Freelance Tips and Tricks

The truth in advertising

2011-01-21T13:40:00.004+08:00

Advertising is very tedious industry. Your creativity must be radically fast - new concepts, new ideas, new innovation, or you'll be left far behind, really far behind...

But what's really behind this very wonderful industry. Look at it, in a different perspective in this very "informative" satire about advertising from AVION productions

LINK BUILDING - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 10

2008-12-22T12:53:00.002+08:00

TRADITIONAL LINK-BUILDING

There are a variety of specific tactics one can use to create links to their blogs. Many of those strategies are outlined in this ebook. However, despite the power of articles, sigging and other strategies, one must still consider some of the traditional means by which they can acquire links.

Links are half of the traffic battle. By taking advantage of some tried and true link building strategies, you can really help your cause.

LINK TRADES

This is one of the original free link-building techniques. You find a site that compliments your own in terms of content and you then send the webmaster or blogger an email inquiring about trading links.

The upside is that it is completely free and can create an opportunity for cooperative and interesting interaction with someone who shares your interest.

The downside is that the success rate is pretty low. Some people will even recommend avoiding this tactic altogether, because you are likely to be ignored more often than a trade occurs.

Trades can be tough because no one likes the idea of linking to a potential competition.
Additionally, if you are operating a fledgling blog, you probably have far less to offer your trading partner than they have to offer you. There are also legitimate concerns about honesty in link trading. Many people have been known to agree to link trades only to never put up the reciprocal link or to keep it there only until you have verified its presence.

In some circumstances, however, a link trade can be a good decision. If you find a site that seems like a natural companion to your blog, it is worth floating an offer.

FREE LINKS

There are many sites that will accept and list links without any obligation or only with the requirement of a link back to them. These sites can be a great way to building your backlink totals. Note that this strategy is not particularly different than the link exchanges noted above. However, these processes tend to be automated and are generally more reliable. Nonetheless, one must be aware of the possibility of getting a raw deal.

Screen these options carefully, however. There is little value in a link from a disjointed “free for all” site. Additionally, your blog could be penalized if you reciprocate with a link to a bad neighborhood. Instead, stick to sites that are related to your own and that are of a high enough quality that you won’t feel guilty sending your blog’s visitors there.

You can find sites that offer this opportunity by doing a Google search involving your keyword(s) and phrases such as “add a link,” “add your link,” or “add URL.”

Clearly, you want to amass as many links as possible. However, you don’t want to put yourself in a position where you are compelled to offer thousands of backlinks from your blog. First, the design of most blogs is ill-suited for this.

Second, there are concerns about the number of outbound links on your site and how a search engine might perceive them. Finally, there are those will argue that if you have too many outbound leaks, your site could become too “leaky,” leading to visitors wandering from your blog to someone else‘s site.

BONUS TIPS

1. Track your trades! Make sure the other side is holding up their end of the bargain. Check your backlinks occasionally and make sure those who are supposed to be offering links to your site are doing so.

2. Ask for anchor text! A link to http://www.widgetz.com is fine, but it is not quite as good (in the eyes of the search engines) as a text string stating All of the Best Widgets that serves as a hyperlink to your site. This is called anchor text and it can produce better results than a traditional URL link.

DIRECTORIES - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 9

2008-12-22T10:53:00.003+08:00

DIRECTORIES

Links are a key to traffic, and one great source of free links is directory submission. You have undoubtedly seen these sites online. They are organized compendiums of websites on a variety of subjects. They feature a brief description of a site and then a link to the site. You can get traffic a few different ways from a directory. There will be those who surf there and click on your link.

You can also get that highly desirable search engine bump from adding to your blog’s backlink collection. To make things even more enticing, some of the directories actually have their information “scraped” by a variety of other sites, multiplying the potential value of a link. There are paid directories. They charge a fee (sometimes nominal, sometimes costly) in exchange for listing your site. For our purposes here, we will focus on free directories.

TYPES OF FREE DIRECTORIES

Free directories are those that will list your blog without charging you for the privilege. Their acceptance criteria may vary, and there is no guarantee that a directory will list your site. In most cases, however, inclusion is a very strong likelihood.

Some directories are wide-ranging and contain an immense variety of categories. Others are specific to a certain geographical area or topic niche. Be sure to submit your blog to only those directories that would be interested in your content.

Free directory listings can be completely free without obligation of any sort. Other sites, however, will require a link to the directory placed on your blog. Is the value of the link from the directory worth the hassle of the link from your blog? It depends on the directory. If you are dealing with a directory that is frequently visited and highly regarded by the search engines, it may be worth a link. If it is related to your specific niche and may be of value to your readership, it may also be a good decision. However, there are enough directories that do not require backlinks to justify avoiding many directories requiring reciprocal links.

