Inspired by a few recent emails we’ve received that amounted to no more than an outlet for some bad-client-induced rage, we’re today introducing the RantBot. If you’ve got a torrid tale to tell about a terrible client who caused you to lose what little hair you have left, send it over!
Was one of your New Year resolutions to be more productive and grow your business? Digital Dragonfly believes you need good IT systems in place to do both. If you spend all day working on your computer read on for 7 ways to develop healthy tech habits in 2012.
It’s currently the height of tax return season, and this means two things. One, accountants everywhere are pulling their hair out, and two, those dastardly spammers are sending out their bi-annual HMRC phishing emails, attempting to fool innocent freelancers, contractor and small businesses into giving up their financial details in the belief that they’re in line for a tasty tax refund.
One of the keys to securing some of that lucrative repeat business is to make sure your clients remember you. If you design their website, you want them to leap from their chairs and yell “let’s call Geoff!” when it comes time to make some alterations, rather than “who was that web guy? George something?”
There was a ray of hope for premises-seeking freelancers yesterday when David Cameron announced that the Government would be offering up its vast inventory of vacant office buildings to small businesses and entrepreneurs at subsidised rates, making a dedicated office space suddenly a more realistic proposition.
Although Google+ has been getting a lot of buzz in the tech press and recently announced it has amassed 90 million users, it is still seen by many as a social media also-ran, having been unable to break into the public psyche in the same way Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have.
Jon Norris | Review,Technology
When Google debuted their Chrome operating system, there was lots of excitement about the prospect of a web-only OS. You could do away with pesky updates, niggling security worries and annoying software installations and fully embrace the web, at the same time benefiting from the increased speed that a virtually non-existent OS brings.
Once again, Freelancer.com has published their quarterly Fast 50, a barometer of demand for freelancing work based on the fluctuations of their giant online marketplace. There was good news overall as the number of job postings rose from 114,000 jobs Q3 to 134,820 jobs in the fourth quarter – a jump of almost 20%.
I’m not much of a political commentator, but I think most people in the west agree the government of Iran are something of an irresponsible and oppressive bunch. After cracking down on anti-Government protests at the beginning of the year, Iran has now “gone Nuclear” on its freelancers, and has blocked popular outsourcing website Freelancer.com.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Resources
Scoring new clients can be tricky this time of year – most people have already mentally checked out for Christmas, making new projects hard to come by. That makes it all the more important that you’re able to hang on to those clients who do come knocking during the holiday lull. Here’s five easy ways to make sure you keep hold of any new business until January comes around.
James Leckie | Getting a Job,Resources
When times are tough, people tend to be less choosy about the type of contract or freelance assignment they take on. Those slightly dull roles you would avoid during the boom times might seem more enticing when work opportunities are less plentiful. However, in both boom and flat times, there are some jobs you are better off avoiding altogether.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancing can be tough, but it does offer hefty perks. Recently I’ve been enjoying the freedom to pursue side projects – the extra-curricular activities of the solo professional. Of course, you don’t have to be freelance to have pet projects (that’s what evenings and weekends are for) and some employers give staff free time to pursue their own interests, but no employer can offer the total freedom you have as a freelancer.
Rachel Soothill | Events,Resources
Christmas can be the toughest period for freelancers despite all the joy and cheer it brings. There are many issues and concerns that arise during the festive season that affect freelancers. These dilemmas include…
We’ve covered coworking plenty on Freelance Advisor. Be it at dedicated coworking spaces or weekly Jelly meetings, we think coworking is a fantastic way for freelancers and contractors to get out there, enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, get some work done, and do some no-pressure networking. It would seem out enthusiasm is shared by many coworkers, as evidenced by the results of a survey by Deskmag.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Resources
One of the main aims when you carry out just about any project as a freelancer is to get repeat business, to ensure you have regular work coming in as time goes on. However, you will find that in a lot of cases repeat business can be hard to find.
In part one of our freelancer survey results we gave a broad overview of the results – whether people incorporated, if they used a local or online accountants, and if they understood IR35. In part two we’re going to “drill down” into the results a little more and examine how your relationship with your accountant changes the way you do business.
If you have your own business website, it might take the form of a blog, or at the very least have a blog section. Content is king, as they say. If you want to be king, you’ve got to have content. Blogging is a great way to start a conversation with potential customers, improve traffic to your site, and keep visitors coming back.
A welcome break today from the usual doom-and-gloom of the current financial climate. Online freelance recruitment site Elance has seen a huge growth in demand in the last twelve months, with an increase of 55% from UK firms hiring through the service.
National Freelancers Day is drawing near. We’re preparing by baking cakes in the shapes of our favourite freelancers, recording mixtapes of the best songs to freelance to and ritualistically burning effigies of our least favourite clients.
A recent report that explores the pressures on workers during the current deteriorating market conditions has revealed that worries about job loss have contributed to stress becoming the most common cause of long-term absence in the UK for the first time in 12 years.
One of the most attractive aspects of freelancing is that despite working from home, working online offers you many opportunities to land projects from clients across the globe. With English serving as the global business language of choice, for the native English speaking freelancer there should be no barriers to attracting a diverse and international clientèle.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As they do every quarter, outsourcing site Freelancer.com has released their latest figures mapping trends in the demand for freelance workers across sectors. Thousands of jobs are posted up on their site every month, so their data can be a good barometer of the direction of freelance work.
You may think this is a crazy notion; you’re fresh out of Uni, your CV is sparse, your bank account decidedly mothball-ridden, but jumping into the world of being self-employed could be a very wise move given the current climate. As recent figures have shown, more young people and recent graduates are out of work than ever before.
While the UK’s largest banks remain largely unaccountable for current financial quagmire they’ve dumped us all in, consumers are at least given one stick to beat them with – complaints figures from the Financial Services Authority.
Jen Stakes Roberts | Resources
Risk management. Sounds terrifying. It also sounds like something that only big business does, or maybe people who plan really big events, like the Olympics, wars or taking a class of 9-year-olds on a school trip. Surely it’s not something that freelancers need to worry about, is it?
As freelancers we often get caught in ruts, get distracted or lose focus on our goals. So for this post, I have unearthed 35 inspirational quotes that will hopefully help get you motivated and have you feeling geared up to kick ass and take the freelancing world by storm! Alternatively, it might just help bring a smile to your day!
The latest CIPD Coaching Climate Survey for 2011 has revealed that coaching and mentoring consultants are being used more than ever to improve business performance. A total of 332 organisations took part in the survey which showed that of those who use coaching nearly 84% are using it more now than they were two years ago.
Freelancer.com, the largest online marketplace for freelance workers, yesterday added hourly billing to their repertoire of services for freelancers and employers. The site’s 2.8 million members can now specify an hourly rate (assuming they have no qualms about going public with pricing), and be hired on short- or long-term contracts by employers with commission starting at just 3%.
We’re in the midst of a fairly pronounced period of economic strife, in case you didn’t notice. Markets are collapsing, Greece is almost broke, and widespread redundancies are happening in the public and private sector alike.
A survey carried out by online recruitment agency People Per Hour has revealed that in the last 12 months there has been a 68% increase in the amount of businesses that are taking on freelancers in order to solve staffing issues.
As freelancers, we can afford to be flexible with our pricing and choose whether to be paid on an hourly, weekly or project based rate. We can offer discounts, increased rush job rates or even work for free if we choose.
In everyday life surprises can be a lovely thing, in business however they usually mean that you and your client have different ideas about key areas of your current project. This often leads to you needing to charge more than your quote to finish the work, or working at a loss to deliver the completed project in a way which satisfies the client.
Your brain. Resplendent in it’s awesomeness; it has many distinct advantages. Without the weird array of half remembered crap it keeps locked up in it’s squidgy folds you would be a gibbering vegetable and would almost certainly fail hard at everything you did. However there are a large number of techniques and tricks you and your business can use to make your business, tactics and marketing better.
One of the common challenges that most freelancers face, and most loathe, is the need to pitch yourself and your services to potential clients. For most of us this is the hardest part of being self-employed and can be terrifying and intimidating.
If you are thinking about joining the world of freelancers or perhaps you have recently started your own freelance business – good for you!
As we discussed recently, the sales pitch is one of the hardest challenges a freelancer will face, so it is essential to get to grips with some basic sales techniques and tools in order to continue finding new work.
In the same way that most people will pay close attention to the way they dress, how you ‘dress up’ your business deserves just as much attention. The visual identity you apply to your business will shape external perceptions and attitudes, playing a key role in the long-term success of your business.
Although the iPhone may still be the dominant force in the smartphone world, Android is quickly catching up – and with more users come more apps. For the worker on the go there are a number of apps that can range from handy additions to complete lifesavers.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
A new study by IFF research has revealed that two-thirds of small-business owners had less than two weeks’ holiday in 2010. The research was carried out on 500 firms and showed that 69% of bosses were unable to take more than 14 days out of the office
A study by the Forum of Private Business has found that small firms are spending more time and money complying with Government legislation than ever before, with a massive 84% of businesses saying they have increased compliance activities since 2009.
The decision by the Payments Council to not abolish cheques has been welcomed by small businesses who were concerned that no alternative viable payment system has been proposed.
Many Contractors choose to use the services of an existing ‘Umbrella Company’ – they are limited companies that employ Contractors. If you choose to do this, your contracts will be treated for tax purposes as if they are all inside IR35.
This is a difficult and potentially time-consuming process. Long-term freelancers will certainly wish to ‘IR35-proof’ their contracts in order to avoid the reduction in earnings. Contracts will need to be checked for each job/project and they should highlight your status as a self-employed professional.
As outsourcing becomes an increasingly used solution by businesses that lack the workforce, abilities or budgets to carry out certain services themselves, more outsourcing options are becoming available. The most common of which has been offshoring, which involves using services that are based outside of the UK.
It has been revealed in a recent survey that some small businesses are so desperate to cut costs they are considering reducing their staff holiday allowances. The survey, which was carried out by insurance company MetLife and involved 400 small businesses, found that 27% of firms felt that holiday allowance was too generous.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has carried out a news survey that reveals sole traders are being deterred from becoming employers due to the expensive cost of employee pension plans, sick leave and dismissal rules.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
New research by internet telephony company Gradwell, has shown that 38% of UK employees take business calls whilst on holiday. The over 65′s and top level management were revealed to be the most guilty of never switching off.
Research by professional advice website Unbiased.co.uk has revealed that more than half of sole traders could be missing out on tax savings by not utilising the help of professional accountants for bookkeeping.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
The latest figures released by Freelancer.com, who use their gigantic repository of freelance jobs to track which the ebb and flow of different sectors, have shown that demand for mobile experts continues to grow at an exponential rate.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out
Coffee is wonderful stuff. Brewed from the seeds of coffee trees grown primarily in South America, this awesome caffeinated drink is responsible for a large amount of the productivity in the developed world – and the best friend of many homeworking freelancers.
A new survey by financial group Investec has found that confidence amongst entrepreneurs across the UK is the highest it has been in years, with a mammoth 96% predicting their revenues will increase in the next year.
On 1st July 2011 the Bribery Act (2010) comes into force across the UK, making it a criminal offence for an individual or organisation to offer or receive a bribe – and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted.
The self-employed are being urged to plan ahead in the event of being off work due to illness. The advice comes following a recent report that revealed that the self employed are among the worst effected when it comes to the financial impact of being in hospital.
Antoinette Oglethorpe | Getting a Job,Resources
If you are thinking about going freelance, you’re not alone. Over a quarter of a million people are likely to go it alone and turn self-employed in the UK this year, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
A survey carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has uncovered some very interesting results relating to how British workers perceive their managers. It was revealed that over 50% of the 2,000 respondents’ don’t feel that their manager is up to the job. If that wasn’t enough to raise your eyebrows in concern, it was also revealed that those managers are completely oblivious to the fact.
Jon Norris | Guides,Lifestyle & Time out
One of the toughest parts of being a freelancer (apart from getting those pesky invoices in on time) can be separating your personal and business lives. If you’re a Sole Trader (rather than a Limited Company) this can be especially hard, as you may use your personal email address and phone number. There’s nothing more annoying than getting a call from a client when you’re trying to relax on a sunny Sunday.
