Photo by Jasmeet (Flickr)

This is Day 26 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today you’ll learn to avoid common mistakes made in freelancing.

In the last tutorial I mentioned how mistakes are inevitable and are a normal part of freelancing. There are some mistakes freelancers make that can be very damaging, though, that can cost you time, money and even a client or two.

Rather than repeat the history of many a freelancer, I’ll introduce you to some common freelancing mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. The Feast or Famine Cycle

Every freelancer will have their periods with a heavy workload along with a slow period every once in a while which is normal. If you have periods where you are working (the feast) followed up by periods where you aren’t working and scrambling like hell to find work (the famine) then this isn’t healthy for your business.

You never want to put yourself in a situation where you are desperate for work. Not only does this cause unneeded stress but there is also the tendency to take “whatever work comes your way” that may not pay what you like nor be what you really want to do.

Avoiding the feast or famine cycle:

• Never stop looking for clients. When we have work to do, we tend to take comfort in that instead of planning for more work in the future. One technique I found useful is spending a few minutes a day to look for one client.
• Start saving for that rainy day. One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard for freelancers is to have a backup savings to help you out of a rough patch. It is more than likely that you will have to rely on it at some point in your career since a famine cycle can happen that is beyond your control.
• Learn a new skill. If your particular field is having a slow period, it helps to have another skill you can fall back on to keep the work flowing.

2. Not Using Project Agreements

A project agreement tells your client, “This is exactly what I’ll do, this is what you’ll pay me and these are some conditions I have for you.” Skip this and guess what? You open yourself up to being walked all over by the client and possible disputes with her.

Remember, in the client’s eyes, you appear expensive and a prudent one will try and get her money’s worth. The project agreement will keep her in check.

How to start using project agreements:

• Visit Day 16 of this tutorial (A Document That Will Save Your Ass).
• Also read Bulletproof Your First Freelance Contract by Kyle Wiebers which has great advice for freelance contracts.

3. Sticking to Only One Client

There’s no better feeling to the freelancer than finding a client who gives us a lot of work. There is a danger to this, though. What happens if, say, a client decides to cut costs due to an unforeseen circumstance? Don’t think it won’t happen either. If a freelancer is taking up a chunk of a budget, they are usually the first to go.

Then you are left in a famine cycle. Uh oh.

Avoiding this scenario:

• Never rely on just one client for work and seek out many so, in case one drops out, you have others to fall back on.
• Reduce your workload with the main client so you can accommodate other clients. You may have to turn down some work, which is difficult, but its better than being left with no work at all should that client decided to leave you.

4. Not Planning Enough

I’m probably not the only freelancer that has started a project only to find that grew to twice the workload by the end of it. What really hurts is that, while the workload increases, the compensation doesn’t increase much, if at all, since a budget is often determined in the beginning of it.

Any underestimation of work is the fault of the freelancer (usually) and can be eliminated just by planning from the start.

Avoiding poor planning:

• Spend the time to do the research on a project, especially larger ones. Sometimes this can even take days. Remember, there is no wasted time in planning.
• Know exactly what you are getting into. If a project requires any skills you aren’t familiar with, then get familiar with them before starting.
• Break a project down to it’s smallest parts. Usually the hard or questionable parts expose themselves. Do more research, if necessary, until all parts are understood.

5. Missing Deadlines

It shouldn’t have to be said but consistently missing deadlines makes you unreliable and hurts your reputation. A client may think twice about referring new business to you or may even decide not to work with you again.

Avoiding missed deadlines:

• Do careful planning (see above).
• Be realistic and give yourself ample time to complete any project. Come up with a careful time estimate to complete any project and then add overhead time on top of that. You’ll find yourself having to dip into that overhead once in a while.
• Treat each project like a term paper in college and do what you have to do to meet a deadline. If that means working weekends and pulling all-nighters, do it.

