Spun » consulting

10 Hot Web Startups Changing the Face of Retail

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:07:24 +0000

Macala Wright is the publisher of FashionablyMarketing.Me, one of the leading fashion and retail industry business websites. She is a retail consultant and business strategist who specializes in marketing consulting for fashion, luxury and lifestyle brands. You can follower her on Twitter at @InsideFMM or @Macala.

In 2010, branded content was… read more

Steve Appleton, CEO of Micron Technology, Dies in Plane Crash

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:13:19 +0000

Steve Appleton, the chairman and CEO of Micron Technology, has died in a plane crash, the company confirmed Friday. He was 51.

Appleton was reportedly flying the small plane when something went wrong and the plane caught fire. He was the only person on board the experimental fixed-wing plane when it… read more

How To Use Custom Post Types To Organize Online Marketing Campaigns

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:04:53 +0000

Custom post types add a level of flexibility to WordPress that makes this open-source Web development platform more useful on many levels. Whenever I have been faced with a Web-based task, especially one that involves organizing information, the first thing I do is examine WordPress to determine if it can… read more

The Psychology Of Color In Design

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:12:15 +0000

Have you ever wondered why you seem to be getting hungrier while waiting to place your order at a fast food place or why you eat faster than any human should ingest that poison? Have you ever heard of a “power tie” in business?

There are things that excite the human… read more

ACTA ‘Is More Dangerous Than SOPA’

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:41:18 +0000

SOPA and PIPA are stalled (or dead) in the halls of the U.S. Congress. Yet, there may be a bigger, perhaps more dangerous threat to Internet freedoms on the way, called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA. At least that’s how… read more

The UX Research Plan That Stakeholders Love

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:35:08 +0000

UX practitioners, both consultants and in house, sometimes conduct research. Be it usability testing or user research with a generative goal, research requires planning. To make sure product managers, developers, marketers and executives (let’s call them stakeholders) act on UX research results, planning must be crystal clear, collaborative, fast and… read more

Contactually Prioritizes Contacts and Communication in Email Network

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:08:29 +0000

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Contactually

Quick Pitch: Contactually is a proactive personal assistant for your email contacts.

Genius Idea: Contactually automatically prompts… read more

10 Tips for Building a Strong Online Community Around Your Startup

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Megan Berry is Senior Marketing Manager for Klout, the standard for online influence. She also blogs at The Huffington Post and Brazen Careerist. You can follow her on Twitter as @meganberry.

Building a community around your startup can be one of the cheapest ways to create momentum for your product. A… read more

Timeless Design, Ferrari

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:10:21 +0000

Advertise here via BSA

To begin with what I hope will end up being a mindful, thought-provoking article on the essence of timelessness in design, I felt it only fitting to start with what gave birth to this idea. As a designer and all around technology consultant, it’s my job to… read more

9 Digital Ways to Become a Social Good Hero in 2012

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:15:49 +0000

Scott Henderson is managing director of CauseShift and writes about social impact for the Chronicle of Philanthropy, RallytheCause.com and occasionally for the ableBanking blog.

January is already half-over, so how’s that New Year’s resolution to do more good coming along? If you haven’t made much progress, don’t fret — changing the… read more

3 Rules to Freelance Consulting Success

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:00:26 +0000

When my father left his industry to become a consultant, he was as much of a business rookie as any of the new freelancers who visit this site. Since we’re talking about the early 1980s, business advice for solo practitioners wasn’t as plentiful as it is today.

So, my dad… read more

50 Inspiring Logo Designs

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:58:12 +0000

A logo is an essential part of branding your website and marketing it offline and online. Some logo designs feature simple, beautiful typography whilst others more are fun and colourful. However, all logos should be memorable and able to integrate with your website design effortlessly.

One of the best ways of… read more

Teach What You Know: How to Make a Living on Skillshare

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:43:03 +0000

Nate Cooper is an independent academic and co-organizer of Reboot Workshop, an un-conference for nontraditional workers.

Skillshare is a platform for instructor-led, in-person classes. You can search for classes to take or propose to teach a class topic.

As the name implies, Skillshare is a community of experts and entrepreneurs; therefore,… read more

Video Inspiration #53

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:56:03 +0000

Video Inspiration is a weekly(ish) post where we either feature a specific artist or show a sort of “best of” list of videos we’ve discovered during the week. Everything here may not be brand new, but we felt it worth sharing with the community. If you have good… read more

Tips on Crafting The Perfect Press Release

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:24 +0000

The magazine I run is holding a contest, and we’ve been working hard with our PR consultant on creating the best press releases possible to advertise our event. It’s not as easy as one might think to craft a good press release—even if you are a professional writer. I… read more

Twitter’s Take on the 2012 Golden Globes [INFOGRAPHIC]

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:05:47 +0000

The 69th Golden Globe Awards were a relatively mild affair — even with Ricky Gervais as host — but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t still a ton of activity surrounding the awards on social media.

Twitter was the most dominant social network for the Golden Globes with a peak of 6,162… read more

Hacked Zappos Customers: Beware Phishing Scams

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:43:42 +0000

As hacks go, Zappos’s attack over the past weekend could have been a lot worse.

If you’re one of the estimated 24 million affected Zappos or 6PM.com (an affiliate site) customers, you can take solace in the fact that only the last four digits of your credit card number have… read more

How to Pick the Right Name for Your Business

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:00:03 +0000

Abstract or dead simple? Clever irony? Cute and playful? There are endless paths to take when brainstorming your new business name. But for many small business owners and entrepreneurs, the naming process is fraught with uncertainty and doubt.

Yet, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A business begins with a name… read more

Are You Making These 8 Marketing Mistakes?

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:00:54 +0000

It’s the beginning of a new year and you have decided to get serious about marketing yourself as a freelancer. Congratulations—that’s half the battle.

You have a lot of work ahead of you, and I found some tips in this article by Steve McKee for businessweek.com that will help… read more

4 Steps to Becoming a Freelance Copywriter

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:00:44 +0000

If you are reading this, chances are, you’ve already made up your mind that you want to be a copywriter.

However I do have to warn you, it isn’t easy!

Most potential copywriters wish to take up the vocation because they love writing. When you have to write… read more

Inside the Recruiter’s Head: What He’s Really Asking You During the Interview

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:52:56 +0000

Jayne Mattson is Senior Vice President at Keystone Associates, a leading career management and transition services consulting firm in Boston, Massachusetts. Mattson specializes in helping mid-to-senior level individuals in new career exploration, networking strategies and career decisions based on corporate culture fit.

