Starting out as a freelancer isn’t easy. You won’t see instant results. You won’t be making a lot of money to start. Many have to keep traditional jobs until they start making an active, productive living by freelancing. This is difficult merely because freelancing is time consuming. In those early months, you’ll need to be doing all you can to build up your portfolio and that sometimes means making sacrifices monetarily.

I’ve worked with and competed for jobs with a wide variety of freelancers. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work for them. I also know what has worked and hasn’t worked in my own situation. From there, I’ve compiled a list of five mistakes I’ve seen many freelancers make.

1. Not Taking Low Pay/No Pay Jobs to start

If you’ve never written or designed anything for anyone other than yourself, you’re going to need to start getting a portfolio ready. One of the easiest ways for you to start out your business and bulk up your portfolio is to accept jobs. There are a variety of freelance websites, where you can bid on jobs and make money if you’re chosen for said job. This is the ideal type of place for a new freelancer to start out. However, you won’t be able to charge excessive amounts of money for your work. In fact, you might even have to take low paying jobs, in an attempt to stuff you portfolio. Of course, the positive thing about this is that you can almost always get a recommendation/testimonial from the clients you work with on these jobs.

I don’t often recommend taking no pay jobs. I do believe that, on rare occasions, no pay jobs have benefits. In these situations, they really aren’t no pay jobs. You can work with clients and even other freelancers. If you’re a writer, for your writing services, you can get links back to your website, credit for your work, or other services to promote yourself and your own freelance services. If you work with another freelancer, such as a website designer, consider having them design your website, in exchange for writing their web copy. There are many creative ways to get your name out there and fill your portfolio at the same time.

That being said, once you’ve become successful, you should raise your rates to reflect your experience. It doesn’t help anyone out if you’re offering services for less than they’re worth. While some companies choose to go with lower paying services, no matter what you charge, if your work is good then you’re going to find clients. I often had those same clients come back to me, having wasted money on a freelancer working for a nickel. Those freelancers did a poor job. I had to fix their mistakes and these clients were more than willing to pay my rates. Essentially, it just goes to show that you get what you pay for when hiring a freelancer.

2. Not Having a Website

I don’t care if you have a free, hosted portfolio, a free website on geocities, a freelancer’s myspace/facebook or a free blog. You need your own website. With your own website, you’re in control of what prospective clients know about you. You can send these clients to see your portfolio, which you can set up in any way you like, give them access to email you privately, offer them the chance to read your about you page, which can include information on your experience and a list of who you’ve worked for, and send them to a place filled with testimonials from other clients who you’ve worked for in the past.

For more information on why you need a website, please check out my article on Why Freelancers Need Websites. This article is much more comprehensive and I don’t want to repeat myself completely.

3. Taking On Too Much

Freelancing is hard work. I’ve found that anything worth doing takes work. When you’re starting out, you may be compelled to take as many jobs as you can. You need to get samples for your portfolio. You won’t be making as much as you will once you’re seen as a successful web designer/writer/etc. Taking more jobs means more money. It also means a bigger headache, all of your time devoted to working and you will get burnt out. Start out slow and only take on what you can handle.

4. Using the Wrong Samples

Freelance web designers need to show off the websites they design. Graphic designers should post professional looking graphics. Writers need to show their writing samples. The key is to make sure that the best samples you have are placed on your samples page. This means that the web designer shouldn’t proudly display his Myspace background design, his geocities designed website or any other less than stellar designs. Graphic designers won’t want to feature shoddily done animation or anything they did as a beginner when their work was filled with flaws,

The same could be said for writers. If you’re writing articles, you aren’t going to want to put your poetry samples up (unless, by some rare chance you write poetry for a living). There is a little more leeway for writers though because it is possible to list both creative and technical writing samples on the same website, if you offer both services. Either way, try to make sure your samples look/sound professional, show off your best work, and make sure your samples are relevant to what you can offer.

5. Expecting to Get Instant Results

This is, by far, the biggest misconception freelancers have. I’ve heard so many unsuccessful freelancers say something to the effect of, “I quit my job to work on the Internet. I was prepared to spend all day in my pajamas, sipping lattes and working for clients of my choosing. When I was not seeing results within a month, I had no choice but to return to the 9 to 5. Freelancing really doesn’t work.”

I can be the first to tell you this isn’t true. I once had a job writing for one of the top real estate sites on the web, making a lot of money. I wrote for the company on an on-again, off-again basis. I have made money freelancing and if you’re excellent in your field, you can, too! This isn’t any type of get rich quick job. Freelancing will reward you, but you have to plug away at it to be successful. What you put into it will be what you get out of it.

I’m going to be honest. Freelancing isn’t for everyone. I don’t know how many times I’ve told people what I do for a living and they say back to me, “Oh! I could do that!”