Your Homework For Today

Understand and avoid the common freelancing mistakes above. It could mean the difference between a successful career or not.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 26]: Common Freelancing Mistakes To Avoid is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance in 40 Days [Day 25]: Uh Oh, I Just Made A Mistake
• A Client A Day Keeps The Poverty Away
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 21]: Do Not Treat Freelancing Like a J-O-B

Photo by Katey (Flickr)

This is Day 25 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today how to deal with the occasional mistakes made in freelancing.

No Freelancer Is Perfect

Sometime in his career, there comes a time when the freelancer has a momentary brain lapse and makes a mistake in his work. Even when we strive for perfection, it is inevitable, even for the most experienced of the litter.

Freelancers are human after all.

Luckily mistakes aren’t career killers and freelancers learn very quickly from them. Handle them correctly, too, and you can actually come out of it establishing more reliability with your clients. That is, of course, if you don’t make it a habit of making mistakes with them.

So let’s get started with the steps to remedy a mistake made.

1. Contact Immediately

Whether you are notified by the client or notice the mistake on your own, its important to get in contact with the client immediately. Handle this with a phone or Skype call, if at all possible, since you can gauge the client’s reaction and calm him down (if necessary) to explain the situation.

2. Honest Explanation

This is crucial. Be completely honest and upfront and explain what the mistake was. Don’t skip essential details either. More importantly, do not sugar-coat it and make it anything less than it is or you appear dishonest. Then follow this up with an explanation of how you will correct the mistake.

3. No Excuses

It is almost a natural instinct to give an excuse for anything we did wrong. Nothing damages your credibility more, however, than making an excuse even if it’s true. An excuse says, “it’s not my fault” when you are actually at fault for any mistake you make. Client’s can see right through excuses anyway.

So if your beloved pet dog dies and you weren’t in the right frame of mind that day, keep it to yourself.  All that is really necessary is a “Hey, sorry I messed up. Here’s what happened…”

4. Fix The Mistake Quickly

This may cost you some time and/or money, but do what you have to do to correct the mistake as quickly as possible. If it will take more than a day to correct, let your client know and give him a timetable for the correction. The less time you take to fix a mistake, the more the client will be willing to forget about it.

5. Check Back With The Client

Once the mistake is fixed, call or email the client and let him know. Most of the time, he will be satisfied that you admitted the mistake and handled it in a timely manner. This often reassures a client that you can reliably handle adverse situations as well.

If you sense any dissatisfaction or lingering doubt they may have, though, it won’t hurt to offer for free a service you provide to smooth him over.

One Step To Prevention

Here’s a bit of expert advice if you are a web developer, designer, programmer or edit a client’s files or database in any way… make it a habit to always create a backup of of the work you are about to edit before you begin to edit it. There will come a day when you will need that backup and only have to restore that instead of having to follow the five steps above.

Your Homework For Today

Let’s keep the mistakes to a minimum. If you make one, keep this tutorial handy and relax. You’ll get through it.

Freelance in 40 Days [Day 25]: Uh Oh, I Just Made A Mistake is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 23]: The Rights and Wrongs of Client Communication
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 21]: Do Not Treat Freelancing Like a J-O-B
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 22]: Project Management Tools (Until You Get a Secretary)

The Week in Freelance: November 6th is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• The Week In Freelance: September 11th
• The Week in Freelance: August 3rd
• The Week In Freelance: April 27th

Photo by Wok (Flickr)

This is Day 24 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today you’ll learn two questions you must ask every client.

A Quick Lesson For Today

What would you say to doing a task that requires almost no time and can drum up a few extra clients your way?

I know, I’m beginning to sound like an infomercial but it’s true. All you have to do remember two simple questions to ask each and every client after a project.

This is provided, of course, if they are happy and satisfied with the work you’ve done. That won’t be an issue for you as a freelancer… right?

