Tutorial Blog » Freelance

5 Ways to Build on Your Freelance Skills

Jen Nipps — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:00:49 +0000

Technology and ideas of what is current information change quickly. A web site designer who knows only basic HTML, for example, is no longer current or viable in the freelance market. How can a freelancer keep up with current trends in information and technology to increase their skill set without going broke?

Here are five ways to build on your freelance skills:(...)
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7 Networking Opportunities for Freelancers

Jen Nipps — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:00:01 +0000

A freelancer who doesn’t network is a freelancer who won’t be in business very long. Networking brings in customers/clients, who, in turn, bring in the money. Even if an event where you network doesn’t bring immediate clients, chances are it will produce results eventually through word-of-mouth or an unforeseen need.

Networking doesn’t come easily to many freelancers. It’s easier to do your work and mind your business than to go out and network. However, it is important to view networking as part of minding your business. Here are seven opportunities for networking for freelancers. (...)
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5 Ways to Advertise without a Budget

Jen Nipps — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:15 +0000

You’ve decided to go into business for yourself as a freelancer. You have your business idea, your preferred niche, and some contacts and potential clients. How do you get new clients without paying a lot for advertising?

Here are five tips for advertising without a budget: (...)
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Deciding to Become a Freelancer is Easy, the Hard Part Comes the Day After

Michael Alexander — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:00:05 +0000

Becoming a freelance designer or writer is so easy my elderly father’s girlfriend, who also is 80-ish and who doesn’t have a clue what freelancers do, could set up shop within 24 hours, including the time it would take to hang a shingle outside the door of her condo and get her business cards printed.

The fact is, anyone can become a freelancer. The trick is making a living doing it. If you’ve been successfully working as a freelancer for any length of time, you know what I mean. You spend more time hunting for work and dealing with clients (few of them are appreciative sweethearts) than actually putting a stylus to a tablet, a mouse to a screen or your fingers on a keyboard.

Freelance designer and author Jeremy Tuber has written two e-Books: Being a Starving Artist Sucks and Verbal Kung Fu for Freelancers. Both a similar (they overlap in many sections). While the emphasis is on making a go of being a freelance graphic designer, much of these two e-books apply to most kinds of freelance work. They’re not just for designers, in other words. (...)
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25 Ways to Find Time for Creative Play

Jen Nipps — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:00:14 +0000

Freelancers are creative people. It can be difficult to find time for creative play when you’re faced with looming deadlines and various administrative minutiae. Here are 25 creative ways that you can find time to unleash your inner child and engage in creative play.

After all, this isn’t just kid’s stuff, as a creative professional, your livelihood depends on your ability to let loose and be creative. So, go play! (...)
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7 Habits of Successful Freelancers

Jen Nipps — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:00:10 +0000

Ads abound saying you can make a six-figure annual income by freelancing. Some go so far as to say you don’t have to do much work. Others are more honest and admit it will take work.

One thing is true: Freelancers, successful or not, have habits. Whether you believe the ads or not, there are seven common habits of successful freelancers.(...)
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Freelance Jobs to Avoid! 5 Warning Signs for Scams

Jen Nipps — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:00:56 +0000

Freelancing attracts some people who want to get rich quick without doing the required work. Possibly because of this, there are many scams around. How is a freelancer to know which opportunities are legitimate and which are scams?

There are warning signs to scams. Here are five of the most common.(...)
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5 Tips for Spotting Trends

Jen Nipps — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:00:32 +0000

Some freelancers spend their time chasing trends and turn in assignments that aren’t as timely as they could be. Other freelancers have learned how to spot trends and can turn in assignments that are ahead of the trend and can highlight coming trends.

Whether your business is graphic design or you’re trying to author a regular column, trend-spotting is a must-have skill to stay relevant in your field. If you generally chase trends, these tips can help you learn to spot trends instead.(...)
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Simple Record-Keeping for Freelancers

Jen Nipps — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:04:20 +0000

Depending on what type of freelancing you do, you might be more creativity-centered than numbers-centered. You don’t want — or need — an elaborate bookkeeping system. You just need to know what’s going out (submissions, payments, commissioned work, assigned projects) and what’s coming in (assignments, money, bills). Is there a simple way to do this or do you have to invest in a high-dollar computer program or keep an accountant on retainer?

The tips and suggestions here are not meant to take the place of an accountant or tax professional. Please consult an accountant for more detailed information. With that said, here are some tips for simple record-keeping for freelancers.(...)
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5 Ways to Promote Yourself as a Freelancer

Jen Nipps — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:00:36 +0000

Success as a freelancer, whether writing, graphic design, etc., depends on self-promotion. Many of us were taught as children that it is considered impolite to brag about ourselves. However, that is exactly what we need to do as freelancers.

Here are five ways to promote yourself as a freelancer:(...)
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