I usually just politely nod and think to myself, no you couldn’t. While I know that perhaps some of them could, the vast majority of them won’t have the patience to stick with it, until they become successful. I also do not believe every person is capable of having a freelancing job. You have to be creative enough to write creative works or design websites and graphics aesthetically. You have to have practical knowledge of applications and coding to be a programmer or developer. Without these skills (and I’ll be the first to admit I am no developer/heavy programmer - too much code gives me a headache!) you won’t succeed in these freelancing fields.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you cannot find another way to work online or for yourself. You can start your own business with your own skills and talents at the forefront.

Being a freelancer is hard work. It is time consuming, but it is also very rewarding. If you avoid making these mistakes you will find that your freelancing career will have a better chance of succeeding.

Technorati Tags: freelancer, mistakes, freelancing, writing, work from home, graphics design, web design, samples, website

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I write this to you, from the bottom of my heart. Now is the time to take the initiative. The Internet and all its capabilities are at your fingertips. As Americans, we might not have a job tomorrow with a company that could possibly take a nose-dive. How many jobs are at risk? How many are currently unemployed? I don’t know the official statistics on this, but I do know the number is high when it comes to unemployment. Something has to be done.

The government bailout bill that was “supposed to make everything right” has failed. Who do we have to rely on? Not the government. Not the state. We’re on our own and that’s why it’s time to act. Only you can determine what happens next in your future. Only you hold the keys to your success during these dark and dismal days. Are you willing to do what you have to do to make yourself successful? It’s up to you to decide.

You know what the good news is? You’re not alone! There are many people out there who want to try and make their living online. The nice thing about this is that you’re the only boss you have. If your company tanks then it is you who made that happen. If you notice something isn’t right, you have the control to fix it and keep yourself afloat. Essentially, you determine your destiny.

Being an online entrepreneur is not without sacrifice. You will be spending a lot of time building up your business, but success is worth it. With not much available in traditional job settings what do you have to lose? But you have to act now. You have to get things rolling while you can. If this keeps up, I’m beginning to wonder how many people are going to be able to afford the Internet. You don’t want to be one of the people who is out of their home, their job and their ability to find self-made success.

So, by now I’ve probably got your interest peaked. You want to know what to do and how to make yourself successful. Truth be told, over 95% of online blogs are unsuccessful. Freelancing has similar statistics. Over 50% of Freelancers will fail within their first year. I’ve been successfully working online since 2003. I haven’t had to take on a traditional job in over five years. I’m one of the lucky ones, so I want to share with you how I’ve made it possible.

Being honest, if you can live comfortably by working online then you are a success. Not everyone is going to become a millionaire. You should work towards making enough to live off of each month. Keep your goals small and don’t expect to become an Internet Rockstar over night. In truth, don’t expect to become an Internet Rockstar period. Be modest and realistic and you’ll be more likely to succeed. Setting small milestones will keep you grounded. By setting unrealistic goals, you will become frustrated. You will be more likely to quit because you won’t be seeing the results you desire. Success comes in time! Just don’t give up and you will see results.

Study those who have been successful before you. Get to know those people in your online field who are obviously making money. If you own a store, what are the stores in your niche doing that you aren’t to get more business? Study other websites similar to yours and compile ideas of how you can improve. If you’re a blogger, read the advice of top bloggers. Many of the most successful bloggers all write about how they were able to be successful. These tips are invaluable. Freelancers should look at other freelance websites. Make sure you’re accessible, interactive, proactive and willing to take chances with your business and your online presence.

Make friends online and you can turn them into clients/readers. One of the biggest ways to get noticed is to be accessible to others. If you have a online store that sells photography equipment, why not sign up to photography forums? Make friends, share your photography knowledge, and sneak your URL into your posts through your forum signature. If your posts aren’t about your business, but actually show you are knowledgeable about photography then those people on the forum who click your link might just be willing to buy their equipment from you.

If you blog in a certain niche, such as fashion, you can find fashion forums, groups about fashion and entire communities through social networking sites. Many of the people in your niche might just have their own blog, too. You can find a way to share link love, find new readers, and help pass on your link through Internet word of mouth (email, other bloggers mentioning your site) by those in the groups. They key to this is not making anything you write about your business. You need to establish yourself as a professional. If you do that, you’ll gain respect and be seen as an expert that people can go to for advice in your field.

The key to success online is traffic. You need to make sure you do everything in your power to get traffic to your website, no matter what your website is about. Make sure you utilize SEO, a variety of marketing methods, advertising, and keep your website simple. By that, I mean have a clean design. Don’t bog it down with too many ads. Make sure those who visit your website can find things easily. In short, try to make it attractive!

I will be writing future articles on all of these topics. I will discuss how I’ve utilized all of these things so my website is visited, noticed and a visible contender in relation to other websites in my niche. Being successful isn’t going to come easy, but it will be worth it.