Selina Murray | Lifestyle & Time out,Resources
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from Ryan Giggs in the last few weeks, it’s how not to use Twitter for business. Love it or loathe it (probably the latter for Mr. Giggs), Twitter can be a very useful business tool. If you work alone it can be invaluable for making connections.
A survey carried out by recruitment website, Monster, has revealed that more than a quarter of employees spend three hours a week searching for a new job while in work time.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
This week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development released a report that found highly skilled workers such as engineers, consultants and developers are in woefully short supply in the UK. Around three quarters (73%) of employers said that the high levels of unemployment have resulted in many unqualified applicants for skilled positions.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Guides
Whether you have launched a new product, service or just have exciting business news to share, at some point you may need to write a press release in order to promote these developments. Like Marketing, PR is an essential tool in promoting your business and its key messages. However, unlike most Marketing initiatives PR is usually free and will often only require a good news story and a well written press release.
With widespread public sector strikes on the horizon there is concern from business groups that there could be severe financial consequences for small businesses, including freelancers and contractors. It has been revealed that various unions are planning coordinated strikes in protest to Government cuts, pension reforms and wage freezes within the public sector.
Going freelance is a big step for anyone. It takes a not insignificant amount of confidence to leave the cosy 9-to-5 world and step out on your own, but landing that first client is a feeling like no other. However, a common problem for first-time freelancers is Invoice Anxiety. When should you invoice? What should you do if your client doesn’t pay straight away?
Selina Murray | Events,Lifestyle & Time out
Attention Freelancers!
If you’re within travelling distance of London here’s a good excuse to get out of bed early on Monday and be part of a world record attempt.
Rachel Soothill | Guides,Technology
Now we have established what a powerful communication tool social media has become, the next step is to learn how to harness that power and use it for getting your business and key messages out there. Social media is rapidly becoming the chosen channel for businesses to communicate and share ideas, and should form a strong part of your online marketing strategy.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out,Resources
If you follow us on Twitter (and really, why don’t you?) you may have noticed us chatting with Freelance Five. This new site, set up by freelance designer Mark Bowley aims to take all it is to be a freelancer – all the lost weekends, invoice chasing, personal successes and wonderful freedom, and boil it down into five concise questions.
Last week marked the first meeting of the IR35 Forum, a carefully-selected group of freelancing, contracting and employment experts gathered by HMRC to aid their faltering IR35 reform attempts. Following the OTS report of small business tax reform and the Government’s subsequent inaction at the Budget, the forum was put together to look into better ways to administer the so-called “Freelancer’s tax”.
There was good news for micro-businesses last week as the EU decided it was time to unburden them from the heavy weight of small business accounting. Business Minister and aged Wayne Rooney lookalike Ed Davey announced that by reducing the accounting responsibilities of businesses with fewer than ten employees and turnover less than £434,000 the EU could save these small enterprises around £300 million per year.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Guides
Some see networking meetings as the foundation of any successful freelance business. It is an opportunity to meet potential clients, form relationships and share contacts which could turn into new business. Others see these meetings as an awkward and pretentious excuse to drink tea and waste business cards.
Want a new toy? Sure you do. We recently polled our freelancing public to see what kind of tablet they would most like to win, if we were to give away such a thing. The results fell down on the side of the iPad – however a very vocal minority wanted an Android tablet. Not wanting to disappoint any of our lovely users, we’ve decided to give away both!
Freelancers are no longer a rare breed, more and more employees are turning freelance everyday and competition is growing fast. In these competitive times it is important to stand out from the crowd and embrace your individuality.
Following the OTS report on small business tax simplification and the Chancellor’s subsequent lack of action, HMRC has formed the IR35 Forum – an expert group of employment and tax specialists – to look into potential reforms to the much-reviled legislation. Following the Forum’s first meeting in early May, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has now been invited to join.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,News
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed that the number of start-up businesses in the UK has increased by nearly 50,000 from 2009-2010. The government statistics show that there are now 4.5 million private sector firms operating in the UK, despite the difficult economic climate.
According to research by payment behemoth Bacs, Britain’s small and medium businesses are being bent over the proverbial barrel by large corporates, who continue to be the worst offenders in terms of prompt payments. According to Bacs, half of the UK’s SMEs have suffered late payments – the average payment period being a staggering 52 days.
Yesterday we ran a piece from our resident HR expert Lesley about the Agency Workers Regulations, or AWR for acronym fans. So now we know how it will affect Agency Workers from an employement point of view – but how will it effect the freelancing and contracting industry as a whole?
A good conference is never far away if you know where to look, especially during the summer months in London. Those looking to get their business moving forward and listen to some brainy people talking about innovation and the current trends in the entrepreneurship could do a lot worse than attend the Inspire Conference!
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Guides
Thankfully they’re becoming more and more rare, but every so often a freelancer may be asked to deliver a pitch for a project. Aside from being a pain in the backside, pitches are usually used to determine whether or not you’ll cut the mustard. So how can you make sure you’ll impress your audience?
If you decide to form a Limited Company, your next question will probably be “How do I do that?” Many people imagine that forming a Limited Company is an exercise in endless bureaucracy, involving mountains of paperwork and astronomical costs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. According to Companies House 362,000 companies were incorporated in the financial year 2009/10 – over 1,000 every day day!
David Sumner | Working From Home
It’s not hard to see why the freelancing bug has caught on for so many. Being able to work from home and work to your own schedule (with no boss telling you what to do) sounds like heaven to most of us. However, if you are going to succeed in the world of freelancing then you must be able to balance the freedom and flexibility with discipline and ground rules.
Although this does not relate to you, our honest and straight-laced freelance readers, we thought we would just fill you in on the latest HMRC initiative designed to bust the tax dodgers. Following their “amnesty for all” announcement HM Revenue & Customs have now unveiled a new tax evasion unit that offers reduced penalties for those who come clean on undeclared income.
This month Andy and Jon talk to Simon McVicar of the PCG about the latest developments on IR35, and how the PCG are attempting to advise the UK’s Government on future reforms. We also get an accountants perspective on how the changes brought about in the Budget will effect the nation’s freelancers from Steve Crouch of Crunch Accounting. This is a long one, so pour yourself a cup of tea.
The hot topic recently has been about the recession and its continued impact on the freelance job market. Only last week we revealed the results from a survey carried out by CIPD and now more research from PeoplePerHour.com has confirmed the same.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out
As the summer holidays approach our minds start to wander to lazy days on the beach, chilled Pimms and time with the family. However, we all know that holidays for freelancers are never quite so easy and stress free. Holidays represent all that is positive and all that is negative about being a freelancer.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
Crowd-sourcing job website Freelancer.com has given an insight into the current state of the freelancing market through its Freelancer Fast 50 update, which analyses the site’s huge database of freelancing jobs to see which sectors are fluctuating.
Brilliant Freelancer is, at it’s heart, a self-help book. This instantly made me concerned – not because I dislike the idea of people helping themselves, but because I’m a fairly self-conscious fellow and I like to do most of my reading on the train.
TimothyTim | Guides,Lifestyle & Time out
Kids. Whether you wanted them or not, once you have one, your general level of harassment will never fall below ‘fraught’. Freelancers have it extra bad as they don’t get all that lovely maternity leave / paternity leave that the PAYE population enjoy. So in the spirit of helping you through these tough times I’ve [...]
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
When you’re working from home, you need strong self-discipline and an ability to manage time effectively. One of the best time management devices comes courtesy of an old-fashioned clock. Sure, we all have the time on our computers, but it’s not the same as having a proper clock face hanging high up on the wall above your desk.
National Insurance is great. It builds up your state pension entitlement and helps pay for the NHS and other welfare services. Us freelancers pay National Insurance on a quarterly basis with the amount we pay dependent on how much we earn. Read on for a jargon-smashing guide…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Many of us have read theories about what constitutes best practice when it comes to social media, but what is the reality for UK freelancers? From my own experience I’ve identified five main ways that freelancers use social media.
During these austere times, it should come as no surprise that HMRC is increasing the penalties for late tax returns and payments. The new rules apply to the tax year 2010-11 so for UK freelancers it’s even more crucial that returns are filed correctly and on time.
During last week’s Budget, the chancellor announced that a total of 21 new enterprise zones will be created across the UK in areas in need of economic revitalisation. The idea behind an enterprise zone is to encourage investment and economic growth within a particular geographical area. Will it encourage freelancers to relocate?
Freelancers are increasingly being called upon to fill the void left by the huge reduction in permanent workers in the public sector. That’s the observation of a major online business marketplace anyway. And when you consider that 490,000 public sector jobs are due to go by 2014-15, the demand for flexible workers to complete specified projects can only increase.
The degree of activity in social media depends on an individual freelancers personal requirements. Freelancers who have a steady stream of work, for the present and forseeable future, may not see social media as a priority. However, those freelancers who are struggling for work, will, or at least should, see social media as an opportunity to engage with potential clients and source work.
Mel Dixon | Resources,Technology
A new report by SEO specialists Clickscene, has revealed that 40 per cent of commercial businesses in the UK are ignored by search engines. Further to this, 91 per cent are not using pay per click services and a third don’t get any traffic from search engines.
Virtual businesses are brilliant because they employ freelancers and stuff. A virtual business can be defined as any business that is online and doesn’t have a permanent physical base – and they can be maintained from any location with an internet connection.
Mel Dixon | Guides,Lifestyle & Time out
The office is one of the safest places you could possibly work. You come in, you sit down, and you run your fingers over a keyboard for a few hours. What’s the worst that can happen? Electrocution by the office toaster? Well, as far-fetched as that may seem, it could happen. And that’s not the only hidden danger in the office.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For the freelancer who works at a client’s office, it can sometimes be difficult to find a spare coffee mug. Perhaps the boss is so stingy that they only have enough for one per employee. That’s why it’s advisable to bring in your own mug. But, don’t just make it any old ceramic drinking device, make sure that yours stands out from the crowd. In essence the coffee cup you use should be a celebration of your freelance status.
Here’s a guide to nine of the best…
Completely unscientific of course, but a quick polling of the Twitterverse has yielded some interesting results as to what the biggest annoyances for freelancers are.
The results, somewhat unsurprisingly, focus on the behaviour of certain unscrupulous clients
Mel Dixon | News,Working From Home
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of employees absent from work due to sickness has risen to pre-recession levels. The figures are taken from the last quarter of 2010 and reveal that 2.5 per cent were absent for at least one day, compared to 2.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.
As a freelancer you’ve probably had to get someone to repair your computer at some point. If you haven’t yet, then drop us the brand name and model number. When the time comes for technical assistance, you will need to find someone who can diagnose the problem and then hopefully repair it.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,News
Nothing was happening, I thought. There is no industry news, and all golden nuggets of advice had long been mined dry. Is this the beginning of a nasty case of writers block I wondered? I could no longer put pen to paper, or for that matter, fingers to keyboard. The future before me was a bleak barren landscape. Then over the ridge I spotted a galloping mass. “Is that..?” Yes it was! Office Cavalry had come to the rescue wielding another freelance survey!
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
It seems difficult to believe but according to a survey by Nectar Business almost 10 per cent of female homeworkers get through a full working day in their pyjamas. It’s one of the perks of the job, surely?
Much is written about the art of engaging consumers via social media and what constitutes best practice. For freelancers, communication via social media arguably comes more easily than it does for sizeable business entities. Though there are fewer pitfalls for the flexi-worker, who for the most part just needs to bathe in a flattering light in front of current and future clients, for those a little more demanding of their social media results it’s important to understand why people disengage.
Mel Dixon | News,Working From Home
Areas in which women are superior to men: they are better at reproducing, can carry out multiple tasks and have a greater understanding of the offside rule. Now, you can add coworking to that short list…
One month on from the 2.5% VAT increase, it seems that SMEs have managed the switch rather comfortably. Well, for the most part at least according to a poll of 1,400 SMEs by finance management software firm, Intuit.
The government has been talking BIG regarding a five year drive to create new economic growth in the UK through a renewed spirit of entrepreneurialism and hi-tech innovation. It was a BIG launch in more than one way. BIG actually stands for British Innovation Gateway, the name they’ve given to this plan for growth which sits neatly alongside plans for an East London Tech City.