You applied for a new job, and you’ve been… read more

After Labor Criticism, Apple Releases List of Suppliers for First Time

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:14:42 +0000

Apple released an extensive list of its suppliers for the first time ever on Friday along with its annual report on labor conditions at contract manufacturers around the world. The move reflects an apparent sensitivity to increased public criticism of the company’s level of accountability and transparency regarding where and… read more

Victory for SOPA Opponents: DNS Blocking Struck From Bill

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:01:13 +0000

The author of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) announced Friday that he will remove the DNS-blocking provisions of the bill.

SOPA, designed to combat digital piracy and copyright infringement, has been considered dangerous to the foundations of the Internet by many in the Internet and technology communities. As… read more

5 Proven Ways to Generate Revenue From Facebook

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:22:57 +0000

Brian Carter is author of The Like Economy: How Businesses Make Money With Facebook and co-author of Facebook Marketing: Leveraging Facebook’s Features For Your Marketing Campaigns. He is a keynote speaker, trainer and consultant.

Facebook, with its 800+ million users, presents a huge opportunity for business. But the first question people… read more

Video Inspiration #52

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:28:49 +0000

How an Injured NFL Hopeful Made a Fortune on LinkedIn Instead

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:10:13 +0000

Lewis Howes is a world record holder and former professional football player who got injured in his rookie season, lost everything and then used LinkedIn to become an Internet millionaire in 2 years. After hitting rock bottom and living on… read more

How to Overcome the Worst Moments in Your Career

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:58:58 +0000

The web design blogs assure to any web designer the needed tips, resources and information for being able to create websites and online applications at the highest standards. Some of the most talented designers entertain the web design blogosphere and it’s a good guaranty that the huge majority of the… read more

Tablets Will Replace Laptops, Say 46% of Americans [STUDY]

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:02:16 +0000

A full 46% of Americans think tablets will replace laptops in the future, according to a poll of 1,155 American adults.

This is especially true among adults ages 30 to 64. Young adults (ages 18 to 29) and those older than 65 are a little more skeptical. Only roughly a third… read more

13 Tips for Increasing Your Company’s Google Rank

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:33:44 +0000

Scott Gerber is the founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes youth entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment. The YEC provides young entrepreneurs with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.

It goes without saying… read more

A Recruiters’ Perspective: Job Boards and Career Websites

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:11:35 +0000

Rob Byron is a Principal Consultant in the Information Technology Permanent division at Winter, Wyman. Winter, Wyman is the largest and one of the most recognized staffing organizations in the Northeast. Find out more on the Winter, Wyman blog or follow on Twitter @WinterWyman.

If you’re looking for a job, you’re… read more

Inspiring Logos

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:59:44 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Here at WDL we really like to provide our readers with lots of inspiration. Since we believe that logos are a great source of inspiration we decided to gather a list showcasing logos from one amazing source of inspiration: dribbble. From popular logos to fresh ones,… read more

Create the Ultimate Landing Page With Unbounce

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Launching a new product or service via the web is no easy task in today’s fast-paced market. There’s plenty of competition and many variables involved in determining whether yours will be a success or failure. One of the metrics marketers use to determine how well their promotional web pages are… read more

Video Inspiration #51

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:51:28 +0000

Architect Day: HBA Associates

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:47:03 +0000

Today the AD is with the HBA/Hirsch Bedner Architects Associates, a leader in hospitality interior design worldwide remains keenly attuned to the pulse of changing industry trends governed by today’s more HBA has consistently sought to maintain a group of experts from all major design disciplines, and currently employs more… read more

The Emotional Impact of Color

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:19 +0000

via

Designing a new logo for a brand, especially travel/destination, requires careful consideration of the competitive set, content and how people perceive visual information. After shape, color is the most powerful element in creating brand recognition. It is also the most subjective element because it triggers strong emotions. And to further… read more

5 Steps for Finding New Customers

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:36:41 +0000

Ronald Brown is a successful startup CEO with an extensive background in technology and consumer marketing. His new book, Anticipate. The Architecture of Small Team Innovation and Product Success is available via iTunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

The subject of finding customers is one of the most mysterious in… read more

4 Ways Small Business Websites Can Drive More Sales

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:55:31 +0000

Aaron Sperling is CEO and co-founder of vFlyer, which provides online marketing solutions for small businesses and independent service providers. You can follow Aaron and his team on their Facebook page, Twitter and on the company blog.  

A scenario: You envision a phenomenal idea, put all of the necessary pieces into… read more

The 9 Oddest Job Interview Questions Asked at Tech Companies in 2011

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:49:39 +0000

When sitting down for a job interview at a top U.S. tech company, you’d typically expect the interviewer to hammer you with questions testing your abilities, past history and knowledge of the company. You wouldn’t think it was the time or the place to start exploring solutions to world hunger,… read more

How 9 Retailers Successfully Leveraged Game Mechanics

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:36:26 +0000

Social games have begun to… read more

Best of the Week #202

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:30:19 +0000

It’s time for our best news of this week. We have a lot of graphic and web design, a bit of architecture, ads, tech news, awesome reads and other crazy stuff! So take a look at the links we’ve selected for your inspiration and to keep you updated about what’s… read more

Best Of 2011: 45 Photoshop Web Design Layout Tutorials

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:25:37 +0000

Photoshop is a well-liked web design instrument. With it, you can generate web design mock-ups that can later on be transformed to a practical and efficient HTML / CSS template. In today’s collection of tutorials, we are featuring some top-notch techniques on how to generate your own web design layouts… read more

Video Inspiration #49 – Reader Submitted Works

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:35:42 +0000

Infographic: the best education websites by the numbers

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:53:02 +0000

Source

25+ Resources for Starting a Freelance Photography Business

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

“Photographer” is one of those professional titles that many people want. And why not? Taking pictures is fun and exciting.

However, reality isn’t so glamorous. According to a report prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “More than half of all photographers are self-employed, a much higher proportion… read more

Our Freelancer Predictions for 2012

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:00:26 +0000

Carol Tice recently wrote a blog for Entrepreneur magazine on her picks for the Top 10 Small Business Predictions for 2012.

The end of the year is when predictions on trends for the next year surface, from small business to the most popular wedding colors. People love predictions, and I… read more

Why Defensive .XXX Registration Is Only the Beginning of a Branding Nightmare

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:38:58 +0000

David K. Mitnick is the founder and president of Domain Skate, LLC, an Internet company that focuses on domain name arbitration disputes. This post was co-authored by Howard Greenstein.

