FreelanceSwitch

Online Jobs are on the Rise

FreelanceSwitch.com — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:49 +0000

Online employment is skyrocketing across the globe, according to a recent study by Elance, an international platform for online employment. Even the most skeptical would be hard-pressed not to notice the change in the numbers from the first quarter of 2012 to the same time last year.

The Elance Global Online Employment Report for Q1 2012 shows lots of upward pointing graphs. From jobs posted to contractor earnings, the numbers go up and up and up. In fact, both earnings and jobs posted have more than doubled in the past two years.

Elance also tracked the top skills in demand for the following three categories: Creative, Marketing, and IT. Here are the changes from Q1 of 2011:

Creative: +32%

Web Design +101%
Photoshop +71%
Graphic Design +70%
Video Production +68%
Content Writing +56%

Marketing: +22%

SEM +65%
Internet Marketing +49%
Social Media Marketing +41%
Marketing Strategy +41%
Lead Generation +39%

IT: +14%

Android +35%
PHP +33%
JavaScript +31%
HTML +29%
CSS +29%

Some of the trends they found include:

Online Employment Secular Trend

During the recession, companies turned to freelance labor to control costs and manage uncertainty. Now, as the economy rebounds, demand has continued, driven by small business hiring, talent opting to work online and a fundamental shift in enterprise mentality towards utilizing online workers in workforce strategy.

Video, Audio Consumption on the Rise

Forty-two percent of jobs posted in Q1 2012 were in our creative category. In particular, skills such as video production (+68%), editing (+56%), audio editing (+52%) and voiceover (+48%) experienced significant growth.

Large Business Move Hiring Online

Current expectations are that more than half of the US workforce will be independent by 2020. Enterprises already use temp workers, but now we see innovative companies engaging online workers to further reduce cost, gain agility and even improve quality and outcome.

This is all great news for freelancers! And even better news if you live in the following countries:

Top 10 Hiring Countries

US
Australia
UK
Canada
Netherlands
Germany
Singapore
Israel
United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong

Top 10 Earnings Countries for Contractors

India
US
Pakistan
Ukraine
UK
Russia
Canada
Romania
China
Philippines

But what is making this trend so, shall we say, trendy?

Recessions

Recessions are happening all over the world—so there doesn’t really seem to be any really great place to work. You might live in a depressed part of the world or even a third-world country, but with an Internet connection, you can work for clients anywhere. Here’s a good example: Greece and Spain, who have been hit hard by recent recessions, have had a spike in earnings for freelancers at 122% for Greece and 142% for Spain in the past year. You might not be able to find a job in your neighborhood, but when you expand your neighborhood to clients worldwide, your personal economy can shift in a big way.

There is really no need to struggle with shortage of talent in your local economy when you can easily work with anyone around the world. The talent of course differs between different organizations and individuals, but then again – so does the compensation for the work. —ArticStartup.com

Saving Money

The cost benefits of hiring virtually (which includes lower overhead, as there’s no office to finance, and because employers can pay per project rather than for a full-time employee’s salary) are getting the attention of more companies in an effort to make smarter operating decisions. —USNews.com

Having someone on staff full time costs a business a lot of money. Many employees get vacations and sick time paid for, have some sort of health plan and retirement options (depending on what country you live in), and take up space in an office. Think about how a businesses rent or lease would change if they had 125 employees who worked from home rather than in a big office in the middle of a city!

Finding the Right Worker

Overseas employers are finding valuable American talent for needs like writing and admin support. Need a translator? Those can be found online as well. —BusinessInsider.com

Newspapers and magazines with a meager budget have an easier time covering worldwide topics by hiring freelancers based in other countries rather than paying to have their own staffers travel abroad.

And there might not be any great local talent, depending on the location. If a business in Podunk, North Dakota needs a website designed and there aren’t any businesses or individuals around to help them, do they just not create a website? Of course not! They find someone to work remotely.

Finding the Right Job

In nations that don’t make it easy for people to create their own jobs by launching a traditional startup, it looks like one way to work around the system quickly is by freelancing for overseas clients. —Forbes.com

Your talents might not match any local jobs. Unfortunately, we don’t always get to choose where we work. I moved from New York City to my hometown in Maine to help take care of my sick grandmother in 2007. I had a hard time finding full time work that matched my master’s degree in journalism, so I started freelancing. It was a way for me to be where I needed (and wanted to be) while still working on my career.