Although the importance of social media is well established in the UK, we still trail a long way behind the US. However, that is all set to change in 2011 according to a new report by freelance work portal Office Cavalry. In fact, the findings are particularly positive for those freelancers specialising, or hoping to specialise, in social media marketing.
Here’s a breakdown…
When you start out as a freelancer or small business owner, it’s important to have an idea of what sort of work you’ll say ‘Yes!’ and what sort of work you’ll say ‘No!’ to. The answer you give may depend on a number of things.
It’s been a troubling week for the coalition Government and UK economy: The week started with the outgoing head of the CBI criticising the Government for hindering business and job creation. This was swiftly followed by the news that the UK economy suffered ‘negative growth’ in the last three months of 2010.
What does it all mean for freelancers?
As a freelancer it’s crucial to remain relevant and to be ready for change in any given industry. Of course, nobody likes change in the world of business. Most of us would like to stick with the same processess and skills which have got us so far, without having to worry about the future. Freelancers are effectively on a treadmill, we can’t stay still without going backwards.
According to a new report, the number of co-working spaces worldwide almost doubled in the past year. It’s surely good news for freelancers who prefer to work away from home and don’t have a clients office to go to.
The survey by co-working portal Deskwanted.com, reveals there were 350 co-working spaces at the beginning of 2010 and 650 at the start of 2011. This still looks a rather small number, but it represents a significant upward curve and suggests that demand may continue to rise as freelancing is increasingly seen as a viable and preferable alternative to traditional employment
Although “Poll season” has mercifully finished now, we’re still getting good news for freelancers fed to us now and again. Today, word reaches us of a large poll conducted by our friends at OfficeCavalry.com. 1,000 SMEs were asked their views on freelancers, and how flexi-workers will fit into their businesses this year. As you’d expect, the results make for some good reading.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,Money
Despite a sense of restrained optimism from business leaders the year ahead is likely to be a testing one for the UK economy. For example, the impact of the VAT rise on SMEs is uncertain – the Shadow Chancellor believes that it will lead to 250,000 job losses. While this could work in favour of a freelance workforce called upon to fill the gaps, it may also have an adverse effect if whole businesses go bust – particularly if they happen to be your clients.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
Recently, I read about a concept called “social jetlag”. Scientists coined the term as a way of describing the effects of returning to work after Christmas. Personally, I haven’t experienced traditional jetlag because I refuse to board a plane, but it seemed to me an exaggeration to twin post-Christmas blues with the physical effects of flying to the other side of the world and adapting to a completely different body clock.
In his characteristically blunt manner, Lord Alan Sugar has been lending his opinions on a range of issues affecting the small business community. In a column written in The Daily Telegraph, Lord Sugar discusses how small businesses can plan for a tough 2011, why it’s foolish to rely on anyone to help your business – especially banks, and why networking events are a waste of time. As you would probably expect from Sugar, it’s a combination of shrewd business advice, personal anecdote (some might say self-glorification) and the occasional expletive. In all seriousness, his advice is genuinely insightful.
If you’re a UX freelancer (one of those front page web interface design types) you may be interested in a new survey which reveals how much you can expect to get paid in the industry. By detailing the pay of UX freelancers across varying experience levels, location and gender – this is probably the most exhaustive study of its kind.
The results offer a really useful guide for industry freelancers unsure of what rates to charge.
A study has been carried out which looks into the cost of renting co-working space compared to maintaining a workstation in a regular office.
The results show that renting a desk in a co-working space costs half as much in most cities. It’s statistics like these that illustrate the financial benefits of hiring remote workers and outsourcing vital business functions.
There is an ongoing debate about the benefits of contracting as a sole trader or working as a limited company owner. The typical scenario is for someone to start contracting or freelancing as a sole trader for its ease of set-up and small administrative burden. After increasing their earnings, they may then consider forming a limited company to lower their tax paying responsibilities and increase their attractiveness to potential clients.
This raises the question: when is a good time to form a limited company? And how substantial is the culture shift as you move from one business structure to another?
It’s not often that students are the cause of a positive news headline, but it feels good to break with convention. A survey of English universities has discovered record levels of student engagement in enterprise and entrepreneurship thanks in part to funding from businesses.
Is this going to lead to a new generation of graduates starting up their own businesses instead of watching Cash in the Attic whilst browsing through the jobs pages?
2010 has been a memorable year which has seen recognition of the freelance community rise to unprecented levels. A few things spring to mind. We’ve seen the forming of a coalition government which has seemingly set in motion a chain of events that will eventually see an overhaul of IR35. And the second ever National Freelancers Day was a huge success with freelancers across the UK going weak at the knees when Prime Minister David Cameron addressed them directly.
New small businesses have been asked about their love of outsourcing in order to trace what the future holds for the phenomenon of hiring essential business services instead of performing the same functions in-house.
According to research by OutsourceMyProject.com, the global value of outsourcing stands at $60bn and is set to grow by 20% year-on-year for the next five years. If that’s to be believed, the 2010s are set to be the decade of the outsourcing revolution!
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
What are your values? It may seem a slightly odd question to ask a fellow freelancer or contractor, and you might think it’s something more relevant to a large corporation that needs to safeguard against an existence based on pure cash-clutching greed.
However, the values that you hold as a one-man band can help guide the decisions you make and ensure that you give the highest possible level of service to customers and clients. The values you hold are the seeds from which your reputation grows.
With recent research detailing the colossal expense and burden of niggling administrative duties (apparently we spend 37 days each year on opening letters alone!), isn’t it about time we got hold of the red tape and tore it apart with Hulk-like strength?
Freelancers and contractors can help make their lives significantly easier by offloading many of the menial tasks that blight their day. First though, you need to know when’s the best time to outsource.
The nature of homeworking has been thrust into the limelight thanks to the heavy snowfall forcing many workers to perform their duties from home. The BBC recently run a piece entitled ‘Is Working from Home a Skive?’ How dare they! What do they think people like me are doing, watching Jeremy Kyle only to occasionally pull myself away to bash a sentence together?
Chancellor George Osbourne took the opportunity to do away with the Pre-Budget Report and replace it with an Autumn Statement when the Coalition Government was formed. I’m not sure which sounds the most interesting.
The idea behind the report is to give the British public the opportunity to find out the state of the economy and the pressing matters facing the treasury.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
If you’re a freelancer or contractor who gets on famously with your clients, you may well be invited to a Christmas party this year. I, for one, have a few parties to attend. In fact, I’ve already crashed and burned at one. And that got me thinking: How am I going to handle the rest of them? Can I get through these parties without being the office bore?
These are some of the techniques I’ll be using to get through the festive knees-up…
As we ease towards the end of 2010, now might be a good time for freelancers and contractors to start thinking about their business goals and objectives for next year. Setting goals is an effective way of ensuring that you are headed in the right direction, and places the work that you do within a wider context.
By using goals and objectives in the right way, you can establish a roadmap for freelance success!
Freelancing in the 21st century offers a limitless number of opportunities for helping you become more efficient and finding more work. Technology really is a freelancers best friend.
So, what are these opportunities and how does the 21st freelancer make the most of them. Read on…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
At this time of year the cold air bites, and people tend to be more vulnerable to colds and viruses. As a freelancer or contractor you can’t exactly pull a sickie, and besides, nobody wants to feel as though they’ve swallowed a cheese grater or experienced the River Use streaming out of their nostrils.
There are simple actions you can take to ensure you’re not the one who everyone would like to see placed in quarantine.
A new all-party parliamentary group has been set up for the freelance sector in order to create closer ties between Westminster and the UK’s 1.4m freelancers. The group will seek to highlight the contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UK economy and promote the flexi-working way of life.
PCG, the industry trade body, certainly seems happy about it; but what powers does an all-party group have?
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Gordon Ramsay does it in the kitchen and Christian Bale does it on the film set, so why can’t a freelancer or contractor let rip with a few profanities in the workplace?
Many experts argue that swearing is an effective method of venting your pent-up frustrations, so assuming no-one raises any objections, and you get the job done as per your clients requirements, there shouldn’t be any repercussions for owning a potty mouth.
If only it were that simple.
With VAT rising from 17.5% to 20% in the new year, it’s worth asking what effect this will have on freelancers and contractors. The impact it will have on retailers is fairly obvious, they have to change all the prices in their shops to account for this change. For freelancers, the impact is not so straightforward and will vary depending on how they do their accounting.
Martha Retallick has written an honestly useful, if Americanised, guide to expanding your business contacts. I won’t lie to you, the basic suggestion herein is to cold call people and the suggestions are orientated toward how best not to become a crumpled husk of your former optimistic self. However the advice is useful and backed up with good examples and techniques.
As a freelancer or contractor, you are the brand. It’s a horrible word and nobody wants to refer to themselves as a brand – it makes you sound like a brain dead idiot from The Apprentice – but unfortunately that is what you’ve become.
And, as with any brand you need to ensure that it’s alive, easy-to-find and well maintained in the online sphere. In other words, the two PR’s are essential – public relations and personal reputation.
I’ve recently been trying out a new tool which enables you to scrawl all over fully functioning websites and store the results.
‘MarkUp’ is aimed at anyone who wishes to present suggestions as to how a website could be done differently. The service is still rather basic, but its simplicity is impressive.
Many people like the idea of running their own business, but when you’re safe in the security of full-time employment it can appear as a dangerously alluring dream. After all, it’s sink or swim, right? Not necessarily.
The truth is, going freelance needn’t be a blind leap into the unknown; a freelance career should be planned out in advance thereby minimising the potential risks.
As the Government talks of plans to create an ‘entrepreneurial decade’, a new employment forecast paints a gloomy picture that suggests the private sector will struggle to fill the void left by public sector cuts whilst feeling the impact of the VAT increase.
Does the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development offer an accurate forecast? Or are they ‘less reliable than a dead octopus’ as one Conservative MP sugge
Networking. Many people preach about the benefits of attending networking events, but until recently I hadn’t actually been to one myself.
The fear is that such events may turn out to be stilted, formal and full of cliques. Nobody wants to be at a soul-sapping snoorfest. Thankfully, my first experience of ‘formal’ networking was no such occasion.
You’ll have to be quick to get your voice heard in a major survey of freelancers and contractors in the UK. It’s a good opportunity to offer your views on the state of freelancing, your hopes and fears for the future, and much more besides.
The survey should only take ten minutes and closes this Friday (5th November).
Many of you may already be familiar with Desk Space Genie, the website that helps freelancers find workspace in the UK. It’s a useful site which allows you to easily find a co-working space in your area.
The bad news is: it is no more. The good news is: it’s transformed into Office Genie!
A new report the how the internet is transforming the UK economy has been published by the Boston Consulting Group.
The research illustrates how small businesses actively using the internet are reporting sales growth more than four times bigger than that of companies less active online.
The UK’s freelancers and contractors will be unsurprised to hear that money is not the key motivational factor for many workers.
According to a study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the ability to work flexibly and have the opportunity to develop within a business are more important.
These are two of the key reasons why people tend to go it alone and start up their own business in the first place – so perhaps even more people are on the precipice of joining the freelance revolution!
Do you need to haggle over a contract? Are you about to enter a showdown meeting where you need to negotiate the best possible terms for you?
Here are a few tips to help you get what you want. It’s time to play hardball!
Microsoft has unveiled a brand new cloud-based product which they hope will win over the business community.
Office 365 will bring together Microsoft Officer, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online. Instead of having to install it on your computer, you can simply pay for and access the service online. Or, ‘in the cloud.’
If you’re a freelancer or contractor who gives free advice to friends or other casual contacts, you’d better make sure it’s well-placed.
Otherwise, if your advice turns out to be misplaced, you may find a solicitors letter on your doormat detailing how you’re being sued for negligent advice and guidance!
Chancellor George Osbourne’s Spending Review marks the UK’s biggest spending cuts since World War II.
The cuts are set to change the country’s economic and social landscape, and freelancer’s trade body PCG has given their reaction…
We love co-working – it’s the perfect asset for freelancers and contractors, and you get to keep your freedom while also having a nice, professional office setup.
The proliferation of online accountancy services aimed at small businesses has opened up a debate about the benefits and drawbacks of these new fangled operations in comparison to more traditional accountancy practices.
