你適合當「自由工作者」嗎？ (Are you suitable for being freelancer?)

你適合當「自由工作者」嗎？

2005-06-03(招職專題)

自由工作者 ( freelancer )，就是以自僱形式及以項目基礎 ( project base ) 工作，沒有固定僱主，也不用每天定時定候上班，這種工作方式看似逍遙自在，但卻未必適合每一個人。你適合當自由工作者嗎？

自由工作者 ( freelancer )，就是以自僱形式及以項目基礎 ( project base ) 工作，沒有固定僱主，也不用每天定時定候上班，這種工作方式看似逍遙自在，但卻未必適合每一個人。你適合當自由工作者嗎？

不知道讀者腦海中有沒有曾經閃過以下的念頭：「如果我可以將所有工作帶回家做，不用天天坐在辦公室就好了！」很多人都很羨慕以自由工作者身分賺取生活的人，認為他們可以自己分配作息時間，可以睡晚一點，沒心情的時候又可以將工作暫時放下，不用硬著頭皮回辦公室呆一整天。Freelance工作是否真的如此完美？循道衛理中心人力資源發展主任梁振康及蘇詠嫻均異口同聲表示，要以freelance形式工作並非不可行，但卻不如一般人想像中容易。梁振康解釋，「建立客戶網絡及爭取生意，是freelancer要面對最困難的問題之一。因為最初未有固定客人，可能要經過兩、三個月，甚至更長的耕耘期，期間收入相當少，要捱過這段時間實在不容易。」特別是脫離本行轉職其他行業的freelancer，如近年興起，吸引上班一族投身的野外歷奇及滑水導師等，由於戶外活動受天氣及季節影響，初轉行者入不敷支的情況絕不稀奇，決定辭職全身投入前宜考慮清楚。

成功freelancer的特質

梁振康及蘇詠嫻於循道衛理中心負責的「青少年自僱支援計畫」，協助青年人以攀石及歷奇導師等自僱形式就業，看到不少成功和失敗的例子，他們又經常與在行內已有相當經驗的顧問接觸，綜合各個例子，他們對成功freelancer的特質有以下見解：

‧處事要有彈性及創意 —— 無論是宣傳、向顧客推銷自己及改善業務等，都要有彈性及創意，不可一成不變，遇到低潮時期更要向多方面變通，才能走出困境。

‧自律 —— Freelance工作看似無拘無束，但其實freelancer必須比上班一族更爭取時間，因為freelance工作是多勞多得的，懶惰只會令自己的收入減少。即使沒有客人的時候，也要善用時間聯絡顧客及作業務計畫等，一天只工作三小時的freelancer是不會成功的。

‧善於溝通 —— Freelancer本身既是員工，又是老闆，對外溝通的需要大大增加，所以有良好的溝通技巧是必須的。在尋找客戶的過程中，他們要面對的人可能包括大集團高層、學校家長及教師，以及看到宣傳品主動接觸的顧客等，要應付他們必須使用不同的溝通及銷售技巧，否則有生意也做不成。

‧擅於分配資源 —— 說的是除了能好好運用自己所持有的資源，還有身邊的人力資源。不少freelancer在創業初期選擇與其他朋友合伙，減低風險，伙伴們應能認清各人的長短處，分配適當的工作，如擅於跟顧客溝通的負責前線工作、擅於包裝及表達的主力尋找新客源、人際關係特別好的專注處理伙伴關係等，合作可令工作事半功倍，提高工作效率。另外獨自工作的freelancer，也可與其他行家保持良好關係，遇上自己處理不了的客人可大方介紹給行家，作個順水人情之餘，也難保他日需要別人幫助。

量力而為的「自由人」

前文已提及，freelancer要面對數個月或更長的「耕耘期」，所以資金對他們來說實在非常重要。梁振康表示，「決定以freelance形 式代替全職工作前，應先衡量本身的經濟狀況，最重要的是量力而為。」某些工種在正式開始前須投放一定資金，如購買器材及入貨等，即使只須小量工具或主要以 知識及服務賺取報酬的工作，辭工前也應預留部分資金，就算暫時找不到生意，也可應付一段時間的開支，「用作儲備的資金愈多，守業的時間就更長，不用因為幾 個月沒生意而逼於再找工作，浪費之前的預備工夫。」但他也提醒「自由人」要懂得在適當時候退出，就如投資股票要有「止蝕位」一樣，假如真的用盡方法也守不 住業務，就要及時抽身，畢竟再找工作也不是甚麼壞事，「我們不鼓勵任何人借下龐大的債項去創業，有時候資金少也有其做法，例如沒錢賣廣告，也可想想有沒有 便宜甚至免費的廣告機會，從中省回金錢。」另外，在自己熟悉的行業進行freelance工作，可更透徹地分析市場需要，所以不少人都選擇在行內工作一段日子，取得相當的經驗及人際網絡後，才轉而以freelance形式工作，「但道德上，最好還是正式離開舊公司後才聯絡別人告知你的新動向並拉攏生意，這樣也可同時避免與工作合約有牴觸。」部分公司或職位的僱傭合約訂明，員工離職後一段時間不能到類似業務的公司任職，或聯絡以往客戶，這樣便要更為小心，避免一不留神便要負上法律責任。

