Articles by Freelance Switch from June 2012

Facebook is an integral part of my small business. See, I own a niche wedding publication and use Facebook to interact with my readers and fans. Its important to me to have engagement not only on my w...

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at incorporation and working with family. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you ...

In light of the recent Tuts+ Premium compromise, we’ve been auditing our systems to make sure they all have good practices around account and password storage. Because our FreelanceSwitch s...

Ive written a couple of blog posts this week about plagiarism. Its a serious offense for writersfreelance or on staffand has ruined many a journalists career.Youd think these journalists would learn f...

The advent of social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter have many small businesses abandoning traditional media, such as print advertising in favor of the web. But when it comes to these tr...

I recently wrote about content theft, how my FreelanceSwitch blog posts ended up on another persons blog without proper credit. Scratch thatthere was no credit! My blog post was published and another ...

When you get a huge workflow of content writing and the clients are diverse with varying requirements and expectations, how do you manage your output to ensure high standards are still maintained? Con...

If you know me, you know I love a good study. And I found the findings in the 2012 Oriella PR Network Global Digital Journalism Study to be fascinating.Titled The Influence Game: How News is Sourced a...

Part of being a freelancer is persistence: cold calling, checking up on a pitch, or setting up an interview with an important source all take a bit of determination to pull off successfully. But often...

I had a crazy thing happen to me that I want to share because it is an important lesson to anyone who works hard to create great content for their blog or website.Someone who reads my blog posts on Fr...

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive? ...

If you have found this website then you have already taken the first step to becoming a freelancer, that of seeking information on how to morph your current job situation into a freelance career you w...

Do you want a artistic freelance business name? Or an effective freelance business name?Naming a business is an exciting proposition, full of promise and possibility. But before choosing The Stardust ...

I often hear from new graduates, new freelancers, and new business people that they have a bunch of great ideas and they have things passions they love to do (writing, designing, etc), but they have n...

There are roughly 1.6 million freelances who live and work in the United Kingdomthats about 1 in every 20 workers. A study by Kingston University and PCG, the UKs largest professional association repr...

In the world of freelance writing, where competition can be fierce, it is critical to separate oneself and highlight talents, skills and abilities. Webinars are a perfect way to accomplish this, but b...

I recently wrote a blog post about how New Orleans will be the first large U.S. city to not have a daily newspaper, as the owners of The Times-Picayune reported that they will be going to a three-time...

If youve been a solo freelancer for any significant stretch of time, youve probably learned the hard way that a work project can go horribly wrong. They turn out to be life lessons in the long run, bu...

It all started quite innocently. Monday morning’s heavy e-mail load included a call for entries from a photography competition organizer. The call for entries was forwarded by an acquaintance.Th...

Does money equal happiness? A new study by CareerBuilder, an online job search site, finds that equation isnt necessarily always true.While compensation is definitely important, workers dont necessari...

Being easy to find is crucial for a freelancer. That used to mean making sure that you had a name your own or a brand name that started with A so you came first in the phone book. These days, it mea...

One of the biggest obstacles that keeps many writers in the US from embracing the freelance life is healthcare.I feel your pain there, since I left a particularly cushy corporate healthcare plan at a ...

As a freelancer, your success depends on how well you can sell. Dont like to sell or dont know how? Too bad. Time to put away the excuses and buckle down. The future of your freelance business depends...

Want potential clients to actually order your services instead of bounce from your site?Then, you need the right About page.As the second most visited page on any website, people want to know who they...

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive? ...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

Its a given today that freelancers working in cafes or from their homes will spend long stretches of their days sitting at a table or desk while working on a laptop computer. Sitting all day on a lapt...

I have a friend who has a very stressful job: shes a hospice nurse. Summer helps people end their life in the most humane way possible. Shes amazing. Her blog, QueenBloggy.com, chronicles her life in ...

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at workloads and portfolio pieces. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a ...

Giveaway: we’re giving away 10 “Free Forever” Paydirt accounts. To enter leave a comment after this review of Paydirt.If you have accounting software, it probably includes a time-tra...

Creating a business plan for your freelance business might sound like the most boring task in the world, but just because youre not keen on creating one doesnt mean you shouldnt.If you are a passionat...

