I love Zoho.com. I just want to make that disclaimer before I get too far into this post and you start to wonder about me. To summarize Zoho in a phrase, I would say that it is your business online. Zoho offers web-based apps for just about everything your business will ever need.
There are the standard office suite apps like a word processing app (Zoho Writer) and a spreadsheet app (Zoho Sheet) and a presentation app (Zoho Show). These are the ones that I use most frequently and they work just like the other web-based apps you’re used to (like GoogleDocs) or computer-based apps you’re used to (like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
But when it’s time to take your business to the next level, you can do that too. Zoho also has apps like a customer relationship management (Zoho CRM), a project management app (Zoho Project) an invoicing app (Zoho Invoices), a planning app (Zoho Planner), a document management app (Zoho Docs) and a central repository (Zoho Share). While most freelancers may happily use the basic office suite tools, they can use these “next level” business tools to make significant improvements in how their businesses perform. Click here to read more »
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When I first started freelancing, my Skype and my home number were sufficient. But over time, I realized that I needed to step up the professionalism if I wanted to charge more money.
Not only that, I needed to start separating my business and my personal life (a reality that was highlighted for me when a client called my home number late at night on, my birthday, and demanded that I work on his new project immediately).
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Beginning a new project without a contract in place can be a very risky move. Contracts will protect both the freelancer and the client and can avoid a lot of potential headaches. After securing a job with a client, your very next step should be drafting the contract to include all the pertinent points of the agreed upon task. Time frame, specific details of the job and compensation need to be clearly stated on the contract. With the beauty of the internet, face to face exchanging of these contracts is not necessary to fulfill their value. Everything can be done via e mail. Click here to read more »
For freelancers that do graphics or games or photography, 10 Steps.SG is for you. Featuring reviews and links to many of the photoshop applications available, it is a one stop shop to see which may be right for you. The company was developed by a full time art director for a gaming company. His interest and passion for anything artistic and creative motivated him to develop this site for anyone that shares the same interests. Click here to read more »
I have come across another job posting site for all you freelancers out there. This one is called Project 4 Hire and is free to job posters and freelancers. The site works on the bidding system, where available jobs show up on the board and interested freelancers then place their bid on the task. When you are awarded the task, a 5% fee, based on the amount to be paid for the job, must be paid to the hosts before the task is released. Some of the employers pay the 5% fee to enable their freelancers to be able to get started more quickly on the task. Joining is simple and quick. Pick a user name, set a password, and create your profile. Boom! Now you’re ready to start browsing available jobs.
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Today I found a source for some good, fun, educational entertainment. At Freelance America, each month they have guests on their show from all corners of the freelance industry. The shows are extremely insightful with information on what to do and what not to do as a freelancer. The site has a witty, laid back style where nobody takes themselves too seriously. Who says you have to be stodgy and boring to get things done? I’m with them. A live and learn attitude is sometimes the best way to get ahead.
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As a freelancer, it’s not unusual to periodically become overwhelmed with aspects of the job. Perhaps you have a difficult client or trouble hitting your financial goals. Whatever your conundrum is, your own personal mentor can help you through the situation. Score is a foundation partnered with the small business association to offer free advice, counseling and resources for any small business. They have been established since 1964 and just since last year, over 500 thousand people were helped by the organization. Each year Score helps create nearly 20,000 new small businesses.
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The internet is huge. Nobody can deny that. For many of us, it is our “go to” place when we seek information on just about anything. Telephone books, encyclopedias; even dictionaries are quickly becoming obsolete. If you don’t already have your business listed someplace on the web, now is the time to do so. Click here to read more »
![photo_8730_200910141[1]](http://freelanceweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/photo_8730_2009101411.jpg "photo_8730_200910141[1]")
Freelancing is my life. It's what I know, it's what I'm good at, and I can't imagine doing anything else. You can call me "Freddie the Freelancer"… because I'd prefer not to use my real name for reasons that I'll tell you about in a moment.