DMOZ: THE OPEN DIRECTORY PROJECT

The “mother of all directories” is DMOZ. This is a human-edited compendium of web resources with an expansive array of categories and sub-categories. DMOZ ostensibly filters out “junk sites” and lists only those pieces of the internet that contain content that meets the varying standards of editors.

DMOZ listings are coveted by many webmasters because Google apparently relies on the listings as one component of its valuation process for sites. A DMOZ listing can also generate some traffic in and of itself.
Getting into DMOZ appears to be deceptively simple. You browse through the categories until you find the one that best matches your blog. You then click on the link for adding a new URL. A few simple questions are asked in a form, which you then submit.

Although the “application procedure” is simple, getting listed is not a piece of cake. The amount of time a category editor will take before getting to your site and looking at it can vary considerably. Some have said that it took several years before DMOZ took a gander at their site.

Even then, inclusion is not guaranteed. The requirements and expectations of editors vary and many seemingly adequate sites have been rejected by DMOZ.

It is worth trying to get into to DMOZ. The possible upside is sufficient to warrant a quick application. However, the best advice to bloggers is to submit your blog and then forget it about it. If you get in, that’s great. If not, you are not alone.

FINDING FREE DIRECTORIES

There are literally of thousands of free directories available. Most of them will probably have a category that is related to your blog. There are places online that maintain a list of directories. One example can be found at http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/free-web-directories.html, which provides several hundred directories.

New directories are being launched every day. Submitting to a new directory may not produce results on par with using an established directory, but inclusion can be a great deal faster. Additionally, new directories are often excited about adding new listings and are more likely to make free listings available without the requirement for a reciprocal link.
You can find many new directories that are looking for sites by perusing forums populated by people in the online business. The Digital Point Forums, for example, contain an entire forum area dedicated to new directory announcements.

SUBMITTING TO DIRECTORIES

Most directories make submission intuitive. Generally, you browse the categories until you find the area that is best-suited for your blog. You then click on a visible link to add a new listing. This generally brings you to a form you must complete.

There are certain bits of information you will want to have handy when submitting to directories. You will need to know your site’s URL, its title, your email address, and you should have a brief description of your blog (as well as some of its keywords) available. Filling out forms like these can be redundant. As a result, special form submitting software (some of which is freeware) has been created to make the process easier. Those who use Firefox as a browser can also make use of a handy extension that makes completing forms of this sort much faster.

BLOG DIRECTORIES

The directory tips we just covered will work for any site. One of the great advantages to using a blog is that you can make use of these traditional tactics easily and effectively while also benefiting from strategies unique to blogs. An example of this is the blog directory.
Blog directories live up to their name. They are organized directories consisting completely of blogs. They will list your blog under the appropriate categories with a description and other relevant information.

The submission process is similar to that required of other directories. You may be asked to provide the URL for your RSS feed (if available), as well. Often, blog directories request either a link back to the directory or the inclusion of a graphical button on your blog as a precondition for inclusion.

As blogging grows in popularity, these blog directories are becoming important locations for many searchers. Some people rely on these to find timely and interesting information instead of traditional search engines. You cannot afford to overlook listing your site on some of the more popular blog directories.

You can find lists of blog directories in many places, or you can simply search for blog directories using your favorite search engine. One good list of directories can be found at http://www.toprankresults.com/blog-submit-list.htm.

Some of the blog directories also attempt to double as active blogger communities. Thus, in some cases it may be necessary to create a membership to the site first. This is generally a quick and easy process.

PINGING BLOG DIRECTORIES

The ping is another unique tool for blogs that enables you to notify blog directories that your site has been updated. A ping is nothing more than a quick transmission to the blog directory, notifying them that there is new content.

These pings can send you to the top of the “updated blogs” lists, improve your visibility and increase traffic. It has also been shown that pinging can alert spiders from search engines to check out your site for updates and indexing.

Pinging should be done every time new content is added to your blog. However, if you are adding several posts in rapid succession, you may want to either ping only once or spread out your posts over a longer period of time. Many directories and blog services do not look at over-pinging favorably.

The easiest way to ping directories is through the use of an automated tool. There are two popular pinging devices you can access that will notify a host of services every time you have made an update. The more venerable of the two is Ping-o-Matic which can be found at http://www.pingomatic.com. A newer entry into the free ping tool category is Pingoat. Pingoat operates a bit more quickly and seems to service more directories. It can be found at http://www.pingoat.com.

BONUS TIPS

1. Break it into Pieces! There are so many directories that you might want to make directory submission an ongoing process. You can add your blog to a few directories each day in your spare time. The cumulative effect will be significant!