Here we look at the rise of these services, and what impact they’ve had on the freelance workforce.
Well, at least that is the deadline for the paper versions. Alternatively, if you’re doing your self-assessment returns online then you have a bit more leeway. Up until January 31 in fact.
Self-assessment returns need to be done if you’re self-employed or running your own limited company.
New research reveals that many small business leaders have reservations about employing people over the age of 60.
Does that mean the older generation are being discriminated against?
We’ve started, so we’ll finish. If your specialist subject is freelancing we have a chair just waiting for you.
The PCG special Mastermind sessions are to be held throughout the UK and while there might not be an imposing leather chair, you can make yourself comfortable in Manchester, Aberdeen, Brighton, Edinburgh, Bristol or Watford for stimulating sessions that will help us celebrate the PCG’s National Freelancers Day on November 23rd.
I’m always on the lookout for new online tools which are user-friendly and hopefully fun and maybe, just maybe, practical for my needs.
So, I randomly googled ‘lovely online tools’ and lo and behold came across Lovely Charts which promises to enable you to ‘create professional looking diagrams of all kinds’ that will ‘impress, convince and seduce – even if you don’t have the slightest design skill.’
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When your working day involves working at a computer, it also involves sitting on a chair. The wrong chair could lead to a bad back and a foul mood. The right chair will result in physical well-being and a healthy freelancer mindset.
Here are six of the best home office chairs: some weird, some wonderful, others barely fathomable.
For the freelancer who works from a home office there are a whole range of legitimate business expenses which can be claimed.
This poses the question: what are they? And how do you calculate the amount you can claim? What follows is a simple guide.
In our day-to-day lives we read a lot. And some of us would like to read a lot more. Often it’s time that restricts us, or perhaps the strain on our eyes.
For many freelancers and contractors the ability to read quickly and efficiently can be vital. It can be the difference between gleaning an important piece of information and remaining in a soon-to-be unblissful state of ignorance.
Come along we haven’t got all day!!
Brighton-based journalist and communications consultant Sally Shore has launched a new service to help the increasing numbers of entrepreneurs and freelancers generate media coverage on a budget.
As a freelance copywriter I often need to add images to the articles I’ve written. For a while now I’ve been using Skitch – a free picture editing tool for Mac users.
It’s a tool I’d recommend to any freelancer who regularly needs to play around with images.
For the home office worker distractions are rife. With no clients looking over your shoulder and only your own discretion between you and an unwarranted break, discipline is key.
Are you the freelancer with an unfathomable desire to watch daytime television? Are you having trouble keeping your eye on the task in hand?
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
If you’re interested in starting your own business, working from home or building a business empire from scratch then Enterprise Nation is a great source of information and inspiration.
I’ve recently stumbled across their TV channel on Vimeo and it’s fantastic. EN founder Emma Jones have been a Freelance Advisor contributor for a couple of years now and it’s great to see her ‘live’ in front of the camera talking about the stuff she loves.
One to watch!
The UK’s freelancers and contractors are continuing to thrive during difficult economic times. But why? And how?
It’s time for a quick-fire round up.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Some may call it a horribly and painfully strung out metaphor, others may accept it as genuine business wisdom: “Successful small businesses have a lot in common with water.”
Let’s run with this stream of thought.
So, you’re running your own business and feel ready to plunge into the world of blogging in order to relay your expertise to a global audience.
Blogging can be a very effective tool for self-marketing, but what kind of blogging service should you choose to host your ramblings?
National Freelancers Day is all set for 23rd November 2010.
On this day, and during the week, the PCG and Freelance Advisor will be trumpeting (and rejoicing in) the vital contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UKs economic well-being.
After the success of last year’s event many freelancers were asking what they could do to get involved with National Freelancers Day 2010.
Here are 6 ways to get connected…
Michael Rose | Working From Home
Virgin Media recently announced that it would start publishing its average broadband speeds for all of its internet packages. This is great news for home-workers and hopefully the beginning of a trend towards greater honesty among Internet Service Providers.
What is your IPS ‘up to?’ – follow our quick guide to checking your connection and comparing what you pay vs what you currently get.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
After last week’s illuminating How to Start a Design Business videos we got sent this brilliant tongue-in-cheek take on the life of a freelancer. Completely hilarious it’s full of some nice tips for convincing clients you’ve got a secretary while answering calls from bed, how to claim almost anything on expenses and how to fool clients you work for a big agency while working in your pants.
A must see for a miserable Monday morning…
The coalition government has said that they hope to bring in billions of pounds over the next few years after announcing that more resources will be made available to HMRC.
And how are they going to do this? By targeting those pesky businesses avoiding tax through offshore accounts.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Resources
The Design Council has uploaded a couple of very interesting expert advice videos.
Part of their excellent resources section the videos feature interviews with top UK design talent and their advice on starting up a design business and how to deal with client relationships. Mostly relevant to newbie designers but a lot of the advice is relevant to anyone creative thinking of starting up in business.
Freelancers and contractors will be glad to hear that a consortium of City financiers are planning to open a bank that only lends to small businesses.
And they’re planning to launch early next year…
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Resources
From organising and getting prepared to polishing your product and your pitch, here is a list of tools that will help you make your move to freelancing as as efficient and seamless as possible.
Freelancers in the North West might be interested to hear about the Wirral and Liverpool Enterprise Freelance Fair. This unique event aims to help agencies, small businesses and freelancers looking for new contracts and solid advice and even promises to get you useful business leads!
In the run up to National Freelancers Day the PCG are asking freelancers to share their top tips with their fellow freelancers.
What do you do to make your work more profitable, productive, worthwhile and enjoyable?
If you’ve got freelance pizzazz, why don’t you shout about it?
This talk by web-hero and Basecamp creator Jason Fried underlines almost everything that Freelance Advisor is about.
Advertising your skills can be expensive and inefficient but writing a short blog post that catches the imagination of thousands of people in your field is much easier. In this talk Fried talks about the huge difference between blogging about your product and blogging about your techniques, how being open with your clients AND competitors works to generate new business for those willing to share their secret sauce.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
We hear a lot about “Inbox Zero”, whether you’ve practiced Getting Things Done, got yourself a set of 43 Folders or just have good Zen Habits, you are probably aware that it’s a good idea to have an Inbox that you treat as sacred and some rules and patterns to govern it; Rule one being get ‘In to Empty’ regularly.
While this all makes a whole lot of sense and has done for years, important bills to pay tucked behind the clock on the mantlepiece was my late Uncle’s preferred ‘productivity tool’, I’ve always thought there should be some discussion of Outbox behaviours.
Are you a freelance mastermind? Freelance Advisor is teaming up with online accountants Crunch to host a special event in the run-up to National Freelancer’s Day which aims to wrack the brains of the freelance community.
The Freelance Mastermind Group gives freelancers the opportunity to exchange ideas and share knowledge in a rather nice bar in lovely Brighton.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When you’re working as a freelancer or contractor, it’s not just your business you have to manage. You also have to manage your own stress levels. After all, a taut freelancer may soon become unhappy and unmotivated leading to a professional and personal downward spiral.
What follows is a guide to reducing stress levels on the job.
PCG, the voice of freelancing, is pleased to announce that booking has officially opened for PCG’s inaugural Freelance Lecture taking place at the magnificent Stationer’s Hall to mark National Freelancers Day 2010 — an event supported by Telegraph Media Group.
‘Freeing up Potential’ will provide a theme for the lecture, which will be delivered by Dr James Bellini, leading futurologist, broadcaster and, of course, freelancer.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Working From Home
The Skiff 2.0 has recently moved to a new space for creative co-working.
In partnership with Wired Sussex the new co-working and events space is a bigger, better, brighter place at 6 Gloucester Street, right in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine .
Freelancing has many advantages including the flexibility to decide when and where you work.
You will also have a wider variation of work with a number of contracts and clients as well as usually being paid higher rates of pay.
However, there can also be disadvantages, especially as you are responsible for all aspects of your business including finances, sourcing work and compliance with relevant regulations such as IR35.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
There are infinite numbers of ways in which freelancers and contractors can relieve work-related stress. Managing your time better, moving a chest of drawers to the other side of the room, or meditating to whale music are just a few that might work.
But sometimes you just want a quick fix for those moments when you feel a bit overwrought. Here we’ve compiled seven of the best stress-busting tools on the market.
Blogging offers freelancers and contractors the opportunity to market themselves for free whilst providing valued content to a targeted audience.
Perhaps you want to positition yourself as an industry expert, or simply provide some enlightening prose because you truly love what you do.
The following is a list of useful tips to get you started.
New research has shown that over a third of SMEs use social media on a daily basis to promote their businesses.
For many freelancers and contractors, utilizing free networking tools is clearly a no-brainer, but which is the most popular?
So, Google has released it’s latest update which claims to make online searches quicker and easier than ever before. A useful update? Yes. A search engine revolution? Not quite.
In fact, a lesser known alternative has been around for almost two years and it does pretty much the same thing. And more.
Time to hit the keyboardr!
Clare Evans | Working From Home
You’ve decided to go down the freelance route and now you’re working from home. Balancing work within the home environment can often be difficult. You may be working around children and family while focusing on your business. There are all the distractions of being at home but needing to be in work mode.
Freelance productivity expert Clare Evans explains how to create a balance between ensuring work gets done and enjoying the flexibility of working from home.
For freelancers and contractors who work via their own limited company, dividends can provide a very tax efficient method of self-payment.
But what exactly are they? And how do they work in practice? The following guide will give you a good idea.
It is essential to ensure your workplace is deemed temporary when determining whether you have the right to claim travel and subsistence expenses. If you are a contractor, assessing your workplace status is extremely important. There are a number of rules set by HMRC which will determine whether you have the right to claim travel and subsistence expenses whilst you work. The rules heavily focus on whether your place of work can be classified as temporary or permanent.
Michael Rose | Resources,Technology
I can’t count the number of times I’ve needed to know the exact dimensions of a piece of A4 paper. It’s not something I need all the time, so it’s not in long-term memory, and it’s certainly not worth printing out and keeping by my monitor.
If I’m at my laptop I usually Google for the answer it but its always frustrated me that I can’t just have everything I need in one place.
International Paper Sizes is an ideal resource for looking up a variety of paper standards. It’s ideal for anyone working in graphic design, illustration, printing, export and packaging. And me.
Michael Rose | Events,Technology
If you like geeky events, conferences and meetups (for work or play) then the brilliant new social conference directory Lanyrd.com is doing absolutely everything it can to connect you, and your friends, to the events that really matter.
As a freelance writer, I often browse the internet for useful websites which relate to the art of putting one letter in front of another.
One of my favourites is Explore Writing which is aimed at aspiring writers whilst also being useful for any writer at any level.
Working job-to-job and contract-to-contract is all well and good. But if you want to build a business you’ll need to find some cash.
Christian Nellemann, founder of XLN Telecom, shares some of his experience on how you could get your business off the ground financially.
I’ve recently discovered a handy online tool that allows you to create an email address which then self-destructs in ten minutes.
It’s just what you need for those services which make it Mission Impossible to unsubscribe from their constant dribble of updates.
For many freelancers and contractors finding a good accountant can be an arduous task. As a result, some small business owners end up employing the services of an accountant who turns out to be a poor fit for their needs.
That’s when you know it’s time to make a change.
I recently stumbled across a simple online tool called Wridea. It’s a tool which could be particularly useful for freelancers or start-ups who have ideas which they want to arrange simply and effectively on an online interface.
The idea behind the site is to ensure that people don’t forget the ideas they’ve previously come up with. Unless they want to of course.
You probably dread coming back from holiday to hundreds or thousands of emails.
The thought of spending the first week dealing with them all and feeling that you’re having to catch up all the time. Here are a few quick steps to help you deal with the backlog.
For freelancers and contractors communication is vital. Whether it’s general face-to-face conversations in the workplace, email correspondence or phone-based verbal exchanges, it’s important to ensure that we get the best out of each one of them.
It’s also important to maintain good levels of etiquette.
A new survey by chartered accountants has revealed how SME’s are struggling to get loans due to the strict criteria laid down by the banks.