I implore you to consider what you’re good at. Make a business plan. Lay it all out now. You have the control to be a success. You have the control to be your own boss. You have the control to not let this economic crisis harm you.

I wish you all luck and hope that we will all get through this crisis, as unscathed as we can.

Technorati Tags: blogger, business plan, economic crisis, destiny, self-employed, bailout plan, success, work at home

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I make it no secret that I am in a wheelchair. For just a brief snapshot of who I am, let me tell you that I have a progressive muscle disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type III. I walked until I was 16, when I went into a wheelchair, full time. I was in college for Theatre (I was quite the performer and singer back in the day) with a minor in Political Science when tragedy struck. During a routine transfer from wheelchair to shower chair, I fell and fractured my tibia. My life was changed in an instant.

I moved, with my girlfriend and our son, from our apartment at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio to a house she owned with her mother in mid-Michigan. This served two purposes. Her mother had been recently laid off by a company now stationed in Mexico. For the first time in her life, she was unemployed. For us, this gave us time for my leg to heal, which took more than a year. In the meantime, we had to find a way to put food on the table. The only thing we had luxury wise was the Internet and this gave Ashtyn (said girlfriend) the idea to find a job online.

We made a list of our skills. Ashtyn has always been a prolific writer. I wrote excellent, well written papers in college. I also can be anal retentive when it comes to grammar. So, writing and editing were at the top of our list. Add in slightly above basic HTML skills on my part, and a desire to teach myself graphic design. You have our basic plan to finding a job. While it wasn’t an easy road, within a year, we were on our way to becoming successful freelance writers. It was our hard work, perseverance, and ability to work our way up to high paying freelance jobs that made us successful.

Now that you know a little bit more about me and where I am coming from, let me throw another statistic out at you. A year ago, I read a study by the government that said 77% of disabled Americans are unemployed. I’d wager to say that due to the job and financial crisis’, that number has risen to somewhere around 85%. This means all disabilities, ranging from physical to mental or emotional disabilities such as Autism, Downs Syndrome and even Bi-Polar Disorder. For some, they simply can’t work. Others have faced workplace discrimination.

What’s surprising is that over half of those who have disabilities and also college degrees, are still unemployed. This is absolutely staggering! The issue is so big that disability rights organizations have turned to lawmakers/politicians for help. This includes finding out proposed plans for the disability unemployment rate by presidential contenders John McCain and Barack Obama. While Obama has outlined his plan, as of recently, McCain hasn’t had a thing to say on the issue. This issue isn’t going to be easily solved nor is it going to go away. That is unless we, as disabled individuals, take it upon ourselves to better our lives!

I’m 27 years old. This was not the career path I had in mind when I went to college, but I’ve made it work. I love what I do and I love all of the people I’ve met through blogging, writing and designing online. Along the way, I’ve met many other disabled entrepreneurs. Many of them had similar disabilities to my own.

Why is it working out so well for those of us with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (in particular?)? I think it is because, while many other diseases may affect the brain, SMA only affects our bodies. Our minds are whirling with ideas and plans for businesses and ways to be successful. That by no way means that anyone with a disability cannot do what we do. It just means those with other disabilities have us to rely on, to help pave the way towards success.

Do you know that nearly all of the disabled friends I have who are successful, are Internet entrepreneurs? Even the ones who have other career paths dabble at the prospect of making money online. But, why? I’ve heard that question many times in the years since I started working online. There is a simple explanation.

First, the Internet allows people access to a global audience from any location. I can work from home in my pajamas. I can lounge in bed and type if I really want to. I can work without having to go out in yucky weather. For those with disabilities, snow, rain, and high winds can all be treacherous conditions that prevent trips outside the house. Working online makes work convenient, so weather rarely ever gets in the way!

Second, the Internet allows people access to a global audience! I know I said that already, but think about this logically. You can sell products, offer services or write your life story (a la blogs/websites) and know that people from all over the world could potentially see what you have to say! How cool is that? A global market means you could be working for anyone from Japan to England. It also means that you can make a lot more money than in a 9 to 5 job.

I’m sure that by now you’re probably asking yourself how do you sign up? I should make it clear that working online (for yourself) has many amazing rewards. There is no boss to tell you what to do. There is no need to tell the clients you work with about your disability. The Internet allows for such anonymity. Besides, who really cares what you abilities are, so long as you can get the job done? Working for yourself online also allows you to make your own schedule. Work when you want, as you want. How often you work and what you put into your online career will determine how much money you end up making.

So, if you’ve read this, you’re raring to go and you’re certain this is the career path for you, follow these steps to be on your way to becoming an Internet Guru.

#1 - Determine What you Want to Do

You can offer a service or products. Do you want to sell things online? Do you make your own jewelry or weave baskets? You can sell products online by getting your own webpage. If your item becomes popular, you may even get retailers to sell it. If you determine you want to offer a service, think about what services you can offer. Some services that you can provide include: writing, sound work (sound effects - music files) web design, virtual assistant positions, SEO advice, tips and specialty, marketing, software development, graphic design, web design, game design, and more.