Billing Yourself as a Local Freelancer: What You Need to Know

FreelanceSwitch.com — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:31 +0000

A lot of freelancers get excited about international clients these days. But you can create a niche for yourself as someone local — a freelancer just down the street who is happy to meet in person with clients. For those prospective clients who want to make sure that they get a chance to get to know who they’re working with, working with a local freelancer can be worth a premium over working with someone who is only accessible online.

But if you’re going to promote yourself as the local solution, there are some facts that you need to know about.

The Always On Call Problem

Some clients are bad about considering you always on call — but when you’re in a different time zone, you at least get a reprieve when they have to go to bed. When you’re just around the corner, it can be easier for a client to be constantly asking for more. Of course, this isn’t just a problem for local freelancers, though it is certainly worse.

After all, if a client halfway around the planet has your address, it’s unlikely that he’ll just show up one day. I’ve had local clients who have wanted to see where I work, had a question and were ‘in the area’, and otherwise wind up on my front stoop.

For local freelancers, it’s even more important than usual to lay down boundaries with clients. That can include:

Setting office hours when you’re available to your clients.
Making it clear that you only meet in person at locations other than your home.
Using a P.O. box as your mailing address.

It’s okay to act a little paranoid in terms of keeping your personal life and professional life separate. Even if your clients are all located within a few miles, you may not know all that much about them.

Word of Mouth and Gossip

If you’re looking for local clients, word of mouth is your most valuable marketing method. Sure, you’ve got more opportunities for networking, but the type of client that actively seeks out local freelancers often does it because he wants to know more about the reputation of the people he’s working with.

People will talk about how you approach specific issues, making at least some of them into opportunities to shine.

Your reputation is incredibly important and you have to take care of it. You need to make sure to deal with any problem that comes up — you can’t afford to just ignore issues. Even if the situation isn’t your fault, it’s your problem. People will talk about how you approach specific issues, making at least some of them into opportunities to shine.

You also need to pay attention to what you say about other companies in the area. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with gossip: I try to only say nice things about the people in the freelancing community in my area, but I’ve been known to warn other freelancers off of prospective clients known for problems in the past. That sort of thing often gets back to such clients and you have to decide if a small firestorm is worth whatever you want to say. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it’s better to just keep your mouth shut.

Local Can Trump International

There are benefits to being local, but you have to sell them. With freelance marketplaces driving rates lower than a local freelancer can usually offer them, you have to step up your marketing. You need to make it clear to clients that paying $150 an hour, rather than $1.50 an hour, is actually a good deal. Here are a few of the points you can make with prospective clients:

You can minimize communication issues, because you share both a language and a culture.
You can actually come into the office, which can be useful in anything from getting to know product lines better for writing sales copy to checking the print quality for graphic design projects.
You can offer references from companies and individuals that prospective clients recognize, if not actually know.

Dig deeper, though: find the unique qualities that make your local work stand out. With the right marketing, clients will understand the value of working with someone who is just down the street.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by SimplyY.

What Freelancers Can Learn From John Mayer

FreelanceSwitch.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:11 +0000

The fact that you can learn anything from John Mayer might surprise you, but I learned a lot about how you can ruin your reputation through social media and interviews in this NPR interview with the musician on All Things Considered this afternoon.

I have to admit, I am not a John Mayer fan. He bothers me. I can’t stand to watch him sing. And after a couple of nitty gritty interviews in 2010—one for Rolling Stone and one for Playboy—I didn’t like what I heard, either.

In Mayer’s interview with Playboy, he made racial comments, talked about his sex life with his famous exes, and made homosexual comments—all of which made the public scream Too Much Information!

In a 2010 Rolling Stone feature, we got six full pages of crazy Mayer’s…

…stream-of-consciousness ranting, in which the reader learned that the “Daughters” singer has a $20 million watch collection, owns a bulletproof vest, can’t resist “poop Twitters,” believes he has “masturbated [himself] out of serious problems” in his life and describes how even in his sex dreams, he has to stop his virtual mate from grinding on him because he’s distracted by a phantom paparazzo. These were all very personal, TMI-style utterances that the average guarded modern pop star would never reveal.—MTV.com

Can’t this guy shut up? Well, after all of this, he did. For about two years.

Mayer didn’t know when to shut up. His choice of words were his demise. But it didn’t have to be that way.