2. Write a good description! When describing your blog, make it an attractive and interesting possibility for a reader. You also want to make sure your description contains keywords related to your site. Most directories want legitimate, accurate descriptions. Avoid superlatives and “advertising” rhetoric when writing your description.

SEARCH ENGINES - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 8

2008-12-22T10:38:00.005+08:00

LESSER SEARCH ENGINES

Right now, the search engine field is dominated by three players: Google, MSN and Yahoo. These are the three search engines that matter and care must be taken to make sure all three index your blog. There are, however, other search engines out there. Some are rarely used relics that have managed to hold onto a small chunk of cyberspace. Others are paid-for-inclusion engines that are little more than ways to separate a blog owner from his or her money.

None of these smaller search engines will produce a great deal of traffic. However, it is often very easy to submit to the free search engines. Additionally, there is some information to suggest that inclusion on a lesser engine may lead to inclusion on a bigger one. There is very little harm in direct submission to smaller search engines. It is unlikely to be a huge manufacturer of traffic, but it takes so little time that you may want to consider it. Just use one of the popular search engines to search for other search engines. Then, visit a few of these places and look into submitting your site.

BLOG SEARCH ENGINES

The tactics mentioned above apply to websites of any sort. As a blogger, you can make use of them. However, the growth of blogging has led to the creation of blog-only search engines. You would be remiss if you did not submit your blog to these engines.
A simple Google search for the phrase “blog search engine” will yield many additional opportunities to get your blog noticed. Realize that often the terms “blog search engine” and “blog directory” are used almost interchangeably and can overlap a great deal. Information about many blog directories that also have search functions is included in the “Directories” portion of this ebook.

There is at least one blog search engines that warrant additional discussion--Technorati, which can be found at http://www.technorati.com. Technorati is a widely used blog search engine. Getting your blog listed at Technorati can increase your traffic more than most other blog search engines. Technorati also supports a tagging function whereby you can “tag” your posts with descriptive keywords making them easier for other Technorati users to find.

There is some debate over the value of Technorati in terms of traffic and with respect to some customer service issues the site apparently experiences. However, serious bloggers would be remiss if they did not take a long look at Technorati and consider making it part of their traffic creation arsenal.

There are other services offering a tagging function that seem to be developing an avid following and may be worth investigation. These include FURL and Del.icio.us.

BONUS TIPS

1. Patience is a virtue! It can sometimes take a little bit of time before the major search engines cozy up to your blog. Don’t be offended or too frustrated. Continue working on your blog and following other traffic generation methods. The nice thing about the content tactics covered here are that they are all mutually reinforcing. If a long period passes, go back and check your work. But don’t get frustrated too early.

2. Don’t become too Google obsessed! Google is the biggest search engine player, but the other two can drive a lot of traffic to your blog. There are entire communities dedicating to dissecting Google and its algorithms. Google often befuddles even the most veteran search engine optimization experts. If you want to crack the top 10 in Google, it might require a great deal of work--probably a disproportionate effort for most hobbyist bloggers. You want Google traffic, but it is usually not worth developing an obsession to obtain it.

GET INTO SEARCH ENGINES - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 7

2008-12-22T01:05:00.005+08:00

GETTING INTO THE SEARCH ENGINES

In order for your blog to come up in search engine results, the search engine must know it exists. Getting discovered, and indexed, by search engines is a critical first step to securing search engine traffic.

Contrary to the beliefs held by some, a search engine cannot simply “find” your blog on its own. It must be led to the blog in some fashion. There are two general ways by which this can happen. You can either tell the search engine about your blog, or you can devise a means by which it will find you.

At first glance, it seems like just telling the search engine would be the optimal solution. At one time, this strategy was the easiest way of getting indexed. However, it is no longer the best way to go about things.

You can directly submit your blog to Google, for instance. However, it may take the search engine months to get around to your request. At some point, in frustration, you might be led to submit the information again. There are fairly credible reports that frequent submission of a blog directly to the search engine may actually lead to a penalty. They would prefer to find you all by themselves. I have personally not noticed any problems with direct submission to MSN’s search engine. However, considering the variety of ways by which one can be found without utilizing direct submission, it does not seem necessary to tip off MSN in that manner.

WAYS TO BE DISCOVERED

All it requires for a search engine to find you is a link to your blog on another site. Eventually, the search engines will spider that link and discover the blog. You can increase the likelihood of being found quickly by getting multiple links for your site out there and by trying to get links that are likely to be spidered quickly.

Large, popular sites are frequently spidered and a link on a site of this sort can lead to your blog’s inclusion in the search engines relatively quickly. A link from a frequently indexed site could lead to your blog’s discovery within as little as a day.