Another option is running a blog. Do you have an interesting life? Are you an expert at something? Do you have a particularly interesting hobby? Write about what you know. Show you’re an expert, promote your blog, and you’ll be on your way to one day (possibly) living a dot com lifestyle.

#- Make a Plan

Decide how you’re going to go about making your company/yourself successful. Maybe you’ll hire an SEO/Marketing firm to help. You can also research SEO and marketing on your own. Read excellent blogs about online marketing and making yourself successful, such as Shoemoney and Pro Blogger. They have great tips and plenty of advice concerning being successful online.

Once you have your plan, follow it through. You made this plan for a reason, so stick with it. Still, don’t be afraid to try something new. Consider following the advice of others who’ve paved the way, for you, by being successful online.

#3 - Tweak your Plan to Make it Work for you

Not every work plan is going to be successful. Re-Evaluate your plan a few months down the road to see what is working and what isn’t. Consider changing your plan to suit your needs. I’ve had many failures before I’ve found success. You just need to be consistent. If you know your plan is a winner, keep at it! Money isn’t made overnight. Well, at least not initially.

Having a disability does not have to be a barrier when you try to make yourself successful online. The Internet is your oyster. Now, all you have to do is dive in head first to find that pearl.

Technorati Tags: disability, internet, oyster, job, blogging, writing, entrepreneur, business, work online

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Blogging can be especially tough because it’s easy to get lost in Stumble Upon or to spend hours networking on other sites. While these things are equally as important, if you don’t spend time writing blog posts your blog will only get so far.

Some days, I stay on task incredibly well. Other days, I convince myself that being a reviewer means I can spend the day playing games. It is true I can do that, but in reality I need to do more than that to make any of the sites I write on successful.

Staying on task sounds easy, but with so many ways to lose your concentration what do you do to keep it?

Keep a Blog Schedule
As much as I hate schedules (and I seriously hate schedules), I find that they do offer a huge benefit. If you run multiple blogs, scheduling time for post writing, networking, and research can be a huge help to you. This will stop you from spending too much time on one blog and not enough on another. It will also make you try harder to stay on track. Having a structured day gives you a reason to get done whatever you need to do.

Make a To-do List
As much as I hate schedules I seem to do better with to-do lists. The process of setting goals for the day and attempting to meet them all works really well for me. When I wake up each day, I will make a list of as few as three and as many as ten things that I feel I can realistically get done. As I finish those things I will cross them off the list and move on to the next thing. This works well for me because it’s not as structured as a schedule and I can move throughout the list with the freedom to choose what I want to do. As long as the list gets done, the order doesn’t matter so much.

Keep Instant Messengers Off
Instant Messengers are great for communication, chatting, and connecting with friends. However, they are also a huge time waster. I don’t know how many times an old friend has IMed me and I’ve got around to talking, causing an hour to float by with little done on my end other than that conversation. If you need to get something done you need to turn your IMs off and only have them on when you’re doing something leisurely. I try to keep mine off during writing times, but when doing Myspace, SU, or networking I will have them on.

Take Mini-Breaks
Breaks will work to help you keep on task if you use them the right way. Most people try to work until they are either done or burnt out. The problem with this is that if you get burnt out you aren’t going to want to go back and finish the project. Instead, you will need an extended break. With that in mind, take ten minutes to get away from the computer. It doesn’t matter what you do. You could grab a snack, talk to the family, or take a power nap. As long as you take a few minutes for yourself when you get back to work you will be refreshed and ready to go.

Staying on task can be a real issue when getting the job done. What helps you stay on task and what do you find are your biggest time wasters?

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Blogging, Bloggers, Schedules, To Do List, Task, Concentration, Myspace, SU, Blog, Distractions

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So, now what?

All of the pieces to the puzzle are complete and you’re adding posts by the dozen, so why aren’t people visiting your website? Like the title suggests, you might love your website but you find yourself wondering why you’re the only one that does.

The good news is that if you’re site is as good as you think it is, you’re probably just suffering from new site blues. When people start out with their first blog they rarely (and I mean rarely) are lucky enough to see substantial numbers come out of the woodwork. Most people have to plug away at building a site and a community. They have to network, work the social networking sites, and hope for a couple of breaks. It doesn’t come easy and the number one mistake that failing bloggers make, especially new failing bloggers, is thinking that it should come easy.

The truth is, there could be a number of reasons why you aren’t getting a maximum amount of exposure. Finding out what those reasons are and doing something about them is what is going to set the professional bloggers apart from the failed bunch that have to go back to 9 to 5.

So, what do I do to get visitors?

