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[ November 12th, 2008 | by Steve | No Comments ]Continue Reading...

Steve November 21st, 2008 No Comments

Telecommuting Leads for 11/21/08

Categorized under: Job Leads

Photo Credit: Nicholas T

Joe November 20th, 2008 5 Comments

True Stories of Freelancing

Categorized under: Lessons Learned

Photo Credit: wsssst

One of the early lessons I discovered was that, as one great freelancer put it: “You can’t always git what you wa-a-nt.” True in life and true in business. But all I wanted was to be paid, and this one client from hell wasn’t forking it over.

It was the third job I’d done for this client — all of them small jobs. No more than $30 per invoice. They’d always paid up quickly, so I was surprised to find they hadn’t paid that third invoice, which was now 30 says past due. And it was small…something like $50.

So I resent the invoice along with a friendly reminder. Just you know, hey, it looks like this one got lost in the shuffle so here it is again. 30 days later, they still hadn’t paid. Now, since I’ve been on the other end, I know that when someone doesn’t pay a legitimate bill in 60 days, it’s because they don’t have the money.

Unfortunate, but not my problem. Well, not my responsibility, anyway. I knew I was going to have to become the squeaky wheel so I would get the grease. I sent the invoice a third time, with a not-so-friendly reminder that they were now 60 days past due. No response, no check, no nothing. So now what? It’s only 50 bucks, right? Just let it go, Joe. But it was a legitimate debt and I’d already done the work so it was bugging me.

So I sent the following sternly worded email:

This invoice is now more than 60 days past due, and the other amount due not shown on this invoice is much later than that. Please pay $52 immediately so I don’t have to take further collection action.

I got a check a few days later, an apology by email, and never heard from the client again. Oddly enough, last time I checked, I was still listed as the editor in the online magazine’s credits.

Lessons Learned

Sternly worded letters will lose clients.
You don’t want clients that require sternly worded letters.
Therefore I highly recommend sternly worded letters in the right circumstances, such as when trying to collect a debt.

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Steve November 20th, 2008 No Comments

Telecommuting Leads for 11/20/08

Categorized under: Job Leads

Photo Credit: lst1984

Writing/Editing Jobs

Technical Writer Wanted
Project Porchlight Writer/Editor
Humorous Political Monologue Writer
Corporate & Business Content blog Writer
WordPress Blogger
Opinionated Bloggers with Blogging Friends
Las Vegas Writers Needed
SEO Writer/Expert
Technical Editor and Desktop Publishing
Marketing Email Writer/Designer

Graphic/Design Jobs

Freelance Artist/Adventure Game Illustrator
Interactive Flash Designer
Photoshop Designer Wanted
Freelance Illustrator/Designer
Wanted: High End Front-End Designer
E-Commerce Company Seeking Freelance Graphic Artist
Web Designer with Photography Experience
Web Page Designer
Illustrator/Print Designer to Create Poster
Extraordinary Web Designer with Film Passion

Development/Technical Jobs

Coldfusion/SQL Programmer
Flash AS3 Developer Needed
Web Developer
PHP Coder/Web Developer
Web Developer
Web Database Developer
iPhone Application Developer
Need Two Rails Proficient Experts
PHP/MySQL/X-Cart Developer
PHP/MySQL Developer
Freelance ASP.Net Web Developer
Adobe LiveCycle Forms Developer
Web Developer for Temporary Work
Sr. Drupal Developer

Everything Else

Website Ad Sales

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Brianna November 19th, 2008 3 Comments

How to Avoid Freelance Burnout

Categorized under: Work/Life Tips

Photo Credit: Jami Dwyer

Sure, the freelance life has its advantages, especially if there’s a specific reason for doing it - like being home with the kids or having a flexible work schedule. Sometimes, though, working from home can become cumbersome, and may even start to feel as tedious as working for Corporate America.

You’ve gone to all the trouble of setting up your fabulous freelance career, only to find that you are no longer motivated to work. You might even find yourself goofing off instead of getting work done. That’s a sure sign of burnout.

How can you avoid freelance burnout? Here are a few tips:

1. Do only what you love.

Doing something you hate every day is only going to make you less motivated. Make sure you are taking on projects that fall in line with what you truly enjoy doing. This will help you feel inspired to tackle your projects because you won’t feel that “workplace dread.”

2. Work only with clients you love.

Avoid clients whose work style and values don’t fall in line with yours. They will only make you miserable. Make sure you know how to deal with problem clients you may already have, then focus on finding clients and projects that make you happy.

3. Take breaks.

It’s unhealthy to stare at the computer screen for 8 hours straight. Take an actual lunch break. Get up and stretch. Get some fresh air. Meet your spouse for lunch. The best way to feel good about what you’re doing is to take time to enjoy it.

4. Expand your services.

Maybe you love writing for blogs, but you’re also pretty handy with writing website content. Try offering a new service that connects with what you currently offer. You may get to work with some new clients, and puff up your pocketbook at the same time. Money can be an excellent motivator!

5. Stumble.

Yes, Stumble can be your friend! If you feel the need to laugh, search for humor. If you need some inspiration, search for “design” or “inspiring authors.” You never know what you might find, and how it might affect you. You can even work this into your break time. It never hurts to laugh a little.