1. Can You Give Me  a Referral?

Arguably a majority of your business will come from other people your clients have referred you to. Make a client happy enough with the work you completed and she will get on the phone and tell all her friends what an awesome freelancer you are.

Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating, but ever had a friend come up to you and ask if you knew of a reliable mechanic, plumber, or even a graphic designer? Wouldn’t it make sense that a person you knew, worked with and trusted to do a good job would be the likely one you mention?

The secret, though, is to ask for the referral just by saying “Hey, do you know anybody else that needs a website done?” While a client may not know anyone right away, you plant the seed so, if they come across someone in need, you’ll be the first she mentions about.

If a client knows you are looking for work they tend to remember it and will find work for you if they can. Forget to ask for the referral, though, and they might remember to refer you. Improve your chances by asking and planting the seed.

2. Can You Give Me a Testimonial?

Testimonials are an excellent way to spruce up your marketing efforts. Clients want to be assured of two things before working with any new freelancer: 1) Can she do the job? 2) Are they reliable?

Say, for example, a client likes your portfolio and is considering hiring you, but there’s also freelancer X who she also likes and has a similar portfolio. You, however, happen to have a page on your website with a list of people saying you are a great person to work with, do great work and you get the job done fast.

Who do you think will be hired?

That’s why you need to get a testimonial after every project. Take the best three or four and put them on your website, job board profiles, flyers or any other promotional materials you may have.

Potential clients read those testimonials. Having good testimonial will sway their decision towards you.

Your Homework For Today

From now on, remember to ask these two questions after completing every project.  It’s the easiest way to get clients to come knock on your door.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 24]: Never Forget To Ask These Two Questions is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 18]: The Grand Opening To Your Career
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 23]: The Rights and Wrongs of Client Communication
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 8]: Assembling The Portfolio

Photo by DCvision2006 (Flickr)

This is Day 23 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today we’ll discuss the rights and wrongs of communicating with your clients.

No More Handshakes

In the freelancing age we live in now, person-to-person contact is becoming a rarity while emailing and Skype calls are becoming the norm.

More workin’ and less time chattin’. A typical motto of freelancing.

Its crucial, however, to make sure that communication with clients is done correctly. Mess this  up and you could quickly lose their trust and find yourself with a client who decides not to work with you again.

Good communication doesn’t mean constant “hand holding” or numerous emails either. Its just knowing the rights and wrongs of communication to build their trust in you and to develop a healthy business relationship.

RIGHT: Never leave a doubt

This is especially important when clients consult you about your service and/or ask for estimates. Potential clients are wary that there are some freelancers who deceive. So if one has even the least bit of doubt in you, that will be the last you here from him. Guaranteed.

One way to eliminate client doubt right from the start is to begin with a phone or Skype call rather than emailing. All questions and concerns can be answered right then and there while the client can get a sense of who you are  as well. Needless to say, it is important to be completely open and honest in the call.

It also helps to end every conversation or email with a simple, “If you have any questions, let me know.” Reassure a client that you are open to answering questions and concerns and he will if there are any.

RIGHT: Be clear, brief and respond in a timely manner

We have to remember that clients aren’t always aware of the ins and outs of what we do, so its our job to provide clear explanations. This means explaining in a way in which your grandmother would understand it too.

Also, it is easy to get carried away with wordiness and over-explaining details which hurts our effort to educate  clients. Losing a client’s attention is easy so keep it brief in addition to being clear with him.

For response time, a good rule of thumb is to respond within the same business day, but always within 24 hours. Any longer and you appear unreliable. It helps, too, to set aside a small block of time during the day that you can dedicate to client emails and calls.

RIGHT: Be personal

The unfortunate part to communication through email and  calls, is the lack of personalization. We tend to communicate only what is necessary and leave it at that which makes the business relationship appear one-dimensional.

Don’t be afraid to add a tiny amount of personalization in emails, such as as “Hope you’re enjoying the sunny weather” or “I was in Vancouver last summer and loved it,” which makes you appear as a real person and not just an email address. In phone calls, strike up a short conversation asking about the city your client lives in.