給「自由人」的建議

梁振寧坦言，由零開始、放棄穩定的薪金，以收入不穩定的freelance工作賺取生活，其實絕不容易，當中更是失敗的居多，但市場上確實有一群freelancer做得有聲有色，
以下是梁振康及蘇詠嫻給有意向「自由人」行列進發者的建議：

‧ 作詳盡的資料搜集 —— 由於以個人身分經營業務，資金有限，事前應作詳盡的資料搜集，有全盤計畫及準備，盡量縮短摸索期的時間，這樣也可減少出錯的機會，以免招至金錢上的損失。當中最多人忽略的是法律問題，如戶外活動的保險由誰負責等，正式開始freelance工作前必須查詢清楚。

‧ 要隨時留意市場走勢 —— 即使已有一定客路，也不能一成不變，因為顧客的要求會不時轉變，潮流也會影響部分行業的興衰，故freelancer也要時刻留意市場走勢，盡早引入即將流行的元素以吸引首批客戶，及在業務上作出適當的調節。假如開始時業務未如理想的，更要以市場需要為大前提，盡快作出改變，這樣才有機會令業務漸上軌道。

‧ 作多方面進修 —— 跟受薪工作一樣，僱主對員工有要求，顧客對freelancer也有要求。除了行業必須的知識外，為了增加服務種類及提高水準，「自由人」也應不時進修新知識及技術，保持競爭力；另外也應接觸一些對業務有幫助的知識，如歷奇導師兼任結他手，為野外活動注入音樂元素，比別人有多一個賣點，自然勝人一籌。

‧ 向同行前輩取經 —— 有份工作每天按章辦事，始終跟所有事自己一手包辦不同，新手可能有很多疏忽的地方，若能找到一些有經驗的同行指點一下，例如有哪些東西根本不可行，計畫中缺乏了哪些東西，便可大大減少「撞板」的機會。

總結：

想像中自由自在的freelance工作，其實一點也不自由，在這個多勞多得的工作模式裡，「自由人」的工作時間往往比上班一族長，清晨起來查看電郵，工作至夜深，假期也許是最忙碌的時候，照理比作為打工仔更加辛苦。有意投身「自由人」行列的你，有沒有做足心理準備？

《自由工作、待價而沽》

「自由工作者」（freelance)這個字起源於中世紀，當時四處流浪的傭兵，自願受僱給任何一個肯出錢要求他們服務的人。許多自由工作者從一個工作換到另一個工作，以支付帳單，但是卻無法確定下一個工作會在哪裡。他們能賺的錢是受到限制的，因為每天只能做這麼多工作，只能索取適合市場的報酬。

許多自由工作者的收入經常比他們放棄的穩定工作還差。他們不但無法使用自己全部的技能和精力來完成足以勝任的工作，反而一邊浪費許多時間擔心未來，卻又一邊緊抓住這種為了生存被迫從事的工作。這就是自由工作者生活中最困難的一面。

可是，也有一些自由工作者似乎過得很順心如意。他們享受工作，忙著從事有趣又賺錢的計畫。他們已經找到方法為事業注入動力，並且能夠吸引穩定的新顧客群。他們不斷思考能夠強化能力、將收入提昇到最高點的新點子。

造成傭兵和夢想家的差別，與教育和能力或是資金，都沒有什麼關連。只是夢想家有計畫，他們有許多目標想要完成，也有明確的理念，知道如何達成目標。他們展 望未來的幾年，而不是往後的幾週。而傭兵則相當短視，他們只知道當這場小戰役結束後，他們就要再回到黑森林中，尋找下一次機會。他們渴望聽到鄰近的國王需 要他們服務，卻經常在沒有庇護的冬天結束一切。

-本文節錄自馬丁愛迪克 的SEP行銷寶典一書-

香港Web Design Freelancer(Finding-Freelancer-hong-kong)

網頁設計

香港專業網頁程式設計 (Freelance Web Design Hong Kong )

網頁程式編寫 及網頁設計, 多年網頁設計經驗，注重版面設計和網站系統，能為閣下提供專業的技術方案，其中包括以下網頁程式系統，亦提供網站寄存服務，我們會按你的預算，為你提供最優質的服務。

Keywords: PHP Freelance, web design hong kong,hong kong web site design,hong kong web design company,web design in hong kong,web design course hong kong,web page design hong kong,web designers hong kong,web designer hong kon

We are providing professional services in Web Design, Web Design HK , Web programming, Web System, Website Design. With years of experience in website, we would satisify your requirement and provide the best services to you.

