Successful bloggers are often addicts to information gathering. However information gathering is not enough. You also need to be able to filter all the vast quantities that you consume everyday and identify that which makes sense to your audience. After this, come up with a way that allows you to communicate this information to your audience in a practical and appealing way.

To succeed in blogging, you will need to read a lot. Reading books and stuff on the Internet, especially blog posts of successful bloggers and writers is one way to become an information maven. Since most bloggers specialize in their niche, this will also give your research some direction and help you filter and identify ideas for your blog posts. Reading however is not the only way to gather information. Being on the lookout and observant is another way. Successful bloggers say that they always get blog post ideas from even non-related events and experiences in life. Some experiences or events offer an analogy that can be applied and put into a blog post which can add more impact if readers can relate to it.

In order to be a good writer, you have to be a good reader. Reading consistently sharpens your skills, helps you to be innovative in your writing and contributes to appealing content. Reading well-written content cannot be over-emphasized. Fortunately, most successful bloggers out there have well-written copy on their sites, which is one of their selling points. Be diverse in the kind of content you consume. Read productivity blogs, niche blogs and notice the different styles of different writers. Do not fall into the trap of reading only content that appeals to you. The more diverse you are in your reading habits, the more rounded your knowledge will be and the more likely you are going to write content that your niche readers will appreciate and learn from.

What sets Mavens apart, though, is not so much what they know but how they pass it along. The fact that Mavens want to help, for no other reason than because they like to help, turns out to be an awfully effective way of getting someone’s attention.” – Malcolm Gladwell (Tipping Point)

David Gitonga is a freelance content creator working
with various clients in setting up websites, blogs and writing
web content on a regular basis. He is also actively involved
in creating social media content for SEO.

 
You can find more written by David Gitonga by clicking these links:

facebook.com/DavGit
twitter.com/DavGit
G+/DavGit
davgit@freelancecontentcreator.com

photo credit: mac.rj

A good marketer not only knows how to do a great job in marketing but also how to listen to his or her audience. If you don’t understand who your target audience is, you will not understand what they need. As a blogger, you want to know what resonates with your audience before you start writing. As you get to know them, you will know what they like and where they need help. How can you do all this?

One thing that most professional bloggers do is to look at the posts that receive the most engagement. What kind of posts are your readers commenting on and what are they saying in those comments? Take note of what and how they are saying it. Sometimes, their comments and their questions can be used as topic for your next post.

Listening to your audience also opens up new opportunities where you can offer your services. For example, you could develop a teaching course on a subject of interest to your audience or you could offer some consulting service that helps them solve their problems. These complimentary services that are targeted at your audience can only be spotted if you take time to know your audience.

David Gitonga is a freelance content creator working with various clients in setting up websites, blogs and writing web content on a regular basis. He is also actively involved in creating social media content for SEO. His website is www.freelancecontentcreator.com.

You can follow David Gitonga by clicking these links:

facebook.com/DavGit

twitter.com/DavGit

gplus.to/DavGit

david@e-labz.com

photo credit: LeWEB11

When your main focus is supposed to be on the work you are doing for your clients, it’s tough to have to switch gears and start dealing with the ‘money side of things’. So we’re here to share some programs with you that will hopefully save you some time (and money). Here’re the three programs to check out:

1. Shoeboxed – Shoeboxed is an amazing program when it comes to logging your receipts or expenses. You just send in any documents you have lying around in their pre-paid envelope and they will input them in your virtual Shoebox. Another cool feature is if you have receipts lying around from supplies you’ve purchased or possibly client lunches, you can use your Shoeboxed iPhone app (there’s an Android one currently in the works!) to snap a picture and send it to your Shoebox! Plus, you can mail in any business cards you receive in a pre-paid envelope and Shoeboxed will manually enter the data into your account so you’ll be able to search for clients or colleagues via first name, last name, email, or company. However you look at it, Shoeboxed is a great and unique way to store all of your important documents!