This might not reveal anything we don’t already know, but with small businesses – including freelancers and contractors – being a key driving force behind the UK economy, surely credit terms could be a little more friendly?
Many entrepreneurs & freelancers will be looking at their business now and thinking, I just need to get my name out there and let people know what I’m doing… and then the enquiries will start flooding in. This may lead them to start looking at options like PR and you may well be met with promises of instant results, tons of press coverage and lots more business.
Jenna Gould, Director of Media Jems asks is it too good to be true?
Michael Rose | Money,Technology
Are slow payers crippling your cash flow? Are you spending too much time chasing overdue accounts and stifling your productivity? Spending more of your valuable time chasing payments than new customers?
There’s an app for that.
“A sale is not a sale until the money is in the bank”. It’s a great rule of thumb but it’s surprising how many businesses forget this golden rule and over-extend themselves. For many freelancers the long awaited big contract is one of the main reasons to be in business. However, whether your customer is a small business or a very large one, it is critically important to ensure they can and will pay you.
Creditsafe’s 16-page guide is crammed full of top tips for making sure you will get paid.
Despite hopes of its upcoming demise, IR35 is still alive and dangerous and remains a major concern for many UK contractors.
That’s why it’s great to hear that a new online tool has been created which gives contractors an opportunity to discover whether or not they are IR35 compliant.
Here on FreelanceAdvisor we make numerous references to freelancers, contractors and small businesses – after all that’s who we’re here for!
But what are the defining characters of each? What follows is a no-nonsense guide to who’s who and why. Beware: stereotypes abound.
For the UK’s freelancers and contractors these are uncertain times. With fears rife of a double dip recession and the scrutinous IR35 legislation coming under intense scrutiny, it’s difficult for micro-businesses to know exactly where they stand.
The latest tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors, hosted by financial planners Wealth Matters, will offer a timely, in-depth insight into all the big issues facing your business. But be quick, it’s coming up very soon.
Poor customer service can kill a business and it is absolutely vital to get client and customer service right, particularly when handling complaints. If you don't handle complaints well then not only are you likely to lose the customer who is dissatisfied, but they are more likely to tell others about bad service than they are good service, so you stand to lose many more customers by getting it wrong.
Business Mentor Toby Buckle shares his top ten tips for crushing your customer’s quibbles.
We all need good time management skills but if you are feeling that there is too much to do and not enough time then it is especially important to take a good look at your time-management and productivity habits.
Most freelancers could do with a little more time in their day, so we’ve asked Clare Evans author of Time Management for Dummies for her top ten tips to help you get back on track and stay in control.
Andy continues his talk with credit control experts Rob Warlow and Adam Home and Darren Fell of Crunch about credit control and debt collection. In today’s show we ask: What should we do if it all starts to go wrong?
Podcast 26: Credit Control and Debt Collection (part 2) [ 26:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
74 unread emails! Since last night? Are you kidding! We all know what email overload feels like, especially if we’ve been away on holiday or if our American cousins don’t realise that Bank Holidays are sacred. It’s hard enough working out what work has priority but even worse when client email are hidden within an inbox cluttered with newsletters, calendar reminders and “special offers”.
If you use Gmail you might be interested to know that Google are working on the problem.
Gmail is great at filtering out spam but today the Google gmail team announced that they will use similar technology to automatically sort your emails by importance.
Well that’s the question being asked after it was announced that HMRC would adopt a new strategy in dealing with tax disputes.
Instead of taking a ‘black and white’ approach, resulting in court proceedings or no action at all, they will look to be more pragmatic in seeking agreements with individuals.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
As part of our Freelance Stories series Leif Kendall talks with former Freelancer of the Year winner and founder of Callender Creates, Jim Callender. We find out how Jim juggles work in London and Brighton and hear how he found a work/life balance that works for him and his family.
Ian Ozsvald | Guides,Resources
Monetising your knowledge is a core skill for freelancers – making money whilst you sleep is a necessary step forwards as you build your freelancing career.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us ways of making money by screencasting. This post follows the earlier tutorials on Communicating more effectively and raising your profile through screencasts.
Over the last month the coalition government has been taking suggestions from the public on how they can save money quickly and effectively. Some have argued for the scrapping of the digital switchover while others have suggested making MP’s use hostels rather than a have a second home.
A number of people have also taken the opportunity to argue for the repeal of IR35…
Ian Ozsvald | Resources,Training
Building a visible profile is essential if you want to receive a steady stream of readers and referred clients. Demonstrating your knowledge with screencasts is easy and is a very effective way of showing visitors that you’re on top of your game.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online tutorial and demonstration videos are a powerful way to raise your profile. This post follows the earlier tutorial on (Communicating more effectively with screencasts)
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
At Freelance Advisor we’ve spent a lot of time sharing advice on how you can effectively use Twitter and social. As a tool for finding more friends, colleagues clients and work. We’ve discussed how to use it for Marketing your personal brand and for PR for your own company.
This cheeky little site has a different view…
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
In a previous article, I talked about the importance of a good nights sleep for freelancers and contractors, and the most effective way to achieve that.
One important aspect I neglected to mention was the importance of a good bed. What follows is a list of the most ergonomic and practical beds currently on the market.
I’ve existed on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn for a long time now. My participation however has been somewhat minimal. My idea of social networking usually involves pubs and actually meeting people.
Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the idea of websites which enable you to build your own social network. So, I decided to try one out.
For a long time now there’s been much talk of the drawbacks and benefits of IR35. Well, mainly the drawbacks. But what of the measures that could potentially replace the complex and largely ineffective legislation?
One option which has been spoken about recently, involves the creation of a new General Anti-Avoidance Rule known by its acronym GAAR.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancers need focus; without a boss to keep you in line and being outside a traditional workflow it can be hard to know where to focus your efforts. Combine this with the pace of modern life and it’s easy to get swamped and to feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Not only is there a lot of work there are constant distractions, tweets, bleeps and pings pulling us away from our true goals and aspirations.
Focus: The Power of Targeted Thinking attempts to give the solution to all these feelings of confusion and distraction.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,Money
Continuing our Freelance Stories series we talk to artworker and print production pro Bill Greenwood.
After 20-years working for top design studios Bill has decided to go it alone and tells us what it is like to start your own Limited Company.
The Longtail rule, the Zipf law, the Power law or (easily the most dramatic) ‘The law of the vital few’. It might have many names, but ultimately all forms of the 80/20 rule amount to the same thing – that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The same applies to freelancers: you can gain new business simply by offering great service to your clients.
National Freelancers Day may still be a few months away, but this year’s event already looks set to reflect the growing recognition of flexible-working as an increasingly important part of the UK’s economy.
Last year’s event was the first of its kind and was successful in further promoting the virtues of freelance working. But the PCG has already got some heavyweight backing for the event when it returns on November 23…
Last week the Government announced a 52% cut in the amount spent on advertising and marketing, leading to 287 redundancies.
One of the few Government campaigns to escape the axe was the HMRC’s ‘paying business taxes’ series of adverts which surely reveals a determination to ensure that businesses don’t escape their tax paying responsibilities. Freelancers and contractors should be on their guard.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For most freelancers and contractors, getting a good nights sleep is pretty crucial. Yes, you do get those strange types who seem to get by with just a few hours kip. But they’re not normal.
And surely being reliant on huge vats of coffee to get through the day doesn’t do anyone any good?
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
Are you the contractor or freelancer who likes to be the cool, quirky guy (or girl) in the office?
Well if you feel you’re failing in your mission to stand out from the humdrum crowd, these following desktop gadgets are sure to make you the envy of your bespectacled bald-pated colleagues…
IR35 has been the bane of many of a contractor since it was introduced back in April 2000. Recently the controversial legislation has been garnering much media attention after the coalition government promised to review it as part of their plans to simplify the tax system for businesses.
This makes it a good time to ask: what exactly is IR35?
VAT is defined by HMRC as “a tax that’s charged on most goods and services that VAT-registered businesses provide in the UK.”
The question is: when should you be VAT registered? And why? It’s time for a no-nonsense overview to provide some answers…
Ian Ozsvald | Resources,Training
Getting your message across to customers and clients is vital and, as a freelancer, communicating clearly and effectively with can make a big difference to the success or failure of a project or product.
Professional Screencaster Ian Ozsvald shows us how short online videos are a powerful way to get communicate clearly.
Michael Rose | Working From Home
Great to see the Guardian covering the Rise of Homeworking:
The rise of home working | Money | The Guardian
Of course, we’ve know about the steady rise of home-working and the joys of working from home for some time now. For more on home-working don’t forget our Working-From-Home section is where to find all the latest posts.
Portfolio To Go is a fantastic iPad app for artists and photographers who use Flickr.com to showcase their photographs online.
Lovingly created by Brighton-based freelance developer Nick Kuh, easily allows freelance photographers, graphic designers and artists to present their portfolio offline to clients — perfect for use with a wifi iPad.
Just sync and go.
The Federation of Small Businesses has recently predicted that over 300,000 new small firms will be set up over the next year.
Many of these will be people leaving corporate companies to go it alone as a freelancer, some by choice, others by necessity. It’s further evidence that for many people freelancing is the way forward.
Ofcom has recently revealed the results of its latest broadband speed tests and it makes interesting reading for any freelancers looking to achieve the swiftest possible broadband connection in their home office.
For some people forming a business plan may seem a rather intimidating prospect because ultimately it will reveal whether your business idea is a realistic proposition. And if it turns out it’s not? Well, you’ve just wasted your time haven’t you? Err… not really.
Based on what you’ve discovered you can then either alter your plan or come away from the experience wiser for it. It’s a ‘win-win thing!’
New government proposals to dramatically cut tax free pensions allowance could have an impact on freelancers and contractors looking to save money for the future.
I’ll be honest, I’d never set up a VoIP phone before. So I decided to try out a Cloud Net telephonic solution which enables you to make calls via a broadband connection. The good news is, it was pretty simple to set up and provides an effective service for small businesses.
There was, however, one small problem which every prospective purchaser of a VoIP needs to keep in mind before they make the leap…
If you’re like me – a freelancer who occasionally works from home and who happens to live in an old, listed or converted flat – you’re no stranger to fluctuating wireless signals, and the headache they can cause when you’re trying to work.
Thick concrete walls, organic (horsehair) insulation and poor telephone infrastructure make working from home in these types of flats something of a struggle. It makes matters worse when the one room in your flat where you get the most work done just happens to be out of range from your wireless router. So, when you run a business that relies heavily on a stable internet connection, what’s a freelancer to do?
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
We’re big fans of Jason Fried, creator of Basecamp and co-author of Rework. His Get Real column for Inc.com is a must-read for freelancers interested in freelancing, small business advice, for stories of struggle and success.
His first column for Inc.com, Driven to Distraction, is Fried’s fascinating tale of how he built 37Signals from his solo freelancing business.
Getting sign-off, in writing, is a vital part of best practice when sending designs, copy or code to clients. If changes need to be made later then, with sign-off completed, it is the client’s responsibility — not yours. If, for example, there is a typo in a design for a flyer (perhaps the date is wrong!) and the client spots the mistake after printing 1000s of copies the responsibility for the cost of re-printing is the clients… not yours.
Find out how Professional Indemnity Insurance will defend you in cases where clients refuse to pay, or make a claim against you.
It’s a question which every prospective freelancer and contractor asks themselves before making the leap towards a more self-sufficient way of working. Should I trade as a limited company or work via an umbrella company?
Both methods have their supporters, but in this article I will bring the debate back to basics.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
A recent survey has explored the attitudes of mid-life women in the workplace. Despite having confidence in their own ability, it seems these women feel their age goes against them as far other people’s perceptions are concerned.
The results make interesting reading which suggests freelancing could be the way forward…
So, the job’s been a nightmare and the client has been excruciatingly awkward – and then when you reach the end of the project, they refuse to pay up. What do you do?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley offer the following advice on how a Professional Indemnity policy can help…
When you start and grow a business, you’re involved each day in the detail of running the business; perfecting customer service, ensuring positive cashflow, making new products, and so on.
This is all good and right but to plan for business growth, it’s important to step away from day-to-day affairs and take a good look at the business from a distance.
If you use Skype and have an iPhone then this week’s announcement via the Skype blog will come as very welcome news.