Be Strategic About Your Path

The salient problem was that I saw anything I wanted to do as a road worth taking. As if I was an exception to every rule.—John Mayer on NPR

You can’t be everything to everyone. Have a focus. If it’s writing, be the best writer you can be. Have a knack for creating snappy ad copy? Focus on that! What you don’t want to do is go 100 miles per hour in a direction that doesn’t make sense for your business. You need to take calculated risks and be honest with yourself.

I recently got a brand new camera. And I love it. But just because I have an awesome, high quality camera doesn’t mean I should forget my writing and try to become a photographer.

Having great equipment doesn’t automatically mean you are good at using it. I can learn about my new camera and practice with it, and even supplement my stories with some great images, but it’s not something I can master tomorrow. And I can’t give up my bread and butter.

Boring is a State of Mind

I didn’t want to be boring. I got in the worst trouble ever over and over again in my life from the time I was four until two years ago because I didn’t want to be boring.—John Mayer on NPR

When you are your brand, living a “boring” life isn’t terrible. It keeps you out of trouble! Mayer shot his mouth off using offensive language and profanity, spilling intimate details about his relationships so he wouldn’t look “boring.” But guess what? He lost more than he gained.

You have to be so careful about what you put out there on your social media sites because it cannot be erased. Post drunken naked photos of yourself? Make a sexist comment? Whine about a current client? You never know whose hands these juicy tidbits of information will fall into. They could cost you embarrassment and future work.

Be Yourself

I remember thinking to myself “this is Rolling Stone, you gotta to give a Rolling Stone interview. And that’s the miscalculation. All you have to do is be honest.—John Mayer on NPR

Don’t treat people different, no matter who they are. You should give the same level of service to every client, no matter their status or what they are paying you. That’s called being professional.

Of course you will have to tailor your work for each of your clients, but you don’t have to be a different person for each. For one thing, it’s exhausting! There is nothing wrong with just being yourself—especially when you are the sole person representing your work. People like consistency.

Don’t Make Excuses

When you think you can correct your way out of anything, you will eventually learn you cannot just correct your way out of everything.—John Mayer on NPR

There is nothing that annoys me more than when someone keeps making the same mistakes over and over again and thinking that apologizing makes up for it. It doesn’t.

Learn from your mistakes so that you don’t make them again. Focus on doing the job right the first time, instead of fixing all of the mistakes you made after you hand in the assignment. Excuses are just that—an excuse. And excuses get really old really fast.

5 Secrets to Freelancing Around Your Day Job

FreelanceSwitch.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:43 +0000

Do you dream of quitting your job and going it on your own? Not so fast. Building a freelance business while working a full-time job is difficult.

It is possible though with some juggling and creativity. You’ve got creativity in spades though, right? That — and a fierce sense of independence — are the likely culprits that drew you to freelancing.

Before you ditch your day job, use those creative muscles to find ways to build your freelancing business while you continue to earn your full-time paycheck.

Looking to make part-time freelancing a way of life, rather than a temporary way to build your clients and savings account before going full-time? These secrets will definitely work for you too.

Telecommute

Focusing on your employer’s needs rather than your own will help you be successful in getting your request approved.

Depending on how long your commute is, you can gain valuable time to devote to marketing and writing by working from home one or more days per week. Get approval from your current supervisor by proving how telecommuting will help the company — remind them that telecommuters are less stressed and more focused, telecommuting saves employers money, and it is a valuable tool in preserving business continuity. Focusing on your employer’s needs rather than your own will help you be successful in getting your request approved.

Once you get approval, make sure you use the added time wisely. It can be so easy to sleep in or watch the evening news “just this once.” But “just this once” has a habit of becoming the order of the day much too easily. Create a schedule for your new commute and stick to it.

Follow the Rules

The thing about freelancing is that it can be more exciting than your day job. So when an interview subject can only meet smack dab in the middle of your work day, you will probably want to jump at the chance. Depending on your work environment, you may or may not be able to do that.

Follow the guidelines laid out by your supervisor and your employee handbook to ensure that you keep your day job as long as you want to before striking out on your own. If you are in doubt, ask if you can take that meeting with a potential client at 3pm on a Wednesday. Unless you are in a position where you need to keep your freelancing secret, you should be just fine.

Be Flexible

Use pockets of time to run your business. Got a half hour before you leave for work? Send prospecting emails. A full lunch hour? Brown bag it and write in the company lunch room. Or schedule interviews during that time and find a quiet place to conduct them. I use the bluetooth capability in my car so I can easily take notes.