Any of the link-building strategies mentioned in this ebook can be used to lead the search engine to your blog. Things like link trades, sigging, articles and directory listings can do the trick.
Remember, building these links not only encourages necessary indexing, it also serves as a way of improving long-term traffic, as every link can be helpful.

CONTENT USABILITY - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 6

2008-12-20T12:43:00.001+08:00

CONTENT USABILITY

Usability, as it relates to online endeavors, can involve everything from site structure to color choices. With respect to written content, we will primarily be concerned with constructing posts that comport with readers’ preferences and expectations for written materials.

Internet readers tend be “scanners.” They generally scan a page or post and then make a determination as to whether or not to invest more time and effort in reading the material carefully. If their scan does not provide them with something to grab their attention and interest, they are more likely to click away than they are to continue reading.
Thus, content should be offered in a way that is easy for users to scan. It should also be provided in a way that encourages online reading. What does this mean in terms of practical considerations?
One should offer text in a size that is easily read. They should also offer content in the form of shorter paragraphs and make use of “white space” to make scanning easier. Long paragraphs are not as well-received as shorter ones.
The choice of a font should be based on readability rather than on whether or not one feels it possesses some greater aesthetic value.
Content usability is important and any blogger truly interested in maximizing the comfort and value of the user’s experience. That attention to detail can increase repeat visitation and total page views.

KEYWORDS & CONTENT - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 5

2008-12-20T12:39:00.001+08:00

KEYWORDS & CONTENT

Search engines operate on keywords. Put simply, keywords are the words for which people are searching. By making sure you use these keywords in your content, you are more likely to be discovered.
Thus, you can produce some pretty remarkable traffic jumps by using the keyword phrases people are typing into Google. This is obvious, but it does bring up a few interesting questions.

How do I find which keywords are popular for searches in my niche? There are a variety of free online tools available to help with keyword research. Earlier, we mentioned Nichebot, which does an admirable job of showing what phrases and keywords are in “high demand.” A quick Google search for “keyword finder” and other similar phrases should provide you with some other options. There are paid services, like WordTracker, that also assist in keyword research, but free options remain available.
How should I use the keywords once I have found them? This is a subject of some debate. The question about how many times keywords should appear in order to trigger a positive response from search engines is a constant topic of argument in the search engine optimization field. Some will argue that a keyword should be used enough to comprise 3-5% of the total text in any post.

Others will argue that a higher density is necessary. Some will maintain that keyword density is not as important as producing content that contains the keyword and related relevant terms.
There are a few ways of making sure your content does its job when it comes to keywords. One is to carefully monitor your use and to write posts around popular keywords related to your topic. Another is simply to focus on turning out good, relevant content and assuming the volume of your output and its overall quality will produce desired keyword results. Generally speaking, the best strategy for most bloggers probably lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes. By producing content with an understanding of keywords while not compromising its integrity in an effort to stuff every post with popular search terms, one can usually be relatively successful.
One should strive to make use of their primary keywords in the titles of their blog’s posts. They should also attempt to use those words and phrases, along with keywords of secondary importance within the posts themselves. There are free keyword analyzers available online that will give you breakdowns of keyword density for your posts. It makes sense to check your work against these at least occasionally to make sure your content is working its hardest to get you that coveted search engine traffic.
One should beware of overusing keywords. Search engines grow smarter all the time, and the days when one could get real results by stuffing keywords onto a page without rhyme or reason are gone. Remember that the search engine algorithms are designed to reward sites that are using keywords in a valuable context. They are able to discern that an endless stream of keywords is probably nothing more than an effort to fool their robots.

UPDATING CONTENT - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 4

2008-12-20T12:36:00.001+08:00

UPDATING CONTENT

People like new information. If they are interested in your topic, they want to see more information about it as often as possible. Search engines mimic people in that regard. They absolutely adore frequently updated sites. They reward blogs that provide frequent updates with better locations in search results. Providing regular content is one of the best ways to appeal both to your human readers and the search engine robots that will lead even more real people to your blog.

Finding the right patterns will be a byproduct of experimentation, combined with your own personal time limitations and interest levels. I personally recommend updating a blog at least a few times per week. If you can update more frequently, do so. However, make sure these updates offer something of value. Writing for the sake of writing may help with respect to fooling search engine spiders, but it will undoubtedly antagonize real readers so much as to render the strategy useless.

Those who make a living online will tell you that “content is king.” Content is what brings people to any site. It is what keeps them there, too. It is also the favorite discover of every search engine spider. The more content you have, the better off you are going to be.

Some niches may be so underserved that a blog can continue to successfully generate traffic with infrequent updates. However, more competitive fields will require more and more content to stay afloat.