It can be kind of easy to get into a rut as a freelancer. I mean your sofa is well worn and your daily habits are well set. As you talk to the bigwigs of XYZ Company on Skype who will know you are wea...

Where a freelancer does his or her job is important. Some people prefer to work outside of their homes while others try to create a home office that gives them some space to be creative.We recently as...

Have you ever wondered how really successful freelance writers got where they are?It can seem like those six-figure freelancers are a different species than you are, when you’re trying to get st...

You cant just be a writer or a photographer for a living anymoreyou have to have some sort of working knowledge of many different skills, like blogging, crafting a press release, social media marketin...

You’re an adept, professional and fortunate freelance developer. As such, you’ve got loads of work on and everyone wants a part of you. But like all things, too much of something can also ...

Your blog can be a powerful tool for attracting and signing new clients for your freelance business. Like every part of your marketing, it pays to invest the time needed to publish a blog that shows y...

Keeping people on your website for as long as possible is something everyone who owns a website wrestles with. The longer people stay on your site, the more engaged they become, the more you can sellw...

Grammatical rules provide boundaries within which greater written communication is possible. If you lack a clear understanding of grammar rules, it can keep your ideas shackled to a fear of writing or...

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive? ...

Leadership is often over-estimated. It is over-estimated because many assume being a leader consumes much of a persons time and effort. This mentality, however, often defeats leadership. Many great l...

If you just read that headline and it resonated with you, then you are probably one of the millions and millions of people who were hit hard by the economic downturn.After years of punching a time clo...

I hate typos. They are so embarrassing. When I make one, I cringe and want to hide under a rock for a good 24 hours. Recently I had to make some room under that rock for Mitt Romney.Last Wednesday, pr...

How many times has a colleague done something that turns widely profitable, or landed a great gig, and instead of being happy for their success, all you can think is, Why didnt I think of that?Jealous...

There are loads of different types of clients out there and chances are at some point you’ll get to meet all of them. So let’s take a look through some typical clients and see if you reco...

Ive had some funny and weird things happen to me lately that concern freelancers. I dont know if the moon is full or what, but I have gotten some great examples of how NOT to pitch an editor that I th...

Some lucky freelance writers have supportive spouses who’re rooting for them all the way. Their friends refer them clients. Their neighbors respect their privacy and leave them alone during work...

There are lots of reasons why people start a freelancing career. Maybe theyre sick of working for someone else. Maybe they want the freedom to work from home. Perhaps they are tired of the 9 to 5 rout...

About a year ago my best client walked away. I called her up to find out what I did wrong, and she replied in a mild tone of voice Ill let you know if your services are still relevant to my business....

Ready to grow your business? Tuts+ Premium has two brand new premium guides to help you! Veteran FreelanceSwitch contributors Amber Turner and Patrik Larsson have shared their experience navigati...

Heres the situation: You are a successful freelancer who has a hard time turning down work. And youre busy. Too busy, in fact, to do much of anything but work. Because you work by yourself, you are no...

When a prospect offers you a freelance writing gig, do you find yourself nearly jumping up and shouting, “Yes! Me! Pick me!”?If so, you are probably leaving money on the table. If you play...

Have you ever gotten stuck in a rut? I think most of us freelancers have been there at least once or twice in our livesI know I have. I got this email from a fellow freelance writer a couple of weeks ...

Even in the best of economic times, freelancers often walk a tight financial edgesome months you may be flush with money, while other months will leave you searching under the couch cushions just to m...

Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive? ...

Looking for a new client? The FreelanceSwitch job board is a great resource of freelance gigs and opportunities. These opportunities are in various fields, from development to writing to design, and c...

What is your goal at a networking event?Are you looking to land new clients, make industry specific connections, or just mingle with fellow freelancers?As you prepare to attend a networking mixer, cho...

Every five weeks or so, our team finishes up another issue of our magazine. The last week of production is always the most stressful. We send our issues to our printer on a Tuesday, and then we all si...

The difference between disarray and efficiency can be compared to having a Mac truck tread on your forehead or having yourself a weekly afternoon massage.Okay, so maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but...

There very well may come a time in your freelance career where you need to hire a freelance contractor to help you out on a project. Perhaps your expertise doesnt quite match what your client needs, o...

To many designers, “revisions” can be a dirty word. I think the reason for this is the fact that these three little syllables can have so many radically different meanings from project to ...