Thanks to the new update, available on iTunes, calls now go over 3G so you no longer need to be at home on a wireless network to make and receive calls.
Sandy Dempsey | Getting a Job,Training
If you’ve not yet joined the 75 million strong Twitterati, Sandy Dempsey founder of The Dreaming Cafe gives us five great tips on how to get started, why you should use Twitter and other social networking tools, and how to make it work for you and your business.
So far, so good. That seems to be the business community’s general view regarding the coalition government.
In a recent newspaper article, award-winning entrepreneur and freelancer’s friend, Darren Fell, gave his views on why he thinks now is a great time to start a business in light of recent tax changes.
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
Teux Deux is a super-simple, sleek and stylish to-do list manager. If you like great design with a tiny pinch of minimalism then this might be for you.
Built entirely for the web you just sign up for a free account and start typing in your to-dos. To add a task you just type and hit return. That’s it.
I have always been interested in running a project/small business outside of my 9 to 5 full-time job. Something that I can grow in my spare time and that has the potential to grow and then become my main source of income! Talking with friends, I was given a copy of Emma Jone‘s Working 5 to 9 – How to start a successful business in your spare time — Great timing!
Earlier this week we featured online presentation tool Spiceynodes as a great way to present information to clients or customers, in person, on a screen or directly embedded on your website. Today we look at a few tools for making quick website wireframes, prototypes and mockups.
From simple, free rapid drafting and prototyping tools to more complex and outright technical offerings we give you a quick overview of the options for freelancers needing to quickly create a mockup for a website or landing page.
Debt collection. It’s a term which often invokes the notion of a murky underworld where burly henchman terrorise blameless innocent types, usually of a slender frame; they are often grabbed by the collar and thrown against the nearest wall.
However, if you’re a contractor or freelancer who’s owed money which is not forthcoming, how do you go about collecting it in the most civil manner possible?
It’s good news for UK contractors after the coalition government’s launch of the new Office of Tax Simplification. The body will be tasked with making the tax system in the UK less complex, which will include a review of IR35.
The swift launch suggests that the government is looking to change the tax system sooner rather than later.
Emma Jones | Getting a Job,Working From Home
A recent feature in The Guardian ran with the headline: ‘Graduates warned of record 70 applicants for every job’ The next line went: ‘Class of 2010 told to consider flipping burgers or shelf stacking to build skills’.
Was I the only one thinking flipping burgers and shelf stacking is a flippin’ great way to earn part-time income whilst building a business? For all graduates considering self-employment, here are five tips along with stories of those who’ve been there and done it.
Over the last few days I’ve been fiddling about with a new online tool which could provide a fun new way of presenting information on your website, or alternatively, help you with some online brainstorming.
The interactive service offers a range of potential uses, but can it really be more than a fun diversion for freelancers and contractors?
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,News
Despite cuts across the board, overall, UK business is seeing a positive change thanks to the new Government. Tax breaks, including extended relief on the increase in Capital Gains Tax and National Insurance have been introduced and support for SMEs has been very positive.
To mark the importance of SMEs, The Startups Awards 2010 have added a Home Business of the Year category to their annual awards.
Freelancers and Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas can get in-depth business advice in a course which teaches the process of enterprise and will give you a great grounding in business planning skills.
The CommercialiSE Programme has been created to give freelancers and SME owners the tools to help turn a great small business idea into a well-planned, well-structured and profitable reality.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When you spend the majority of your working day staring at a computer screen, or reading pages of hard-copy text, your eyes can start to feel the strain. Is this just a drawback of desk-based work? Or is there something that can be done about it?
Here’s some handy advice for tackling eye strain…
An inspiring case study in the Guardian this week telling how Chris Clarke, a former financial controller, used Freelance jobs site PeoplePerHour.com to get back into business as a book-keeper.
Chris, a victim of the recession, was made redundant when his employer had to cut-costs so he went it alone and setup his own business. To find more clients, he has been attending events at his local chamber of commerce and using websites like PeoplePerHour.com where he can advertise his services.
Joycellyn Akuffo | Working From Home
Do you like bashing the snooze button as many times as you like? Do you hate those gossipy water cooler conversations? While there are lots of side-benefits from working from home there are some real benefits too. Joycellyn Akuffo editor of MothersWhoWork.co.uk lists her Top Ten reasons why working from home is so appealing to so many.
For freelancers and contractors, being able to supply a client with a simple T’s and C’s document is a sure-fire way of maintaining an aura of professionalism. It’s also pretty handy in the event of a dispute.
So, what else are they good for? And how should you go about drawing them up? Insurance specialists Blyth Valley have the answers…
A good business partnership is like a good marriage. You meet the right person, work well together and combine talents to create something wonderful. Emma Jones offers the secret to ensuring a business partnership doesn’t turn sour.
Michael Rose | Technology,Working From Home
If you occasionally work from home then getting a decent broadband connection can really help you get your work done effectively.
Thanks to modern-day technology, working from home is no longer a second-rate way of staying in touch with clients and colleagues and broadband has become a vital lifeline for many home workers, allowing them to email or browse the web in comfort while also being able to send and receive large files with ease.
If you’re not up to speed with Broadband at home Chris Marling of Broadband Genie gives you a a few things to consider.
Emma Jones believes in starting a business and then finding and focusing on your niche.
But what happens when you feel the niche audience you’ve chosen could be restricting in view of its size? Then it’s time to expand your product range, as opposed to extending your niche.
Emma explains how…
If you’re a designer or freelancer who is in the business of recommending materials or services to others, are you aware of the dangers you may face in doing so?
Insurance specialists Blyth Valley reveal how you can reduce the likelihood of a disgruntled customer heading straight for you with an inclination to sue…
Prioritising and planning how you use your time is a key skill for every great freelancer. Freelancing gives you the freedom to choose what you do and when you do it.
This freedom can have shortcomings however as it’s very easy to be distracted by emails, twitter and other interruptions — and it’s tempting to focus on doing those tasks you like instead of those which may be most useful.
Joycellyn Akuffo | Lifestyle & Time out
Although it feels as if the worst of the economic crisis is over, and the outlook for freelancers and contractors is relatively positive, the emergency ‘austerity’ Budget is a stark reminder that the recovery is still fragile.
Should unemployment strike, it’s important to ensure that your self-esteem doesn’t go through the floor.
Jocellyn Akuffo is the founder of a website for working mums, and has some timely advice…
Would you like to take a Pomodoro? In this instance I’m not asking you to accept a tomato, but instead enquiring as to whether you’d like to try a technique designed to improve your powers of concentration and increase the efficiency of your work.
As part of our Freelance Focus series, application designer Cesare Rocchi advises any freelancer who’s struggling to maintain their discipline and productivity to try out the Pomodoro technique…
Leif Kendall | Getting a Job,Training
John Williams believes that work doesn’t have be a chore. After itching for something more than the corporate 9 to 5, John went independent and discovered the joys of being paid for things he would happily do for free. John’s interests and work eventually led him to coach other aspiring players.
Freelance copywriter Leif Kendall takes a look at the advice on offer.
For those who are trying to find ‘the killer concept,’ perhaps the following will be of interest…
Concept Feedback is a handy resource for freelance designers and anyone who’s in the business of creating a logo, website or brand concept. The idea of the site is to create a professional online community where designers and visual creatives offer feedback on the design projects of others. It’s particularly useful for freelancers who are not in a position to gather feedback from their own personal sources.
Online security is a pain. If you have more than one bank account, multiple email addresses and numerous subscriptions to online services like Amazon, eBay and the rest, keeping track of your passwords becomes a real chore. We’re told not to write them down, and we’re told not to have anything too obvious that can be found in a dictionary.
Security experts recommend we have unique, strong, passwords of at least 12 characters including lowercase, uppercase and numbers. Generating random complicated passwords isn’t too hard… but remembering them is.
There are many different types of insurance available for freelancers and contractors, many of which are advisable only for specific fields of work. One form of insurance which is almost universally recommended is Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance.
After all, if you make a costly mistake at work – who ya gonna call?
Freelancers and contractors in the UK are well-versed in the business benefits of social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. But one service they may not be so familiar with is Ecademy – a business network which in many aspects is similar to LinkedIn.
So what can it offer the freelancing community?
PROBLEM: You have limited, often fragmented time to meet clients and contacts. You might have a free spot for two hours this afternoon, time between finishing one project and starting the next, and it’d be great to generate some new business in that slot — if only people knew you were free to talk.
Setster solves this problem beautifully — perfect for consultants or small businesses.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
For freelancers and contractors working in office environments the issue of safety at work will not be forefront in most people’s minds. And for obvious reasons. We’re not exactly operating heavy machinery where one false move means one lost limb, or balancing on the edge of a scaffold pole while balancing a bucket of cement atop our heads.
Nonetheless, every year approximately 2000 office workers are absent from work for more than three days due to workplace accidents; and these statistics don’t take account of illnesses resulting from office work.
Mark Kirby | Lifestyle & Time out
Information overload is not a problem — we’ve been surrounded by too much information for centuries.
The real problem is ‘filter failure’.
Here Wordpress & Mobile Developer Mark Kirby outlines a very simple method for filtering website feeds and making the most of your time online.
Depressing news from the BBC today shows that graduate unemployment is up 2% on last year with the worst news for Computer Science graduates — with unemployment rates at 17%.
While we’d hope that Computer Science students are going for Freelance or Contracting jobs the data shows a worrying trend in ex-students signing on and remaining unemployed for six months or more.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out
When your working day becomes a stultifying bore sometimes you need a form of respite. A brief sojourn can be provided by playing online games, but what if you’re working in an office with potential snitchers peering over your shoulder ready to cry wolf to their favourite boss?
Cant You See I’m Busy.com to the rescue!
A genuinely enlightening tax planning seminar for freelancers and contractors will be taking place on July 20 at the Cumberland Hotel in London.
An impressive roster of guest speakers will break down the recent Budget and offer expert insight into how it affects you, as well as looking in detail at the day-to-day financial trials and tribulations of being a flexi-worker.
The economic downturn has played a big part in accelerating the importance of social media in the marketing minds of freelancers and small businesses. For that reason, the idea of employing the services of a social media consultant can appear to be a no-brainer. After all, for many small operations, social media has become integral to their online presence.
Failing to utilise social media to its fullest extent could prove costly.
But is formal training really necessary?
What do freelancers need to do in order to thrive and develop their businesses in today’s economic climate?
Business performance coach Daryl Close says the old business revenue models are dead and new competencies are needed to effectively compete.
Jo Blood | Lifestyle & Time out
Sitting down and working from behind a desk should be the least physically strenuous form of employment, but all too often office-based work can lead to a pain in the neck, and an ache in the back. Posture expert Jo Blood guides us through the most ergonomically viable way of working at your computer…
As the dust settles after the June Budget Financial Planning Expert Paul Cleworth give us some good news for contractors.
TODO: Is a review of salary levels with your accountant requried?
A new interactive guide has been produced by the PCG which offers information and advice on how clients can source freelancers and make the most of their talents. The guide works as a handy reference tool which will ultimately help potential employers better understand freelancers and contractors, and ensure a smoother working relationship.
But it’s also pretty darn useful from a freelancer’s perspective…
What would you do if someone out of the blue gave you £100 to spend on your business?
A competition from Enterprise Nation & PayPal asks you to come up with the best way of spending £100 on your respective businesses. The top 100 ideas will win the money, giving you the opportunity to put your plans into action.
If you care about your personal brand, how you are showing up online and what people are saying about you and your business then this new app from award-winning filmmaker and iPhone app developer Garrett Murray is just what you need.
Check your referrers in Mint and Google Analytics, browse your Tumblr Dashboard, reply to mentions on Twitter, all from within Ego!
What advice can you act on when starting out as a freelancer?
Internet Consultant and Developer Alick Mighall shares his advice on the circumstances, principles and practices you’ll need to help you manage big clients.
A few years ago getting heard on Twitter was easy. When I first joined there were less than a million users and it was easy to find friends with common interests and it was even possible for a couple of friend to create a trending topic.
Now with 70m+ users (sending 50m tweets a day) the story is a little different…
Chancellor George Osborne delivers his Emergency Budget on the 22nd June. But what will it mean for freelancers? Join the PCG for comprehensive and insightful analysis. What will the red box contain this time for freelancers, in an era of austerity and cuts?
