Spun » Freelance

Wallpaper of the Week 189 by Jeff Huang

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:11:49 +0000

The wallpaper of this week is an image created by Jeff Huang. Jeff is a freelance art director and illustrator based in New York who specializes in Creative Design, Abstract Art, Photo Editing, and 3D.

Jeff has been working professionally for more than 6 years now and has produced work… read more

Video – Paul Boag: Get Clients to say ‘Yes!’

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:16:48 +0000

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

This week we look at Paul Boag: Get Clients to say ‘Yes!’ by Paul Boag. This weekend we’re sharing a great talk from Carsonified. In this talk at FOWD NYC, Paul… read more

15 Valentine’s free fonts

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:45:19 +0000

15 Valentine’s free fonts

Manage Your Money to Avoid Freelancing Failures

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:59:22 +0000

Business is always about monetizing one component from among a host of other important things. The reason behind every business is to make money or generate revenues. Given the inherent focus on revenues, when launching a business or a site, it is critical to understand how to manage finances, which… read more

Five Tips for Running a Successful Home Office

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:55 +0000

There are a lot of stories written about home-based businesses—trust me, I just did a Google search. Working from home has changed drastically over the years, thanks to technology.

If you think back not even 20 years about home-based businesses, you might envision a low-tech service business such as a… read more

Ask Freelance Switch: Building an Agency and Freelancing Internationally

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:55 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at growing into an agency and freelancing internationally. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to… read more

8 Things You Should Know Before Building a Mobile App

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:49:20 +0000

Seth Porges is a magazine editor and the creator of Cloth, an iOS fashion app for iPhone and iPod Touch. His Twitter handle is @sethporges.

App appeal is obvious. The barrier to entry? So low! The upshot of producing the next Angry Birds or beer-chug simulator? So high! Heck, with just… read more

How LinkedIn Gave A Former Pro Athlete A New Career [VIDEO]

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:08:08 +0000

While playing for the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the Arena Football League, and pursuing his dream of playing football professionally, Lewis Howes broke his wrist diving for a pass. He gutted out the rest of the season, playing through his… read more

Fair Wages for Freelance Writing

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:00:12 +0000

A recent story in The Australian caught my eye. The title of the piece is “Online magazine offers less than 2c a word to freelancers”. The name of the online magazine is Breathe Magazine Australia (BreatheMagazine.com) and it is scheduled to launch in April 2012.

The Australian journalists’ union, called… read more

The Euro Crisis Presents a Unique Opportunity for Freelancers

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:44 +0000

Unless you’ve been living underneath a very large rock for the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard that Europe is teetering on the brink of financial armageddon.

While there’s no shortage of doom and gloom in the the global outlook, it’s not all bad news – especially if you’re… read more

Making the Perfect Project Pitch

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:50:38 +0000

Freelancing offers you maximum flexibility to choose the projects that best compliment your skills, passions and interests. Without doubt, this is one of the most obvious advantages in becoming a freelancer. However, in this economic climate the ability to only choose the projects that most attract you must… read more

Freelancing Fear: What causes it and how to overcome it

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:19 +0000

Freelancing Fear: What causes it and how to overcome it

Why Sleep is so Important for Freelancers

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:00:55 +0000

I love sleeping. Always have, always will. I was the kid whose parents had to wake up on Christmas morning. If I don’t get enough sleep—watch out.

Admittedly, sometimes I feel ashamed at getting nine hours of sleep at night. But when I read this article in Inc.com about how… read more

Best of Tuts+ in January 2012

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:55 +0000

Each month, we bring together a selection of the best tutorials and articles from across the whole Tuts+ network. Whether you’d like to read the top posts from your favourite site, or would like to start learning something completely new, this is the best place to start!

Psdtuts+ — Photoshop Tutorials

Create… read more

Top Tips for a Safer Client Contract

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:27 +0000

So you finally got a call back and that client is ready to move forward with working with you! Great! Now it’s time to get down to business.

How do you make sure you get paid for the work you do? We all hate this part, but … read more

Things My Clients Hate. What about Yours?

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:55:15 +0000

I have been a freelancer for almost a decade now and in the course of these years, I have had dozens of clients and hundreds of projects. While no two clients are the same, I have noticed some common things many of my clients hate. For truth’s sake,… read more

Experiments II the 7th Exhibiiton of Cosmosys

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:29:41 +0000

The group Cosmosys is a creative community focused around different forms of art, composed of artists from around the globe and they recently released their 7th exhibiiton with a beautiful gallery of different stunning pieces. I hope you will enjoy them!

Our goal is to provide artists with a community… read more

Finding Work on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:56 +0000

I love a good infographic, and this one created by Jobvite (view full infographic post or view it at full size) is really cool. It shows how Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter help people find work.

This research looks at how people are using social media to look for and find… read more

20 Best Online To Do List Apps for Freelancers

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:03 +0000

To do list task managers and full productivity software is essential to a freelancers business. The style of design your looking for in a to do list app will differ based on the size of your small business, the nature of the services you offer, and your personal preferences.

You… read more

How to Choose a Good Bank as a Freelancer

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:22 +0000

When you’re looking at banking options for yourself as an individual, you need different things than you need as a freelancer. A personal bank account is usually part and parcel of building a larger relationship with your bank. After you’ve got the bank account, you’re likely to look at… read more

Keeping Yourself Motivated Throughout the Workday

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:36:10 +0000

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Centering your attention throughout the workday can be a difficult process. You need to truly love your work and cherish the time you spend. Unfortunately not all of us can feel this way 100% of the time.

