Topics Covered:

• Getting direct clients;
• Watch the trends;
• Attending industry events
• Having a team of experts around you
• The difference between design and artwork
• Flaunting your published work
• The role of networking in specific industry sectors
• Asking for referrals
• Free initial consultations

The problem - there’s too much information in your feeds

A common problem can occur as people add more and more feeds, they start to be bombarded with information. If you see the feeds as they come in using a notifier, the problem could become as annoying as the old email problem. You end up with a massive time sink, and far too much information than can be easily processed.

You might have some of the following issues:

• you find yourself reading posts for hours each day
• you panic when you get back from holiday and find over 1000 posts to wade through
• you worry about missing something important so don’t want to skip any feeds

The solution - apply some GTD style rules to manage your feeds

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I repeat work, because for many people this is their main focus and even when they are not physically at work they are still there mentally.

At the pub, after leaving the office, what is the main topic of conversation? Work perhaps? When you get home, do you completely switch off or are you thinking of that project, meeting, deadline?

As a freelancer the boundaries between work and free time can be even more blurred but even if you are passionate about what you do you still need to unwind.

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Andy talks to Dave Mellors & Malcolm Cook of First Light Associates about the things that need to be done when taking on a new project.

Topics Covered:

• Getting and capturing the scope
• How to charge for projects
• Handling scope changes and change control
• Project planning
• Contracts, agreements and legal matters
• Becoming a partner with your client and fostering long term relationships

Think it’s perfect?

Freelancing is often related to an improved lifestyle and work-life balance. Though the opposite often occurs. In today’s 24/7, always-connected world it’s all too easy to lock yourself away and lose track of what is important and can really make the difference.

Rosie Sherry writes about some of the pitfalls of working from home and offers some creative suggestions… (more…)

Expert, Al Welsh, has had years of experience within some of London’s top advertising agencies and kicks the debate off by starting from basics…

Your Brand - your organisation’s most valuable asset!

Apart from the product or service itself that you’re offering, getting the branding right is perhaps the most important thing you’ll be doing. Your brand may well end up being your organisation’s most valuable asset. The other massively important aspect is your particular target market and what makes them tick? (more…)

Personal training expert and many times marathon runner, Helen Wilkinson, maps out the Top 10 tips that will prepare you for what is an extreme physical and psychological challenge: (more…)

Topics Covered:

• The expenses a freelancer can claim;
• Expenses associated with working from home;
• Motor expenses;
• Expenses related to working from rented accommodation;
• Insuring your equipment;
• Public liability insurance;
• Taking on employees;
• Health and Safety;
• Taking on contractors of your own;
• What should freelancers look for in an accountant?

The problem - You never remember (or find time) to do chores

Chores are boring, but essential. If you don’t clear out your desk of papers once a week, pay the bills, hoover every now and again, run some virus checks on your PC and do the other mundane things in life you’ll end up with a messy desk, a dirty working environment, nowhere to live and a virus ridden PC. You won’t be able to work as effectively and your mind will probably feel cluttered as well. Up until recently I had this problem, and whilst I sort of kept on top of things, I was always concerned that there was something I should have been doing, and that made me more stressed. (more…)

That maelstrom of tossing and turning, staring up at a darkened ceiling, scowling into the back of your loved one’s deeply asleep neck and huffing and puffing in a state of mental frustration - then waking up next morning with a face like a bloodhound with a hangover!

While I can’t guarantee these tips for overcoming insomnia will work for you, you are likely to get some benefit somewhere along the line. (more…)