Social Networking
One of the best free methods of advertising you have is known as social networking. Sites like Digg, Stumble Upon, and even Myspace or Facebook can be invaluable to a blogger. Sure, you will have to spend some time working on these sites. You will need to make friends, digg articles, and promote yourself, but if you do these things you won’t have any problems getting visitors out of the deal. In fact, in most cases, you will end up with visitors that comment and come back to your site. Just make sure you aren’t spamming people in the process because that will do just the opposite of what you want. It’s great that you love your site, but don’t be obnoxious about it. There is nothing wrong with mentioning your blog or your new articles, but if you’re begging for people to digg your articles you might want to re-evaluate your methods.

Twitter
If you’ve been living under a rock you might not know what Twitter is. Otherwise, you’re likely well aware that it is a type of up-to-the-minute mini-blog that explains what you are doing, where you’re at, or what’s going on in your life. In addition to posting these things, you can use Twitterfeed to add your RSS and send your updated blog posts to your twitter list. Like other social networking sites people can follow you to see what you’re up to. This allows them current information about your blog, so they can decide whether they should subscribe to it or not. This is great because people will click on links that they are interested in and could have missed out on.

Be Friendly
Bloggers are a pretty generous bunch. If you visit other blogs (especially those in your niche) and comment, many of the bloggers you visit will return the favor. At the very least most of them will stop by your blog and if they like it, you can bet that they will be back. Commenting on their blogs means that you can leave a link to your blog. If you’re comment is good, visitors of the blog you’re commenting on might visit your blog, as well. Networking on blogs and with bloggers will open you and your blog up for guest posting, extra traffic, collaboration on contests, and who knows what else. It’s also nice to have some friends.

Consistency
If you write three blog posts in the beginning and you feel that works for you then you need to keep doing that. Your readers want you to be consistent. They want to know when your new content will be going up. If a reader isn’t sure when you will commit to an update then their visits to your site will be sporadic, at best. Make a plan and stick to it, otherwise your visitor count will always be something that you struggle to maintain.

Talk to you blog, even if you’re the only one listening
When you start a blog it may feel like you have no audience. That’s probably true in most cases. However, you cannot let that stop you from blogging like you would if you had a million visitors. Talk to your audience, even if you don’t currently have one, because one day you will and they will find those posts from day one. When you talk to your audience, rather than writing for yourself or to explain something, you give your audience a reason to talk back. Comments are one of the most valuable parts of blogs. Knowing you have a community behind you gives you a good reason to continue doing what you do best.

Those are some of the best (and easiest) ways to draw traffic to your blog. What methods do you use and which ones do you recommend to new bloggers?

Technorati Tags: New Bloggers, Blog, Marketing, Promotion, Social Networking, Stumble Upon, Consistency, Comments, Audience, Million, Visitors, Website, Network, Make Friends

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If you have ever said this before then you are probably also dealing with less business than a competitor freelancer with a website. It’s true that a website can make all the difference in finding and keeping happy clients when you freelance on the web. Professionals have websites. If you want to be taken seriously as a freelancer then you should have a website, too.

I mentioned in one of my last articles, the one on why freelancers are turning to Wordpress for their website needs, that I would soon be writing an article on this very topic. I’ve worked successfully (for years!) as a freelance writer, editor, and all around web guru, so I know what I’m talking about. Without my website, I wouldn’t have been given half the jobs I was given during my freelancing days. It’s as simple as that!

This is, hands down, one of the biggest mistakes I saw less successful freelancers make over and over during my tenure in the freelancing world. I never understood why freelancers never bothered to purchase their own website. I don’t get it now, especially with new web design options (such as Wordpress) being available for free with minimal effort on the part of the freelancer.

But Why do I Need a Website?

It’s simple marketing. If you have a website, you can get listed on search engines. This means that prospective clients can find you. My freelance website opened up a whole new list of clientele for my business. Instead of having to find all of my clients, some of them found me through my website. When clients use to recommend me to friends or business associates, they just passed on my website URL and it was easy for them to contact me.

Your website is a one-stop destination for clients to find your contact information, view samples of your work, and allow prospective clients to get to know more about you before hiring you. You might not always be able to list a who’s who on your skills and history as a freelancer if you’re bidding on jobs or using a job search site to find clients. Most places like this also don’t allow you to list personal information like your private email or phone number. They can lose business (money!) if you choose to work with a client off their site, so this is done in their best interest, not yours.

You can list accomplishments, any programs you use (i.e. a graphic designer who works with Adobe Illustrator), and a variety of other information you may not be able to list on job boards or freelance work sites. If someone looking for a graphic designer needs a designer who uses Adobe Illustrator, they already know you’re qualified. It says so on your page. By the same token, if they need someone who uses Microsoft Powerpoint and you list that you don’t use that program then they won’t have to waste their time or yours!

But I’m a Freelance Writer! Why do I need a Website?