Do you have two hours after the kids are in bed? Two uninterrupted hours to write? Sounds like heaven to me. Get to work on the words and make the most of that time. Greg Scott offer more tips on working around your commitments.

Go Portable

My car and my cell phone are two important parts of my portable office. So are my netbook and my Circa notebook. I bought one of those big purses that will hold the netbook, notebook, and any research materials I need. This means I can work on my personal projects or client work on my lunch hour, while waiting at the doctor’s office, or anytime I find myself with extra time while away from home.

Make a list of the five tools you need to do your work, then put them together into a portable work kit. Take your kit with you everywhere so you are always prepared.

Enlist Support

I have a toddler, so my mornings, evenings, and weekends are a lot more chaotic than they used to be BK (before kids). I also have an amazing husband who takes my writing career seriously and pitches in to help whenever I need him. Think about who can watch the kids, do the dishes, or clean the house, then ask them to do it so you can reclaim that time to write.

Again, make sure you use this time for actual writing, marketing, and the other essential tasks of the freelancer. Surfing the web doesn’t count.

How do you balance client work and your day job?

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by SimpleFoto.

5 Ways to Create PR Opportunities for Your Freelance Business

FreelanceSwitch.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:30 +0000

One of the biggest challenges for freelancers just starting out is how to get more press and publicity for their business with few funds. As a one-person shop, you can’t spend a fortune employing your own PR rep or a marketing guru.

There are several D-I-Y strategies you can implement to generate positive publicity. What are PR opportunities for your freelance business? You may think PR is only for big companies, but even small freelance shops can benefit from taking advantage of newsworthy opportunities happening in your business, market, and industry.

Here are five ways to create PR opportunities for your freelance business.

1. Send press releases to relevant media outlets.

Drafting a press release is the easy part. Read tips for crafting the perfect press release. But before you write one, consider factors such as what industry you’re in and determine what the key trade publications and media outlets are in your industry.

As an example, if you’re a photographer that specializes in weddings and family events, then you need to draft separate press releases– perhaps one for a wedding or bridal magazine, and another one for parenting magazines. You’ll need to do some research for each publication, finding the relevant news team or section editor. When you write or call them, make sure you sell your story by getting to the point of how a mention of your services in a story would be of interest to the publication’s reading audience.

2. Link your services to a current event.

The biggest question to answer when contacting media outlets is “So, what?” Why should the editor or journalist you talk to care about your story? First of all, it has to be a story in the first place. In journalism, this is often called the “news hook” or the lede. In these types of promotional strategies, here’s what you do: when something relevant happens in your industry that’s related to your business, try to latch on to the story.

The biggest question to answer when contacting media outlets is “So, what?” Why should the editor or journalist you talk to care about your story?

While it certainly helps, your PR doesn’t have to be directly linked to a trend, topical issue, or event. For example, when I finished a ghostwriting project related to parenting, career, and work-life balance for working moms, the author and I came up with a press release that opened with a mention of a popular movie at the time that raised and explored very similar issues.

Adding an essential news hook, or timely quality to your story, makes it appealing for editors and journalists, who can easily include it on their roster of articles to push out. And don’t forget about writing a compelling and catchy title or headline for your PR piece.

3. Present yourself as an expert in your field.

One particular resource to try is HARO, which is a website for connecting media contacts, writers, and journalists with the general public. The idea is simple: If you’re a freelance web designer and want to find material for your design blog, you can hop on HARO and find an expert or various sources to interview for your piece.

You can also use HARO to offer yourself up as an expert in your field. Local newspapers and media outlets writing a story for a national audience will often try to pepper their stories with relevant quotes and stories that have a local angle. If you see something that’s relevant to you, contact the query’s author and let them know you’d like to be interviewed as a source.

HARO is a convenient outlet since you can receive and distribute queries online, but don’t discount just picking up the phone and calling local papers and e-mailing journalists who write stories that cover your professional interests (most writers have a byline with contact details). You can offer yourself as a case study for profiles, as well as be a source for technical information when they need it. Make yourself indispensable to your local media.

4. Develop links to local community groups and business networks.

Get involved with your community by offering to do sponsorships or volunteer work. You can also offer to give a talk about what you do. Don’t discount sites like Skillshare and Meetup, which let you organize group sessions and reach a wider audience.