Freelancers are often given tasks related to concepts they care… read more

Web designers, what to look for in a CMS

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:05:18 +0000

Source

Help Wanted: Websites For Finding Design And Programming Jobs

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:55 +0000

There are a lot of advantages to freelancing. You will have more flexibility over the hours you work, you won’t have to commute to work any more and best of all, you are your own boss. It can be hard work landing a job. Not to mention making sure a… read more

How You Should Use Google+ for Your Business

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:00:31 +0000

Chris Brogan is the author of the new book, Google+ for Business: How Google’s Social Network Changes Everything.

As a Google+ skeptic (heck, I’m skeptical of all new social media) I was interested to learn more, so I sat down and watched this video where Michael Stelzner of Socialmediaexaminer.com interviewed… read more

Top 10 Free Time Tracking Apps for Freelancers

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Usually two words “freelancer” and “time” go together. Freelancers can’t juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and that’s why we need to allocate time carefully. Time is an essential source of freelancer financial success.

There are lots of web apps that help track time and create reports. If you use one of… read more

Freelance Freedom #243: Freelance Adventurer Part 4

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:01:12 +0000

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

Catch the whole Freelance Adventurer series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Daily Inspiration #1043

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:25:56 +0000

This post is part of our daily series of posts showing the most inspiring images selected by some of the Abduzeedo’s writers and users. If you want to participate and share your graphic design inspiration, just send us, via email, the image with the link from where you found it,… read more

10 Cool and Creative Websites to Visit

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:45:19 +0000

10 Cool and Creative Websites to Visit

Best of the Week #207

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:08 +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

Women Entrepreneurs, Example Not Exception, Video

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:23 +0000

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

This week we look at Women Entrepreneurs, Example Not Exception by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. In this inspiring video she gives examples of women entrepreneurs across the world. She argues that women running… read more

Daily Inspiration #1042

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:24:49 +0000

Does Facebook Timeline Make Sense For You?

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:00:01 +0000

I have yet to adopt the new Facebook Timeline interface. I don’t want to. I’m comfortable with using Facebook the way it is, thank-you-very-much. When I found this post on mashable about how to revert back to Facebook classic, I knew I wasn’t alone in wishing some things would… read more

Interview with Freelance Marketer Danny Iny

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:10 +0000

Want to boost your profile? Add additional income streams to your freelancing business? Release your own self published book? It’s time to have a chat with author and freelance marketer Danny Iny.

He quit school at the age of fifteen to start his first freelance web design business. The only… read more

Managing an Organized Freelance Work Schedule

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:57:57 +0000

It takes a lot of time and dedication to build a freelance career. The hours are long, work can be tedious, and often you need to multitask like crazy. But the freedom of release from a regular work schedule can be fantastic.

In this guide I’d like to go… read more

Daily Inspiration #1041

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:02:38 +0000

10 Sources for Stock Photos

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:08:04 +0000

More often than not I find myself meeting with a prospective client and telling them one of the biggest keys to designing a stunning website are the images that you use. You can have the most elaborate interface, with parallax scrolling, fluid and responsive resizing capabilities, and the best color… read more

Make Time for YOU – Part Two

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:55 +0000

It’s the beginning of the year and things are slow. You are hustling to get work and the work that comes your way you don’t feel you can turn down. By the time summer rolls around, you have been working your butt off and let things—like life outside of… read more

9 Steps to Starting Your Freelance Web Design Business

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:40 +0000

So, you want to be a freelance web designer? Ah, the glamor of it all.

Your own boss, answering only to the call of your creative muse… get up, feel inspired, do some work, go for a walk, laugh knowingly with other freelancers who have also discovered The Secret… read more

5 Pros and Cons of Freelance Job Marketplaces

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

Online job marketplaces are billion dollar businesses today, ducking the recent recession and expanding at a tremendous rate. No wonder then that more and more sites open up every day catering to a small niche of freelancers.

The two biggest general online job marketplaces are Elance and oDesk, but… read more

7 mistakes developers make

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:26:08 +0000

Source

Daily Inspiration #1040

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:32:31 +0000

The Works of Freelance Illustrator Jack Tempest

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:05:19 +0000

The Works of Freelance Illustrator Jack Tempest

Make Time for YOU – Part One

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:33 +0000

Many freelancers are stuck in a rut. We don’t dare pass up work because we aren’t confident it will keep coming in.

We forgo weekend plans and even vacations because we are busy. But guess what? All work and no play leads to burnout.

It’s important not to forget that… read more

Get TV Coverage for Your Freelance Business

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:00:19 +0000

Switched on freelancers know that publicity is good for business. Positive press coverage in newspapers, trade magazines and professional journals can raise awareness of your freelance business, create leads and even fill order books.

One way to reach a larger audience with public relations activity is to get television news… read more

Daily Inspiration #1039

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:36:31 +0000

Starting a Freelance Business in 2012: Planning Ahead

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:41 +0000

Was your New Year’s resolution to start your own freelancing business? We’re five weeks in—how is it going? I found this article on Freelance: UK that got me thinking about financial issues to consider before taking the big freelance leap. Here are some of their suggestions as well as… read more

20 Fun & Lively Character Design Tutorials from Vectortuts+

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:00:22 +0000

Mastering the art of character design is something that takes both a lively imagination and a good understanding of drawing techniques. Today we have have bundled together a collection fun and lively character design tutorials from the Vectortuts+ archives. Covering a variety of subjects from sketching to rendering there’s plenty… read more

Outsourcing Sites for Freelancers

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:44:22 +0000

I’m often asked by others questions like, “Where do you get job leads?” “How do you find clients?” And, “What’s a good source for finding work online?” Those are all pretty tough questions to answer, as there are several different ways to do so. But there are certainly some resources… read more