Just because graphic and web site designers have visual representations of graphics, flyers, websites, magazine covers, 3-D animations or a variety of other visually pleasing samples of their work doesn’t mean they (as freelancers) are drastically different from you, as a writer. In fact, the only real difference between you and them is that you deal in words not pictures.

You can visually represent your writing as samples. Just post links to website articles you’ve written and PDF files of your work. No one is going to hire you without seeing samples. If you’re new in the game, make up your own samples. If you’re a seasoned pro, show off your best articles and try to show diversity in the topics you choose.

For example, when I put up one of the last sample pages I had on the old Dominash Studios website, I had links to real estate articles, dating articles, human rights and activism articles, an article I wrote on Cedar Point and one on my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, articles on buying furniture for children, movie reviews, technology articles, creative writing samples, and the list goes on!

I wanted to show that I could write on a wide variety of topics and do it well. My website allowed me to show a wide variety of clients I could and would work for them!

But Why Can’t I Just Use a Free Geocities Account?

Geocities, Tripod, Blogspot and other free website/blog services, while nice for the personal website, aren’t exactly professional. If you aren’t willing to invest the minimal amount of money in purchasing a domain and hosting (you can pay less than $10 a month if you find the right company), your client isn’t going to take you or your freelancing career seriously.

The worst part is when the freelancer uses the web wizard to destroy their web page by “prettying” it up! I always want to pat their hand and show them the err of their ways. Trust me, I don’t pay (unless I absolutely have to!), but having your own domain is an absolute must!

On an added side note, especially with Blogspot and Live Journal, two blogging sites I’ve seen used by freelancers as “business websites”, your content and website might not always be up. I’ve heard horror stories about blogs getting shut down without warning. Honestly, if you get shut down, you could potentially lose all your samples and a way for clients to find you!

A website provides an added safety net. If your website goes down for any reason, you can easily keep backups of your entire website, any databases you use and not lose a single bit of content! If you go the Wordpress route, you can easily install the Wordpress database plugin and it will do all the grunt work for you!

But What About those Free Portfolio Websites?

I’ve seen many freelancers use free portfolio websites as their means of showing off samples. Then they don’t have to create a website. Seriously, there are so many bonuses to having a website (contact methods and marketing opportunities are at the top of the list) I can’t see why freelancers scoff at the idea of having their own home on the web. I just don’t get it.

My question then becomes: If you’re not going to utilize the resources the web has provided you (as a freelancer) with, then why try to work online anyway?

This is a simple concept. You won’t pay much at all for your website. In fact, when I was working steadily as a freelancer, I was able to say, “I don’t pay for my website.”

With just one job, all my web hosting needs were paid for, so ultimately it’s an investment that will come back to you tenfold.

Technorati Tags: Wordpress, I don’t pay, website, freelance, hosting, business, professional, writer, graphic designer

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Word is one of those programs that are just universal in business and academics. In colleges across the country, the .doc format is the basis for all papers handed in for grading. Likewise, in business this is a format that is used with the assumption that most other business people will be using that program, too. In fact, at least in some form, it tends to be one of the first programs that people learn to use when they are learning the computer.

So, as you can imagine, when we were given the chance to review the 2007 version of Microsoft software, we jumped at the chance. I had heard of all of the great things that would be coming out in the 2007 version of Microsoft Office, but I tried to ignore the excitement value because I was just going on hype at that point. I had checked out a few screenshots and knew the basic specs, but I had not tested it out and that’s what is really important.

Before testing it out I did know that at least eight specific versions of the software would be available for purchase. These bundles include Microsoft Office Basic, Home & Student, Standard, Small Business, Professional, Ultimate, Professional Plus, and Professional Enterprise. This review is on Microsoft Office Professional. Professional includes Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. After using them for a bit to test everything out, I can honestly say that it would be hard to live without these programs, especially for business, and they are worth the few hundred dollars that Microsoft is charging for them.

Using the Product:

Word
The first program I opened for this review was Word. It is by far the most used program in the Microsoft arsenal, at least for me. When you first open Word it looks somewhat similar to the old one. However, you will quickly notice some differences. There are seven main tabs towards the top of the page. These tabs include Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailings, Review, and View. The program is set to Home when you open it. This tab reveals such options as Clipboard (cut, paste, etc), Font, Paragraph, Styles, and Editing. As you flip the tab you get new options based on whatever tab you click.

For example, clicking the Page tab reveals a plethora of design options that will pretty up a document. This is great for basic newsletter options, student projects, and business documents. Of course, you can also add clip art and other visual options to add a little something extra to your project. The ribbon tabs at the top of the page are invaluable. These really help the new user acquaint themselves with all of the amazing features that Word has to offer. In earlier versions, some of these features were available, but you had to know what they were and how to use them. Now they are in your face and generally are usable within a few clicks of your mouse button. It couldn’t be more efficient or easier for the new user if they tried.

