Jen Stakes Roberts | Resources,Technology
I’m noticing over here on the other side of the Atlantic that the British freelancer community seems less enamoured by Google Plus than their US counterparts. I could speculate for hours why that might be: probably some mix of American enthusiasm for anything new and shiny, British cynicism of bandwagon-leaping, and perhaps just something pessimistic in the water at the moment.
Pinterest was launched in March 2010, and has really blown up in popularity over the past few months. Pinterest is an online pin board / social network – and despite what you may have heard is not just for fashion and food bloggers!
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,Technology
Every so often a new invention or technology pops up that fundamentally changes the way people interact. Whether it be the Gutenberg press or Facebook, both have had a profound impact on the way information is shared and how easy it is to access. Along with any new technology also comes a healthy dose of new business opportunities and hype – and the hype comes no bigger than that surrounding social media.
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 | News,Technology
At the beginning of the week Google announced the launch of its Google+ Pages. Specifically designed for companies, the pages allow them to set up profiles for their brands. There are also a host of business related features that they can benefit from.
It’s no secret we love a good party. In fact, the only thing we love more than a good party is throwing a good party. Luckily for all those based in or around Brighton, we’re doing just that!
Bex White | Getting a Job,Guides
With competition fierce between companies to win business, customer service is one of the most overlooked weapons in your arsenal. I read many articles about growing a business, many of which point out that referrals and word of mouth often generate the best leads, yet they still tend to stick to tactics designed to winning new clients.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,Technology
If we didn’t appreciate the power of social media previously, the latest news headlines have confirmed just how influential platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are. Twitter in particular has hit the headlines recently after making a mockery of England’s privacy laws. While I couldn’t care less about who Ryan Giggs is bonking, the situation has grabbed my attention as it highlights the effectiveness of social media communication.
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.
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!
Rachel Soothill | Guides,Technology
As the biggest social networking site for professionals LinkedIn is a no-brainer for all freelancers looking to broaden their horizons. With over 6o million members, it is a great starting place for finding and connecting with potential new clients and also for being found.
The weather is getting warmer, and the birds are starting to sing – that can only mean two things. Firstly, it’s spring! Secondly, it’s time to bust out the business cards and the messenger bag, because conference season is almost upon us! If you’re looking to do some networking and learn a thing or two from some of the biggest brains in the business it’s a good time to be alive.
After suffering a short bout of cabin fever as a home-based PR consultant and writer, I’ve been keen to join a co-working space – those hip, buzzy, networking joints full of freelancers looking hip and buzzy but really just wanting to escape the cat stepping over their keyboard every five minutes.
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…
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.
In this months podcast we’re talking networking, both on- and off-line. First, Andy speaks to Ryan Healy about Network Roulette – an online professional networking solution which helps you build your business network by borrowing from popular self-exposure site Chat Roulette.
Here’s an interesting quandary – if you’re a Freelancer who has a decent presence on lots of social media sites (which you really should, by the way), but you don’t have your own website, where do you point potential clients to get a taste of your personal brand?
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.
Late last week the Prime Minister in his human form gave a speech outlining the Government’s grand plans to invest heavily in the East of London in order to create a “world-leading technology city to rival Silicon Valley”.
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.
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.
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…
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?
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?
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!
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…
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.
Sinead Mac Manus | Getting a Job
As a freelancer, getting out from behind the desk (or kitchen table) and out into the real world is crucial for building relationships and winning new business. The pervasive nature of social media means that we are increasingly connected online. We tweet about our day on Twitter post news on Facebook, and share our location on Foursquare.
Social Entrepreneur Sinead Mac Manus shares 4 ways to use digital tools and social media to make the most of networking opportunities.
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.
One thing has been obvious to me since I began freelancing: people buy from people, so to be a successful freelancer you need to know lots of people.
You may be lucky enough to have a huge family or a thriving social group, perhaps assisted by a drama group or rugby club. But most of us don’t know all the people we need to know to be good freelancers.
Darren Fell | Getting a Job,Training
Digital veteran Darren Fell, founder of Pure360.com and the ground breaking online accountancy service Crunch.co.uk, shares his experience in Personal Branding for freelancers – marketing YOU to generate leads
This interactive lecture is now over, however slide of the event are available below.
Crunch MD and Freelance Advisor supporter Darren Fell talks about the steps freelancers should take to ensure a sustained supply of business.
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.
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)
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.
Marketing yourself with an excellent CV or resume is not easy. Malvolio has found that there are not only technical issues to deal with but often several layers of audience from recruitment agencies, to human resources, departmental heads and senior management.