Setting aside some charity work (e.g., if you’re a freelance web designer, offering to tweak a nonprofit’s website for free) can also be part of your social responsibility efforts for your business. Not only is it beneficial for your community, but also a great way to expand your portfolio and get your name out in the media.

5. Offer to write guest posts at major media outlets and comment on stories.

Writing guest articles, posts, and op-eds can be time-consuming, but it can be a wonderful way for you to reach out to the public about your expertise. Don’t mention your services or business in the story itself. Instead, focus on writing a compelling piece and presenting yourself as an authority on the topic you are writing about.

Check your facts, get your article edited, and make sure you always keep your audience in mind when you write. If it’s an op-ed, make sure you take a strong position and argue it well; media outlets asking you for an op-ed are hoping to generate discussion and debate among its readers.

The byline is where you can do a little more advertising. Make sure you include your business name, website, and other contact details (many writers leave their Twitter accounts or other social media links), and keep it short and sweet.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by dappy.

5 Ways to Get Better Customer Service

FreelanceSwitch.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:00:57 +0000

There have been many blog posts here about how you, as a freelancer, can give your clients great customer service and why it’s important. Let’s turn the tables for a minute and focus on how you, as a freelancer, can get better customer service.

When you are a freelancer, you don’t have a boss you can go complain to when something has happened to you. Maybe you were double charged when ordering something online or you had a terrible experience flying business class. As a freelancer, you run your own business, which means dealing with your own vendors.

As someone who owns a company, I have a lot of people I have to pay and deal with on a regular basis, including: my internet service provider, phone company, the lenders who let me borrow money for my small business, my credit and debit card companies, the web design team, and the woman hired to manage the distribution of our magazine.

Other people I deal with on a less frequent basis include the tech dude who helps with computer problems and issues with our printer/copier/fax machine. I also have a bookkeeper who manages the books and helps with the taxes. There’s also a lawyer thrown in there for good measure.

When you think about it—that’s a lot of people! And I’m not even mentioning the car repair guy (I drive a lot), the United States Postal Service (I mail a lot of stuff), and the stores where I buy supplies.

A freelancer’s life is stressful (look at all these bills!) and we have to deal with lots and lots of people. So what can you do when you feel like you aren’t getting the customer service you deserve and expect? Below are some tips on how you, as a customer, can get better customer service to make running your business a little easier.

Be Polite

While it’s many people’s job to give customers (like you) great customer service, your anger and insults can impact their mood, resulting in possibly not so great customer service. If there is a problem, try to stay calm and rational. Most mistakes are not personal, so try not to take it that way. I have a Keep Calm And Carry On poster in my office to remind me of this very point.

If dealing with someone in person—at a store or airport terminal—don’t break down and resort to shouting. Many times, the person you are face to face with can’t do much to remedy the situation. Remember the saying, “you attract more flies with honey than vinegar” before you fly off the handle.

Find Someone Who Can Help You

Calling the customer service department at a huge company (like a credit card company or Internet/cable service provider) can be a crapshoot. There are literally thousands of people answering phones across the globe—so if you don’t find satisfaction with the person who picked up your call, try someone else.

This might mean you have to literally hang up the phone and call back, as some customer service reps aren’t willing to just pass you off to the next person. Insist on talking to their supervisor if you aren’t getting anywhere, and don’t back down.

Take Your Complaints to Social Media

I had a friend who had a terrible experience at a big box electronics store. She got nowhere when dealing with the manager of the local store, and complained about it in a blog post, as well as on her Facebook page. In less than a day, someone from customer service gave her a call.

Many conglomerates have departments to monitor complaints on social media—so feel free to tweet about it. Be sure to focus on the specific complaint instead of something vague, and tag the company on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to complain about service at a Holiday Inn? Add @HolidayInn to your tweet. If you’re disputing a fee on your American Express rewards card, tagging @AskAmEx will get your complaint spotted faster and channeled appropriately.—Fodors

And when your problem gets solved, be sure to publicly appreciate the effort of the company in the same way you complained about them. It’s the right thing to do.

Post a review on a blog or praise them through Twitter or other social networking sites. It instills customer loyalty and chances are they will treat you better next time you have a problem.—Boston.com

Be Prepared and Communicate

Be sure to have all of the documentation ready when you speak to someone in customer service, but ask them how they would like to receive it. Opening the lines of communication and giving the person you are dealing with the information in the easiest way for them lets them know you are willing to help them help you.