Outlook
It took a lot for me to open Outlook and test it out. Prior to this release I had tried to use Outlook, but could never really get it to work right for me. I convinced myself that for this review, I had to give it another shot. I am glad I did because now Outlook is my main source for sending and receiving mail. It’s quicker, easier, and more functional than ever. If you were intimated by Outlook before, make sure you give this a try because it has become much easier than it used to be and it really is an important time saving tool.

Outlook is a major time saver for me because it puts all of my emails in one place alongside a calendar, to-do manager, a tasklist, notes, a journal, and a business contact management system. All of these things are easy to use and to learn to use. When it comes to mail, you can flag certain items in certain colors to ensure that your mail is split up and organized however you want it. Having your mail on your desktop as opposed to using webmail can be a huge time saver. You don’t have to worry about keeping extra windows open or fiddling with webmail. Just open your program and your mail is downloaded straight to your computer. You also have the option of leaving all of the mail on your server, as well, which works excellently when you have business partners that prefer not to use Outlook.

It’s funny how intimidated I was by this program coming in, but once I started using it has become absolutely necessary to me. While I cannot compare this version to the older versions of Outlook I have heard from numerous users that the layout is better throughout the entire program. The address book also deserves a special mention because it’s incredibly thorough with spots for several phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses and other forms of contact information.

Excel
Like Word, Excel got a makeover in the form of the tabbed interface. The tabs for Excel are slightly different than with Word. This time around the tabs read Home, Insert, Page Layout, Formulas, Data, Review, and View. In these options there are options that let you make a variety of graph styles, different functions, and options for creating a number of spreadsheets or graphs.

I will admit that I rarely use this program. A few years ago, Excel had a way of feeling very intimidating to the new user. These days, I find myself in the learning phase of this program and that is thanks to the new design. The design is increasingly helpful in allowing a new user to see all of the benefits of Excel in the friendliest way possible.

Powerpoint

Used in everything from education to business, Powerpoint is one of the most popular programs in the Microsoft Suite. Presentations and diagrams of all sorts are able to be created easily and dazzled up with ease thanks to Powerpoint. Graphics, such as clip art, are added through the Insert tab. The designing options through the design tab are simply amazing. Powerpoint has never been easier to use. One thing that is different is the loss of the Autocontent Wizard. While this was originally meant to provide an easier user experience, the new program setup allows ease of use without the need for this additional feature.

At one point, Powerpoint was highly unorganized and was used mostly by people that knew what they were doing. Now just about anyone can open up the program and get the results they want. It is not only easy. It’s well designed and fully functional for all user levels.

Access
If you have to make a database, the best program to do it in is Microsoft Access. Prior to this new release I had not used Access. While I have nothing to compare it to, I can say that I use this program for quite a few things now. Databases really do help organize things, causing me to use this program for everything from household organization to keeping contact and review information straight.

There are a variety of tabs, like in the other programs, which will allow you to change fonts, add in color, and ultimately spruce up and change each database and set it to your specific needs. Some specific tabs include Tables and Lists, which gives you the option of adding tasks, assets, and even contacts. You can import and export things to and from other Microsoft programs, as needed. Granted, there are plenty of things in here that will be too advanced for the average user to need on a regular basis, but overall anyone can use Access. The point is that it is available and most of it is incredibly easy to use whether you need it or not.

Functionality: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Newbie Friendly: 5 out of 5 stars
Technical Aspects: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The biggest question many people will have is whether or not this version of Microsoft is worth upgrading to, if the old version works fine. The question will ultimately depend on you. I absolutely love the new layout and the various new features. I would hate to have to go back to the old version. I have settled in nicely and have to recommend this set of programs. Sticklers for conformity may take a look at the new, sleek design and the tabbed interface of Word and run away scoffing.

If you can manage to stick around, I promise it will grow on you. I loved Microsoft Office Professional immediately, but know others that hated it. In time, they changed their minds and now they love it as much as I do. Chances are, you will love it, too. If you cannot afford the upgrade with all programs, but still wish to upgrade, my advice is to find the bundle that offers the main programs you need and go with that one in order to save money.

Reuseability: 5 out of 5 stars
Visually Pleasing: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Software Review, Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Email, Business, Productivity, Microsoft Office Professional, Windows, Necessary Software, Programs

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When I started out as a freelance writer, editor and web designer several years ago, one of the biggest mistakes I saw other freelancers making was not having a website. I plan to touch on the importance of having a website (and the type of website to have) in a future article, so I’m going to avoid getting ahead of myself on this topic and just say, a website is vitally important to becoming a successful freelancer. I digress.

The benefits of Wordpress that make Wordpress so attractive to freelancers far outweigh any negative features. Here is why I believe there are so many freelancers turning towards using Wordpress.

It’s Easy to Setup and Use

Installation of Wordpress includes uploading files and folders and clicking a few buttons. You can use a pre-made template that looks nice. It’s as simple as it can get. Whenever you want to create pages, you just go to the page editor in Wordpress, create the page, and voila! You have exactly what you want in one easy to install package.