If you did not know about ICANN’s decision to release the .xxx gTLD (global Top Level Domain) earlier in the year you… read more

Web design predictions for 2012

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:18:15 +0000

Source

4 Tips For Landing a Job in Social Media

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:11:31 +0000

Whitney Parker is vice president for user experience at Brazen Careerist, where she co-hosts a bootcamp on how to create and implement a social media strategy.

It’s no secret that jobs in social media are becoming more prevalent in nearly every industry nationwide and even globally. A quick search on Indeed… read more

Have Internet, Will Travel: A Freelancer Case Study

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:00:52 +0000

Melissa Antonelli spent five weeks this year living and freelancing in Italy.

Melissa Antonelli didn’t start out wanting a freelancing life—but she found it suited her adventurous spirit.

I met Melissa in 2005 when we were both studying journalism as graduate students at New York University. She had recently graduated with… read more

Video Inspiration #48 – Inspiration Overload

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:08:25 +0000

Goals and Achievements This Year and Into the Future

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:00:27 +0000

It’s coming towards the end of the year where traditionally people will set New Years Resolutions, which ultimately dooms them into failing and feeling bad and we become envious and joyful of those rare few who managed to keep them.

In today’s article, we’re getting nosey and finding out what people… read more

Polaroid Z340 Digital Instant Camera: Party Animal [REVIEW]

admin — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:36:13 +0000

What’s there to say about Polaroid’s new Z340 Digital Instant Camera? Sure, I could go on about the 14-megapixel image sensor, the clunky menu interface, and the pop-up LCD, but at the end of the day none of that matters a whole hell of a lot. If you’re buying a… read more

Should Your Job Title Be More Creative?

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:25:45 +0000

What It Takes to Build a Thriving Design Business on the Web

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:52:35 +0000

The Leaders in Design Series is supported by Volvo.

Jesse Thomas founded the creative agency JESS3 as a student in 2007. In a few short years, he managed to climb an impressive entrepreneurial ladder. The company has completed projects for Facebook, Google and NIKEiD, among dozens of other… read more

Interview: Meet ZURB

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:00:14 +0000

Managing successful paid web apps and client design work while still releasing free apps and resources regularly would be tough to handle for any company. ZURB’s one company in the world of web apps that has always excited us with their dedication to quality and the sheer number of apps… read more

Handling the Well-Meaning Helpers

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:00:59 +0000

It’s probably happened to every freelancer. Your friends, relatives, and acquaintances heard about your business – especially your never-ending quest to find and retain good clients – and they try to help.

Sometimes, this help can be just what you need. I can remember when I finished my first-ever website… read more

Around the World with a Total Eclipse of the Moon

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:44:51 +0000

A Guest Post by Stephen Trainor

Whatever you have planned for this weekend, cancel it now.

Saturday Dec 10 2011 sees the last total eclipse of the moon until April 2014 – the last chance to photograph one of nature’s most attractive natural phenomena in over two years.

In this article, we’ll take… read more

What designers can learn from different animals

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:50:58 +0000

Source

25 Inspiring Logos

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:05:19 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Here at WDL we like to provide our readers with as much inspiration as we can. And from logos to print and web, we like to show you beautifully designed pieces to keep your juices flowing. Since logos are always a good source of inspiration, today… read more

Best of the Week #199

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:48:11 +0000

Carrier IQ: We’re Not Wiretapping You

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:52:39 +0000

Carrier IQ, the beleaguered wireless metrics provider, “vigorously disagrees” with anyone who says it violates wiretap laws — and insists its software “makes your phone better” by delivering information on device performance to wireless operators.

The company admits a great deal of information on a cellphone is “available” to it…. read more

Video Inspiration #46

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:50:34 +0000

Digitas CEO to Become CEO of Time Inc.

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:07:28 +0000

Time Inc., the magazine division of Time Warner Inc., has a new CEO after 10 long months of searching. Laura Lang, who served as CEO of digital ad agency Digitas since 2008, will become Time Inc CEO in January.

Lang succeeds Jack Griffin, who was fired by Time Warner Inc. Chairman… read more

5 Ways To Get Your First Freelance Client

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:00:02 +0000

Freelancing can be fun and exciting, especially when you’re first getting started.

You have a new income stream, a new amount of freedom and control, and if feels like you’re taking charge of your skills and talents.

Of course, those are just a pipe dreams if you can’t find a client.

So… read more

4 Pillars of Digital Marketing for Luxury Brands

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:19:03 +0000

Duke Greenhill is the founder and CEO of Greenhill+Partners, the premiere agency for bespoke luxury brand marketing. Duke is also available as an independent consultant and speaker at Duke@Greenhill-Partners.com.

We all know the four P’s of traditional marketing: product, price, promotion and place. Of course, the four P’s still hold true,… read more

5 Things Journalists Need to Know About Tablets

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:35:06 +0000

Journalists and photographers need to rethink how they package – and how they get paid for – their work when it comes to tablet computers. Tablets, predicted to become the reading device of choice in the next few years, will change the demand and market for information.

Those are some of… read more

6 Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up Your Corporation or LLC

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:47:32 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

The portrait of today’s worker is undergoing a fundamental shift. Fueled by advances in cloud-based, social and mobile technologies, companies are choosing to gain agility and savings… read more

Choosing a Photography Workshop Or Tour

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:20:24 +0000

It’s in the gloom of the Northern hemisphere’s winter that many people start planning trips for the new year. It’s also a time some of us upgrade our cameras when the big sales hit in December and begin looking for a teacher to help them get more out of it…. read more

Video Inspiration #45

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:35:41 +0000

China Takes Lead Over U.S. in Smartphone Market

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:50:10 +0000

China has overtaken the U.S. as the largest market for smartphones by volume, according to one firm’s estimates.

Nearly 24 million smartphones were shipped to providers in China during the third quarter of 2011, compared to 23.3 million units in the U.S., data from Boston-based research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics… read more

What We Couldn’t Work Without

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Every freelancer out there has a bag of tricks they wouldn’t want to do work without—whether it’s their computer, useful software, or their favorite radio station. Find out what sorts of things help FreelanceSwitch.com contributors during their workday.

Perhaps their advice will inspire you to try something new, or… read more

5 Cities Harnessing Breakthrough Geothermal Technology

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:59:57 +0000

The Global Innovation Series is supported by BMW i, a new concept dedicated to providing mobility solutions for the urban environment. It delivers more than purpose-built electric vehicles — it delivers smart mobility services. Visit bmw-i.com or follow @BMWi on Twitter.