例如:

• *度身訂造系統 (Tailor-made website)
• 網頁設計 (Website Design)
• 內容管理系統 (CMS – Content Management System)
• 會員系統 (Membership System)
• 專門PHP / MYSQL 程式設計 (PHP programming design)
  
• 網頁設計 (Web design)
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• 購物系統 (Shopping Cart)
• SMS System
• SEO

請聯絡 Email: php.freelance.website@gmail.com , 保証回覆

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網頁設計

香港專業網頁程式設計 (Freelance Web Design Hong Kong )

網頁程式編寫 及網頁設計, 多年網頁設計經驗，注重版面設計和網站系統，能為閣下提供專業的技術方案，其中包括以下網頁程式系統，亦提供網站寄存服務，我們會按你的預算，為你提供最優質的服務。

Keywords: PHP Freelance, web design hong kong,hong kong web site design,hong kong web design company,web design in hong kong,web design course hong kong,web page design hong kong,web designers hong kong,web designer hong kon

We are providing professional services in Web Design, Web Design HK , Web programming, Web System, Website Design. With years of experience in website, we would satisify your requirement and provide the best services to you.

例如:

• *度身訂造系統 (Tailor-made website)
• 網頁設計 (Website Design)
• 內容管理系統 (CMS – Content Management System)
• 會員系統 (Membership System)
• 專門PHP / MYSQL 程式設計 (PHP programming design)
  
• 網頁設計 (Web design)
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• 購物系統 (Shopping Cart)
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請聯絡 Email: php.freelance.website@gmail.com , 保証回覆

http://website-freelance.com

http://blog.website-freelance.com

The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need

The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need

Running a business for yourself means you have to be inventive and always on the lookout for a new and better way to get things done. Innovation junkies, take note: the Internet has a lot to offer. From invoicing to marketing, these are tools that freelancers need to know about.

Organization

If you’re busy with lots of client work, it’s easy for things to get out of hand. Don’t let your work get away from you; organize information and projects with these tools.

1. Backpack: Get your projects organized by using Backpack. Create to-do lists, notes, files, images and a calendar with reminders that can be sent via email or to your mobile device.
2. Central Desktop: Collaborate, communicate and share files with clients and coworkers using Central Desktop.
3. iOrganize: With iOrganize, freelancers can organize work by keeping notes, ideas and bookmarks in one place.
4. Viapoint: Viapoint makes it easy for freelancers to store emails and files by client or project.
5. Stikkit: Use Stikkit’s “little yellow notes that think” to keep in touch, plan and collaborate with clients and coworkers.
6. Webnote: Webnote users can take notes using a web browser, then save and return to the notes on any computer. This is especially helpful if you’re working on-site with a client and have to use a computer other than your own.
7. Netvibes: Spend less time searching and more time working by customizing your browser’s start page with email, feeds, messaging, job boards and much, much more.

Calendars & To-Do Lists

Client meetings, important events and a never-ending list of things to do can wear you down if you can’t make them manageable. Use these handy calendars and to-do lists to keep your schedule from taking over your business.

1. Remember The Milk: Remember The Milk reminds you to take care of important tasks, so you’ll never forget when a project is due.
2. CalendarHub: Use CalendarHub’s web-based calendar to keep track of deadlines and set goals for your business.
3. Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a web based tool that allows users to organize their schedule, so you’ll always know exactly what you need to be working on.
4. Planzo: Planzo’s online calendar keeps freelancers connected to events and things to do. It lets you share your events just about anywhere, get a daily digest and receive text message reminders.
5. Spongecell: Spongecell is an online calendar made for freelancers with lots of meetings and engagements. Plan events, spread the word and allow guests to add content to your calendar.
6. Neptune: Neptune’s web based to do list tool helps you keep track of the things you need to take care of every day. It lets you email yourself new tasks, get an email report every morning and upload files to store with your projects.
7. Ta-da List: When you’re busy with lots of projects, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve accomplished. Make web-based ta-da lists for yourself or other people, then share them and check items off as you go.

Your Money

Money is what keeps your freelance business going, but managing it can be tedious and time consuming. Sure, it’s fun to see money come in, but does anyone really like sending out invoices? Use these tools to make the process of managing your income easier and more enjoyable.