When All Else Fails, Get Angry

So you’ve tried being polite, you’ve called back and talked to several different people, you’ve got all the documents at hand and still you aren’t getting your issue resolved? Get mad.

But get mad with proof. Write down the date and time of each time you have talked to someone, and their name. Take notes on your conversations and how you were told your issue would be resolved. Having a paper trail is proof that you have done your due diligence, and that your anger and frustration is warranted.

Do you have any tips to share that have worked well for you? We’d love to hear them!

What Does Your Brand (or Lack Thereof) Say About You?

FreelanceSwitch.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:23 +0000

As a freelancer, you have a lot of issues to juggle – branding yourself being one of the least of your concerns most days. But your brand is a critical piece to your long-term success. You don’t have to engage in a massive marketing overhaul or develop a full-tilt brand management plan to take advantage of the power of branding.

The key is to approach your personal brand from the perspective of your clients and customers. How do you want them to perceive you? This article focuses on techniques and concepts to consider as you develop your own brand that you can leverage for long-term success.

Know Your Services

You do not want to be misleading in your branding process, so being honest up front about the true value of your services is important.

Honesty is the best policy. Knowing how your services benefit the consumer is key. This may sound logical, but there are many companies that do not take an honest look at this and then wonder why they aren’t making sales. Really understanding the reason clients need your services will direct your freelance business more efficiently in developing your brand.

What is at the core of your freelance business? You do not want to be misleading in your branding process, so being honest up front about the true value of your services is important.

As a freelancer, your products and services have a specific market and value for your clients. Your brand should be focused on the specific value you bring to the table. Avoid overly broad branding or over-selling what you do.

Longevity…

One of the freelance brand rules is that a timeless brand look is an important part of making sure that your brand can last through the ages. While you can incorporate some latest trends, you will need to make sure you can keep key brand recognizers when you have to update your look. You may want to check out some big brand redesigns to see how they were able to develop key brand elements that remained throughout the years.

Another important aspect of longevity to consider is that when developing a great brand, it is important to look frankly at the demographic that you will be selling to. Good brands last for decades. Why? Because they remind the consumer why they bought the product in the first place.

Even if a product is a necessity, most likely it was originally purchased and repurchased because the product name stuck out in the consumer’s mind. You need to be able to connect a name to a moment that is memorable. A name that is memorable is recalled and re-bought.

Get Personal!

People love brands that they feel personally attached to. If a cup of coffee brings a smile to their face, they will want to repeat that good feeling and will likely attempt this by purchasing more coffee. This idea may seem ridiculous, but it is true with almost any type of product or service.

Think of the products that you buy and you will realize it is often because of certain positive feelings that they generate in you.

Think of the products that you buy and you will realize it is often because of certain positive feelings that they generate in you. Despite not knowing any person who plays a role in producing a product, a person will feel like the company is family because it has played an intricate part in some positive moment in their life.

Come up with a story with which clients can connect and make sure your entire brand design reflects this "story." Of course, it doesn’t have to be a literal story, but it does need to be a vision of what you want customers to feel when they purchase your services.

The most successful brands are those that have been able to convince consumers that their product or services will enable them to live the lifestyle they dream of having. Therefore, think about what lifestyle your ideal customers desire and create your story/experience around this concept.

How Quality is Your Brand?

One of the most common mistakes that freelancers make when developing their logo and other branding features is to go with what is cheapest. While you do need to take into consideration your budget, keep in mind that your brand look says a lot about you.

If you pay for a cheap logo design, more than likely you will get a logo that looks, well, cheap. If you need to stay on budget, your safest bet may be to hire a middle-of-the-road brand developer – one who’s prices fall somewhere between the least and most expensive options. Just keep in mind that the quality of your brand reflects on the quality of your freelance business, so always go with the best that you can afford.

Connect

Yes, your freelance business might be your baby, but you want the consumer to feel the same way. Get your target audience excited about your freelance business brand by going to them, by finding out the locations they spend most of their time. Connections can come from many different places.

You can use social media, email marketing, forums, and comments on popular blogs in your industry…or start your own blog. Host events or contests online. Get your brand out in the public for your prospective clients to see and recognize. Just be sure that every interaction relates to your brand look and feel so that your target audience has a consistent memory of your business branding.

Consumer’s Mind

At first glance, a brand name or color scheme may seem insignificant; however, that small concept is sending a very big message. The consumer’s mind is processing more than they realize. A catchy brand design will be recalled with little effort.