When One Client Becomes Your Job

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:00:01 +0000

Here’s the scenario: you give up your job to take up freelancing full time. First, you work in grinding drudgery for a while, until you land a sweet client who not only loves your work, but wants you to do more and more, until you find yourself dedicating 40… read more

New Works of Adhemas Batista (I’m Selling Colors)

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:17:48 +0000

Adhemas Batista also known as I’m Selling Colors, is a self-taught visual artist from São Paulo City in Brazil but now based in Los Angeles, USA. With a package experience since 1996, Adhemas has worked with many huge brands including Adobe, Coca-Cola, Puma, Honda and of course Havaianas. I am… read more

Effective Ways to Start a Freelance Graphic Design Business

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:05:19 +0000

Effective Ways to Start a Freelance Graphic Design Business

Is it okay to use templates and themes as a freelance designer?

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:05:19 +0000

Is it okay to use templates and themes as a freelance designer?

How Sites Like Contently Aim to Help Freelancers Find Work

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:00:13 +0000

I had never heard of the freelance-writing online marketplace Contently until I stumbled across this piece of info from the Wall Street Journal:

Freelance-writing marketplace Contently has raised a $2 million Series A round led by Lightbank. Co-founder Shane Snow said he started the company to help resolve some of… read more

9 Tips for Working While Traveling

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:00:33 +0000

Every once in a while you need to do freelance work while you’re traveling.

Trying to stay on top of your freelance tasks while on vacation can be stressful, especially if you’re traveling with your partner or family. Trying to find a balance between work and play isn’t easy…. read more

Freelance Freedom #242: Freelance Adventurer Part 3

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:00:06 +0000

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

Our favorite tweets of the week Jan 16-Jan 22, 2012

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:58:42 +0000

Source

Wallpaper of the Week 187 by Jeff Huang

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:02:56 +0000

The wallpaper of this week is an image created by Jeff Huang and featured on the Abduzeedo Book. Jeff is a freelance art director and illustrator based in New York who specializes in Creative Design, Abstract Art, Photo Editing, and 3D. He has been working professionally for more than 6… read more

How To Close The Books on Your Startup

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:35:29 +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.

In the life cycle of an entrepreneur, shutting the doors on a business isn’t necessarily a gloomy situation. The end of one venture often signals the start… read more

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 3, January

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:40:42 +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

Antonio Bay Case Study by Falcon White

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:59:29 +0000

It’s always a great thing to see how a designer works, it’s a great way to learn and also to progress with your own skills. Now I wanna share a case study from Ralf Krause aka Falcon White, who did this piece for Desktopography 2011. I hope you will enjoy… read more

Design for Yourself: Pros and Cons

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:00:11 +0000

You are a creative person and you want a new look for your business—whether it’s a website, business cards, or whatever. Sure, you could do the work yourself—but should you?

For some odd reason, there seems to be a discrepancy of sorts when it comes to doing the work for ourselves. Some… 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

10 Essential Guidelines for Freelance Collaboration

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:22:47 +0000

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Freelance collaboration is on the rise. Increasingly, teams of freelancers are now doing the work that in-house departments used to do. Graphic designers are now working on teams with writers and programmers.

But many freelancers are used to working alone. Collaboration definitely requires freelancers to make a… read more

SOPA: What You Need to Know

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:00:01 +0000

Did you happen to see the Google logo on the search engine’s homepage yesterday? If not, here’s what it looked like:

Did you try to look something up on Wikipedia only to see a black screen? You can thank SOPA for both of those blackouts.

SOPA, which stands for Stop Online… read more

5 SEO Trends Writers Should Target in 2012

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:00:20 +0000

Freelance writers need to deal with web content all the time, as more and more of publishing goes online.

Although the basic principles of good writing don’t change in the online realm, there are certain differences that writers should be aware of. One of the most important aspects of online… read more

Tips for Keeping Focused on Freelance Deadlines

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:49 +0000

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It can be a bummer when you’re stuck in a freelancing rut. Anybody who has worked this field will understand the grief of struggling to finish project deadlines in time. Often the work quality will suffer along with the accompanied mental fatigue. Rushing to the finish… 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

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To AppleScript

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:45:49 +0000

AppleScript attempts to use plain English wherever possible to make coding extremely simple. Most commands in AppleScript are located inside a “tell block”. It’s called a “tell block” because you are “telling” a given application what you want it to do. For instance, the code above is telling the Finder… read more

Quick Look: Bunker App

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:03 +0000

Quick Look posts are paid submissions offering only a brief overview of an app. Vote in the polls below if you think this app is worth an in-depth AppStorm review!

In this Quick Look, we’re highlighting Bunker App. The developer describes Bunker App as the smoothest way for freelancers to manage… 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

6 Tips to Avoid IRS Audits for Freelancers

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:17 +0000

No one actually knows for sure what the logic behind the IRS audit red flag is. Over the years, accountants have seen commonalities within their client base and have noticed trends in businesses that seem to be audited more often than others. This article isn’t meant to scare you;… read more

Uber: A Responsive Portfolio and Business WordPress Theme

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:36:30 +0000

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At Theme Trust, we’ve just released our first WordPress theme of 2012, and we’re quite proud of it. This one is called Uber, and it’s a responsive business and portfolio theme perfect for freelance designers, photographers, or design firms. The portfolio section in this theme, with… read more

Simple Ways As A Freelancer To Make A Better Work Life Balance

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:05:19 +0000

Simple Ways As A Freelancer To Make A Better Work Life Balance

Daily Inspiration #1034

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:28:04 +0000

Why Having a Mentor is Important for Freelancers

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:18 +0000

There is only so much you can learn from a textbook. And with technology changing at break neck speeds—there is only so much you can learn in school before, inevetibally, technology changes again.