Remember your clients are people too and not just names on the computer screen.

WRONG: Arguing

There will be a time or two where a client will get the best of you, whether they disapprove of a design you work so hard on or maybe ask you for a redo. Times where you are busy and stressed can also lead to a short temper and taking it out on your clients.

Giving into that urge to lash out and scream choice words may give instant satisfaction but it may prove to be regrettable once emotions calm down. Not only that but a client could be lost forever and damage your reputation in the process.

One rule of thumb I found useful is, if any client makes your blood boil, forget about it (or at least try) and sleep on it until the next day. That way you don’t let your emotions dictate how to handle the situation, but rather wait until you are better able to handle it in a calm, respectful manner. Almost any argument can be solved amicably and, if not, you can part ways with the client amicably at least.

WRONG: Taking excessive calls

Some clients prefer calls over emailing and sometimes calls are necessary for discussing complex topics. This is normal but there becomes a point where the number of calls needed from a client becomes too much. You can tell this when the conversations become off-topic from work and a client tends to rant on and on.

These types of calls are unnecessary and waste your time. If you are receiving excessive calls, just tell the truth  and politely explain that you are very busy with work and only have time for calls once in a while. Clients will typically abide if you lay down the rules for this.

WRONG: Responding to calls/emails outside of business hours

You do not want to get into the habit  of responding to clients outside of your normal business hours. The reason is that you have a life outside of your work and, by sticking to this, you informally tell your clients to respect this time. Conversely, responding at all times of the day gives the impression you are available at all times of the day which won’t always be the case.

There will always be an exception in the case of emergencies or urgent matters, but otherwise, stick to business hours for calls and emailing.

You Homework For Today

Review how you handle communication with your clients and follow the rights and wrongs outlined above.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 23]: The Rights and Wrongs of Client Communication is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• The Client Is Always Right… But If They Are Wrong?
• Freelance In 40 Days: Introduction/Table of Contents
• Freelance in 40 Days [Day 25]: Uh Oh, I Just Made A Mistake

Photo by Pinprick (Flickr)

This is Day 22 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today will be an introduction to project management software.

The Do-It-Yourself Secretary

I’ll admit that I got into the concept of project management tools fairly recently, but I became very open to it after a couple of realizations:

1. I would occasionally get dates mixed up when completing stages for larger projects.

2. Writing all your tasks to complete on sheets and scraps of paper eventually get tangled in a mess on your desk. The image above actually illustrates a cleaner version of my desk.

3. Tasks get lost even in that organizer “book.”

Organization is a key to being efficient in freelancing and taking the time to learn and utilize a tool for managing clients and projects makes this easily possible. In fact, here are some major advantages:

You Save Time

When you deal with multiple clients and projects it becomes tedious keeping up with tasks, deadlines and communication. A lot of time can get eaten up just figuring out what you have to do in a given day. Project management tools keeps this all organized in one place.

Better Client Management

Like I learned, you do not want to ever make the mistake of missing a deadline or forgetting to do a task for a client simply because you “forgot.”  Needless to say, it doesn’t make you nor your business look good. When you get busy, you can’t rely on a written to-do list nor your memory either.

It’s Portable

In case you need to travel or change your office location for the day, project management software is web based so it goes with you too.

Project Management Software For Freelancers

Since project management software is becoming ever so popular, there are actually a number of open-source software that can be used free of charge. The downside is that it requires your own web server and a bit of tech savvy to install (they all have installation instructions though).