1. Wesabe: Use Wesabe to keep tabs on where the money in your business goes, helping you to make better financial decisions.
2. InstaCalc: InstaCalc is a web based calculator with lots of bells and whistles including spreadsheet capabilities, unit conversions and programming commands. It’s great for freelancers because you can send clients links to any of your calculations, put a calculator on your website or create charts and graphs from your calculations.
3. XE: If you’re working with an overseas client, you may need to handle foreign currencies. Use XE’s currency converter for accurate calculations with up-to-the-minute currency rates.
4. Dimewise: Use Dimewise’s web-based convenience to manage your business transactions wherever you are.
5. FreshBooks: FreshBooks offers a program for “painless billing,” so you’ll never have to spend hours sending client invoices out. Designed with service-based businesses in mind, this software provides a method to manage and send invoices, handle work orders and generate reports with ease.

Storage

Do you have too many client files clogging up your hard drive? Use these services to take a load off.

1. openonmy: openonmy’s website offers storage for files up to 1GB. These files are made to be accessible from any computer, so you can open them up even when on-site with a client.
2. Xdrive: Xdrive offers 5GB of online storage. Use their service to share files with your clients and coworkers.
3. YouSendIt: Have you ever had to clean out your inbox just so you’d have room to send out an email? YouSendIt puts and end to that trouble by sending files up to 2GB to your clients.
4. Flickr: Save space on your hard drive by uploading your photos to Flickr. It’s a great way to store, share and organize photos for your business.
5. Box: Create an online file-sharing location for you and your clients on Box.
6. MediaTemple: Keep your important client files safe on MediaTemple’s servers. They offer innovative hosting solutions for all kinds of websites.
7. DivShare: Use DivShare’s file hosting service to email files to clients or store them in a folder for shared access later.

Project Management & Productivity

Do you wonder where all of your time goes? Do your clients want frequent status updates? Keep tabs on your time and projects with these tools.

1. Harvest: Harvest offers web-based time tracking software with simplicity. Track your progress and inform your clients using Harvest’s reports.
2. Side Job Track: Side Job Track, designed with freelancers in mind, provides software that lets you track and manage project information. Features include job tracking, invoicing and reporting.
3. Basecamp: Basecamp offers a way to improve project communication. Use it to keep your teammates and clients informed about what’s going on with your projects.
4. ConceptShare: ConceptShare provides online design collaboration. Invite clients and coworkers to view your design and make comments on your work.
5. ProjectStat.us: Instead of fielding constant calls about the status of a project, let your customers view the status of their project online with ProjectStat.us.

Writing & Design Tools

Being creative can get expensive. Purchasing icons, stock photos, book publishing and the like can add up fast and eat into your profit margin. Check out these free and inexpensive tools designed to make the lives of freelance writers and designers cheaper and easier.

1. Writeboard: Have you ever had a client or coworker revise a document and end up wiping out your work? Use Writeboard to share and collaborate while saving separate versions each step of the way.
2. Lulu: Lulu gives fledgling writers an easy way to get published. Each product is printed as it’s ordered, so you don’t have to build an expensive inventory.
3. MailBuild: Built for web designers, MailBuild allows users to set up a template for client email campaigns.
4. MyFonts: Do you want to see how fonts will look on your design before committing to a purchase? MyFonts provides a source for trying out and buying new fonts.
5. IconBuffet: Find and trade stock icons for your web designs on IconBuffet.
6. stock.xchng: Add photos to your writing or web design at low or no cost. stock.xchng provides tons of stock photos, many of them royalty-free.
7. Google Docs & Spreadsheets: Don’t bother spending hard-earned money for the latest version of MS Word. Create, upload, share and edit word and spreadsheet documents online using Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
8. MorgueFile: MorgueFile’s high resolution photos are has-beens in the stock photography world, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a great job spicing up your work.

Security & Privacy

Don’t let your work get stolen or compromised. Can you imagine how your business would suffer if you lost files due to a virus? Or worse, if the financial information of your clients got exposed to spyware? These services help you stay safe and secure.

1. SpamSieve: Fighting spam takes time away from your business and opens your system up to intruders. Use SpamSieve to keep spam out of your Mac email client.
2. Escrow: Don’t get burned by clients that make fraudulent payments. Use Escrow to protect yourself and your clients from payment fraud.
3. Cloudmark Desktop: Cloudmark protects your Outlook inbox from spam, phishing and viruses, so you’ll never have to worry about compromising business files when reading your email.
4. PayPal: Give your clients a way to pay without sharing their financial information by using PayPal.
5. Moneybookers: Open your business to the worldwide market safely. Use Moneybookers for secure worldwide payment and acceptance.
6. Spamato: Keep your business email secure by using Spamato with Outlook, Thunderbird or Mozilla Mail.
7. Spybot Search & Destroy: Make sure your confidential client information is safe from prying eyes by scanning for spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy.
8. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Protect your business files with a good antivirus program. AVG Anti-Virus offers a free solution for protecting your computer from viruses.

Mobility & Contact

When running a business, it’s essential that you’re able to keep in contact with clients, vendors, coworkers and other important acquaintances. Use these tools to communicate with ease.