The demand for sustainable energy is higher than ever. According… read more

Interview: Marketcircle’s Unique Approach to the Cloud

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:00:35 +0000

We live in interesting times in the world of technology. Google’s working on self-driving cars and potentially space elevators, Apple recently bought out a mapping company, and Amazon, the internet’s bookstore, recently launched its own custom tablet computer. So, it shouldn’t be too suprising that most successful software companies feel… read more

The Best Customer Relationship Tip You’ll Ever Hear

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:00:49 +0000

Finding customers is hard.

It’s hard for everyone, but especially for freelancers – they’ve got too much to do, not enough time in which to do it, and they’d much rather be doing what they do best than networking and prospecting for new business.

Which is why, once you’ve found a… read more

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 3, November

admin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:00:06 +0000

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and come from a wide range of potential clients. The job board is hand-moderated by dedicated staff and volunteers… read more

How to Write, Launch and Sell Your Informational Ebook

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:09:53 +0000

Alexis Grant is a journalist, newbie entrepreneur and author of the eguide How to Take a Career Break to Travel. She tweets @alexisgrant.

Selling ebooks can be a great way to complement your income, gain visibility and build a network around your brand – not to mention, feel satisfied about creating… read more

Can Occupy Wall Street Match the Tea Party’s Offline Effectiveness?

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:56:01 +0000

Jesse Comart serves as a communications and public affairs consultant at the Glover Park Group (GPG). Before joining GPG, he worked on policy and communications issues for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Follow Jesse on Twitter at @jcomart.

People continue to compare the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and Tea Party movements…. read more

Video Inspiration #44

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:33:09 +0000

The Prioritization of Design

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:00:48 +0000

When we design we have a hierarchy that we are responsible to, which is what drives us to deliver a great design. In this way, there are three groups that we effectively owe the design to. And while most of the community would agree on the three areas that we… read more

Facebook Fights Flood of Violent and Pornographic Spam

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:16:22 +0000

Facebook is investigating violent and pornographic images spammers have planted in its network.

Offensive content that has popped up in Facebook news feeds includes hardcore porn images, pictures of extreme violence, animal abuse and even a Photoshopped image of Justin Bieber in… read more

5 Tips For Onboarding Remote Workers

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:01:07 +0000

The Digital Careers Series is supported by Elance, the world’s leading site for online work. Check out Startup Cloud for tips on how to build a remote team.

There might be an assumption that recruiting is easier when unemployment is high, but that’s simply not true. According to Manpower Group, 52%… read more

Video Inspiration #43

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:39:48 +0000

Boost And Expand Your Professional Network With LunchMeet

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:58:15 +0000

Name: LunchMeet

Quick Pitch: LunchMeet works with LinkedIn to find professional contacts in your area who are available… read more

Getting Ready for Next Year–Now

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

While the end of the year is likely not in the minds of many, it’s closer than you may think.

So before the ball drops and that tax deadline gets even closer, it’s a good time to think about the many things you can do to prepare for the… read more

The Future Of CSS: Embracing The Machine

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:47:40 +0000

Designers hold CSS close to their hearts. It’s just code, but it is also what makes our carefully crafted designs come to life. Thoughtful CSS is CSS that respects our designs, that is handcrafted with precision. The common conception among Web designers is that a good style sheet is created… read more

How To Ace Your Technical Interview

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:52:45 +0000

Adriana Ganos is a Senior Consultant in the Software Engineering Permanent division at Winter, Wyman. Winter, Wyman is the largest and one of the most recognized staffing organizations in the Northeast. Find out more on the Winter, Wyman blog or follow on Twitter @WinterWyman.

Job candidates have clear expectations about the… read more

Branding Your Photography Business – Part 1: Logos

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:06:23 +0000

As a former PR person, the importance of branding was always a topic I was harping on with clients – from individual authors to multi-million dollar corporations and non-profit agencies. How a business presents itself can be the difference between success and failure. Photographers are no exception to this rule…. read more

7 Ways to Know if a Development Project Is Worth Your Time

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:00:38 +0000

Brett Miller is the president of Custom Software by Preston (CSP). For more than 10 years, CSP has impressed clients with highly effective software solutions and teams of multi-talented software engineers.

Remember the old 80/20 rule? The same applies to software development inquiries, as in 20% of sales inquiries result in… read more

Video Inspiration #42 – Reader Submitted Works

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:02:25 +0000

4 Questions to Ask Startups Before Pitching

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:00:46 +0000

It’s exciting to work with startups. Usually, their business is just on the verge of launching, often without the hangups, hierarchies, or bureaucracy that tend to exist within larger, more established companies.

But pitching to startups presents challenges as well. Since these companies are new, their direction, scale, and status… read more

A Day in the Life of Freelance Designers

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:38 +0000

Ever wonder what freelance designers do all day? Do they sleep in, design in their pajamas and drink tons of coffee? How do they juggle design, social networking, admin duties, lunch, families, the gym and so on? As designers and developers, most of us have often wondered how others spend… read more

How to Maximize Your Home Office Tax Deductions

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:15:18 +0000

Nellie Akalp is CEO of CorpNet.com. Since forming more than 100,000 corporations and LLCs across the U.S., she has built a strong passion to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs in starting and protecting their business the right way. To learn more about Nellie and see how she can… read more

How Freelancers Can Network Better at Coworking Space

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:00:25 +0000

Credit: Charleston's TheDigitel on Flickr

Freelancers have long been drawn to coworking spaces because of the opportunities to network and work alongside others from different or complementary industries and creative fields, sharing the working space and resources. However, what sets coworking apart from mere shared office space is its focus… read more

Pearson and Knewton Team Up to Make Learning Personal

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:31:21 +0000

One of the largest textbook publishers in the world is making its digital course offerings more data-driven and individualized. Pearson announced Tuesday an extensive partnership with Knewton, a startup that specializes in adaptive learning technology.

The technology personalizes the presentation of educational material based on students’ strengths and weaknesses. Pearson, McGraw-Hill… read more

Samsung, Others Snap Up Nokia’s Declining Share of Mobile Market

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:13:59 +0000

Nokia‘s share of the global handset market fell 5% in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago.

However, Nokia still owns the largest portion of the market, having shipped 106.6 million mobile phones — or 27.3% of all mobile phones sent to vendors — in the last… read more

Why Digital Medical Records Could Save Your Life

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:29:19 +0000

The Tech Innovators Series is supported by Lenovo. Lenovo does not just manufacture technology. They make Do machines — super-powered creation engines designed to help the people who do, do more, do better, do in brand new ways.