Not to worry. There are some that are web based services and can be used for free or a small monthly fee. Here are some of the favorites I’ve looked at:

• OpenGoo: This one is my personal choice due to it’s ease of use and many features such as a calendar view, contact and email management, plus the ability to upload documents and save those web links you find useful. This does require you to install on a web server, but is well worth the effort or paying someone to do this.
• Subernova: This is a web based service that is free for the first 30 days and 5.99 USD monthly on after. In addition to the usual client/project management, it has cool features such as time tracking, scheduling client emails and handy reminders that can be emailed to you.
• ClockingIT: This can be used as a web based service or can be installed on a web server and is free to use either. It is not quite as robust as the above two but does offer client/project management and time tracking. To download the software go to their wiki page.
• Collabtive: Provides a simple interface for client/project management and timetracking. This can be downloaded free and installed on a webserver or you can utilize their 40 EUR (about 60 USD) fee to have them install it for you. They can also host the software for you for a 10 – 40 EUR (about 15 – 60 USD) monthly fee depending on features.

Your Homework For Today

Start using a project management software of your choice. They take some time to learn and get adjusted to but it will be well worth it to help you be an organized freelancer.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 22]: Project Management Tools (Until You Get a Secretary) is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 15]: Time Tracking… Proof You’re Not Goofing Off
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 19]: Why You Need To Blog As A Freelancer
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 14]: Project Pricing, Not Quite An Exact Science

10. “Naw, I won’t charge you just this one time.”

9. “Why yes, billable time does include calls, emailing, invoicing, showers, naps and Twitter use.”

8. “If you don’t mind me saying, it looks way more professional with Comic Sans.”

7. “Here’s my cell number in case anything goes wrong.”

6. “A contract before starting? No thanks, I’m an independent.”

5. “What’s this W-9 I got in the mail?”

4. “Who needs you? I got my other client anyway.”

3. “Sure I can write out your website copy and blog posts on top of the layout and design. Plus tweets while we’re at it.”

2. “Be patient. I’m kinda new at this.”

1. “Aaaaah… mañana. Don’t worry.”

Top Ten Famous Last Words of Freelancers is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Top Ten Reasons Why Freelancers Freelance
• Top Ten Tax Deductions For Freelancers
• Top Ten Summer Vacation Plans For Freelancers

Photo by atconc (Flickr)

This is Day 21 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today you’ll see how to break the old habits of  work and be more efficient as a freelancer.

Ok Freelancers, We’re Not At Our Old Jobs Now

Since many of us have worked in an office environment at some time, it is hard to realize that some of the habits we had as employees do not transfer over well to freelancing. I’m not talking about the clock-watching, surfing the internet and goofing off either (though, duh, these are bad habits too).

For example, if you did have some kind of an office job, think back to exactly how you worked during those hours. Was it half-ass at times and productive at other times? How many times can you say you were working so hard that 5 PM came around and you didn’t notice? Maybe a couple?

How many times can you remember “working” and just going through the motions hoping time gets killed in the process? More than you can count?

Well, as freelancers we have that awesome freedom to set our own hours whenever the hell we want. We have to make sure, however, that we are productive during those hours since there’s no guaranteed checks coming in every two weeks.

Going through the motions won’t get you by here.

You’re Also Not An Hourly Employee

One common but anti-productive habit of new freelancers is unknowingly making themselves a worker with an hourly wage. To explain, the average freelancer typically charges an hourly rate and, by logic, will calculate earnings by that rate times the number of hours worked.

So let’s say, for example, if you work an 8 hour day and and have a rate of $25/hour then at the end of the day you just scored $200. Where the mistake lies, however, is focusing on working those 8 hours instead of taking account the actual productivity for the day.

To further explain, when your mind is focused on working X number of hours in day, isn’t it a similar mindset to working at a job? Sure, work gets done, but there is a tendency to “drift off” and work lazily while at other times you are working hard. Those lazy moments go unnoticed since you are “working” those hours you set regardless of what gets done.

Let’s paint a different scenario. Using the above example, we’ll say you gave the client an estimate of $200 which takes you an average of 8 hours to complete. Now you could work those 8 hours and be satisfied with $200 you get at the end of of it.

