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What You Need to Know About FreelancingOctober 18 2008

photo credit: foundphotoslj

As the economy continues to be a source of concern, an increasing number of people are turning to freelancing as a way to increase their income. It doesn’t matter what kind of work you decide to do, there are several things you should know about freelancing before you start (or at least before you find out the hard way!) in order to be successful with your freelance business.

Create a Budget

Yes, I know. I said the dreaded “B” word. Without a real budget though, you won’t have any idea how much money you need to make as a freelancer – or any other way to measure your degree of success.

If you’re working another job and freelancing on the side for additional income, you may know already that your “day job” covers your living expenses and debt repayments. For people who fall into this category, you can pick any income goal for your

Freelance Bidding Sites: Waste of Time or Potential For Real Work?June 23 2008

photo credit: BlueSunFlower

There seems to be two opinions held by writers regarding freelancing bidding sites – one of downright hatred, or one of tolerance. Five years ago, when I first started on my online freelance writing journey, I discovered a few of the freelance bidding sites. I primarily stuck with Rentacoder.com and Getafreelancer.com. Not knowing any other way to get paid for writing on a regular basis, I ended every day with about an hour’s worth of “bidding” for work on these sites.

If you don’t know, freelance bidding sites are communities where individuals and businesses list work they need someone to do and where individuals and businesses can express their interest in doing that work, along with their price (the “bid”).

In theory, it’s a perfect solution. There are many reas

In or out? Working at and away from homeMay 16 2008

photo credit: Janesdead

The freelancing life fits me quite well. I’m an introvert by nature so I don’t miss the office noise, water cooler gossip, and the general “you stab my back, I stab yours” mentality.

But some days I get an uneasy feeling, like I need to be around other people to prove to myself that I can live and work among the rest of the world without freaking out.

The only problem is that I live in a small town that hasn’t upgraded their broadband infrastructure just yet. There’s a Starbucks on the main street thoroughfare but unlimited wireless access is steep $40 per month.

For those times when I do venture outside my home office comforts, I have to scout out the best places to get a little work done while being sociable.

How do you find such places? What’s the best place for you? The foll

Want to be a freelance writer? Start here.May 14 2008

Debbie Dragon from MakeMoneyFromWriting.com knows what it takes to make a living online. She set a goal for herself a year ago—match her husband’s income within 12 months and do it all through online freelance writing. She met her goal.

Her assertion is bold. You don’t need previous writing experience. No college degree. No published works. Nothing but a desire to succeed and a willingness to make it happen.

Like many moms, Debbie wanted to take care of her babies and be able to help with household bills. Through trial and error, she put together a system anyone can use to run a highly successful freelance writing business.

As her income grew, Debbie began to share her experiences with friends and other close acquaintences. She soon realized her system was very robust and worth sharing with more than friends.

I stumbled on Debbie’s site and was excited to do a review for her freelance writing mentoring program. It’s a set of weekly e-classes which guide even the most technical neophytes to build successful freelance writing businesses—full or part time.

Instead of setting up a typical affiliate pitch (disguised as a review), we came up with an alternative. I’m very interested in helping others find and start successful freelance businesses. Debbie is very interested in sharing her online freelance writing success secrets.

What’s your freelance business paradise?May 12 2008

photo credit: Michelle Brea

Are you getting bored and tired in your current job? Are you looking for a change? Are you starting to wonder if there’s more to life than rushing from home to job to home again?

Don’t worry. I’d be willing to bet there are millions more just like you. Dreaming of moving away from the city—or the burbs—living a simple life and doing something that helps kick the commuting habit.

But, one person’s paradise may be another’s nightmare. Finding the right business for your own tastes and lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard. It just needs to be different.

That’s why I’m not a big fan of business opportunities or franchises. Because they force you into a system you may or may not be interested in pursuing for years to come. By the time this realizatio