Whatever brand design you choose, make sure that it encompasses the company’s idea and the consumer’s contribution to the big picture. If a customer feels that they have a relationship with your freelance business, they are more likely to work with you well into the future.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by olechowski.

The Freelance Wisdom of Dr. Seuss

FreelanceSwitch.com — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:28 +0000

Did you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book growing up? I sure did. It was Green Eggs and Ham. I could read that book over and over and never get tired of it.

But beyond the “Whos” and “Thing-a-ma-Jiggers” is an author with more advice relevant to freelancing than most.

Known by Dr. Seuss for his delightful and whimsical children’s books, Theodor Seuss Geisel was also an advertising ace – spending his early career in the advertising industry.

Urging us to keep moving forward, to learn a lot, and not to worry – here are just a few of the fun and insightful quotes from the poet behind classics like, The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

You know this already. After all, you’re here at Freelance Switch! So first of all…good job. You are on the right track. The more you read about how to be a successful freelancer, the more you will become one.

For example, when I decided to take the leap into freelance writing, I was reading more than I was actually writing! I had no clue how to work from home, work as my own boss, or even where to start getting clients. But the more I leaned, the more I applied this knowledge. I started actually doing the things other freelancers were guiding me to do. More refined services and better queries were the start for me.

But this tip doesn’t just go for new freelancers. No matter what stage of your career you’re in, there are always new things to learn. From learning new CSS techniques to researching a particular subject for a writing assignment, reading is an integral part of our work.

The more you know, the more you can be a leader in your niche.

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.

Freelancer writers, listen.

It’s probably not going to be that long novel you wrote that’s going to get you that copywriting job. Instead, it will be a punchy article written simply. Stick with the information your audience is looking for. Present it in the most digestible form.

If you read the blogs of successful freelancers and entrepreneurs, you’ll see that their writing is simple and direct.

People scan when they read. So it’s best to use short sentences, to write informally, and erase flowery language. Clients like to know right away what they’re reading.

There’s a reason why Dr. Seuss’s books are so timeless. The words and structure he chooses are the building blocks of communication.

Just take this passage from The Cat in the Hat as an example:

Have no fear, little fish,’ Said the Cat in the Hat. ‘These Things are good Things.’
And he gave them a pat.

The story is told. Can’t you visualize the scene? There’s no need for additional words. For that would just be mean.

No matter what kind of freelance work you do, we are all communicators. For this reason, keep your emails, blog posts, projects, etc. as simple and direct as possible. An overflow of information will only weigh your clients and their audience down.

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.

You sent out queries. You cold-called prospects. You were referred by your cousin’s friend’s uncle’s great niece. Starting out as a new freelancer you were scavenging. And then all at once you have three substantial projects under your belt! It’s like you’re saying “help!” and “whoo-yoo!” at the same time.

Getting your first job is a terrific feeling. But it can also be overwhelming. Even though you’ve read all the blogs and you’re skills are top-notch, you can’t help but feel a little nervous.

So what can you do to calm your nerves and deliver the best for your client? As Dr. Seuss says, you have to just go right along. See each project as a stepping stone because that’s how it is for every freelancer – regardless of experience.

Working on projects is an excellent way to realize your weak points. That way, you’ll know what to do better next time. Clients like to work with freelancers who search for improvement.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

As freelancers, we have a lot of questions: from taxes, to clients, to feedback requests about our work. We have more hats to wear than most. But you know what I’ve found? It’s not as hard as it seems. Really! In fact, the answers to our most complicated questions are indeed clear. They’re right at our fingertips.

Blogs and forums are a great place to start. Fellow freelancers share the hard-knock lessons they’ve already learned so you don’t make the same mistakes. You can also ask your clients. Don’t wait until the project is finished though. Ask them throughout the project what you can do to make the process of working with you better.

You may get stumped when you don’t know the answer to something. But it doesn’t mean someone with the answer will be stumped too. Often, people are happy to share answers with you. It gives them a warm feeling and it helps you.

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

Isn’t this so true? In fact, most of us are doing that right now. As a writer, I read a lot. I also learn a lot from the things I read. But the time I learn the most is when I just sit down and write.

You may be thinking there’s a lot for you to learn. It may seem intimidating. But the trick is to make a habit of learning something new every day. If you are a designer, try different techniques in Photoshop. If you are a programmer, learn new snippets of code. Writers – write every day. Even if it’s a few paragraphs of a blog post, just get words flowing.