Internships are a great way for students to get hands on experience working in their chosen field—but… read more

Cheap But Effective Digital Office Solutions for Starting Your Small Business

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Oh, where to begin? The cost of starting your small business can be expensive. Everything from office space, to business card printing, to a website all have to be purchased during the beginning years of your startup.

One of the expenses that you’ll deal with is computers and software purchases…. read more

Should designers do personal projects?

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:23:45 +0000

Source

Immortal Technique: A Quick Look at Minimalism

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:15:20 +0000

There’s a little bit of murmuring going on that the design technique, most affectionately referred to as minimalism, is dying and/or dead. I couldn’t disagree more. I believe that minimalism is not dead, mainly because people don’t quite realize what it is.

Unfortunately, it seems like people think of it… read more

21 Excellent Portfolios and Design Agency Websites

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:10:36 +0000

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It has been a while since we last showcased Design Related Websites here, so today we decided to check out how is it that design firms, designers, and other creative agencies are presenting their work. From design studios to brand firms and freelance designer’s portfolios, you… 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

DRIVE Poster Launch by James White

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:53:13 +0000

As you may have heard, James White designed his version from the movie DRIVE; one of the best movies of 2011. For those who still haven’t seen it, you don’t know what you’re stylishly missing. We are honoured to officially announce that James will put on sale his DRIVE poster… read more

Animals in Alphabet Illustrations

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:17:12 +0000

Casey Girard is a freelancer illustrator/designer from Massachusetts and she illustrated this amazing animals alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet was illustrated by an animal to represent it. The result is simply amazing, great illustrations and great alphabet letters.

For more from Casey Girard visit caseyg.com or @CaseyGirard

Freelance Freedom #241: Freelance Adventurer Part 2

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:00:40 +0000

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

Daily Inspiration #1032

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:49 +0000

4 Tips to Keep Your Website Ahead of the Curve in 2012

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:29:59 +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.

Sure, having a website for your business serves a practical need: to draw net-surfing users to your product or service. However, it’s also much more than slapping… read more

Linkswitch #94, Attract Clients, Conduct Experiments, Remote Work

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:00:02 +0000

Every other week we roundup some of the highest quality articles and resources that benefit freelancers from across the web. We present these articles here on various helpful topics. This week we have articles on attracting clients without being too pushy, conducting freelance experiments, and working more effectively as… read more

5 Crucial Points Before Becoming a Freelance Web Designer

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:10:13 +0000

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A freelance career offers a plethora of opportunities and rewards for web designers like you, just itching to make it on your own. At the same time, it can lead to a lot of headache, even failure, if you don’t grasp a few basic skills… read more

Roger McNamee: Six Ways to Save the Internet, Video

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:58 +0000

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch. This week we look at Six Ways to Save the Internet by Roger McNamee.

In this video The next big shift is now, and it’s not what you think: Facebook is the… read more

Best of the Week #205

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:34:28 +0000

13 Sites Where Freelancers Can Find Work

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:05:19 +0000

13 Sites Where Freelancers Can Find Work

Daily Inspiration #1031

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:16:20 +0000

Shorthand Words to Eliminate From our Vocabulary…Now

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:03 +0000

I’m a writer. I like words. I also hate words. What people say in daily conversation rarely makes sense on paper. Using acronyms and emoticons are infuriating—especially to an editor.

Here’s an example: I teach undergraduate journalism courses at a couple of universities in the area. I once had a… read more

Make Your Time-Based Invoicing Easier with T:metrack

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:04:14 +0000

Invoicing is a fact of any freelancer’s life. With all of the “glamour” that comes from being self-employed and working with companies on a freelance basis comes the joy that is invoicing, often involving tracking time and logging it carefully.

T:metrack (which, for the sake of my fingers, is going to… read more

Discovering and Focusing on High Leverage Business Tasks

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:10 +0000

OK, I know, “high leverage” is a cliché, and I am sorry for using this term. But at the same time it’s the one that perfectly describes the message I have for you today.

And the message is: do what matters, quit the meaningless.

If you’re a freelancer, an online business… read more

Daily Inspiration #1030

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:34:13 +0000

Video Inspiration #52

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

Four Tips for Improving Your SEO

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:52 +0000

Search Engine Optimization—three words that can make or break your website. If you haven’t been paying attention on how to up your SEO by now, it’s time to start listening.

Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the visibility of your website in search engines. Go ahead and look… read more

How To Monetize Your Website With Google AdSense

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:31:44 +0000

If I had a euro for every time I heard one of those folklore stories of the guy who knew a person who talked to a guy whose roommate in college had a study group with someone’s cousin who made a website that earned him a million euros a month,… read more

What Do I Do When My Client Will Not Pay Up?

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:00:19 +0000

Speaking from experience, I have written for a number of sites over 22 years as a freelance contractor and can happily say 95 percent of those bosses paid me on time.

That being said, there is always that one individual or company that goes about hanging you out to dry,… read more

Exclusive Vector Freebie: New Social Media Icon Set

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:00:20 +0000

As we are always looking for ways to show our appreciation to our readers, and provide you all with exciting and useful web design and development related resources we have a special treat that hits both of those marks. Today we have a brand new exclusive freebie for Noupe and… read more

Daily Inspiration #1029

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:39:51 +0000

SPIN to Review Most Albums Via Twitter

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:26:11 +0000

Long-winded music reviews are getting a tune up. SPIN announced on Wednesday that it will be squeezing the majority of its album reviews into 140-character tweets.