I’m from Los Angeles, went to college in Philadelphia, grad school in… read more

Video Inspiration #41

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:08:51 +0000

Saving and Investing for Freelancers

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:00:05 +0000

Credit: diego_cervo on Photodune

Back in the 1980s, when self employment was rare and stigmatized, it was difficult to get a lot of things that we modern-day freelancers take for granted.

Take credit cards, for example. When my father left his job in his industry and started a consulting practice, he… read more

Innovation And Other Great Ideas – PART 1

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:24:31 +0000

Have you ever been sitting, watching TV and a show or ad comes on and you say, “I had that idea a long time ago!” and then feel like you’re a failure? Some people say there are no new ideas, that everything has been done and some say they have… read more

31 Profound Typography-Based Website Layouts

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:41:43 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Out of the many genres in modern web design, I find typography to stand out among the rest. Most page content is featured solely as text which draws a much tighter attention from your viewers. In this collection of 31 typographic-based websites I’ve tried to pick… read more

Why Obama Needs Social Media to Win in 2012

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:27:06 +0000

It’s no secret that President Obama’s 2008 campaign success was due in large… read more

Video Inspiration #40

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:14:20 +0000

Solo Competition Winners Announcement

admin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:16:24 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

On the 23rd of Spetember we published the giveaway of three yearly licenses to Solo (worth $120 each), a project management tool for the modern freelancer.
The competition has now ended and it is now time to announce the winners. Thanks to everybody for… read more

Advanced Layout Templates In WordPress’ Content Editor

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:27:48 +0000

As a Web designer, I often find myself building WordPress-based websites that will ultimately be updated and maintained by clients who have little to no experience working with HTML. While the TinyMCE rich-text editor is great for giving Web content managers of any skill level the tools they need to… read more

4 U.S. Government Agencies Getting Social on YouTube

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:45:29 +0000

The Digital Marketing Series is supported by HubSpot, an inbound marketing software company based in Cambridge, MA, that makes a full platform of marketing software and tools for better B2B lead nurturing.

The U.S. government has been engaging with social media, including YouTube, since 2009, when it signed Special Service Agreements… read more

Advanced Layout Templates In WordPress’ Content Editor

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:04:47 +0000

Video Inspiration #39

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:14:31 +0000

Do You Care About SEO? How About $80k in New Sales?

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:00:08 +0000

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, chances are you’ve heard of it. You keep seeing articles about SEO, have probably even read a few of those articles, and it sure looks like everyone else is doing it.

But why should you care about SEO? Easy: SEO can… read more

22 new business cards – Best of October 2011

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:59:19 +0000

Linkswitch #89, Web Presence, Pricing War, Writing Problems

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:00:31 +0000

Take Control of Your Web Presence with Ten Top Tips

Social media is a brilliant way to build your brand, which in turn grows your client base. But it can suck hours out of your busy day. And time is the one resource that we freelancers crave.

With a simple routine,… read more

67 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:42:15 +0000

The news this week took a somber turn upon hearing of the death of Steve Jobs. This week’s roundup is no different. Our features pay tribute to the man who not only made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world, but who helped to advance innovative technology… read more

TED Video: What We Learned from 5 Million Books

admin — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:00:08 +0000

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.

This week we look at What we learned from 5 million books by Jean-Baptiste Michel and Erez Lieberman Aiden. Have you played with Google Labs’ NGram Viewer? It’s an addicting tool that… read more

Effective Ways to Promote Your Online Business

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:17:49 +0000

Freelancing is on a high, and more and more professionals are taking this route. Executive-level full-time professionals are not the only ones contemplating it; personnel at all levels and from various industries want a taste of freelancing. The lure of “becoming one’s own boss” and deciding one’s own schedule is… read more

Video Inspiration #38

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:08:25 +0000

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Digital PR Consultant

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:45:27 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Research indicates businesses increasingly rely on the public relations industry to develop and implement innovative, cost-effective communication strategies. And, with the increased demand for social media marketing,… read more

Video Inspiration #37

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:07:15 +0000

Create a Custom Gift Card for Any Store With Giftly

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:17:26 +0000

Name: Giftly

Quick Pitch: Giftly lets users create custom gift cards for any store.

Genius Idea: Bypassing the merchant… read more

Fashion Blogging Grows Up: Why Advertisers Want a Piece of the Action

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:49:45 +0000

Alisa Gould-Simon is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Pose.com, a free mobile shopping application. She is a fashion consultant and writer and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal. You can follow her on Twitter at @alisagouldsimon.

The advent of… read more

How To Make An eBook

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:58:08 +0000

Making an eBook is easy, regardless of your coding experience. This is good, because 99.9% of your time should be spent on writing and getting your book out there, rather than on technology.

EPUB And Kindle

Any electronic book can be called an eBook, but because over 90% of all eBooks are… read more

How To Blow A Business Ghostwriting Assignment

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Credit: flattop341 on Flickr

“Ghostwriting” business communications is a lucrative and satisfying writing niche that requires some special skills and the right mindset. I’ve had excellent projects writing presentations for CEOs of very large corporations, and writing trade and newsletter articles for one-person consulting shops.

What they have in common is… read more

Is the Era of Music Video Games Really Over?

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:08:00 +0000

Scott Steinberg is the author of the new book Music Games Rock (100% free to download online). He is a noted technology expert, the CEO of high-tech consulting firm TechSavvy Global, and a frequent keynote speaker and media analyst for ABC, CBS and CNN. A celebrated author and entrepreneur, he… read more

Office Bullying: Designers Are The Biggest Targets

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:43:17 +0000

As in the schoolyard, some children just do not play well with others. Some children are liars and some are tattle-tales. Some children just make up for having small penises with office power plays. That goes for some women I know, too!

Human resources or employee relations in any firm, large… read more

55 Brilliant Letterpress Business Cards

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:46:38 +0000

Simplicity can often work wonders and with letterpress printing, you can achieve just that. It also makes most designs clean and elegant. With the relief that it creates on card stock, it is perfect for embossing certain areas in the print.

It makes a great printing option for business cards,… read more

NASA: 6.5-Ton Satellite Falling to Earth Friday or Saturday

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:53:39 +0000

NASA‘s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is headed towards Earth. But don’t fear, it’s still unlikely anyone will be hit.

The space agency now says the U.S. is back as a possible “landing site” for the satellite. As it gets closer to impact, NASA now says the 6.5-ton… read more

Competition: We have three yearly licenses for Solo, project management tool for the modern freelancer to giveaway

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:11:40 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

We have a fantastic giveaway for you today, you’ll love it. We have three year-long licenses (worth $120 each) for the recently launched Solo, an awesome project management tool for the modern freelancer.

