tips that help me manage all that stuff.

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35+ of Your Favorite Software Tools

Posted December 26, 2011 in Tools/Resources

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What software tools do freelancers love to use? Whether you’re a seasoned freelancer, or just getting started, there’s a tool that is right for you.

We’ve written plenty of posts about resources for freelancers. A few months ago, however, we asked you to share your favorite software tools. Many of you did just that.

In this post, we list those software tools that you said you loved in one convenient place–over 35 of them! We also invite those of you who may have missed the original open thread to once again share your favorite software with us. (Note: Some of these tools are open source or freeware although some do cost money. Where possible, I’ve identified the free tools.)
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Two Weeks to More Client Leads

Posted December 22, 2011 in Marketing

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Have you ever gotten desperate for clients? Maybe you don’t know how you’re going to pay next month’s rent. Maybe your car broke down and repairs will cost more than you have right now. Maybe a tree fell into your house and your insurance won’t cover it (that’s a true story, by the way).

Whatever the reason, you need clients. Right now. What’s a freelancer to do?

It’s time to step up your marketing game! Fortunately, there are tried and tested marketing strategies that have proven to be effective for freelancers. No need to reinvent the wheel.

Read the list below and choose two you can implement in the next two weeks.

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5 Easy Tips to Increase Your Bottom Line

Posted December 21, 2011 in How-To, Productivity

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Do you want a bigger bottom line?

As a freelancer business owner, you probably DO want bigger bottom line–you just may not know how to get one. In case you don’t know, in a nutshell your bottom line is the money left over after you meet your expenses. (Who wouldn’t want more of that?)

In this post I share five easy tips to help you increase your freelancing bottom line. Feel free to share your own tips for improving the freelancing bottom line in the comments.

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It Will Happen to You

Posted December 19, 2011 in Lifestyle

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“That will never happen to me.”

Have you ever heard another freelancer say those words? Have you said them yourself?

Over the years, I’ve heard other freelancers use those words to describe situations ranging from family emergencies, to getting too busy, to getting sick, to missing a deadline. Regrettably, I’ve also heard some of those same freelancers take back words when the very thing that they never planned for happens.

It’s no secret that I’m a big advocate of having a Plan B (and maybe even a Plan C) for dealing with common setbacks.

The odds of lightening striking you are pretty slim. From what I’ve read, fewer than 500 people are injured by lightening each year in the U.S. It does happen, though. I once hired an attorney who actually had been struck by lightening.

Other setbacks are much more likely to happen. The truth is that no one is immune from life’s troubles. The very thing that you think will never happen to you may also be the thing that puts you out of business if you’re not ready for it.

In this post, I’ll share ten common problems that most freelancers eventually face and talk about how to deal with each of them.
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How to Find the Right Freelancer for the Job

Posted December 15, 2011 in How-To

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You’re thinking about hiring a freelancer. That’s why you’re reading this post.

You may be a freelancer yourself (because freelancers do hire other freelancers). You may be a small business owner, or you might be the representative of a large corporation.

If you’ve never hired a freelancer before, the process might be a little bit confusing. There’s a ton information out there–some of it conflicting. How can wade through it all and find the best freelancer?

This post will take you through what I believe is the best freelancer hiring process, step-by-step. At the end, I’m inviting our readers (actual freelancers) to add their own advice. The result should be an invaluable resource on hiring freelancers.

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How to Devise the Perfect Freelancing Social Media Strategy for You

Posted December 14, 2011 in How-To, Marketing, Social Media

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How can a freelancer develop an effective social media strategy with a reasonable investment of time?

As freelancers we rely on social media to interact with clients, potential clients, and other freelancers.

Social media is a great tool for freelancers (and since social media is most often free it’s very budget-friendly). But if you’re not careful, social media can also take up a lot of your valuable project time.

Of course, strategies will vary for each individual freelancer. However, over the past few years I’ve put a lot of thought into social media strategy. The tips in this post should work for most freelancers.

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Today Only: MediaLoot One-Day Mega-Sale

Posted December 12, 2011 in News

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For today only, MediaLoot is having their biggest sale yet: the MediaLoot One-Day Mega-Sale! You get 100 downloads for $50. That’s less than 50 cents per download! From full webpage templates and iPhone UI kits to artistic Photoshop brushes and textures, each one only uses one download. You’ll be able to grab everything you could possible want this holiday season :)

See details and grab 100 downloads for $50 here: MediaLoot One-Day Mega-Sale →

5 Tips to Kick the Perfectionist Habit

Posted December 12, 2011 in Inspiration

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Hello. My name is Mike. And I’m a recovering perfectionist.

For a long time, I believed that being a perfectionist was a good thing. I was proud of my compulsion to work and rework even the smallest assignment until it was faultless. What did it matter that it took me hours more than it probably should have? I was a perfectionist. All that mattered was that I nailed it.

When I became a freelancer, however, I realized that my perfectionism wasn’t the big pat-on-the-back that I thought it was. In fact, it was just the opposite. With my eye now always on the clock, I saw that my relentless quest for perfection was making me inefficient. More often than I care to confess, I undercharged clients because I didn’t want to admit the true amount of time it had taken me to complete the assignment. (Note: this is not a good way to run a business.)

Frustrated and anxious, I knew I had to beat the problem or kiss my career goodbye. But how? I was afraid that if I devoted any less time to my projects, I’d make some hideous mistake and ruin my career. I also afraid that being even a smidgen less meticulous might result a failure to meet–no, exceed–my client’s expectations. How could I alter my work habits without sacrificing my high standards?

Well, it didn’t happen overnight, but I did eventually come up with a workable strategy. If you suspect you might be a perfectionist too, consider these five tips to bring your obsessive tendencies under control.

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