2. Outright – If you’re in the market for a financial program that’s self-reliant in inputting data from your bank account so you don’t need to lift a finger, Outright may be right for you! Outright automatically updates all your banking info during the night and categorizes all of your transactions as well. Then when you log in to Outright, you’ll have all the info regarding how much money you’re pulling in along with where your money is going. Another excellent part of having Outright is that you can get accurate estimates for your quarterly and end of year taxes so you’ll feel more prepared as you reach tax time.

3. Freshbooks – Invoicing can be tough. Not just the portion where you create invoices and send them out. Sometimes the toughest part is keeping up with who has paid you and who hasn’t, along with actually getting the payments. This is where Freshbooks comes in. Freshbooks offers you a place to input the hours you’ve worked, produce professional looking invoices, and have them emailed to the client directly from you or sent out via snail mail by the wonderful people at Freshbooks. Freshbooks also gives you a place to process any PayPal, credit card, or E-check payments that are sent your way. You can also schedule payment reminders for those clients that may have forgotten or put your invoice on the back burner.

Hopefully these websites will help you out and keep you on the lookout for other spectacular programs that are hidden out there in the depths of the web. As a freelancer, what types of software do you recommend?

photo credit: Images_of_Money

Happy New Year! We’ve bid 2011 farewell and are now welcoming 2012. As with every start of a new year, there’s always a feeling of hope and uncertainly for what’s to come our way. As freelancers, we ask ourselves, ‘Will this be a productive year with plentiful amounts of work? Will 2012 be an excellent year financially?’ While we can’t give completely accurate answers to these questions, here are the top 3 predictions for freelancers in 2012.

1. We will see an increase in people trying their hand at freelancing. With the unemployment rate (which, according to CNNMoney, was last reported at 9.4% in December 2011) staying high and gas prices always on the rise, many people will decide to try their hand at freelancing. In turn, if more people make an attempt at it, freelancing will also begin to play a larger part in continuing to mend our economy. But current freelancers may not need to worry, which leads us to our next prediction:

2. Companies will begin outsourcing more of their work to freelancers. This seems especially viable considering that large companies have to worry about not only paying their employees for a 40+ hour work week but also having to pay for health insurance and possibly 401K. Before working as a freelancer, I worked as a secretary for a small engineering firm. Although they had several clients, work wasn’t always constant. Looking back now (and I would have never admitted it then), someone could have done much of my job from home without having to go in everyday. We may see this more in companies that suffered financially in 2011 and are now trying to save money where they can.

3. Social media will still be king. With Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn thriving (and also with the arrival of Google+), social media will still be one of the main ways to put your name out there and get people talking. With more people using social media now to communicate with loved ones, friends, and business associates, we will most likely see a growth in people who join the social media revolution. Although one question on many people’s mind is if all of these websites will still be around in January 2013. Will we see one of these websites drop off the map, or even more interestingly, will we see any new social networks enter into the mix? Only time will tell.

Although no one can say for sure what the future holds, hopefully we will see a fulfilling and profitable year ahead. What are some of your predictions for freelancing in 2012?

photo credit: Suus Wansink

There might be a freelancer out there who loves dealing with the bookkeeping elements of freelancing, but if so, she’s well hidden. Keeping track of income, expenses, amounts due, estimated taxes…well, it’s just not fun. But it’s a necessary evil. If you don’t keep proper account of the money side of your freelance business, you can run that business right into the ground – or worse, get into serious legal trouble. So, even if you’re a newbie with few clients, it’s a good idea to develop strong bookkeeping habits right from the start. How to do this? It doesn’t take massive brain work. Just good organization.

1. Write Everything Down. Get into the habit of immediately recording every single dollar you receive, expect to receive, or spend on your business. It’s not uncommon for freelancers to lose money by forgetting to invoice clients or failing to keep track of outstanding amounts or expenses owed. Don’t throw away money like that. Create a simple spreadsheet through Excel, Microsoft or Google Docs, that includes the client’s name, the amounts paid, the amounts due, expenses incurred, and the dates all financial transactions took (or will take) place. If you have dozens of clients and projects, you may want to use an online bookkeeping system like FreshBooks or QuickBooks, both of which also include an invoicing service.