SPIN is pulling most of the reviews out of its print magazine and will be tweeting them instead under the handle @SPINreviews.

Senior editor Chris Weingarten… read more

The Secrets to Connecting on LinkedIn

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:10 +0000

I’m fairly new to the whole LinkedIn thing. I’m on it, but I haven’t really been using it to my advantage. I get updates from my Alma Mater’s LinkedIn page each week, but I usually throw that email right in the trash. Is LinkedIn just another social network I… read more

The 5-Step Approach to Gathering and Using Client Testimonials

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:31 +0000

We all know that as freelancers, we should get testimonials for our work – yet most of us are hesitant about doing so.

In a previous post, James Chartrand pointed out the importance of social proof in the form of reviews or testimonials. According to Chartrand, they can help lower… 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

Breathtaking Landscapes from Old Books by Guy Laramee

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:39:24 +0000

What do you do with your old books? We mostly see them in libraries, garage sale and more. Nevertheless old books tend to get dirty, useless and dusty. But this artist originally coming from Montreal, Qc of Canada, founded another way to give a new life to these old books…. read more

Daily Inspiration #1028

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:01:51 +0000

Make Your Website Mobile Friendly

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:36 +0000

My husband gave me an iPad as a wedding gift. I thought it was pretty cool. I had no idea how much I would use it for my job.

I take my iPad with me everywhere. I do not have an iPhone, or even a smartphone. The thought of reading… read more

2012 Calendar Design Project, Round 2

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:00:23 +0000

Vectortuts+ loves Illustration and discovering new talent, so today we are proud to be showcasing Round 2 of the 2012 Calendar Design Project. Check out the 2nd and final round at the jump.

2012 Calendar Design Project, Round 2

The designs are posted in no particular order, but we thought it would… read more

I Am Not a Web Designer

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:22 +0000

I am not a web designer, and nor are you. Or a developer. Or a writer. Or whatever it is you think you are. You’re not – not in any meaningful way.

Full disclosure: I am actually a web designer, probably, but stick with me here.

I thought I was –… 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

Daily Inspiration #1027

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:34:08 +0000

Ways to Engage Your Clients

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:23 +0000

We’ve been talking a lot about engagement lately, so when I saw this post on Mashable about 10 easy customer engagement ideas I was intrigued.

Engagement with your clients doesn’t happen overnight or all at once. It is something that needs to be worked on consistently over time. Engaging your… read more

Are You Using Gmail to Your Best Advantage as a Freelancer?

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:22 +0000

Many freelancers use Gmail but have you considered sprucing up your settings so that each email looks more professional? Wouldn’t you prefer to have your customers and clients receive emails from your name @ your domain name dot com instead? This is really simple to set up and gives… read more

Freelance Freedom #240: Freelance Adventurer Part 1

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:57:11 +0000

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

Why a Web designer Should not Ignore the Importance of HTML5 in Designing

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:44:47 +0000

Image courtesy of Fotolia

The answer to the question; why a web designer should not ignore the importance of HTML5 in designing is actually very simple. HTML5 is the language of the future when it comes to web designing. Move over Flash, HTML5 is here. But why is this language being… read more

Don’t hate freelancers with full-time jobs

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:45:19 +0000

Don’t hate freelancers with full-time jobs

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 1, January

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:00:20 +0000

Wallpaper of the Week 185 by Perttu Murto

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:21:01 +0000

The wallpaper of this week is an image created by Perttu Murto, a 26-year-old graphic designer, art director and illustrator from Finland. Perttu has been involved in graphics for more than 8 years and his work has been featured in several prestigious design websites and magazines. In 2007 he was… read more

The Battle Between Your Present and Future Self, Video

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:49:14 +0000

View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch. This week we look at The Battle Between Your Present and Future Self by Daniel Goldstein.

In this video learn about commitment devices and other tools. Discover new ways to plan… read more

Best of the Week #204

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:51:32 +0000

10 OMG Cool Athlete Websites

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:36:35 +0000

I have always appreciated an athlete who has their own website. Especially now days when they could call it good with a Facebook fan page, or really go above and beyond with a Twitter account. Some athlete’s are active members of charity organizations, or have their own product line, and… read more

Be Ready When Someone Asks, “What Do You Do?”

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:00:36 +0000

I really like the 60-Second Solutions videos on Entrepreneur.com. I thought that the recent video by communications coach Carmine Gallo on creating a 60 second strategy to tell your story was especially useful.

Sometimes it’s hard to explain to people what it is you really do. Many people hear the… read more

Specialist or Generalist: What’s Your Route to Success?

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:33 +0000

At the end of last year, a fellow freelancer and I were discussing how 2011 panned out for each of us.

“It was overall successful, but when I reviewed where my income came from, I realized I’d become too focused on just one market,” she told me. “I need to… read more

Focal Points In Design Layout

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:04:33 +0000

Why are magazines and books always laid out the same? Even with alternative design, there is a harmony in layout or the reader’s head will explode… or they will just stop reading and skip to the next page. Successful design in publishing, advertising, web design, illustration and anything else that… read more

Video Inspiration #51

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

Unigo Uses the Power of the Internet to Pick the Perfect College

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:44:30 +0000

Picking a college is one of the most important decisions in a young person’s life, and Unigo.com supercharges that process by helping prospective students find a college counselor.