1. Campfire: Campfire is a web-based chat tool that’s ideal for online meetings with clients or coworkers.
2. Meebo: Don’t miss out on a client just because you don’t use the same instant messaging tool. Get access to every major messaging service on Meebo’s website without having to download anything.
3. FaxZERO: Online communication is popular, but sometimes you just have to send a fax. But who wants to invest in a fax machine and phone line for something that happens only on a rare occasion? Instead, use FaxZERO to send a fax anywhere in the US or Canada for free.
4. eBuddy: Don’t miss out on important messages while you’re away from your base of operations. Log on to eBuddy to sign on to online messengers using your mobile device.
5. K7: FaxZERO lets you send out a fax for free online, but what if a client wants to fax something to you? Enlist the help of K7, a service that assigns users a phone number that accepts fax and voicemail messages, which are then sent to your email.
6. GoToMeeting: Use GoToMeeting to keep in touch with clients and coworkers via online meetings.
7. LogMeIn: Don’t let your business suffer because you can’t take your computer on the road. Use LogMeIn to get access to your computer’s desktop anywhere.

Marketing & Networking

You provide a great service and offer awesome rates, so why isn’t the world knocking down your door with business? Perhaps it’s because they have no idea you exist. Get your name out there and find new clients with these tools.

1. LinkedIn: LinkedIn offers online networking at its best. Find opportunities and contacts based on your work and the people you already know.
2. askCHARITY: Take advantage of askCHARITY’s database of key media contacts to get the word out about your business.
3. Craigslist: Craigslist is an invaluable tool for any freelancer. Find clients, sell your work, buy supplies, network and more using Craigslist.
4. Coroflot: Use Coroflot to post an online portfolio and find design jobs.
5. ProfessionalOnTheWeb: ProfessionalOnTheWeb hosts a directory of portfolios. Make sure yours is there when clients search for help.
6. Elance: Use Elance to get connected with clients that need your services on a project.
7. 37signals Gig Board: Use the 37signals Gig Board to find freelance jobs in programming, design and more.
8. WebProJobs: Find full-time and freelance web professional jobs on WebProJobs.
9. Job Pile: Job Pile aggregates popular freelance job boards, so you can spend time working instead of searching.
10. YouTube: Use YouTube’s viral video to get the word out about your creativity.
11. CafePress: CafePress offers on-demand printing for promotional items as well as a place to sell your design.
12. Spot Runner: Use Spot Runner to build a TV advertising campaign.

Business & Legal

Paperwork isn’t always fun, but it is necessary. Forms and agreements can provide legal protection and help you avoid disputes down the road. Check out these tools that help you protect yourself and spend less time on the boring stuff.

1. MyNewCompany: Get legal and tax protection for your freelance business by making things official. Use MyNewCompany to incorporate or form an LLC online.
2. Help Me Work: Get the stability of corporate life while still working as an independent consultant. Help Me Work takes care of taxes, client billing, paychecks, benefits, retirement plans and more.
3. Designers Toolbox: Get set up with all the legal forms your design business may need with Designers Toolbox.
4. Creative Commons: Use Creative Commons to specify how much or how little legal restrictions you want your work to carry.
5. AIGA: Protect your business with AIGA’s standard form of agreement for design services.
6. Nolo: If you’ve got a legal question about your business, head to Nolo. Experts there offer legal advice for independent contractors and consultants.
7. Creative Public: Head to Creative Public for forms, contracts, pricing guides and more for your design business.

Client Contact & Feedback

Your clients are what keep you in business, so it’s important to check in with them and make sure they’re satisfied. Use these programs to keep in touch with your clients and find out what they have to say about your work.

1. Breeze: Send out email campaigns to your clients with Breeze’s easy tool.
2. Wufoo: Use Woofoo to make forms, surveys and invitations for your customers with ease.
3. Relenta CRM: Keep track of customer relationships using email, contact, document and activity management with Relenta.
4. Highrise: Don’t lose track of your customers: keep in touch with Highrise’s online contact management system.
5. ScratchnScribble: Use ScratchnScribble’s service to have handwritten or printed greeting cards sent to your clients.

Website Tools

Clients are looking for your business online. Will you be there? Check out these applications to make sure your business has an excellent online presence.

1. Big Cartel: Set up an online store to sell your products using Big Cartel’s service.
2. WordPress: Blog about your business and industry with WordPress.
3. Inblogit: If you’re a design professional, your blog should be attractive. Use Inblogit for blog functionality with more flexbility in design.
4. Icebrrg: Create web forms with Icebrrg so that your website can generate customer inquiry and feedback.
5. XHTMLized: If you’re too busy to build a website yourself, use XHTMLized. They take your design and turn it into a web page that is browser and search engine friendly.
6. XHTMLiT: XHTMLit offers freelancers another time-saving solution for converting design into HTML.
7. Userplane: Make your website interactive for your clients by bundling chat, messaging, video, search and live presence with Userplane.
8. Ning: Let your clients network with each other by creating your own Ning social network.
9. ExpressionEngine: Impress your customers by having a website with lots of features. Use ExpressionEngine to publish just about anything on your website.
10. FlashDen: Build a great-looking website that your clients will want to visit. Buy Flash, audio, video and fonts to make your website look good at FlashDen.

