For more and more of us, the freelance life is where it’s at. But just because indie work is the most flexible and fulfilling way to make a living doesn’t mean it’s easy. And even when things are going extremely well, the pipeline of relevant leads is flowing and being converted into a steady stream […]
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Every so often, a product name that was once a household term becomes irrelevant and starts to fall off the radar. With the company’s recent restructuring and aggressive plans for innovation, PayPal is certainly not off the radar yet, but it’s also no longer hailed as the amazing solution that it once was – not […]
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With great freedom comes great responsibility. Freelancers can earn more, can set our own schedules and can have more creative freedom, but as masters of our own destinies, we get no paid sick leave, no built-in retirement plans and no guaranteed wages. That last one is an especially powerful factor, as it’s impossible to predict […]
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The odds are, as an independent business owner, you’re a mind-bogglingly busy person. It’s especially true of micropreneurs, but today, just about everybody is insanely busy. Between your responsibilities at work, you need to have a life outside of work, your clients, your car, your family, your pets, your friends and yes, even yourself, opportunities […]
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Are robots, artificial intelligence platforms and automation tools on the brink of rendering you obsolete? The jury’s out on that tricky question, but until tech reveals that it’s out to get us, it has plenty of help to offer. As time goes on and the tools advance in their capabilities, automation is becoming increasingly useful […]
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If you’re a freelancer (as I have been on and off for many years) the answer to the question “What Do Freelancers Need to Know About Project Management?” is likely a short and sweet: Nothing at all. Freelancers typically specialize in a core skill or service that they provide to clients, and aside from begrudgingly […]
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Freelance service providers and small business owners know full well just how challenging it can be to attract clients, fulfill orders and get paid efficiently and scalably. It’s unfortunate, but the extent to which you’re good at your job has little correlation with effective management of the customer life cycle. From finding your prospects to […]
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Working for yourself is where it’s at, whether you’re a freelancer who provides services to other businesses or a bootstrapping entrepreneur striving to bring your passion project to sustainable life. No more bosses taking credit for your ideas and output, no more limits on earning potential, no more nine-to-five grind and no more soul-crushing cubicles. […]
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The number one reason you aren’t earning more? You aren’t asking for more. There’s obviously a lot of calculated planning and relationship maintenance nuance goes into determining how much you bill per hour as a freelancer. But on another level, it is indeed as simple as raising your rates. More often than not, people defer […]
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When we consider the benefits of freelancing, it’s usually in the context of our own lifestyles as members of the work force. We think about the increased potential to earn and the freedom to set our own schedules and perform our work from the locations of our own choosing. Don’t forget, though, that the freelance-client […]
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One of the most enjoyable aspects of the freelancer’s life is the ability to work from anywhere, and increasing numbers are finding personal fulfillment and business success thanks to the rise of co-working. Sure, for many of us, non-virtual tasks are big parts of what we do, from networking and lining up clients to making […]
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What Attracts Coders to Open Source Software engineers are generally considered to be a defiant bunch. Whether or not these reputations are legitimate, the stereotypical coder marches to the beat of his own drummer. He keeps odd hours, delivers projects whenever he sees fit, is socially awkward, loves science fiction and is rabidly loyal to […]
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You aren’t like the others. You take pride in delivering top quality. It’s important to you as a freelancer to do your best work – to do the best work. You review, revise, incorporate oh so many contradictory pieces of feedback, and when you are done, you have a perfect deliverable. But along they way, […]
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It doesn’t really matter how much value you deliver, how far ahead of deadline you deliver it, or how above and beyond the agreed-upon scope of work you go. Getting your clients to pay up can sometimes be a challenge. Any measure you take to reduce friction along the way can help, which is why […]
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Bitcoins emerged in 2009 and have become an increasingly popular form of electronic payment ever since. Their use does not involve banks or credit card companies and no personal information about the consumer is at risk of identity theft. Bitcoins were designed to be as easy to use as credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal. […]
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Today’s businesses are all about the cloud. With so many killer services and apps on the market today, it’s hard to argue against it. Servers are scalable on demand with zero necessary maintenance. Data is automatically backed up in multiple locations and accessible from anywhere in the world. And cloud-based apps that make all aspects […]
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The month you launch your new freelance business, you’re likely to be (or have been) a jittery, double espresso-fueled, intimidated mess. But you’re also so high on adrenaline that you can crush that initial wave of projects like breakfast cereal and network successfully at conferences, Meetups and happy hours in the same day. You’re inhaling […]
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Credit and debit cards have become prevalent in our society. Direct deposit, online payment systems and the Internet have all contributed to the convenience, and sometimes necessity, of these electronic forms of payment. While using credit and debit cards is convenient, major retailers have recently experienced security breaches that left the credit card information of […]
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“What do you do?” Oh, that daunting, inevitable question you’ll be asked at every cocktail party, networking function, PTA meeting and family function. But before you reply with, “I’m a freelance designer,” or whatever your micropreneurial endeavor is in the broadest of strokes, think about what you’re sating about the brand that is your small […]
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6 Things You Need to Hear Before Opening Your Own Business You did it. You dreamed, you researched, you planned, and then you took the leap. The big leap – in faith, confidence and security. Deciding to open your own business is the first major step on your journey into the big unknown of entrepreneurship. […]
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