PCG will be providing live coverage at http://twitter.com/insidepcg from noon.
In May, the newly formed coalition government wasted no time in making all the right noises regarding the stress inducing IR35 ‘disguised employment’ legislation. Through a combination of squawks, growls and shrill cries they promised to “review IR35, as part of a wholesale review of all small business taxation, and seek to replace it with simpler measures…”
The question is: can we expect any statements of substance regarding the legislation in the upcoming emergency budget?
Social media has quickly risen from an online tool for building and maintaining social relations to one which can assist in expanding a brand’s online presence, and provide an opportunity to communicate with relevant publics. Sam Malpass show us how to make the most of its potential in a freelance business.
If you’re a razor-sharp freelancing PR professional then you may want to take advantage of a recent partnership between the Professional Contractors Group (the ‘Voice of Freelancing’) and the Public Relations Consultants Association.
In our continuing quest to offer a helping hand to freelancers and contractors, we’re offering you the chance to get a special discount on membership to the PCG (the Professional Contractors Group) thanks to an exclusive promotional code.
A report by PeoplePerHour.com – the online marketplace for freelancers and contractors – has uncovered some interesting data about how much money local councils spend on web services.
Judy Heminsley | Lifestyle & Time out
Co-working offers freelancers both flexibility of where to work and also the chance to meet with like-minded co-workers and collaborators. Working from home expert Judy Heminsley recommends the Jelly approach.
The freelance economy is going through a phase of radical growth and transformation.
We explore some of the more fundamental trends and shifts utilizing data and survey results published by PeoplePerHour.com – the largest marketplace for freelancers and small businesses in Europe.
A wonderful talk on Surviving as a Freelancer from Brighton-based freelancer Anna Debenham
Well worth a watch if you’re starting out in freelancing.
Andy talks to Web and Social Media Developer John O’Nolan and Darren Fell of Crunch about the power of personal branding. Choosing your brand Using Twitter to create a conversation Facebook, following and fans Social media as customer service Social media strategy and setup Listen to the podcast:
Podcast 24: Personal Branding for Freelancers & Contractors [ 29:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
As the saying goes ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ so how can you widen your network of contacts to create the network that is important to your freelance business?
Business Growth Strategist Janette Whitney shows us how…
Think networking is where people go because they want to sell more stuff?
You’re a little bit right, and a big bit wrong.
Freelance Advisor and copywriter Leif Kendall shares four reasons why getting to know your peers will make you a better, happier freelancer.
Anthony Hewson | Lifestyle & Time out
Relationships are more important for a freelancer than for any other individual.
That’s a pretty bold statement and I’m bracing myself for a wave of incredulity articulated by examples of people going through any sort of emotional or physical trauma. Ok, leaving that probably overwhelming group aside… here’s why
I was reminded recently how I used to get frustrated by people not coming back to me if I emailed or left a message. Well, that’s an understatement. I often used to see it as a personal offence and affront and get wound up if it repeatedly happened.
Over the years I have learnt to reframe lack of response and see it from another point of view.
Reframing is a really useful NLP technique that helps prevent negative responses, such as losing motivation or creating frustration. Below are some ways to reframe a lack of response from people as well as some practical tips on getting people to respond.
One of the biggest sales and marketing problems that small businesses can face is getting people whom seem interested in buying something to actually take the plunge and hand over their money.
Because let’s be honest, it’s actually pretty easy to attract attention to your business and meet prospective customers these days. The internet has made it simple to give your business a marketing presence (your website) and drive people to it (online advertising and search engine optimisation).
The key then to a successful business is not just one which attracts prospects, but one which has fail-safe systems to convert them into revenue.
Anthony Hewson | Working From Home
You gave up working for someone else for a reason. More than one in all likelihood, but one stood bold and proud: freedom.
Such a noble word; such a bright and sparkling principle; such a statement of hope and promise.
Such a lie
Following an article on Contractor UK’s website last week “Scrapping IR35 is not the answer, say Tories,” PCG, the largest UK organisation representing freelancers and contractors, are remaining optimistic in their campaign to overturn the UK’s IR35 leglislation.
According to a PCG spokesman they have now had a series of “fruitful and productive” meetings with various political parties and they detect from all political sides “a desire for a revision of IR35 legislation”.
When you’re running your own business you are the business manager, financial director, credit controller and bookkeeper. Hopefully you’ve managed to outsource your accounting needs but you still need to look at your accounts to make informed business decisions.
This week’s podcast with Sarah Thelwall from MyCake took a look at Turning Business Data into Brilliant Business Plans this post takes us a bit deeper and looks at a few types of costs that freelancers and SME’s incur so that you can gain a better idea of what ‘normal’ is.
With the General Election fast approaching, prospective parliamentary candidates will be out and about, doggedly canvassing on the streets in your neighbourhood.
The Professional Contractor’s Group (PCG) has produced a Guide to possible questions you can ask your candidate should they appear on your doorstep, with useful background information on some of the main issues facing freelancers.
A lot has been said about the Digital Economy Bill. But it looks like too little has been said too late. Last night’s final reading, and the resultant Twitter response, has a silver-lining, more and more people are aware of parliamentary procedure, have read the bill, and have voiced their dissent.
But this bill could have a real impact on digital creatives and anyone with a shared network. We’d love to hear from any freelancers or contractors who think their work and project will be affected by the new bill. As it stands it looks like Internet Cafes and Co-working places might be most affected by the proposed changes in law — effectively any wireless hotspot owner will be liable for all content accessed via their network… and your entire network can be shut down, or given limited business threatening access, for any one possible infringement.
How this will play out in practice remains to be seen, but we’d be very interested to hear from co-working spaces and cafe owners who think they might be affected… and what steps you might be taking to get around, or comply, with the proposed law.
Judy Heminsley | Lifestyle & Time out
When freelancing or starting a small business and looking to keep costs down working from home is the obvious solution.
There’s also a downside, though, and that’s the risk of becoming lonely and isolated, with its knock-on effect on self-confidence and motivation.
Continuing our #WorkingFromHome series Judy Heminsley shares her hard-won tips for overcoming the gloom of isolation and how to get motivated in the mid-afternoon slump…
All the information you need to know about the Working Time Regulations – Rest Breaks, Weekly working hours limits, Daily working hours limits, Opt-Outs, Holiday entitlements – and Bank Holidays. Holiday entitlement and sickness during holiday information updated for 2011.
The PCG’s continued lobbying of Tory top-brass has finally paid off in a firm commitment to a review of IR35 legislation by a future Conservative government.
The Conservative Party made the landmark announcement today that IR35 will be reviewed as part of an overall review of small business taxation should they win the General Election in May.
In a letter today to Chris Bryce, PCG Chairman, the Shadow Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP said that due to PCG’s strong representations to him and to Shadow Treasury Ministers “a Conservative Government would undertake a fundamental review of small business taxation matters, including IR35.”
The PCG’s John Brazier and Brookson’s Martin Hesketh respond to Alistair Darling’s budget.
How will the changes affect you and your business?
As a freelancer or contractor, it can often feel like you have to do everything alone in terms of running your company and finding new clients. If you are working full-time for a company, you have your colleagues and all the support departments and resources available to help you do your job. When you are working on your own, it seems like there is no one out there.
However, there are many resources for freelancers — some paid and some free, which can help you both to run your freelance business as well as with business development and finding new clients. Rahul Nag investigates some of the best freelance resources.
Anthony Hewson | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelancing takes courage. No guaranteed pay cheque, no back-up team, no boss to give you guidance, no boss to take the fall.
No excuses – the buck stops with you. It took courage to take that first step into the freelance world, whether it was a bold and brazen stride with an armful of clients ready to commit, or a stomach-knotted plunge born of necessity.
Anthony Hewson gives us some inspiring advice on how to feel the fear and to use it to put some fire in your freelancing belly.
The Farm‘s Paul Silver talks freelancing; getting started, working for clients, finding work and staying alive.
Yesterday Brighton’s Media Jobs and Skills fair was a huge success we talked to hundreds of potential freelancers from the recently redundant and looking to start a new career to students wanting to go straight into freelance — avoiding the traditional desk job altogether. It was really inspiring to see so many people interested in freelancing and we had over 100 new freelancers sign up for our ‘Go Freelance’ guide during the event.
The day was rounded off perfectly by academic, BBC filmmaker and Guardian journalist Dr Alek’s Krotoski talking to an audience of students and staff at the Sussex University Enterprise Thursday’s event — and the good Doctor was very happy to extol the virtues of Working for Yourself and Working from Home.
Read on for a video clip of Dr Krotoski and the perils of pyjamas.
Home based businesses are increasingly outsourcing and partnering, as opposed to taking on staff. As a freelancer and small business owner you may want to collaborate with others to get larger projects complete and, as more people start collaborating, it’s becoming important to have agreements in place with new partners that allows for a smooth running and profitable partnership. Emma Jones explains how to go about it.
‘The ultimate guide’ to going freelance is now even bigger and better. The 2010 edition comes with 32 packed pages of advice for anyone who freelances or who is considering making a move to freelancing.
Alick Mighall | Getting a Job,Guides,Technology
If you want a website for your small business or to show off your freelancing work AND know what you want then you are almost ready to contact the designers but thinking clearly, focusing on objectives and writing a good, clear brief can make a world of different when it comes to getting a quote.
You’ll not only save yourself time and money but you’ll also make developers and designers like Alick Mighall really happy.
A national advertising campaign highlighting Britain’s Brain Gain has been launched, spotlighting the rich talent pool amongst the UK’s 1.4 million freelance workers and highlighting their £82 billion contribution to our economic output.
The newspaper campaign and the Britain’s Brain Gain website reflects on the ability, imagination and effectiveness of freelance workers throughout the UK.
Daryl Close, a business performance coach, discusses why freelancing success is not directly related to your specific freelancing talent. Whilst personal branding is not a new term, it is a term that has come back to the forefront of success as a professional freelancer. He explains that your actual talent is only a small part of the overall personal branding concept and freelancers need to refine and develop their professional brands in order to thrive in an ever increasingly competitive world.
Emma Jones | Working From Home
If you’re new to home business in 2010, or considering starting out in freelancing, working for yourself or working from home, these 10 golden rules from Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones are are great place to start.
As electioneering and policy pledges seem to have started in earnest the PCG, the representative body for freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK, is marking the New Year by calling on Government and policy framers to take a fresh approach to freelancing at the start of a new decade.
Download the Freelancers Manifesto
Joyfully Jobless! Part 2 of an interview with Barbara Winter, author of Making a Living Without a Job.
Freelance Podcast 20: Making a living without a job - part 2 [ 23:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
In the first of Freelance Advisor’s freelancer interviews we speak to web designer Rowan Richardson, and discover how she succeeds as a freelancer.
Leo Babauta | Getting a Job,Lifestyle & Time out
As Confucius said… “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
As part of our new series on Making a Living Without a Job, productivity guru and professional blogger Leo Babauta explains that everyone can go freelance and earn a good living by doing the things they love to do.
Widely reported as having more Freelancers per capita, Brighton and Hove Freelancers have rallied together to put on an event on National Freelancers Day.
Join us for Drinks and Networking – National Freelancers Day, 23rd November – 7:30pm at The Eagle pub (Brighton)
As we approach ‘National Freelancers Day’ Freelance Advisor has created a new ‘Future of Freelancing’ section to focus on debate about the the biggest opportunities and threats to freelancing and contracting.
What does the recession mean to us? Do we get the help we deserve from the government? How important are we to the economy’s recovery? What is the role of technology in the future?
One of the things guaranteed to provoke debate is the whole question of notice periods in freelance contracts. On the face of it, an equal right for you and the client to step out of a contract looks like a good thing to have.
But are they really worth anything?
Enterprise Thursdays are back this week with the diverse Freelancers Panel chaired by Darren Fell founder of Pure, Crunch and Freelance Adviser.
The panel includes Paul Bunkham an Internet Application Specialist, Leon Trigg a Documentary and Filmmaker, Jo Moore and Artist and Illustrator, Paul Silver a Web Development and SEO Specialist and Ellen De Vries a Writer and Creative Copywriter.