Printing & Packaging

When your products look good, your business does too. Presentation makes a difference, so be sure to make a good impression by using these innovative printing and packaging tools.

1. Jewelboxing: Impress your customers with Jewelboxing’s customized, professional-grade DVD and CD packages.
2. Qoop: Qoop prints everything freelancers might need: business cards, apparel, promotional items, posters and more.
3. Moo: Moo prints note cards and mini cards from your photos and design. These can be used for promotional materials or business cards.

Tools to Give & Take

These tools pack a double-whammy of functionality. Use them to get the resources you need or as an alternative revenue stream.

1. Google AdWords: Use Google AdWords to advertise your business or make money by putting AdWords on your website.
2. Prosper: Using Prosper’s people-to-people lending website, you can borrow money for business expenses from real people. If you have extra cash, use Prosper to earn interest by lending to others.
3. Text Link Ads: Generate interest in your website and attract clients with Text Link Ads or earn money by selling space for others on your site.
4. PayPerPost: Use PayPerPost to have a blogger write about your product or service. Alternately, you can earn money by writing about someone else’s business.
5. Guruza: Find answers to your business questions or earn money by giving expert advice on Guruza.

Miscellaneous

From office suites to creative stimulation, these tools have a lot to offer for freelancers. Check out these applications that cover anything and everything else you might need for your business.

1. Zoho: Zoho’s Office Suite includes a variety of software solutions for freelancers: a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, wiki writer, notebook, project management, CRM solution, database creator, calendar, web conferencing, email and chat.
2. Veetro: Veetro offers another all-in-one solution that specializes in the tools freelancers need the most. This program combines money, document, task and customer management with email marketing, reporting and blog publishing.
3. Work: Are you clueless about what it takes to run a business in your industry? Work offers guides that show you how.
4. Pandora: Get your creative juices flowing with Pandora’s fully customizable internet radio.

Visit our StumbleUpon Blog for more technology and productivity tips

My five golden rules of freelancing

My five golden rules of freelancing

I find I come across a lot of freelancers who don’t enjoy their job as much because of a variety of different things. They aren’t living by a set of golden rules as I do, so I thought I would share the rules that I live by whilst freelancing in order to benefit future and current freelancers a like experiencing problems in their day-to-day work.

Golden rules are simply something that you stick by, they are your code of ethics and they are how you conduct yourself in day-to-day business.

1. Keep it interesting

Working the same job over and over is always going to get boring eventually. That’s why I tend to diversify what areas each job is in and the specifics of those jobs. Occasionally I’ll see a job which is completely out there and send a message about it on the spot. This will either allow me to meet somebody new or just experience what it’s like to work with that area of the web.

It’s all about breaking the routine that every freelancer drops into from time to time. It shouldn’t feel like your copying and pasting what you did last week for a new site and changing the name on top – it should be that your adding something to your skill set, experiencing something new and dealing with different people on a week to week basis.

2. Don’t work with people that you don’t like

There’s nothing more aggravating than working with people you don’t like. It demoralises you, makes work a chore rather than a passion and basically makes you question why you do what you do.

Always be sure to save up your money in the background and have a backlog of pay stored away. This gives you a position where you can turn down clients you aren’t sure about and pull out of deals that are making your life hell.

The last thing you want to do as a freelancer is to break a relationship with a client by pulling out of a deal. But I feel that if it’s no longer fun or interesting to work (or even aggravating to work) with that client then you should be moving on and finding work else where.

3. Know when to escape

Knowing when to take a break and when to stop working is a key part of freelancing. Otherwise we’d all be doing 12 hour days every day and just get burnt out all the time.

Take weekends off, read a book, get some DVD’s, join the gym, walk the dog, visit the local shops to get a sandwich … all of these things you can do to escape working.

(This is all of course outside of work hours and during breaks.. not to avoid working in the first place.)

4. Treat every job as if it’s your first

Don’t get comfortable with a long term client, your standard should be as high as it was when you first worked for them. The day you decided that if you did a good job on the first project there may be more in it for you. This should be how you treat every job – as if your out to impress in a job interview and need that job to survive. That hunger to impress the client and keep them happy is how you deliver consistently and how you keep that client wanting to use you in the first place.

Think about this – are clients going to refer you to a friend if a friend needs work? Are they more likely to refer an excellent freelancer, or one that delivers average results?