Updates can vary in length. Generally speaking, however, extremely short posts will have less value (both to the search engines and readers) than more involved writing. However, the desire to provide more lengthy and meaningful posts will need to be balanced against usability considerations, which we will discuss later. Many will argue that content additions that “weigh in” between 250-600 words are optimal.

CREATE READERSHIP - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 3

2008-12-20T12:35:00.001+08:00

Good content creates a readership.

Those repeat visitors can be the lifeblood of a successful blog. Additionally, other people who operate blogs notice good content and web sites and they will often link back to your quality posts. This creates a direct traffic stream from those links, as well as adding to your total cache of backlinks, which can help in search engine results.

People will come back to a site they know provides grade-A information or that touches them in some way. Humor sites that are not funny do not get repeat visitors. Sites about technological advances that contain inaccuracies do not develop a readership. Blogs that are littered with grammatical and spelling errors seldom generate massive traffic.

Effective writing is key to a successful blog.

Most of us, fortunately, have an idea of what separates the good from the bad. Writing effectively may take more time and effort than simply spewing forth a few posts to your blog, but the end result is worth the extra energy.

In addition to writing well, you should strive to produce unique content that will distinguish your blog from others. This includes choosing topics that are interesting, opinions that are compelling, and doing whatever else is necessary to capture and hold a reader’s interest. You need to give people a reason to choose your blog over others in the same field. You must provide them with something they cannot get elsewhere.

This raises the subject of re-blogging. Re-blogging occurs when a blogger provides a synopsis of what someone else has written (perhaps even with an excerpt) and then adds a small amount of personal commentary. Re-blogging can be effective in two circumstances. If your blog is operating primarily as a news aggregator and a means of providing readers with an edited compendium of potential items of interest, it is a natural fit. Second, if your commentary somehow illuminates or provides an interesting twist to the original content it can also be effective. Too often, however, reblogging is nothing more than repetition of what could be found elsewhere and fails to impress readers.

Instead of relying upon re-blogging, a successful blogger will generally try to stay on top of his or her chosen field and will become the initial source of exciting information and opinion. It is fine to share the remarkable work of others--making sure that information gets out to everyone is one of the great things you can do with a blog--but it is even better if you can make yourself into a primary source of quality, unique content.

SUBJECT MATTER - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOG - Part 2

2008-12-20T12:33:00.002+08:00

SUBJECT MATTER

Blogs that tackle a specific and limited range of concerns generally tend to outdraw those with a more scattered approach. Blogging within a particular niche is usually the best way to experience success. However, there are limits to specificity. If one chooses a subject area that is too limited, the potentiality for high-volume traffic is reduced. Alternatively, if one opts to blog in a well-covered subject matter they risk getting lost in the shuffle and not finding a regular readership.

There is no secret formula that will yield the perfect niche for your blog. There are, however, some guidelines you can follow when selecting a blog topic that will help lead you to a choice that has good traffic potential.

First, remember that you will be revisiting, updating, tweaking and researching the topic of your blog for as long as you decide to maintain it. Thus, it makes a great deal of sense to choose a subject matter in which you have a keen interest and a developed knowledge base. You may discover that there are a lot of people looking for information on widgets and that there are few great sources for that information online. However, if you don’t know a lot about widgets and find them a complete bore, you will probably have a hard time maintaining the site over the long run.

Second, remember that there are two different factors you must consider when trying to choose a topic with real traffic potential. You will want to write about something in which others are interested. There must be a group of people out there who are regularly looking for information on your topic. That is a necessary factor. However, you must also consider how many other sources of information are out there already. It can be very tough to break out in a competitive field.

You can get an idea of the competition and interest levels by using any of a number of freely available online tools. One tool I have found to be invaluable and easy to use is Nichebot at http://www.nichebot.com. It operates almost like a search engine: you type in the word or string in which you are interested and it then supplies you with a breakdown of how many people are searching for that phrase (and related phrases) every month. It then provides you with an indication of how many sites online contain the words in your search phrase. It even goes so far as to express the ratio of sites to searchers, making determinations of a niche’s viability relatively simple. Nichebot offers some additional tools that can make subject selection easier.

Ideally, you will find a hot topic with little competition. However, that is far easier said than done! One could spend days plugging possible subjects into Nichebot without finding a wildly underserved group of searchers for a topic in which the blogger has an interest. However, it does a great job of letting one know what they might be up against in terms of competition and occasionally you can discover some very interesting gaps in the information market.

Third, remember that although finding an underserved niche will make your life easier, it is not necessarily a requirement for success. There are some people who will tell you that operating in a competitive sector is great. After all, you know in advance that there are hordes of potential visitors on a hot topic. All you have to do is give them a reason to come to you instead of others. That is, of course, easier said than done. However, if you are up for a challenge and believe you can offer something that will truly separate you from the rest; you may consider blogging in a competitive field.