Since a lot of us are “sitting alone in a room” producing exceptional work, make sure you make your devoted space personable and pleasant. Decorate it with art or photos. Paint it an inspiring color. Get a big, comfy chair. Whatever it is that makes your home office the space you can focus, learn, and grow.

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.

Balance is key to freelancing. Don’t spend too much time on one task if it doesn’t get you the overall benefits you’re after.

Keep moving forward. Keep getting better at what you do. Read a lot and don’t write too much. Learn from others but teach yourself. Remember – it’s okay to take a break too. When you do, pick up a copy of your favorite Dr. Seuss book and discover more serious knowledge found in his fun writing.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by ivonnewierink.

What Does Your Freelance Office Look Like?

FreelanceSwitch.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:40 +0000

We’re looking for images of your freelance offices to be submitted to our FreelanceSwitch Facebook Group. This is for a post to run on FreelanceSwitch about Real Freelance Offices of FreelanceSwitch Readers in 2012. We’d love to see how your office looks.

Here are a few home office images we’ve received so far:

When submitting your freelance office photos be sure to include your name and what freelance work you do. We’re looking for 550px wide jpg images for the format.

Upload (or tag) your photo to the FreelanceSwitch Facebook group to participate.

8 Ways to Network Like a Pro

FreelanceSwitch.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:08 +0000

Networking events can be nerve-wracking.

You’re in a room with a bunch of people you don’t know and you have to make conversation or risk looking like a wallflower. But just because networking events can make you uncomfortable or nervous doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attend. On the contrary—it can be great practice!

Here are some tips on how to make your next networking event a success:

Mingle

The worst networkers are those who attend events with their friends and then talk to only their friends all night. It’s one of my pet peeves—you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. So If I see a group of people off to the side of the room talking only to themselves for an hour, I get turned off. I want to talk to people who are open to making new connections, not people who are using the networking event as their own private social gathering.

Dress the Part

You want to look like you belong there, so leave the hoodie and sneakers at home.

You won’t make an impression (at least, not a good one) if you look dishevelled, disorganized, or overly casual. But also pick something that makes you feel good—a great dress or those new shoes you’ve been wanting to wear will help you exude confidence in what can be an uncomfortable setting.—TheDailyMuse

You don’t have to go out and buy a business suit, but be mindful of looking presentable. Dirty fingernails and smelly jeans are a turn off. You want to put your best foot forward, and the first thing people judge you on is your appearance.

Bring Business Cards

I always feel like a real loser when people ask me for my business card and I forgot to bring them or I ran out. Get yourself a nifty little business card carrying case and keep it stocked—something that’s easy to slip into your purse or your pocket.

Know How to Explain What You Do

“What do you do?” is the most frequently asked question at a networking event. Have your spiel down pat and keep it short. If people are interested, they’ll ask you to elaborate.

Be a Good Listener

Does striking up a conversation with a complete stranger fill you with dread? The solution is simple – just ask them something about themselves. People love to talk about themselves, so questions like “what do you do?” and “where do you work?” are simple and effective ways to get a conversation started at a networking event. —NetworkingStrategyGuide

The most annoying thing I can think of when talking to a stranger (well, anyone in fact) is one-upmanship. While it’s tempting to make connections with a complete stranger, try to avoid taking over the conversation and making it all about you. Instead, really listen to what the person is saying and ask questions. You will learn a lot more about someone with your mouth shut and your ears open than the other way around.

Get Around the Small Talk

Ask open-ended questions to get beyond small talk.

The goal here is to always ask people questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. Pick questions that demand a real answer, like, “How has your industry changed in the past 10 years?” “What are your customers asking for the most?” and “Why do you think that is?”—Mashable

Make Eye Contact

It’s always uncomfortable when you are talking to someone, especially someone you just met, and they’re constantly looking around and over your shoulder. That’s when I can tell the conversation is over. And I walk away from the person offended.

Follow Up

Don’t put all of those business cards you collected in a drawer and forget about them. Follow up! Did you meet someone you really connected with? Remind them that you exist and see if you can make the relationship more meaningful.

Send your new contact an email telling him or her it was pleasure to meet them at the event, what you learned from the conversation, and why you think it would be good to keep in touch.—MediaBistro

Perhaps you could meet for lunch or a coffee sometime during the week. Don’t let a potentially great new contact fall by the wayside just because you are too lazy to follow up.