Of course there is a twist to this rule – we all know our first jobs weren’t the best and were possibly even sloppy. That is something you’ll have to refrain from doing with this rule of course.

5. Communicate beautifully

Spell checks and grammar checks are vital for the less than able English speakers here. I often find clients talking about how poor ex-hires were with their English and it will always be off putting when a client wants to deal with the client with long conversations about jobs.

Another important part of this rule is to put communicating with the client as a priority. If they send you an e-mail it’s not ‘I’ll do it later’, it’s ‘OK I’ll respond now’. This is any time of your day you’re at the computer and this is what can set you apart from the rest. Having an instant reply or instant action towards the e-mail they’ve sent (if they want/need something doing) is always going to be something that a client likes – and it’s something that’ll win you over if your trying to impress them.

So there we have it, my golden rules of freelancing. I hope to have benefitted a few freelancers with this article.

Article kindly provided by PHP freelancer Jamie Huskisson. The original source can be found here.

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Finally a freelancer friendly website. Register today for free in as many categories as you want. Bid on as many as you want. If you win the bid, don’t pay to work on a project it’s FREE. Wonderful useful tools are getting added almost daily. Ask your current webmasters to post their projects here.

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專業電腦程式設計 (Website Freelance)

網頁程式編寫 及網頁設計, 多年網頁設計經驗，注重版面設計和網站系統，能為閣下提供專業的技術方案，其中包括以下網頁程式系統，亦提供網站寄存服務，我們會按你的預算，為你提供最優質的服務。

We are providing professional services in Web Design, Web programming, Web System, Website Design. With years of experience in website, we would satisify your requirement and provide the best services to you.

例如:

* *度身訂造系統 (Tailor-made website)
* 內容管理系統 (CMS – Content Management System)
* 會員系統 (Membership System)
* 專門PHP / MYSQL 程式設計 (PHP programming design)
* 網頁設計 (Web design)
* 網站系統 (Website System)
* 購物系統 (Shopping Cart)

請聯絡 Email: php.freelance.website@gmail.com , 保証回覆及報價

http://website-freelance.com

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Find qualified freelancers willing to do the job within your budget! Post your project for free and receive bids.

Web Development & Promotion

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* Website Promotion / Marketing
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* Perl / CGI
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* .NET / ASP
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Software Programming & Support

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Engineering

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Graphic Design

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Audio, Video & Multimedia

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Hardware Support & Repair

* Computers
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Writing

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Services

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Other Projects

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專業電腦程式設計 (Website Freelance)

網頁程式編寫 及網頁設計, 多年網頁設計經驗，注重版面設計和網站系統，能為閣下提供專業的技術方案，其中包括以下網頁程式系統，亦提供網站寄存服務，我們會按你的預算，為你提供最優質的服務。

We are providing professional services in Web Design, Web programming, Web System, Website Design. With years of experience in website, we would satisify your requirement and provide the best services to you. Blog Web

例如:

• *度身訂造系統 (Tailor-made website)
• 內容管理系統 (CMS – Content Management System)
• 會員系統 (Membership System)
• 專門PHP / MYSQL 程式設計 (PHP programming design)
  
• 網頁設計 (Web design)
• 網站系統 (Website System)
• 購物系統 (Shopping Cart)

請聯絡 Email: php.freelance.website@gmail.com , 保証回覆及報價

A Freelance programmer

本人是香港大學Computer Science year 學生, 由中學時期已接觸程式設計, 對PHP, java有一定認識,
本人亦懂得HTML/XHTML, Javascript, CSS, Ajax, PHP.  尋找freelance 原因是想汲取更多programming經驗,
有意者可send email to php.freelance.website@gmail.com

I was student studying Computer Science in University of Hong Kong.  I have written program since secondary
school, I know C++, Java, HTML/XHTML, Javascript, CSS, Ajax and PHP.  I hope to find a freelance job in order to practice my programming skills in the workplace.  If you are interested, please feel free to contact me.

Freelance programmer

Freelance programmer, 為您提供專業程式設計、編寫,

做online shopping既website，詳情及價錢就再傾，

如有興趣請留聯絡方法，Thanks!

I need someone doing backend programming for online shopping website. My email is php.freelance.website@gmail.com

Any success and commissioned projects / reference being your references? jackkwtang@gmail.com

Freelance Web / Flash Programmer

Web / Flash Programmer 您是第 23個瀏覽者

We are looking for web programmer who has the following skills in Fortress Hill:

1. Macromedia Flash
2. Expert in Actionscript 2.0 or 3.0
3. Good knowledge of PHP, MySQL or equivalent
4. Good Salary Package
5. Degree holder preferable

What is freelancer?