CONTENT AND LINKS - KEYS TO TRAFFIC FOR YOUR BLOGS - Part 1

2008-12-20T12:23:00.002+08:00

What produces traffic? What is it about some websites that makes them popular destinations for a huge number of visitors? Why are some blogs checked out by tens of thousands of people every day while others struggle to find a single visitor? The issue of traffic can be complicated. There are a variety of factors at play, and every strategy can be dissected and the details debated ad infinitum.

However, there are two keys to traffic upon which everyone can agree: Content and Links.

Content is essential to traffic flow.

You have to offer something that makes your site worth visiting. Content creates repeat visitors, increases their stay, encourages word-of-mouth type promotion and assists in improving a blog’s standing with the search engines.

Every link can conceivably serve a traffic producer.

If someone finds a link to your blog on another site, they are only one mouse-click away from being part of your traffic. Search engines also assess the number and quality of links to your blog. They regard sites that are linked to frequently as authoritative and reward them with higher placement in search engine results.

So, if you want traffic to your blog, you need to do two things: Provide content and acquire links. The end result should be higher traffic numbers for your blog.

Turn on your freelancer abilities

2008-12-20T11:01:00.002+08:00

So have the idea of being a freelancer?

Where to start?

Here:

First: Buzz up your name!

There are hundreds and thousands of freelancer around the globe and buyers sometimes just don't know who to choose. A tingly name that would leave the first impression, and once you caught the attention of a buyer, it's then you can do your slicky moves! Instead of using your own name "Joe Smith" why not make it, a little catchy, "the uncanny Joe Smith", or something more than that.
Simple but catchy words to attach to your name, or aliases that could leave an impression to buyer will make the first step for you. But remember make it short and easy to recall. Use this to your websites, blogs, profiles and other places you roam in the internet.

Second: Dress up your portfolio or profiles

If you are into computer graphics or web development and designs, you will have to present yourself with a portfolio, so buyers can rate your skill. On the other hand, freelancers that need not to have portfolios, like administrative support, have a decent presentation of your skills so the buyer will not have a hard time knowing what you can do. This is follow up punch to your jaw-dropping name. Make it a hard punch.

Third: Where to market your self?

Ok, got a killer alias, and knock-out portfolio or profile. So where in the hell will you get your first job?

Lucky for you, if you are still not aware. There are a bunch of websites that connect buyers and freelancers. But, remember, competition here is very tight, so you better work harder than you think.

Here are sites that I personally recommend, because these sites applies protocols that minimize frauds. Here, you can bid for projects, you write cover letters, make your portfolios, pool of projects to choose from and other stuff, perfect for freelancers.

But, remember these sites, gets a cut on your projects, because of their system. You can market your self though if you don't want to cut you income.

Set up a website for your portfolio, info about you and contact details.
Join forums of your interest, and create a signature with a link to your website, saying you do freelance works.
Create cover letters email them to your potential customers, JUST DON'T SPAM!

That is most likely that is the way to do it, market your self and do the work.

FINAL WORDS

DONT STOP LEARNING!

There are many ways to make it good in freelance industry. Just focus on you strengths and master it. Once you master a field, start in another and master it again. Make your services wider so you can accept more projects you like. Freelance works in not easy, but you just have to work for it, and could be really really rewarding.

Good luck on your freelance career, and get grasp in this blog to help you.

Freelance for numbskulls

2008-12-20T10:06:00.004+08:00

Want a job like? Set your own time of work, long-term obligation to superiors, and work anywhere you may roam? Well, undoubtedly freelancing is for you.

Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) first coined the term "freelance" in his well known romance "Ivanhoe" which in that time refers to "medieval mercenary warriors". But now, for what ever damn reason, it has become a term used for contractors who offer services with no long term obligation with employer. There are bunch of freelancer around the world today, and most work through the internet.

This field becomes a good source of extra income, especially if you have exceptional skills, talents and an overflowing self-motivation. Freelancing is quite risky in a way, but very rewarding and self realizing in another. In both ways, it's a great way of learning and growing as a professional with out the hassles of being a regular employee.

Many companies or other business individuals nowadays outsource their works to other contractors or freelancers and mostly, they do it online. These are some jobs that are usually outsourced.