2. Develop a good filing system. Every time you spend money on your business, you should obtain a receipt and file it in a specially-designated folder. Remember to print up online receipts and put them in your folder, or create a digital folder on your computer to store those (personally, I do both). Also, if the expenses are client-related, write down the name of the project or client on the top of the receipt, so you can remember to whom to bill the expense. If the expenditure is a general business expense, remember to mark the receipt “deductible” when appropriate, so it can be written off.

3. Brush up on deductible expenses. You can lose lots of money unnecessarily by failing to claim tax deductions for certain business expenses. On the other hand, you can into huge trouble by writing off certain expenses that aren’t legally deductible. Avoid both problems by educating yourself on which business expenses are deductible. Under most circumstances, any expense that furthers your freelance career, from writing classes to printer toner, can be deducted. But it’s better to be safe than sorry: if you have a question as to whether something is tax deductible, ask a qualified accountant.

4. Understand your tax responsibilities. Okay, this part is really not fun, but understanding your tax responsibilities will help motivate you to keep clear, organized bookkeeping records. In the U.S. freelancers are required to file estimate tax reports on a quarterly basis. In certain other parts of the world, freelancers pay a flat tax on their earnings at regular intervals. Once you understand your obligations, you can approximate how much money you’ll need to put aside for each project for tax purposes. You may even want to add “less taxes” it as a line item to your income spreadsheet so you’ll remember what you’re netting for each project.

5. Maintain a Separate Account for Business-Related Monies. Even if you don’t open an account in the name of your business, you should maintain accounts that are only used for business purposes. For example, you might keep a separate checking account for the business and open a savings account earmarked for your taxes. Keeping your accounts separate – and being diligent about it – will enable you to instantly distinguish between business and personal expenditures. This will be an enormous help come tax time – or if you are in the unfortunate position of being audited by the IRS.

Mike Law has extensive experience as a freelance journalist and online marketer, and has worked with a number of leading Sydney companies ranging from online marketing agencies to compensation lawyers. If you’d like to get in touch, you can send Mike an email.

photo credit: o5com

Making the leap to become a freelancer is daunting, exciting and challenging, all rolled into one.

Being your own boss has huge advantages, but it can also mean that in times of uncertainty, there is no one to turn to, such as when a new project arises, or when work is taken on for a new and therefore unknown client.

In this day and age, time is money, and there is a temptation to jump straight in and start the project right away, after all there’s no time like the present.

Preparation is key

Some preparation before you start work, and some gentle client management along the way
can make all the difference in ensuring the freelancer and client relationship remains a happy
one.

Document exactly what’s expected, by whom and when before you start. It can also be useful to keep a project timeline which can be updated as you go. If things change as the project progresses, report back to the client immediately and let them know of the changes. Make sure they are happy with the changes before the project progresses any further.

It may sound formal, but defining and agreeing on terms and conditions before commencing the work ensures that both parties clearly understand and agree to their roles.

If we’re talking self-preservation then the first thing to ask yourself is ‘what’s my liability? If I make a mistake, what could happen and how much will it cost me to rectify it?’

That’s really your worst-case scenario and it’s where you should start. If you identify every potential pitfall, it’s straightforward enough to work back and consider which are the biggest areas of risk – and do something about them before you might actually have to.

It might seem obvious but, as a starting point, try thinking about:

• What am I being asked to do? And can I actually do it? (Be honest!)

• What is my client expecting at the end? Can I deliver, on time and to specification?

• Will I control all or part of a budget?

• What sign-off procedure, if any, is in place?

What else? If you don’t already have it, invest in a specialist professional liability insurance policy. The security that comes in knowing that you have an insurer and specialized legal team behind you is priceless.