A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any particular employer. The term “freelance” was first coined by Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) in his well-known historical romance Ivanhoe to describe a “medieval mercenary warrior” (or “free-lance“). The phrase later transitioned to a figurative noun around the 1860s and was then officially recognized as a verb in 1903 by various authorities in etymology such as the Oxford English Dictionary. Only in modern times has the term morphed from a noun (a freelance) into an adjective (a freelance journalist), various verb forms (a journalist who freelances) and an adverb (she worked freelance), and then from the verb into the derived noun form “freelancer”.

The author and poet Ernest William Hornung (1866–1921) also used the term in “The Gift of the Emperor” to describe something of poor quality: “I warmed to my woes. It was no easy matter to keep your end up as a raw freelance of letters; for my part, I was afraid I wrote neither well enough nor ill enough for success.”

Fields where freelancing is especially common include journalism and other forms of writing, copywriting, computer programming and graphic design, consulting, and many other professional and creative services.

Freelance practice varies greatly. Some require clients to sign written contracts, while others may perform work based on verbal agreements, perhaps enforceable through the very nature of the work. Some freelancers may provide written estimates of work and request deposits from clients.

Payment for freelance work also varies greatly. Freelancers may charge by the day or hour, or on a per-project basis. Instead of a flat rate or fee, some consultants have adopted a value-based pricing method based on the perceived value of the results to the client. By custom, payment arrangements may be upfront, percentage upfront, or upon completion. For more complex projects, a contract may set a payment schedule based on milestones or outcomes.

[edit] Current marketplace

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Approximately 10.3 million workers in the US are independent contractors^[1]
• 7.4% of the US workforce is made up of independent contractors^[1]
• In the past three years, companies have increased their outsourcing by 22% on the internet.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Benefits

Freelancers generally enjoy a greater variety of assignments than in regular employment, and—subject to the need to earn a regular income—usually have more freedom to choose their work schedule. The experience can also lead to a broad portfolio of work and the establishment of a network of clients.

Sometimes a freelancer will work with one or more other freelancers and/or vendors to form a “virtual agency” to serve a particular client’s needs for short-term and permanent project work. This versatile agency model can help a freelancer land jobs which require targeted, specific experience and skills outside the scope of one individual. As the clients change, so too may the players chosen for a virtual agency’s talent base.

This can have a positive effect also. On occasion, freelancers and clients can form a relationship based on mutual needs and the professionalism, and competence of both parties.

[edit] Impact of the Internet

The Internet has opened up many freelance opportunities, expanded available markets, and has contributed to service sector growth in many economies^[2]. Offshore outsourcing and crowdsourcing are heavily reliant on the Internet to provide economical access to remote workers, and frequently leverage technology to manage workflow to and from the employer. Much of the computer freelance work is being outsourced to poorer countries outside the United States and Europe. This has spurred conflict because American and European workers are not receiving the benefits. The compromise has led to student freelancers that now provide a steady source of cheap labor while keeping jobs American and European.

As a result, freelance employment has been especially common in the areas of software development, website design, advertising, open innovations, information technology, and business process outsourcing.

Also, changes to the publishing industry since the 1980s have resulted in nearly all copy editing of book and journal manuscripts and proofreading of typeset manuscripts being outsourced to freelance copy editors and proofreaders.

[edit] Drawbacks

The major drawback is the uncertainty of work — and thus income — and lack of company benefits such as a pension, health insurance, paid holidays and bonuses. However, many freelancers, especially in journalism, regard themselves as having greater income security through the diversity of outlets—the loss of any one of which leads to the loss of only a proportion of income, rather than its totality as with salaried employees.

Furthermore, many periodicals and newspapers offer the option of ghost signing. Ghost signing occurs when a freelance writer signs with an editor, but their name is not listed on the byline of their article(s). This allows the writer to receive benefits, while still being classified as a freelancer, and independent of any set organization. In some countries, however, this can lead to taxation issues (eg so-called IR35 violations in the UK)

Another drawback is that freelancers often must handle contracts, legal issues, accounting, marketing, and other business functions by themselves. If they do choose to pay for professional services, they can sometimes turn into significant out-of-pocket expenses. Working hours can extend beyond the standard working day and working week.

In Europe, the perceived disadvantages of being freelance have led the European Union to research the area, producing draft papers that would, if enforced, make it illegal for companies or organisations to employ freelances direct, unless the freelancer was entitled to benefits such as pension contributions and holiday pay. In the UK, where the terms of integration in to the EU have and are being hotly debated, this would lead to a significant reshaping of the way freelance work is dealt with and have a major impact on industry; employers would be required either to give freelances the contractual rights of employees, or employ only freelancers already being employed by agencies or other organisations granting them these rights. However, the White Papers that recommend such moves have not yet been adopted in the EU, and the potential impact on UK employment laws is being opposed by key UK organisations lobbying the government to negotiate over the acceptance of EU legislation in such areas.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

Look up freelancer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.