Isn’t it possible, though, that you could finish this work in 5, 6 hours, or even less, if you worked at the times of the day that suited you best and were most focused and concentrated? You’ll still earn your $200 but are more productive in the process, shaving off some hours that can be used for other work or enjoyment.

The lesson here: time does not equal productivity. A freelancer does not earn his bread by what he works on the clock, but instead on what he gets done during the day.

The Easy Ways To Structuring The Workday

1. Structure your workday by creating a list of tasks you want to get done, NOT setting the number of hours you want to work. Focusing on your tasks at hand keeps your attention on work. Focusing on number of hour worked keeps your attention on the clock.
2. Work your most productive hours. Remember, you don’t have to do the whole 9 – 5 thing. If you work best just after breakfast and coffee, but also after 10 PM, then work during those hours.
3. Read The 4 Hour Workday article from Think Simple Now. There’s great advice on increasing your productivity while shortening your workday and covers some topics of this tutorial.

Your Homework For Today

Evaluate your typical workday as a freelancer. Are you evaluating your results by what was earned (hourly rate X hours worked)? If so, try out the easy tips above. They do not require a serious change in your routine and you will notice some serious improvement in productivity.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 21]: Do Not Treat Freelancing Like a J-O-B is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 14]: Project Pricing, Not Quite An Exact Science
• The Great Mystery Revealed: What Should I Charge My Clients? Part 2
• The Week In Freelance: October 9th

The Week In Freelance: October 9th is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• The Week In Freelance: October 2nd
• The Week In Freelance: June 1st
• The Week in Freelance: August 3rd

Don’t worry, new tutorials will continue on starting next Monday the 12th. Check back for the latest!

Freelance In 40 Days: Time Out This Week is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days: Taking a Breather This Week
• Freelance In 40 Days: Introduction/Table of Contents
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 11]: An Introduction To Job Boards

10. Wait patiently for that rainy day to come around… from the Bahamas.

9. Look into getting a paid position for all that other time you spend on Twitter.

8. Skip out for a six-day siesta.

7. Aw hell, might as well look for more work  instead.

6. Hire 10 year old brother to do your work for a Happy Meal and softer punches.

5. Might as well start spending all those checks you’ll get when the work is done.

4. Get much needed sympathy about your constant flow of work from Twitter/Facebook friends.

3. Write up a quick top ten list sippin’ on a beer.

2. Come up with some killer excuses for the clients.

1. Just take the damn day off and relax for once, OK?

Top Ten Things To Do When There Are Just Too Many Things To Do is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Top Ten Things Your Client Doesn’t Want You To Know
• Top Ten Reasons To Quit Freelancing NOW!
• Top Ten Reasons Why Freelancers Freelance

The Week In Freelance: October 2nd is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• The Week In Freelance: October 9th
• The Week In Freelance: August 10th
• The Week In Freelance: August 17th

This is Day 20 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today you’ll see how social media is useful in your freelance career.

Social Media Was Made For Freelancing

Today I’m going to introduce you to the concept of social media. Alright, I’ll cut the bull.

If you haven’t been hit in the face with social media yet and hanging ten on the Twitter wave, pull yourself from under that rock and read on. Admittedly, I did several months ago and haven’t looked back since.

One thing learned was that, for freelancers social media is an invaluable tool for networking and promotion. Before you get the idea of using it to sell yourself as the freelancer, though, it helps to understand the real benefits:

• Networking
  Social media is the best and easiest means to network with other freelancers from around the world. It’s helps immensely to know you can turn to a group of chums for advice or just chat and joke around with.
• Keep up with trends
  Since the primary function of social media is to spread around useful information, you can keep up with the latest and greatest happening in your field.
• Promote your blog
  If you have a blog or are just starting one, social media is the best way to share it and drive traffic to it instead of waiting around for the search engines to give it some love.
• You’ll eventually find article gems from other users
  Every once in a while you will come across an article passed to you that offers the perfect advice, makes you spit coffee on your computer screen from laughing or is one to print out and hang on your wall as a motivator. You won’t find these articles on your own otherwise.