Unigo features a new video chat service that pairs prospective students with counselors around the country. The right professor, the right resources… read more

Create a Full Page Background Image with CSS3

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:45:17 +0000

The other day we looked at 10 Awesome Websites With Full Screen Background Images. At the beginning of the article I had mentioned that there were a few ways of approaching this effect, some developers prefer to do it with jQuery, some with CSS, and others with Flash. In this… read more

Why Customer Service is So Important for Freelancers

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:00:34 +0000

The term customer service reminds me of wasted time spent on the telephone with some huge conglomerate that somehow messed up something I purchased. Right now I’m dealing with customer service for both my cable/TV company and my home/auto insurance. It’s infuriating.

But customer service isn’t just for big… read more

Ask FreelanceSwitch: Client Disputes and Lack of Communication

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:43 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at client disputes and lack of communication. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to askfreelanceswitch@gmail.com.

Question… read more

Interview with Maria Dimova, aka Dimary

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:13 +0000

Today our guest is a graphic designer Maria Dimova (aka Dimary) from Moldova. She is a professional designer/illustrator that always makes time to work for pleasure. Exactly such artworks illustrated in this interview. Maria works in a style of fantasy and Hed Kandi. Meet the person for who vector is… read more

Designers’ Guide to Float through the Invoicing Process Successfully

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:44:33 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

Designers are one of the most interesting professionals of the world. They love their work and do it at their best; however, most of them absolutely freak out when the project comes down to the invoicing process. Basically, all creative professionals find it difficult to… read more

The Crucial Skill in How to Select your Best Images

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:45:56 +0000

When most of us hear the phrase “photo editing” we generally think of editing a photo to enhance it in some way using computer software. Although that is usually a big component of post-production, the “photo editing” process should always start with photo selection. When photo editors edit photos, what… read more

How to Mitigate Risk During Software Development

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:00:16 +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.

A software development client should complete a thorough “due diligence” before selecting a developer for his critical project. Then,… read more

10 Awesome Single Page Websites

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:18:43 +0000

These days it seems like the term “webpage” and “website” are thrown around loosely, often being used interchangeably. I can’t recall how many times I’ve been in a meeting with a client and had them tell me they’d like a webpage, which I interpret as a basic, single-page website that… read more

Wordsmith: Words that Should be Banned in 2012

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:00:20 +0000

I was tickled when I found this list of 12 words that should be banned in 2012 on PRDaily.com. What started in 1975 as a publicity ploy at Lake Superior State University in Michigan has turned into a phenomenon.

The List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse,… read more

8 Strategies to Get Your Business in a Distraction Free Zone

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Physical and mental distractions are stunting the growth of your freelance business. In line with getting focused on my writing career for 2012, I’ve vowed to cut out as many distractions as possible, at the computer and beyond.

Here are eight strategies to get your business in a distraction-free… read more

What Freelancers Can Learn from Mark Cuban

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:30:33 +0000

I don’t really connect to Mark Cuban (the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks). But I do connect to his business rationale: the only thing you can control in your life is your own effort.

As freelancers, we don’t have anyone but ourselves to be accountable for. If I don’t… read more

10 Firefox Add-ons to Level Up Your Freelance Efficiency

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:00:24 +0000

Mozilla Firefox is a real treasure for freelancers worldwide. Why? It’s an advanced, fast and secure web browser.

In the last 7 years the open source browser has proved – it’s more than a web surfer. Mozilla Firefox is translated into over 70 languages, enriched with dozens of extensions, and… read more

The Lazy Freelancer’s Guide to Market Research

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:00:21 +0000

Do freelancers really need market research? After all, some freelancers – and even some businesses – manage to get paying customers without putting a bit of thought into how to acquire those customers. Maybe you could be as lucky as they are, your inbox always full of messages from… read more

10 Awesome Websites With Full Screen Background Images

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:22:14 +0000

10 Awesome Websites With Full Screen Background Images

When it comes to web design my tastes walk on a very thin line. I like simplicity and visual stimulation, which is a very difficult balance to pull off. However, one of the easiest ways to do so is by featuring a full… read more

Juggling Between Freelance Designer and Business Owner

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:16:04 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

The world of digital design is full of both young and experienced talent. Freelancing has slowly become a more affordable career path for many web designers and developers. But it’s not enough to just create pretty websites in HTML/CSS. You also need to have some sense… read more

Best of Abduzeedo 2011 – Part 2

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:08:01 +0000

The year 2011 just ended and it has been such a big year for all of us. I made a round-up of what was the best and interesting posts from Abduzeedo from the year 2011. And here’s the second part, I hope you guys will enjoy it!

On behalf of the… read more

Beat the January Blues

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:00:25 +0000

Now that the holidays are over it’s back to the grindstone. However, many businesses and freelancers struggle in January to get rolling. This blog post by Carol Tice on Entrepreneur.com gives some good info on how to beat the January doldrums. I’ve taken the tips that pertain to freelancers… read more

Freelance Freedom #239: Responsibility Resolutions

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:24 +0000

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

Is There Ever a Graceful Way to Ask Clients About Their Budget?

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:00:38 +0000

Knowing exactly what your clients have to spend on a particular project comes in handy.

Just being able to lay out the most bang they can get for their buck is one of the easiest ways to make a client happy, provided she has realistic expectations on what she… read more

Best of Abduzeedo 2011 – Part 1

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:23:03 +0000

The year 2011 is coming to an end and it has been such a big year for all of us. I decided to share this first part of a round-up of the best and interesting posts from Abduzeedo this year. I hope you guys will enjoy it!