Web Development
* Web Design
* Web Programming
* Web Applications
* Ecommerce
* Streaming Media
* User Interface Design
* Marketing (SEO/SEM)
* Website QA
* Website Project Management

Audio / Video & Multimedia

* Audio Production & Engineering
* Video Production & Editing
* Voice Talent
* Animation

Software Development

* Desktop Applications
* Client-Server Applications
* Game Development
* Scripts & Utilities
* Software Plug-ins
* Mobile Applications
* Application Interface Design
* Software Project Management
* Software QA

Networking & Information Systems

* Network Administration
* Firewalls & Security
* Database Administration (DBA)
* Server Administration

Writing

* Technical Writing
* Website Content
* Business Plans
* Blog / Article Writing
* Copywriting / Editing
* Other - Writing
* Translation

Graphic Arts & Design

* Graphic Design
* Logo Design
* Illustration
* Print Design
* 3D Modeling/CAD

Administrative Support

* Data Entry
* Personal Assistant
* Research
* Email Response Handling
* Accounting/Bookkeeping
* Online Order Processing

If you think you can do one of these, then you can have a freelance career of your own.

My Demo Reel

2008-12-15T22:18:00.000+08:00

Who is codenameRiCOCHET?

2008-03-05T15:52:00.002+08:00

Rene Leanda, codenameRiCOCHET, is a licensed Civil engineer, registered on Nov 2002, an internet marketer and a freelance media artist all in one. He has been a freelance media artist for about 2 years already. He specializes in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premier, Macromedia Flash, and Cakewalk in producing digital arts and graphics.

He has already done projects, like photo editing, photo manipulation, photo restoration, video editing, graphic designs, music compositions and others. He has also rendered service to a broadcasting network, UNTV 37, in terms of video editing, graphic designs and others.

He has also knowledge in AutoCAD, Visual basic and other softwares. All in all, RiCOCHET's world revolves in computer technologies. He boosts his spirit in creating digital arts in which his passion flows. But aside from this, he has also musical skills, such as composing, arranging, conducting and can play most of band instruments.

Creativity fills half of RiCOCHET's life, and strives to learn more. Though his skills are still small, he wishes to grow further. He is a servant of music and arts, feel free to know him more.

How to make business with me

2008-02-16T00:02:00.007+08:00

Just contact me through my e-mail:

ricochet_105@yahoo.com

Further details will be discussed thereafter.

Individual person cropped from a group

2008-02-02T02:00:00.001+08:00

Original Picture
(click image to view full quality)

Final Result
(click image to view full quality)

Cropped from the group picture and placed into a solo portrait. Some editing is done to remove the hands on her shoulder, this is done by the cloning tool in Adobe Photoshop CS

Two Pictures Enhanced

2008-02-02T01:50:00.002+08:00

The crane and island on background is removed and replaced with calm sea water

The wash out sky is replaced by a blue sky, and color of the picture is enhanced

A freelance work for a real estate company, where in photos are enhanced by adjusting color and removing unpleasant area of the picture by the use of cloning tool in Photoshop CS.

Some things about me and my softwares

2008-02-02T01:01:00.000+08:00

I have been a crazy software tester ever since, well, actually after my "computer games era". I have tried a lot of softwares, about engineering tools, video editing, photo editing, midi sequencing, etc., and found it more fun than playing computer games, well though I still play PS2 and some PC games especially NBA LIVE! Whooh!

Some softwares I have used and satisfy my "software cravings" are: AutoCAD (series), Adobe Family ( Premiere 1.5, After Effects 7, Photoshop CS2, Image Ready CS2, Illustrator, Audition), Sony Vegas, Cakewalk Sonar 4 Producer Edition, SwishMax, Ulead 3D cool, Bryce, Macromedia Family ( Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks), Guitar Pro and more to come...

Well, these and bunch of tutorials from the net just made my creativity roll. Had some projects already and tested whether what software really works for which. I have kept using those that suits me best, those are the Adobe family and Sonar 4, though I use others occasionally.

Having these tools are simply just amazing, learning them is not that hard, all you have to do is learn the basics. Just use these basics, again and again, then apply newly found knowledge, then use it again and again, then, that's it. Though to some this may take long, but just have your dedication and your will to learn, you will never be stuck up. Try to have projects in your spare time and try to explore whether what software work for you the best.

Now, I am more on the internet, studying more. Well, the internet is just to broad, I only see a tiny piece of it, still more to see though, never to late to learn new things.

Why Portfolio-Blog?

2008-02-02T00:28:00.000+08:00

I recently discovered the power of blogging, and it's not just a simple thing. It is just like having your own website, wherein you can personalize, put everything you want, be yourself and also, not to mention additional income online, and all for it for free. I had compiled my recent works and decided to have a portfolio to offer freelance services and realized it would be much better if I put it in a blog. Though there are paid services for blogging, which is much better, but I chose to the free ones, in this case Blogger.com, maybe paid services for blogs will be a future endeavor.