There are a gazillion social media websites out there but the two most useful for freelancers are Twitter and Stumbleupon. Twitter is definitely the more “social” and is great to interact with others as well as promoting your blog while Stumbleupon tends to be used strictly for blog promotion but is a great tool for it’s ease of use.

Sure, there are other large social media sites such as Digg and Mixx, but keeping up with many different ones eats up a freelancer’s time. That’s why it is recommended to stick to the two basic, most popular sites which, realistically, is all you need.

You may have already started using Twitter and Stumbleupon but, no matter if you have or haven’t, read and bookmark the following articles which will show you the proper way to use Twitter and Stumbleupon, especially for you as the freelancer:

• 10 Golden Rules of Social Media
  Like the Ten Commandments, you need to know and follow these to the letter when using social media.
• How I Got 3500+ Twitter Followers In 90 Days (By Just Being Me!)
  Brian McDaniel started using Twitter in March of this year and already he is one of the top users. He doesn’t use any special tool to “get thousands of followers” either. All he does is provide great information and is friendly to his followers.
• How to Use StumbleUpon for Your Business: The Definitive Guide
  This is a very concise article on how Stumbleupon should be used from 10e20. Plain and simple.
• How to Use StumbleUpon to Promote
  An article by Dr. David Risley that explains how to use Stumbleupon to promote blog and provides tips to in getting your blog read in the process.

Your Homework For Today

If you have not set up an account with Twitter or Stumbleupon, create one for each. Hopefully you already did from Day 5. Remember to get a username with your company name or a slight derivation of it.

Then read through the articles above.

From here on out, make an effort to spend at least a half hour a day on Twitter/Stumbleupon (an hour if you can). You’ll be surprised at how your network will grow during that time.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 20]: Twitter, Stumbleupon and Freelancing is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Top Ten Things To Do When Twitter Is Down
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 19]: Why You Need To Blog As A Freelancer
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 21]: Do Not Treat Freelancing Like a J-O-B

Photo by Will Lion (Flickr)

This is Day 19 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today I’ll give you reasons to start blogging in your freelance career.

You Mean I Need To Start Writing?

Well, let’s begin by saying that if you are not freelancing as a writer nor inspired to be a writer then the motivation to start and write in a blog of your own probably isn’t there at the moment. Who can blame you either? If you are like me then those English classes weren’t your favorite in school either.

Just hear me out on this one though.

Personally, I started blogging because I got caught up in the idea that you can make a few dollars out of it. When I realized it was a very bad reason to start, I still continued on writing and noticed some major benefits blogging had on me as a freelancer: (By the way, don’t ever start blogging with the intent of money from it. Trust me.)

• You stay focused in your career
  Putting your thoughts into typewritten words makes you realize you have those thoughts in the first place. You may not realize but often times those very thoughts do not get put into practice. I’ve noticed myself even going back to my old posts and recalling my own advice. There is no reason it won’t do the same for you.
• You become a voice to the world
  Though this takes time and growth in your writing, you will eventually develop an audience which becomes empowering and gives confidence to you as a person and a freelancer. Keep on writing and writing and it will improve, too. If that isn’t enough for you, read The Simple Dollar’s article on developing 1000 true fans. Every blog has a beginning.
• The flow in your work improves, not to mention your writing
  The hardest part about blogging is continuously keeping up with it. Sometimes a post can take hours to write. Guess what though? Master these and you begin to notice your flow of thought and creativity in your work improve as well. How many times have you sat in front of the computer screen with a “block” trying to get work done?

If you still have your doubts about starting a blog then I’ll answer for you the most common ones.