On behalf of the… read more

Rob Forbes on Ways of Seeing, Video

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:00:51 +0000

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

This week we look at Ways of Seeing by Rob Forbes. This weekend we’re sharing an interesting talk by, Rob Forbes, who shares a gallery of snapshots that inform his way of… read more

Meet the Writer Being Sued for His 17,000 Twitter Followers

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:15:41 +0000

At any conference, product launch or other event where the top tier of tech reporters gather, Noah Kravitz is easy to pick out of a crowd. He’s the affable guy with glasses, earring and a cue-ball head; a supersmart cellphone-loving thirtysomething with a finely tuned sense of the absurd.

Online,… read more

13 Useful Tips to Get your Freelance Business Started in 2012

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:45:19 +0000

13 Useful Tips to Get your Freelance Business Started in 2012

Are You a Natural at Social Media Marketing?

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:00:05 +0000

Dave and Carrie Kerpen started their marketing company, Likeable Media, after they created a buzz selling sponsorships to their New York wedding. They raised $100,000 for their wedding and $20,000 for a charity.

The couple, who both had marketing backgrounds, were asked by so many people “what’s next” after their… read more

Ask FreelanceSwitch: Hiring a Sales Person and Starting Out

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:00:55 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at hiring a sales person and getting started as a freelancer. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send… read more

20+ Free Android Apps for a More Productive 2012

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:32 +0000

As the new year beckons, resolution time is upon the masses once more. For those who are wishing that they can keep themselves more productive in 2012, we have put together a list of apps for all those Android users (who some readers have suggested we have been neglecting) to… read more

How to Build Your Ultimate Contact List

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:40:05 +0000

Note: A few times a month we revisit some of our reader’s favorite posts from throughout the history of FreelanceSwitch. This article by Martha was first published April 12th, 2009, yet is just as relevant and full of useful information today.

A few years ago, articles of this sort were… read more

How Freelance Interning Can Help Your Business

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:00:52 +0000

Looking to give your karma a boost in 2012? Why not consider working for free? Let me clarify: not working for free everyday, but donating your time and experience to help others and to learn from others as well.

Designer Roy Barber has embarked on a project whereby he spends… read more

10 Things I No Longer Need for Freelance Success

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:09:38 +0000

I have been a freelancer for more than a decade and over that period of time, I have seen a lot of changes–everything from a giant increase in credibility if you actually are a “freelancer”, to technology changes in such a short period of time as to rival any… read more

Interview with Justin Currie

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:00:26 +0000

Today we are going to meet a young Canadian graphic designer Justin Currie. Despite his youth, he has great artwork and his own recognizable style that he calls Shattered Vector Painting. In this interview Justin shares the technique he uses to create this style. “An artist is always learning, always… read more

Do Women Lack Confidence in their Ability to be an Entrepreneur?

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:00:27 +0000

According to a recent study by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 47.7% of women believe they are capable of starting a business compared to 62.1% of men. This lack of confidence persisted throughout all economies and cultures that were included in the study.

So what gives? Let’s delve into the issue… read more

Best Of 2011: Outstanding Collection Of Fresh And Free To Use Icon Sets

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:35:10 +0000

Yet another excellent showcase of some of the fresh and free to use icon sets that have been released in 2011 is presented in this post. In the earlier period, we had posted some very good collections of icon sets which were extremely appraised by our visitors and on their… read more

How to Use a Ghostwriter in Your Own Business

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Many freelancers, in a wide range of fields, think of hired writing help as something for larger projects, for corporate clients, not something for the independent one-person shop. It can be hard to imagine hiring someone to help with writing tasks if you:

Cannot see a reason why you would… read more

Design Tips for Building Magazine-Style WordPress Themes

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:38:33 +0000

Advertise here with BSA

The move from physical to digital magazine content is an exciting process. Over just the past few years we have witnessed thousands of new brands and templates begin to surface. Magazine editors have wisely chosen the Internet as a medium to share their news stories.

This… read more

Are you being innovative?

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:05:57 +0000

Source

35 Quality Business Card Design Templates for Free!

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:40 +0000

If you’ve got a design ready for printing, try the business cards card stock quality offered by UPrinting.com! We mention this because we heard they have a 20% discount on business card printing until January 31, 2012, and we thought that might help you save some.

TwitPic Business Card Design… read more

Have You Heard of Peer-to-Peer Lending?

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:00:28 +0000

Have you tried getting a small business loan from a bank for your freelancing career only to be turned down? You are not alone.

Some freelancers who need access to cash have turned to something called peer-to-peer lending. It’s an interesting model that both Prosper and Lending Club, the two… read more

Product Review: Proposal Bundles for Copywriters and Designers

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:00:04 +0000

Are you a graphic designer or copywriter with a disappearing proposal problem?

You know the drill: You find an interested prospect who requests a proposal. You write a masterful proposal – one of your best ever! Then you send it to the prospect and wait for an answer. Which never… read more

Part-time jobs for creatives that help your business sense

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:11:25 +0000

Source

Designing for your target audience

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:01:38 +0000

Source

Setting up Freelance Business? Pay Attention to Details

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:05:19 +0000

Setting up Freelance Business? Pay Attention to Details

Vintage Christmas Ads

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:15:24 +0000

Christmas time is a great opportunity to find time and enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Every time, there’s Christmas, there’s just ads everywhere we look. It got me inspired to look and share this collection of vintage Christmas ads, what really stroked me is the ads were so… read more

How to Use Great Testimonials, Once You Get Them

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:00:10 +0000

As freelancers, we’re told to collect as many testimonials as possible — but what do we do with all those great descriptions of how amazing we are to work with?

There are some people who believe that testimonials should be plastered over everything, from business cards on. But there… read more

Best Online Invoicing Tools for Freelancers

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:05:19 +0000

Best Online Invoicing Tools for Freelancers

Daily Inspiration #1014

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:48:05 +0000

53 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

admin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:04:31 +0000

With the holidays in full swing, that means the new year is just around the corner. Here at Mashable, we’ve been reflecting on the changes 2011 has brought for technology and social media and what those changes mean for the future.