Theresa Reardon is Managing Producer of InsuranceBee Inc (www.insurancebee.com). InsuranceBee specializes in professional liability insurance for independent consulting firms and freelance professionals

photo credit: freeflyer09

Did you know that writer’s block can last anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 years or possibly even longer? And 15% of Stephen King’s characters are actually murdered due to writer’s block? As most writers know, there are few worse things that can happen while working on a book or project than writers block. Even though writer’s block can strike at the most inconvenient of times and seem to linger forever, we’re here to help you move past that wall get those ideas flowing again!

Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat!

• If writer’s block strikes in the middle of your latest project, the first and most important thing you should do is not try to force the ideas. One exercise you can do instead is to try reading a book outside of what you would normally read and try listening to some jazz or classical music. Studies have shown just stimulating different parts of the brain can help to develop ideas that you normally would not come up with. Sometimes that simple exercise is all you need, but if it’s not working, don’t worry!
• Now might be the best time to turn on the coffee pot and have a hot cup of Joe! Why you ask? Caffeine does wonders for waking up a tired body and a tired mind! Still no end to your writer’s block? No problem! Take a stroll through the park or ride your bike. Just make sure you have something handy to log any ideas you have while you’re away from your trusty computer.
• If you’re still not experiencing that moment of inspiration and are feeling exhausted, go ahead and hit the hay. Sometimes a good night’s sleep is all you need to get those wheels turning again. Just make sure to tackle your project first thing in the morning. Checking emails or looking up that great new meatloaf recipe can wait until after you’ve spent some time working through your writer’s block. If you’re still not seeing results, you can try these methods again or just try to work on another project in the meantime. Just know that writer’s block does not last forever and will dissipate over time.

All’s Well that Ends Well

Hopefully these tips will help you through the next bout of writer’s block that comes your way. What normally helps you conquer your writers block?

photo credit: jetheriot

What makes popular blogs popular and great posts great? Is it their fantastic design?  Consistent useful content? The writer’s voice? Successful marketing strategies? While all these are definitely important, something else is involved.

Confidence

We love confident people – people who believe in themselves and those who are not afraid to express themselves. Confidence builds inspiration and charisma which, in turn, energizes those around. Usually confidence starts from the inside. Do you think you can be as good as other successful bloggers? Do you think you can create great posts that are worth reading? In most cases, we tend to pass opportunities because we are afraid that others might not like what we have to offer.  Don’t be afraid to experiment in your blog. As crazy as it might sound, this may be the break you need to get your voice out there.

Be Proactive

To be successful and to be viewed as an expert in anything, you need to have momentum. This means you need to keep moving forward by learning to be a better blogger, applying the suggestions provided and making changes where necessary. By being proactive, you are slowly learning what works and what doesn’t. At the same time, you are becoming better by learning and trying out new things.

Guest Blog

Just like exercising a little harder builds muscle, getting out of the comfort zone gives you more confidence and helps you grow. You need to dare to be better by trying out something different. Take time to guest blog for others, whether you have 2 or 22,000 followers.  Share your thoughts, opinions, aspirations and experiences in your guest blogs. By going that extra mile, you are slowly learning to put your fears aside, daring yourself for one more extra challenge and inspiring others with your experiences and thoughts.

You can find more written by David Gitonga by clicking these links:

facebook.com/DavGit
twitter.com/DavGit
G+/DavGit
davgit@freelancecontentcreator.com

Do you own a Smartphone? According to statistics, 1 in every 3 Americans owns a Smartphone and a recent study predicts 1 in every 2 Americans will own one by Christmas 2011. It seems there is no end to what these wonders of technology can do.  And they can be especially helpful to freelance writers.

Think about this: You are at home working on a new blog post and the ideas just won’t seem to come. You decide to make a run to the grocery store for a few things before the kids get out of school. You grab your keys, wallet, and cell phone and head to the store. Then it happens. Right in the middle of the bread aisle, you have the best idea for your blog post! But what’s this?! There’s no pen and paper in sight! Well, luck is on your side because if that cell phone you’re carrying is a Smartphone there are several apps you can download to help you out in those sticky situations.