When you create a regular website, you have to worry about designing the website, creating links by hand, accommodating cross-browser problems that Wordpress already attempts to cover, and the list goes on. If you don’t know anything about design, you might just have to hire a designer or buy a template in order to have a professional looking website.

It’s Free!

What’s better than free? I started out freelancing because I was bedridden due to an injury. I had no job or money. All I had were the skills to weave words and basic web design/graphic design skills. Over the years, these skills have developed into what they are today, but when I started out, I couldn’t afford to pay to make money. I had to make money first and improve my website design the more I learned about designing websites. Eventually, my clients saw how good I was at designing my own site, so I was offered multiple web and graphic design projects along with SEO, marketing, a freelance writing and editing projects. Unfortunately, most freelancers who aren’t web designers aren’t able to use web design skills they don’t have. I was a rarity.

What’s better is the fact that you can get many free Wordpress templates to customize your site. It sure beats spending hundreds of dollars on high quality website design.

It has a Built in Blog!

Blogging is at the peak of its popularity. Companies big and small all have blogs. With a Wordpress setup, you can offer pages that talk about you, your services offered, and also update your blog regularly to garner interest in you and what you have to offer.

This is also a way to report progress to current clients, show off samples of your work, and network with other freelancers! You can share your knowledge with the world and show people on the internet that you know what you’re talking about, making you the perfect freelancer to work with for their projects.

It’s Highly Customizable!

With so many different plugins, Wordpress is incredibly customizable. You can make your website exactly the way you want it to look. Built in contact forms are just one option that make having a Wordpress blog better for freelancers. There’s also social bookmarking to show off your blog posts and be my friend contact methods, which can help clients to better get in touch with you.

Of course, this may require tweaking code in your Wordpress files, but most plugins come with step by step instructions. If you can follow these instructions you’ll be fine!

Wordpress is SEO-Friendly

I don’t know about every other blog out there, but I’ve found that with the right SEO-enhancing plugin (I use All in One SEO) and inclusion on the search engines, my blog posts are picked up much quicker than pages on my website were. Wordpress allows for SEO-enriched content that can be up on the top search engines within a few hours (though this may vary depending on your post and the particular SE). It certainly makes you more accessible to a wider audience on the internet.

*Marketing skills can help with this, as well. You can’t just let the blog market itself. This tip assumes you are trying to market yourself and your blog.

It Allows for More Interactivity

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Just think about all the possibilities you have with plugins for forums and comment sections accessible on every blog post.

While these aren’t the only benefits to using Wordpress, these are the most important reasons for freelancers to switch from a regular website to a Wordpress-based website.

If you are a freelancer, professional or own your own company, feel free to let me know your thoughts on this article.

Do you use a Wordpress-based, HTML/CSS or another type of website? Why do you use the type of website you use? Do you see a benefit to one type of website over the other?

Let me know your thoughts!

Technorati Tags: Wordpress, freelancer, writer, professional, business, website, designer, graphics, blog

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On top of that, the school year has started. We’ve started the 8th Grade in the Evans family homeschool, so we had a lot of last minute planning to do. CT’s school books showed up late. We were scrambling to get everything ready in time for his August 25 start day. I’m happy to report everything is going smoothly on that front. Unfortunately, the “I Don’t Pay” mantra doesn’t apply to homeschool. You get what you pay for when it comes to education. We only pay for the best!

Finally, you might have noticed the new design on I Don’t Pay. I thought this might be a more efficient blog design. I think that it better fits the I Don’t Pay goal. It’s easier to read and navigate. There really isn’t anything to complain about from this design. As of yet, there are no problems to report. If you happen to notice something wrong with the design, please let me know. I haven’t tested everything out just yet, so we’ll see how this new design fares!

Either way, I Don’t Pay is back. Expect (starting next week) daily Job leads and plenty of informative articles. I look forward to sharing with you plenty of tips and tricks I’ve learned as a blogger and freelancer online throughout the past 5-6 years.

Technorati Tags: freelance, blogging, I Don’t pay, server woes, site overall, homeschool, writing, tips and tricks, advice, job leads

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$10 and Higher

Telecommute

Content Writer/Blogger
$1,000-$2,000 Monthly

Writers Wanted
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Gay Pornographic Movie/Website Reviews
$40 per review (750 words + Short Description)

Regional

Writer - Alexandria
$10 per Hour

Not Specified

Telecommute

Writers for How-to Website
Based on Quality and Traffic

Creative Advertising Blogger
Contract

Motorcycle Bloggers
X-amount per 100 words

Adult Male Website Banners
Negotiable

Columnists & Reviewers
Per Article

Fantasy Sports Writer
Per Story

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Negotiable

Austin Family Blogger
60% Ad Rev

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Per Word

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