You can try Solo out first with their 14 day free trial. Click here… read more

5 Ways QR Codes Could Shake Up the 2012 Election

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:29:39 +0000

The only question hotter right now than which Republican candidate will face President Obama in the 2012 election is: What new technology will define the race?

Next year’s candidates will be expected to increase their digital presences beyond major platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the president’s social network, My.BarackObama.com… read more

Video Inspiration #36

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:07:02 +0000

8 Tech Tools for Better Business Management

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:27:03 +0000

Scott Gerber is a serial entrepreneur, internationally syndicated columnist and TV host, and the founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council. He is also an active angel investor and author of the book Never Get a “Real” Job.

As someone who utilizes tech and software every day to run, communicate and oversee… read more

Trinette Reed: Photographer Spotlight

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:44:17 +0000

This commercial photographer spotlight features Trinette Reed. Together with partner Chris Gramly, they produce photography and motion video for luxury spas, hotels and resorts around the world. Their client list includes publications such as Elle, Men’s Health, Yoga Journal and Conde Nast Traveler, as well as agencies and companies like BBDO,… read more

HP Could Dump Apotheker for Whitman [REPORT]

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:52:59 +0000

According to a new report, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is being considered to take over as CEO at Hewlett Packard.

According to AllThingsD‘s Kara Swisher, Whitman is one name the HP board has been floating as a replacement for current HP CEO Leo Apotheker. Whitman joined the HP board of… read more

One Young World Mobilizes Youth to Create Positive Change

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:56:42 +0000

One Young World, a non-profit that provides an open platform for young people to create positive change, hopes to kick off a movement uniting young people across the world to advocate on behalf of the world’s youth. They’re calling this movement a “Youthquake.”

One Young World co-founder and Global… read more

New Study Reveals Surprising Information About Freelancers

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:00:38 +0000

2011 Freelance Industry Report

Tens of millions of workers remain unemployed around the world. But the freelance segment of the workforce is not only growing, it’s actually thriving.

That’s just one of the many interesting facts I uncovered when I recently surveyed more than 1,200 freelancers in 37 different professions…. read more

Apple Becomes World’s Second Most Valuable Brand — After Google [STUDY]

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:08:26 +0000

Apple‘s brand is worth $39.3 billion, or 33% more than it was at the start of the year, according to a study from consulting firm Brand Finance.

The London-based company looks at a company’s cash flow and other financial metrics to assess the worth of its trademarks and other intellectual… read more

Video Inspiration #35

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 01:14:57 +0000

The Guardian Launches a New U.S. Homepage

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:29:09 +0000

UK newspaper The Guardian is reaching out to its American audience via a newly launched online frontpage for U.S. readers. The move is part of an effort to improve The Guardian website for U.S. users, and also indicates the start of a New York City-based digital operation.

Janine Gibson, editor in… read more

35 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:36:51 +0000

The theme of this week’s roundup is: fresh. As in cool. Just check out our editor’s picks. We covered money and Beyonce. No one in their right mind would turn either down.

The coolness continues: Mashable staff went “stocking,” Fashion Week went digital, and television went social. Learn how to budget… read more

Facebook Fail: Posting via Other Apps Can Cut Likes & Comments by 88% [STUDY]

admin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:13:49 +0000

Does posting to Facebook via third-party apps make any difference to how engaged your fans are? Does Facebook’s algorithm discriminate against content management apps?

The people at Applum, creators of Edgerank Checker, decided to find out. They analyzed more than a million Facebook updates on more than 50,000 Pages in… read more

What Does the Future Hold for Social Games? [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 23:07:43 +0000

Technology expert Scott Steinberg is the CEO of high-tech consulting firm TechSavvy Global, and a frequent keynote speaker and media analyst for ABC, CBS and CNN who’s covered the field for 400+ outlets from NPR to Rolling Stone. A celebrated author and entrepreneur, he also hosts video series Gear Up and Game… read more

101 Ideas to Get More Freelance Work and Generate New Client Leads

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:00:55 +0000

Since FreelanceSwitch started, there is one question that I get asked more often than any other. How can a freelancer find more work and generate new client leads?

Well at FreelanceSwitch we don’t shy away from the pressing questions. So as the kicker for a new series on how… read more

MileWise Factors in Miles & Points to Help You Find the Cheapest Flight

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:54:54 +0000

Name: MileWise

Quick Pitch: Calculates your miles and points to help you find the best flight.

Genius Idea: MileWise… read more

Fashion’s Night Out: A Digital Field Guide

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:42:36 +0000

Digital media has become an… read more

Video Inspiration #34

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:23:31 +0000

Collaborate On Concepts, Anywhere, With ConceptBoard

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:16:47 +0000

Sharing feedback is one of the most important aspects of teamwork. It’s what gets (and keeps) everyone on the same page and helps to ensure everyone is working together properly towards a common goal. This is easily achieved in face-to-face meetings… But it’s 2011, so how does one get comprehensive,… read more

How Social Media Is Adding More Value to Fashion’s Night Out

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:57:59 +0000

Just two years after its… read more

The Importance of Community – Part I

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:00:39 +0000

Justin Knechtel lives in between the cities of Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, on Mercer Island. As the founder of the Northwest Freelancers Association (NWFA), an independent nonprofit organization, Knechtel works with freelancers throughout the entire Pacific and Inland Northwest.

Knechtel also created and runs The Small Potatoes, which is a… read more

25 Examples of Big Typography in Web Design

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:27:42 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Here at WDL we love typography and we are constantly showing our readers good typo usage, from print to logos, from web to random typographic works, we really feel the need to keep the juices flowing in that area, and we could not forget to mention… read more

Popular Social Media Personality Trey Pennington Dies Unexpectedly

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:45:00 +0000

Trey Pennington, a well-known social media personality, died Sunday in Greenville, S.C., of an apparent suicide.

Pennington ran a consulting practice, blog and online radio show. He maintained presences on all of the top social networks, including Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

The local NBC affiliate, WYFF, in Greenville tells us… read more

Weekly Web Design and Development Inspiration – N.104

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:01:39 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

This is our weekly selection of our favorite web designs from the past week, thanks to everybody for their recommendations. Feel free to comment and let us know what you think.

We have recently launched StylesInspiration, a web design showcase that aims to not only… read more

HOW TO: Use Your Social Media Skills to Earn Extra Money

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:39:27 +0000

Alexis Grant is a journalist and social media strategist. She tweets as @alexisgrant and recently launched an e-guide, How to Build a Part-Time Social Media Business.