1. Voice Recording Apps - iProRecorder can record your thoughts anytime or anywhere with this iPhone app. You can even pick up where you left off on an existing recording. Koememon is a great app for the Android phone. Not only will this phone record a voice memo, it will also convert that memo to text!
2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary – Ever find yourself in a situation where you need to look up a word’s meaning and don’t have a dictionary nearby? Now both the iPhone & Android carry this app and best of all, IT’S FREE!
3. Thought Organization Apps – Thinking Space for the Android and iBlueSky for the iPhone are both great apps to help you organize your thoughts. Both allow you to easily add & arrange topics, add hyperlinks & notes to your topics, and even transfer your finished maps to your desktop!
4. Time Tracking Apps – Workload is a great iPhone app for freelancers. You can easily track the time you spend on projects when you’re at home or on the go. If you have an Android phone and want to track your project time, Dr. Timer is for you!  This app even allows you to generate your project reports as a table or chart.
5. Stopping Writers Block – Dealing with writers block can be one of the most frustrating parts of being a freelance writer. Luckily, Idea Generator can be the perfect app to help you out of this rut. Available on both the iPhone and Android, this app will allow you to input a word and will generate 2 other words from different categories in order to help you escape the clutches of writers block!

Whether you’re at home or on the go, Smartphones can definitely make managing your freelance writing career much easier. What apps do you think are the best for being productive on the go?

photo credit: andyarthur

For many freelancers, creativity is at the heart of what they do. But this doesn’t come easily all of the time and those periods where the well of inspiration has run dry are the bane of anyone who relies on ideas to earn a living. The good news is there are ways to improve the odds in your favour and increase your creativity on a regular basis. Here are four examples.

1) Redecorate your office

Many offices are dull and drab – grey desk, functional chair and plain walls with little decoration. It’s time to liven things up! The psychological effects our surroundings have on us are being given increasing exposure and importance and the office should be no different. Choosing relaxing, natural colours and including plants and artworks are good ways to boost the feel-good factor of your workplace and boost your creativity.

Large corporations spend huge sums of money on designing their offices and many could barely be described as offices at all. Famously, Google’s Mountain View headquarters includes a wealth of creative features and relaxing areas. Not everyone can afford to install their own gym but anybody can adapt ideas from elsewhere to fit their own circumstances.

2) Create a chill-out zone

The digital age has us staring endlessly at our screens, both for admin work and for the creative side of things which we all enjoy. Often though, the best ideas come away from the computer when we have time to think and reflect on what we are trying to achieve and our imaginations can run wild.

Accommodating a chill-out zone into offices provides a way to break the screen habit, even if it is just for ten minutes or so a couple of times a day. Something as simple as a comfortable chair next to a window, with no direct view of a screen, can be a good way to stimulate creative thinking. Adding plants, relaxing art works or ornaments and even the colour of the walls can all have a significant impact.

3) Re-structure your working day

As well as having a creative environment to work in, having a consistent structure to the working day will help increase productivity. Jumping hurriedly from task to task at a moment’s notice only creates chaos. Although this is bound to happen from time to time, setting out a defined timeline for work will keep this to a minimum. Build time into your day for creative thinking and include space for research or creative projects which may initially be only for your own amusement. You will be surprised at how often you will return to those ideas in the future and find a way to use them to earn money.

Keeping the right balance is essential – obviously you can’t afford to let your normal business or other essential matters slide, but don’t be afraid to be ruthless with anything that is expendable to create time.

4) Take some exercise

It has been scientifically proven that a small amount of exercise boosts both mood and creativity, whilst activities which don’t use up much energy often have the opposite effect. Something as simple as a brisk walk can have a profound effect on productivity with the benefits often lasting for hours. If you live near your office or work from home, why not try running or cycling for 30 minutes in the morning before beginning your working day?

Get away from your desk at lunchtime and get outside if the weather is good, even if it’s just for a brief period. This will help to rejuvenate you for the afternoon ahead.

Mark Chalcraft is a UK based writer who has his fair share of creative moments but is equally prone to suffering a lack of inspiration. He is writing on behalf of Quick Offices, providers of flexible rental offices.

photo credit: Perfecto Insecto