Can you help Malvolio unpick this particular puzzle?
Crush and Agency Rush have joined forces with Studio Output to host the first Glug Brighton. Based in a great venue bang in the centre of the Brighton’s North Laines The Basement and has space for guest speakers, live art and DJs.
“This will not be some dry business card swapping networking event oh no! This is about like minded people hooking up, listening and seeing something really interesting and having a drink or two.”
Whether you are looking for a job or just some advice on how to run your business the UK Freelance Forum is here to help.
Read on to register…
Build Better Business Cards, with 25% off from Moo.com.
Starting today we’re looking for the most impressive, creative or cunning uses for business cards.
Got a great idea, or a card you’re already particularly proud of? Show us what you’ve got and the best will win a complete set of cards.
Clients not responding? To-Do list full of ‘waiting-for’ items for people who have not emailed you back yet? Training Expert Hannah Keep reminds us of the basics – picking up the phone, getting in touch directly and rebuilding rapport and relationships.
Leif Kendall | Lifestyle & Time out
Copywriter Leif Kendall gives away his secret for happy and successful freelancing: coworking. If you haven’t tried coworking, you’re missing out on a wealth of potential. As a freelancer it’s an ideal way to get out of the house and be in an office, without all the extra baggage that comes with office life. Leif explains why co-working works for him…
Andy White talks to Drew Griffiths of Mosaic about why companies hire freelancers and what they look for.
Podcast #14: Why we get Employed - the Company Perspective [ 12:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Carey McIlvenny | Getting a Job
You’ve made a break for it and decided to head out into the business world as a freelancer. Now, you’ve just got to do a bit of schmoozing and bring in new work, sounds simple? In reality, networking is often a daunting task. Carey McIlvenny shares some tips. You might find yourself at a fab [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Congratualtions to the Farm Freelancer Award nominess Shortlisting has now been completed and Freelance Advisor, proud sponsors of this year’s Farm Freelance Award, would like to applaud these three fine freelancing nominees. This year’s shortlist is: Jonathan Aizlewood of Carbon Graffiti for his email design, marketing and web design services Sarah Bird of AnimNation for [...]
Look who’s talking: Monitoring buzz on the web As a freelance community builder and co-director of TheWerks web-socialite Rosie Sherry offers advice on monitoring your brand and filtering out the noise. Five sites for monitoring your brand online There’s no denying that the web holds huge amount of information. Most of it irrelevant to you [...]
The death of the CV? Are curriculum vitae a thing of the past? Guest blogger Greg Coley, Creative Director of the integrated agency VGroup, gives an insider’s view on what freelance designers can do to get noticed. Marketing yourself as a freelance designer So you’re a budding young designer straight out of university, a middleweight, [...]
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 [...]
If you are a freelancer or contractor living and working in the South then you could get your work in front of a top panel of judges from the BBC, Channel 4, Endemol and New Media Age. The Awards are also an excellent place to publicise you and your work – especially if it is [...]
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 [...]
Talking Shop – overcoming the fear of public speaking A new event aims to give confidence, talking techniques and a chance to practise communication skills for freelancers who need to get up and talk in front of an audience. Freelancers and contractors can live rather solitary lives, working from home or, head-down, coding away until [...]
Are the streets of San Francisco paved with exciting projects, paying excellent rates? Is it full of perfect customers with realistic expectations? Freelance Advisor founder and serial entrepreneur Darren Fell took a trip to the epicentre of Internet start-ups in the hope of finding out what we can learn from our colleagues on the west [...]
When you are busy, its easy to forget to keep in touch with friends and family who you don’t see on a day to day basis. Perhaps they live far away, or so close you feel you could get in touch with them at any moment, but always forget. Perhaps you see certain people a [...]
Freelance Adviser, Paul Silver, on casual networking events for freelancers and contractors. Making contacts, finding work, pitching, passing business cards, sharing skills and advice… and having a drink, or four.
Andy talks to Stuart Scott, an successful freelance graphic designer based in Brighton, about what it takes to succeed in the industry. Topics Covered: Getting direct clients Watch the trends Attending industry events Having a team of experts around you The difference between design and artwork Flaunting your published work The role of networking in [...]
#8: How to thrive as a Graphic Designer in todays market [ 19:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
If you’re going to be networking to drum up business, or just meet people who might want to use your services (that is, potentially everyone you meet) you should get some business cards so they have an easy reminder of who you are and what you do. On your card you should have: Your business’s [...]