Inside the social media bubble, it seems like everyone knows how to use Twitter, Facebook and Google+. But the truth is, while most businesses and… read more

FreelancerPro Interview: Trevan Hetzel, Creative Youth

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:00:12 +0000

At FreelanceSwitch, we get plenty of mail from teen Web designers that want to be featured on the site. It’s hard to weed out who has something valuable to say, because we like to interview people with experience and wisdom to share — at that usually comes from having… read more

Designing Global Applications For Children

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:28:05 +0000

The entire process of designing digital applications comes with many challenges and decisions. For the majority of projects, you will be designing in somewhat familiar territory. But what happens when you have to design something to be used by hundreds of children around the world? How do you accommodate your… read more

Video Inspiration #33 – Reader Submitted Works

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:42:56 +0000

45 Beautiful Letterhead Designs for Inspiration

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:30:16 +0000

A letterhead is the heading at the top of a sheet of letter paper. Having a professional letterhead design is very important for your business. That heading usually consists of a name and an address, and a logo or corporate design, and sometimes a background pattern.

In this collection we… read more

25+ Must-have Chrome extensions for web designers and developers

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:56 +0000

For many web designers and developers, Firefox is unsurpassable. For others, Firefox eats Chrome’s dust.

For the past two years, since Google Chrome’s release, there’s been a raging debate on which browser is superior. Mozilla’s open source product has stood the test of time and Firefox has quickly become the second… read more

How NASA Plans to Make Astrophysics Fun With an Ambitious Social Game

admin — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:56:11 +0000

Imagine if government agencies made social games. Who wouldn’t enjoy the Federal Reserve’s Asset-Backed SecuritiesVille, or the Census Bureau’s World of FormCraft?

Maybe not.

But what about NASA? After all, exploring space is a staple motif of the video game pantheon.

NASA’s educational efforts have blossomed in the digital age. Its website is… read more

15 Digital Agency Work Spaces That Evoke Creativity [PICS]

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:29:37 +0000

An inspiring environment can greatly aid the creative process. It follows then, that those whose maintain ’round-the-clock creative jobs will benefit from inspirational surroundings.

We asked the Mashable readership to submit images of their offices. From thought-bubble cocoons, to brainstorming walls, to a vegetable patch, we’ve rounded up photos of some… read more

What Does Steve Jobs’ Retirement Mean for the Future of Apple? [VIDEO]

admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 23:46:25 +0000

Baseball Everywhere: How MLB Is Innovating With Digital Media

admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 04:23:03 +0000

On August 26, 1939, Major League Baseball did something historic: It broadcast on televisions for the first time. It’s not known how many people tuned into see that telecast, a doubleheader between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds, though it couldn’t have been many since only a few hundred… read more

Diploma or Dropout: The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:44:04 +0000

What do Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all have in common?

Well, lots of things. The three are some of history’s greatest innovators and they’re super-rich, super-successful entrepreneurs. But perhaps most intriguing is the absence of a university degree on their impressive resumes.

All three enrolled in college (Jobs… read more

Video Inspiration #32

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:41:22 +0000

How To Become A Web Design Expert

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:46:46 +0000

Have you ever wanted to take a client by the collar, shake them around vigorously and demand that they take you seriously because you are the expert? If so, you are not alone. Whether you consider yourself an expert and want recognition or are looking to one day become one,… read more

Prepare for Your Comfortable Death with These Online Tools

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:24:48 +0000

When most people think about preparing for their own death, they inevitably think about creating a will… it is sort of the default consideration regarding death planning. Of course, there is no question that creating a will is an enormously important step, and one that is ignored by far too… read more

The Monster Collection of Moleskine Tips, Tricks and Hacks

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:00:33 +0000

A few times a month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of FreelanceSwitch. This article by Skellie was first published July 9th, 2008, yet is just as relevant and full of interesting information today.

Freelancers are more likely than most people to love Moleskine… read more

Live Together or Die Alone : Spec Work vs the Community

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:00:27 +0000

For years the web design and development communities have had an enemy amongst the ranks. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, parading through the communities as a friend of the game, when really it is more of a foe. Perhaps a well intentioned foe, as some might argue, but a foe… read more

Designing with Your Client in Mind: 6 Questions to Ask Before You Start a New Project

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:31:05 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

I have been a designer for about thirteen years, and most of my business during the past two years has come from new clients. Many have been new up-start businesses, not-for-profit groups and educational networks. When you are embarking on a new project, you need to… read more

How Social Media is Changing the NFL

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:57:13 +0000

The National Football League was founded on August 20, 1920 — 91 years ago to the day. But the sport has undergone its most radical transformation at the hands of social media in the past two years.

“Now social media is front and center for all 32 teams, and the… read more

What Kind of Workspace Is Best For Your Startup?

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:34:53 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Startup life is all about bootstrapping, but you need a place to work, right? Here’s a breakdown of three workplace styles — home-working, coworking and traditional office… read more

10 WordPress plugins to enhance your blog’s typography

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:43:30 +0000

Have you ever visited a blog and noticed immediately how the typography added sophistication and really made the content stand out? Perhaps it was an elegant typeface that fit the theme of the blog, or white space that was used proficiently throughout the layout. Whatever it was, it caught your… read more

Can Google+ Challenge Facebook for Social Gaming Dominance? [VIDEO]

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:39:05 +0000

Video Inspiration #31

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:41:16 +0000

Freelancer’s Guide to SEO – More Visibility, Traffic, and Clients

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:00:33 +0000

Credit: Pressmaster on Photodune

To describe SEO as a simple process would be a lie, but it’s not magic. There are quite a few simple things you can do for yourself that will improve SEO on your website.

Bear in mind that search traffic generally has a higher conversion rate compared… read more

Wave Accounting – Bookkeeping for the Rest of Us

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:00:25 +0000

Accountancy is a very respectable profession. There’s millions of the guys, all diligently working away like beaver to ensure every penny is accounted for. They keep business moving day-to-day, advise the board of directors and help us with our taxes. We love you guys. So all accountants, you can look… read more

4 Traits of Better Business Software

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:21:07 +0000

David Williams is VP of technology at Coupa, which provides cloud spend management solutions for customers like Salesforce.com, Rent-A-Center, Amazon and SUBWAY. You can follow David on Twitter @metakube and on the company blog, Coupa Cabana.

Your company just on-boarded another software product that promises to make work better, faster and… read more

5 Handy Apps for Small Business Finance Management

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:17:36 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Let’s face it. Unless you run a small- to medium-sized accounting firm, the motivation for starting your own business probably had very little to do with wanting… read more

Online Radio: How Do the 4 Leading Services Compare?