• There’s already a million other blogs out there
  That’s true, but do you ever notice how those blog you read and like could be better or suited more to you? That alone is enough reason to start your own.
• I can’t write
  You need to keep in mind that your English teacher is not looking over your shoulder. Blog posts can be as short or as long as you want and don’t have to be in that stupid introduction, three middle paragraphs and a conclusion format. Truthfully, your blog posts will suck in the beginning but, post and post often, and you will notice an improvement and writing becomes much easier.
• I don’t know what to write about
  The easiest way to write posts is to write whatever is on your mind, taking a freestyle approach. There’s no requirement on what the subject has to be. With time, your writing becomes more focused and topics will be easier to come up with.
• No one will visit my blog
  I won’t sugar coat this one. It will probably take anywhere from one to two years for your blog to appear anywhere meaningful in the search engines. Don’t let that be a discouragement, though. Many of the best bloggers out there have done their time and are reaping the rewards of high traffic.

  There will be a future tutorial on how you can use Twitter and Stumbleupon to promote your blog that can drastically cut the search engine wait.

Here are some resources to get you started on blogging:

• Create a free blog on Blogger or Wordpress without having to install it on your own web server.
• A how-to for installing Wordpress, the most popular web-based blogging software, on your web server.
• Visit ProBlogger and Copyblogger for excellent advice on developing a successful blog.

Your Homework For Today

Create a blog and write your first post.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 19]: Why You Need To Blog As A Freelancer is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Can Having Your Own Blog Really Earn You Money?
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 3]: Define Your USP
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 2]: Know Thy Market

Photo by love not fear (Flickr)

This is Day 18 of the Freelance in 40 Days series where you’ll learn to freelance just by taking it one day and one task at a time. Today will be the grand opening for your freelance business and you’ll see easy ways to spread the word.

Open For Business

Everybody’s excited… your business has officially begun. Rather than sit there as an anonymous freelancer, though, its time to get the word out and get people talking about you. We’re not talking about big expensive advertising campaigns and relentless marketing either.

There are several easy ways you can generate a buzz about your new freelance business and possibly attract a new client or two in the process.

Do You Have Promotional Materials?

Its difficult to promote yourself if you don’t have at least business cards to distribute and a website. How else are other people going to remember you? Have business cards made and hand out one to each new person you meet. Also, review Day 10 for simple ways to promote your business.

Many people save those business cards and you never know when a good referral might come out of it.

Throw an Inauguration Party

There’s nothing like free food and drinks to help others remember who you are. So a party is a no-brainer for business promotion. Don’t just stop at inviting friends either. Invite other freelancers and business contacts to come as well and encourage them to bring other friends. This is a great way to network with others while being in a casual atmosphere.

Spam (well not really) Your Contact List

For each persona in your Outlook or Gmail contacts, craft an email (personalized “Dear [So and So]…”) with a logo, a simple message of what you do and that you are open for business. Personalizing each email will take longer but will nearly insure that it will get read and get past spam filters.

Contact Relatives, Friends and Co-workers

For those you see on a regular basis, let them know about your freelance business and give them four or five business cards. If your friends and family happen to know of someone that can use your services, you will always be their first referral and they won’t hesitate to dish out that extra card.

Have An Opening Day Special

Everybody loves a sale, especially in these tough economic times. So offer, for example, a 25% sale discount on your services or come up with a special package at a discounted price. Then have these printed on flyers and give one to everyone you know and meet.

Your Homework For Today

Get going and spread the good news! Get that keg for that inauguration party, send out those emails and be sure to tell everyone what you do and that your are open for business. This will likley take more than a day to plan and do one or more of these but it may be worth a brand new client in the end.

Be sure to review Day 10, too, and have those promotional materials handy. Promotion is hard without them.

Freelance In 40 Days [Day 18]: The Grand Opening To Your Career is a post from: The Freelance Rant

Related posts:

• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 10]: Shameless Self Promotion
• Freelance In 40 Days [Day 24]: Never Forget To Ask These Two Questions
• Freelance In 40 Days: Introduction/Table of Contents