I was following a discussion over the weekend about someone asking if it was OK to expense accountancy training as part of his role as a company owner. My understanding of any expenses, including training costs, is that the expense must be wholly and exclusively in the line of your work. So clearly you can’t [...]
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Single-tasking: getting more done by doing less.
Developing good, simple habits and maintaining a focused mind can not only help you stay sane but is way more efficient than multitasking.
Guest blogger and productivity-pro Leo Babauta tells why multitasking is bad and how we can avoid doing it.
Leo Babauta | Lifestyle & Time out
Purpose Your Day: Most Important Task (MIT)
Leo Babauta, creator of the highly successful Zen Habits blog shares a few tips on prioritising your freelance tasks and streamlining your workflow.
Getting things done… zen style.
Andy White talks to freelance Art Director and Conceptual Designer, and winner of The Xchange Team Freelancer of the Year award, Anna Cowie. In this interview, Annie gives us some tips and reveals her modus operandi.
Tom Albrighton | Getting a Job
If you are just starting out in freelancing there many new things you will have to get used to. Without the support of a boss or company you will need to motivate yourself, build your business, overcome obstacles and disappointments and, most importantly, look after the needs of your clients.
This quick checklist from freelance copywriter Tom Albrighton gives us ten great tips for getting started in freelancing.
Daryl Close | Lifestyle & Time out
Do you know the critical personality and behavioural traits that you need to exhibit in order to be a successful freelancer? You might spend a lot of time and energy working on your freelancing business but achieve little because you are not focusing on the key performance drivers. I’ve decided to improve your chances of [...]
The number of freelancers is steadily increasing across the UK and I have no doubt that freelancing is going to continue growing at a strong rate. If you work as a freelancer or are considering going freelance then you need to know where freelancing is heading. Unless you live on another planet it is impossible [...]
Regulations and legislation are part and parcel of any business and trading online is no exception. Healys solicitors have extensive experience in IT, e-commerce law and software development agreement. Here they sketch out some of the key factors you need to consider when trading online. Legal considerations when setting up an online business The remote [...]
Freelancer and contractors are unsung heroes and Xchangeteam’s Emma Brierley has made it her mission to get freelancers the recognition they deserve. This month’s Freelancer of the Year Awards are only the beginning… Why Freelancers Need To Be Celebrated At some point in their career no less than one in seven British workers will be [...]
Small businesses go green Small businesses are ‘going green’ in a bid to save costs, an expert says. Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said many small companies were adopting recycling methods and using low-energy applications in an effort to cut down on costs. “When switching off your lights could save you [...]
Jim Hatley | Technology,Working From Home
If you’re freelancing from home on a regular basis a well-lit, well kitted-out office is essential – not just a luxury. Freelance Advisor’s resident gadget guru Jim Hatley takes a look at some home office must-haves. Home office heaven: Screens, scanners, DAB and desk-lamps Last year I have covered a few bits of kit to [...]
Tax burden hurts small business HIGH taxes are hitting UK small businesses hard, new research has found. About 16 per cent of small business’ outgoings is spent on tax, according to financial business information firm Creditsafe. This means tax is the third biggest expense for most small businesses, freelancers and contractors, behind wages and investment [...]
Whether it is networking, meetings, clients or conferences, marketing yourself is an essential skill for any freelancer or contractor. Freelance Advisor and author Emma Jones offers seven quick tips to help you shine Starting on the right foot: 7 steps to creating the right impression You only get one chance to create a first impression. [...]
Martyn Reding, Creative Director at Preview, examines the realities of working as a professional designer. Working as a freelance designer: the things I never knew I didn’t know If you’ve been through the rigours of your design course and your now out in the world learning your craft then the last thing you need is [...]
Freelancers benefit from online social networking MORE and more freelancers are using social networking sites to promote their services, a survey has found. The BT Tradespace survey found 15 per cent of small businesses promote themselves on sites such as Facebook, compared to just seven per cent this time last year. But the survey also [...]
Government unveils plan to help small business’ cash flow problems THE British Government will guarantee up to £20bn in loans to UK small businesses to help them manage cash flow problems in the current economic downturn. Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson unveiled his “real help for small to medium businesses” plan this week, saying its [...]
Freelancers need all the advice they can get and when it comes down to leglistlation not knowing your liabilities can be a painful and costly lesson. Our new legal blogger David Gordon is an expert in giving legal support and advice for freelance, contracting and small-businesses. Six things you need to know (but might be [...]
FEMALE business owners remain optimistic despite the economic crisis, a survey has revealed. The business risk survey, undertaken by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, found 58 per cent of female business owners believe their business will grow in 2009. And 13 per cent said they would take their business to an international level in [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
Choosing to switch from full-time to freelancing can be a tough decision and the change will go a lot smoother if you have the help and support of those closest to you. Freelance Advisor, Coach and Consultant Dianne Bown-Wilson continues her series of articles on freelance career development issues for freelancers and contractors. Nearest and [...]
The top 5 home-business occupations in 2009 Whether it is a second income to make ends meet, a result of reduncancy or a decision to make a fresh start as a freelancer, the home business and startup sector looks like it will continue to grow in 2009. Freelance Advisor and home business startup supremo Emma [...]
Freelancer News: by freelance news journalist Kasey Brunt Help needed for small software contractors, says report A GOVERNMENT system should be simplified to help out smaller businesses, a report has found. The joint Intellect and the British Computer Society report has recommended the government procurement system allowing software firms to apply for public-sector contracts be [...]
Freelance Advisor and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ Emma Jones gives us her review of the best applications for freelancers. Top 5 technology apps of 2008 As we enter the month of December, I can’t help but look back at the year that was. The thousands of new businesses started, the people we’ve profiled, [...]
Freelance Advisor and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ Emma Jones give us a timely reminder of the things we could be doing in the run up to Christmas. What can freelancers do when things get quiet over the holiday season and what plans can we make for 2009. When the phones hush and emails [...]
Freelance Advisor founder Darren Fell is a successful entrepreneur and all over the first page of results when you Google his name. We asked him to share the secrets of his success and he responded with this guide to marketing yourself. Marketing yourself for free, a guide. The big question running through everybody’s mind when [...]
Whether it is business cards, promotional posters or flyers for a club night there are many printing options and quality and colours will vary greatly. Print adviser and consultant Andrew Walker guides can help you decide where to get your printing done. Choosing the right printing method for your client Digital vs Litho Printing The [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Lifestyle & Time out
In part one of this series consultant, coach and trainer Dianne Bown-Wilson explored the advantages of portfolio working. Today she helps us identify the tools we’ll need to put it into practice. Portfolio career: How to Designing a Portfolio Career comes down to achieving an appropriate and desirable balance in your life between need and [...]
Dianne Bown-Wilson | Getting a Job
If you’ve recently retired or are thinking ahead to your remaining working years now could be a good time to consider developing a portfolio career. In this two part series consultant, coach, trainer and writer Dianne Bown-Wilson tells us why it is a good idea and how to go about it… Portfolio careers: the perfect [...]
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Ah… the life of a freelancer… feet up, TV on, sitting around in your dressing gown and your clients are none the wiser. But is this really the best way to approach your freelance and contracting work? Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall asked the freelancers on the Brighton New Media list what [...]
Freelance writer, editor and blogger, Laura Spencer shares her experience of going into freelancing and some of the mistakes and failures she’s seen along the way. Freelance FAIL: 8 common mistakes As someone who has worked as a freelance writer for nearly six years now, I’ve observed (and sadly made) many freelance failures. Mistakes can [...]
In the wake of the results of the Kingston University survey on freelancers, we get reactions and opinions from John Kell of the Professional Contractors Group and Nathan Pope of Latitude Hosting and the Brighton Farm. Topics Covered: Growth in the freelance market Freelancer figures, statistics and research Male and Female freelancing split in IT [...]
#11: The growth in the Freelancer Marketplace - Fact or Fiction (Part 2) [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Freelancing: The Choice of Champions If you’re thinking of starting contracting or going freelance then you need to take a serious look at the opportunites and options available to you. Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall tells us that freelancing is not the easy option… but it is the most rewarding option. Want [...]
Compelling Content – Part 2 Brainstorming: Your ideal reader or customer A two-part series from freelance copywriter Kath Burke. In part one, Kath explained how you can understand why people buy you. Part two explores how to use brainstorming as an exercise in focusing on the content that really matters before you put pen to [...]
Create compelling content your clients will crave In this 2-part series freelance copywriter and content consultant Kath Burke says the secret of writing great web marketing copy is in the preparation. Before you put pen to paper, you need to explore your clients’ deeper concerns and needs. Ah. If only you could magic up the [...]
Gorgeous gadget: the Sony VAIO AW11XU/Q Life on the road can be tough. The contents of a suitcase are certainly no match for the comforts of home, but if you pick and choose your gear with a little care it doesn’t have to be all bad. We all need cutting-edge technology for the work that [...]
Michael Rose | Lifestyle & Time out
Mark Kirby’s piece on Time-Boxing for Freelancers this week got me thinking about all the time I could waste trying to find the perfect tools for the job. The irony of this is not lost on anyone I’m sure so, rather than waste unnecessary time on “productivity p0rn”, I thought I’d take Mark’s advice to [...]
Continuing our series on how an economic crisis might affect freelancers and contractors, Freelance Advisor and Web Marketing Consultant Leif Kendall gives us five freelancing tips for surviving in a recession. Before I tell you how to literally work your way through a recession, or a credit crunch, or whatever we’re experiencing, I would like [...]
Find freelancing advice and support by joining our community of freelancers and contractors on Facebook. By becoming a fan of Freelance Advisor you’ll get all the latest articles and advice, alerts when new content is added to the site, and you can help build the community by connecting with other freelancers and contractors in your [...]
Darren Fell | Lifestyle & Time out
In this second article from the USA, Freelance Advisor founder and serial entrepreneur Darren Fell gets the low-down on the American co-working scene and some advice about the pitfalls of freelancer café culture. Wanting to continue the debate on the merits of co-working, I descend on one of the very first co-working establishments – the [...]
“I’m busy earning as a freelancer, but what about all those Pension plans?” It’s a common freelance problem. You’re hard at work earning money from contracts, but you also know you need to keep an eye out for when you’ll be less busy earning. In this new Financial Management series, Senior Pensions & Retirement Consultant [...]
Whatever your employment status, whether you are an employee, worker or freelancer, you have rights at work that are protected by law. Below is a comprehensive summary of what you are entitled to plus links to articles that cover each in detail.
If you’re a freelance designer or programmer then attending the i-design 08 Portfolio Clinic Wednesday 17 September in London is a no brainer. First it’s FREE and secondly if you’re currently looking for work or to expand your future client base then you’ll be able to meet 15 of the capital’s most respected and successful [...]
Accounts and Audit Manager Michael Riazi helps freelancers and contractors find the advice they need. Last month Michael gave some great advice on how to find an accountant that is right for our freelance business – this month he gives us ten things we should ask on our first meeting. Before you choose an accountant… [...]
today’s current climate it is essential to choose every aspect of your freelance business dealings carefully. This applies not just to your clients and suppliers but also to your professional advisors – especially a good accountant.
The right accountant will meet all your business accountancy needs, from the preparation of accounts and dealing with tax matters, but also helping your company or business grow in the future.
In this series, Bill Faust, author of Pitch Yourself, shares insights gained from over 30-years of industry experience. He discusses key factors for effective self-marketing, understanding what self-marketing means, reading your future employers’ desires and defining clearly what you, the product, have to offer.
One of the joys of freelancing is that you get to do everything. But this omnipotence means you can’t hate the sales team for not bringing in new clients, because you are the sales team. Become CEO of YouCorp You can’t have a spat with Maureen in accounts because she hasn’t sorted your expenses, because [...]
What motivates someone to choose freelancing? I think the potential reasons are many and varied, but I’d like to discuss my reasons for choosing this way of working. You may find they resonate with your own motivations, or they may remind you of a benefit you had forgotten – they may even convince you that freelancing is right for you.
Helen Wilkinson | Lifestyle & Time out
Freelance Health: Using exercise to unwind. Taking time out from a busy work schedule to relax and unwind.