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:57:52 +0000

Caroline Giegerich is the blogstress behind the Daily Marauder and a digital marketing consultant. Follow her on Twitter for more social media and emerging tech insights.

In 1895, Nikola Tesla transmitted a radio signal 50 miles from New York City to West Point, NY in the first test of radio transmission…. read more

Video Inspiration #30

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:03:54 +0000

Better proof approval and management

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:51:29 +0000

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored review for Approval Manager

Any time you’re working in a team environment, it’s likely you’ll need a series of permissions and approvals for various stages of your project.

Managing all these approvals, making sure that they’re done on time, and making sure that the right versions of… read more

Starbucks Card Guy Solicits $8,700 in Coffees for Strangers

admin — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:23:17 +0000

Jonathan Stark is such a nice guy that he has given $300 to anonymous people to enjoy drinks and food at Starbucks. But there’s one thing that makes Stark angry: the suggestion that his self-styled “feel-good social media experiment,” Jonathan’s Card, is actually a stealth campaign for the coffee giant…. read more

Protecting yourself as a designer

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:37:12 +0000

Graphic design is one of those job that everyone needs but whose value perhaps not everyone appreciates.

People who don’t understand the true value of graphic designers will try to take advantage of them, especially if they’re newbies.

Others will try to calculate the time and effort involved in designing and then… read more

Don’t Do TOO Good Of A Job!

admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:17:25 +0000

Maybe this is happened to you. You’ve really nailed a project. You skip out of the client’s with a big smile because you’ve done the best work you have ever done. Months down the line, you haven’t heard a thing from the client and your emails are either not returned… read more

Are Freelance Coaches Worth the Money?

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:00:03 +0000

There’s no shortage of coaches popping up online – from life coaches to business coaches. So it’s no surprise that there are coaches targeting freelancers.

Most coaches make grandiose promises about how they can help your freelance business and they charge hundreds of dollars for their services. They promise… read more

Video Inspiration #29 – Reader Submitted Works

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:40:04 +0000

Target Markets for Business Ghostwriters

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:16 +0000

Credit: Cesar Bojorquez on Flickr

While many business rely on hired writers to generate content, whether marketing material or documentation or training guides, “ghostwriting” business communications is a somewhat more rarefied skill. I’ve written previous posts on Freelance Switch about this kind of ghostwriting as a satisfying and lucrative specialty.

I’m… read more

5 Expert Office Design Tips

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:01:12 +0000

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Office design is so crucially important to the success of your company, it’s well worth consulting professionals to get it right.

“A well designed office may cost… read more

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 1, August

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:00:09 +0000

Sharepocalypse Now: Why Social Media Overload Means New Opportunities for Startups

admin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:37:18 +0000

Nova Spivack has several ventures in production that focus on the real-time stream, including Bottlenose (for filtering the stream), StreamGlider (a new mobile stream delivery platform), Live Matrix (the schedule of the live web), and The Daily Dot (a new online daily newspaper about what’s trending online).

The social media landscape… read more

Linkswitch #79, More Refereals, Brand Myths, Mutimedia Savvy

admin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:00:21 +0000

12 Brilliant Articles on How to Get More Referrals

So if referral business is the Holy Grail for freelancers, why do so few freelancer know how to get more referrals? How do you ask for referrals? When do you ask for them? Are there actions you can take to make… read more

12 Brilliant Articles on How to Get More Referrals

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:00:11 +0000

Credit: Yuri Arcurs on Photodune

Any experienced business person can tell you that the best way to generate better leads and make more sales is to get more referrals.

Referral leads are more likely to be interested in your services. They are more likely to believe in what you are… read more

Video Inspiration #28 – Love Kills Demons

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:40:32 +0000

Freelance Web Development: 9 Tips for Better Project Management

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:37:20 +0000

The Web Development Series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace’s hosting solutions here.

Taking on a large project can be both exciting and intimidating, particularly if you’re a solo developer. Big builds can be a lot of fun and serve as great learning… read more

Gojee: Taking Web Recipes to the Next Level

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:00:08 +0000

In a lot of ways, the sharing of recipes harkens back to times past. To a time when family recipes were closely guarded secrets, when picnics and get-togethers were an every weekend affair, and showcasing those family specialities was a point of intense pride.

Sharing recipes was an intimate thing,… read more

What the Republican Town Hall Taught Us About Twitter as a Debate Platform

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:21:37 +0000

Six U.S. Republican presidential candidates took part in a Twitter town hall last Wednesday, in what was largely being labeled history’s first presidential Twitter debate.

Now that the event is over, its organizers are viewing it as a general success, despite the initial challenge of making sure candidates would get on… read more

30 Recent Photoshop Tutorials for Web Designers

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:28:55 +0000

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Photoshop is near-ubiquitous with graphics-based web design. Even if you don’t consider yourself a graphic designer, having some Photoshop skills can really come in handy with your web design work. And tutorials take a lot out of the learning curve, so you can just follow the… read more

8 Ways To Recruit Startup Talent Using Social Media

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:06:39 +0000

Scott Gerber is the founder of Sizzle It!, a New York-based sizzle reel production company and the Young Entrepreneur Council. He is a serial entrepreneur, internationally syndicated columnist, angel investor, public speaker and author of the best-selling book Never Get a “Real” Job: How To Dump Your Boss, Build a… read more

4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:06:06 +0000

While I’m not always a fan of sticking strictly to the ‘rules’ or ‘guidelines’ of photography I think they can be well worth knowing and keeping in the back of your mind as you shoot (whether it’s so you can follow them or break them for effect). Here’s four… read more

8 Things Newbie Web Designers Should Know About SEO

admin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:13:09 +0000

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Even the most SEO obsessed web site owners still want a site that looks good. Design aesthetics play a huge role in the success or failure of any site. Elements of design can impact conversions, credibility, and engagement. But some designs can also limit a web… read more

UFeedMeBack Giveaway Winners

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 01:53:31 +0000

It’s time to announce our five lucky winners for the UFeedMeBack Giveaway! In case you didn’t catch the last post on UFMB here’s a quick recap of who/what they are: UFeedMeBack is a straightforward consulting tool that gives it’s members (invite only) access to request feedback from well-known designers… read more

6 Smart Steps to Mastering Engagement with Your Target Audiences [SPONSORED]

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:46:06 +0000

This post is brought to you by Marketwire, which helps communication professionals bridge the gap between the old and new media environments. For more information on sponsored posts read here.

The way we communicate today has changed. And – oops! – there it goes again. Changes in how we engage and… read more

Video Inspiration #27 – Artisan Foodservice Videos by The D4D

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:08:52 +0000