If you’ve been busy decking the halls and getting… read more

Philippe Starck Thinks Deep on Design, Video

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:00:14 +0000

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

This week we look at Philippe Starck Thinks Deep on Design by Philippe Starck. In this video Philippe Starck, With no pretty slides to show — Stark spends 18 minutes reaching for… read more

Happy Holidays from Tuts+!

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:00:14 +0000

The holidays are upon us, and we’re feeling festive at Tuts+ this weekend! We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge Christmas thank you to all our readers, and wish you a very Happy Holiday. Read on for a video message from the HQ team, and a few… read more

Daily Inspiration #1013

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:09:52 +0000

Abduzeedo Holiday Giveaway

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:01:26 +0000

There’s been a lot of giveaways lately on Abduzeedo but it’s the magic of the Holidays! It’s a great opportunity for us to share our love to you guys especially after 5 years! Just a little reminder to be safe during the Holidays and stay abducted by design! Now let’s… read more

Give Yourself a Raise in 2012

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:00:04 +0000

I really liked this article on Mashable.com’s business page about giving yourself a raise in 2012. With the economy being what it is (and has been), the thought of raising your freelancing rates might make your heart rate increase and sweat collect on your forehead. Before you go ballistic,… read more

Ask FreelanceSwitch: The Value of Your Work and Invoicing Software

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:00:08 +0000

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at showing your clients the value of your work and invoice software. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered,… read more

Daily Inspiration #1012

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:54:58 +0000

Video Inspiration #49 – Reader Submitted Works

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

The Balancing Act of Working Two Jobs: Case Study

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:00:19 +0000

According to an article in the Indianapolis Star, nearly 5% of the workforce in the U.S. held multiple jobs in November, up slightly from the same time last year.

For some, working two jobs has become the only practical way to get by. Some who take on extra work do… read more

Is Social Media Marketing Worth All the Effort?

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:42 +0000

Social media marketing is one area of marketing that some organizations question, especially since the true impact of social media marketing can be elusive.

With all the changes to the way social media marketing takes place, businesses are reasonably concerned with whether or not social media marketing is worth the… read more

11 Creative websites

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:05:19 +0000

11 Creative websites

Daily Inspiration #1011

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:33:19 +0000

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

The Importance of Showing Year-Round Gratitude

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:13 +0000

It’s easy to think about doing good deeds during the holiday season, as giving (thanks and gifts) is pretty much society’s mantra from Thanksgiving to Christmas. But what about the rest of the year? Isn’t it good to be grateful in, say, March?

According to this recent article in Fortune,… read more

10 Incredible Examples of Responsive Web Design

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:01:48 +0000

With more people surfing the web from their mobile devices, designers and developers have been trying to figure out the best way to cater to visitors on both mobile devices and computers. When internet capable phones first began gaining popularity the method was to have two separate sites, a mobile… read more

Getting Started with White Paper Marketing

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:00:56 +0000

A powerful way to build trust and rapport is to develop authoritative and informative white papers.

Learn what a white paper is, several techniques for marketing with white papers, and tips for getting a white paper published.

With a little work, you can connect with customers on an entirely new level… read more

iBiz 4: Easy Client and Job Management

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:57 +0000

For the freelancer or small business owner, client management, job management, time tracking, and invoicing all tend to be more complicated than is often necessary. But iBiz greatly simplifies all these processes by providing a clean and intuitive interface that is not overwhelming or hard to understand.

Keeping track of the… read more

10 Holly Jolly Christmas Fonts

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:36:20 +0000

10 Holly Jolly Christmas Fonts

With Christmas right around the corner, now’s the time that you realize you haven’t sent out your yearly Christmas card. Or it has just dawned on you that you haven’t sent out the invitations for Christmas dinner. Let’s have a look at ten free Christmas-themed fonts… read more

Do Freelancers Put Work Before Health?

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:54 +0000

In a recent story in Toronto’s The Globe and Mail, small business owners are putting work before their health.

Forty percent of small business owners who responded to a survey conducted by Manta, an online community for small business, say that this year’s business climate took a toll on their… read more

Chapter XLIII: Time by Depthcore

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:53:29 +0000

The Depthcore Collective is just released it’s 43rd themed chapter exhibition, “TIME”. As we near their 10th anniversary, this seems to be an appropriate subject for us as a collective to reflect upon. Ten years have passed by, and the students and teenagers who once populated the group are gone,… read more

75 Outstanding Tutorials, Quick Tips, Articles and Interviews from Vectortuts+ in 2011

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:57 +0000

As the year comes to an end and we pack up our vector tools for some well deserved rest and relaxation, let’s take a look back at some of the best and most inspiring Vectortuts+ articles and tutorials for 2011.

The following collection is just a fraction of the fantastic content… read more

Leaving the Referral Altar Behind

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:25 +0000

Have you ever met one of those people who says that they get all of their business by word-of-mouth?

They have no need to advertise. No need to roust themselves out of bed for those early-morning networking meetings. No need to pick up the phone to make a cold call…. read more

Best Android Apps Useful for Web Designers

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:42:01 +0000

It is mesmerizing to see such high end developments in the field of technology. Perhaps one of the most scintillating advancements has taken place in the field of web services for mobile phones. Earlier it was considered as a luxury to own mobile phones and now even the young adolescents… read more

Top Freelance Jobs from Job Board – Week 3, December

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:08:40 +0000