I have become an internet marketer and a newbie blogger and still have my passion in graphic designs and computer softwares. Well, I think this is a place in the net where I can maximize my potentials and express myself. I am planning to put some tutorials here, together with my blog entries and also my new projects. I am really excited now and have already plans in my mind about the outcome of this blog. So be there to experience it with me. This is just the beginning, although I have already started another blog late last year, 2007, and it has got me great results, and earned some, though not that much. This time, I plan it to be bigger, but unfortunately, that is my TOP SECRET.

By the way, I have some cool stuff in my sidebar, I can't put all my knowledge here you know, but these stuffs really rocks. Try them and learn a lot.

Start a graphic design business

2008-02-01T21:37:00.000+08:00

There are many ways to start a graphic design business. If you have the skill, the talent and the will, you will always have opportunities for you. You don't have to be the best, all you have to do is offer a satisfying service in a considerable price. Here are some simple steps to get your business going right away.

Create a portfolio - Gather some of your works, compile them and put some description and some information that will greatly interest your potential customer. Portfolios can be in printed forms or soft copy, depending on how are you going to present yourself to your prospects.

Create a website or a blog - Having a website or a blog puts you to the edge, although if you are only targeting a nearby market, you don't have to have one. Having a website or a blog with information about you, your portfolio, contact details and other vital information creates easy transactions rather than mailing with attachments. There are also free online portfolios that you can use. Just simply create a account and upload all your information and your works and make business in a breeze. Here are some, Portfolios.com, Carbonmade.com, BlueskyPortfolio.com, there's a lot more, just search the web and choose what suits you best.

Specify your target market - If you are targeting international market, you are in need of a website for you. If your desired market are within your vicinity, proposals, business cards, tarpaulins and other graphic banners and flyers can be useful. Your capacity is also vital, so target the size and social level of your market. If you are a beginner, target on small and economical market, so you will not be overloaded.

Market yourself - So your decision have been made, now it's time to go out there and find some projects. If you are focusing on online projects, start on forums which focus on your service. Search the web for forums for graphic design. Join discussions and present yourself. Learn from others by reading and commenting on threads and most specially, create a signature which links to your online portfolio. Your signature is vital, be sure to create a forum signature before posting in a forum, plus also read the forum rules, or your account will be blocked. Learn to create your forum signature here. You can also create accounts on online freelance job listings like Scriptlance.com and Getafreelancer.com. You can browse freelance job listings here and choose what your line of interests. Freelance works ranges from, article writing, web design, data encoding, and many more. Some employers here have rules and instructions before hiring you as a freelance designer, so be sure to read them carefully and understand.

Your mode of payment and pricing - If you use Scriptlance.com and Getafreelancer.com, all you need is a PayPal account. Prices are already indicated there by the employer, all you have to do is to meet their requirements. Once, satisfied and fully accomplished, your payment will be sent to your PayPal account. If you would like to have your own pricing, usual pricing for designing is $40 - $75 per hour, including all your spent time in burning, redesigning, downloading etc. You can work when both of you and your employer is online, or what ever depends on your deal.

Be persistent and visible - You would be starting slow, but as time goes as you gather more customers, you will be having more projects and more persons contacting you. Just keep on posting on forums, reading blogs, advertising to your social network friends and spreading your business cards all over your vicinities, the word of mouth will be working for you in having more customers.

So these are basically the first steps in starting a business. The rest will be taught by your experience. Be sure to organize everything and have plans for long terms and short terms. Create more creative propaganda, this will create a unique image for you. Just be yourself, and present your creativity, anyways thats graphic design is for.

2007-12-22T12:23:00.000+08:00

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2007-12-22T12:22:00.000+08:00

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2007-12-22T12:13:00.000+08:00

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Simple Animation for an event teaser

2007-12-22T03:06:00.000+08:00

A sample of an event teaser. Graphics made in Photoshop, animated in Sony Vegas

Ricochet Logo

2007-12-22T02:23:00.000+08:00

My personal logo. Primary placed in my blog Online Business 105

BAM Logo design

2007-12-22T02:17:00.000+08:00

A sample logo for a youth organization. Project done in Adobe Phototshop

Advertising Stickers

2007-12-22T02:11:00.000+08:00

Sample advertising stickers for purified water station company. Project done in Adobe Photoshop

Simple Flash Animation

2007-12-22T01:06:00.000+08:00

A flash animation of a swimming man. Created in Macromedia Flash. Freehand drawing and some Action Scripts to animate object with mouse

Helpful Links

2007-12-22T00:56:00.000+08:00

File Recovery
Outlook Repair
Company-List Business Directory
Computer Directory
Hard Drive Recovery
Used Dodge
List Nation
Internet Privacy
Internet Marketing
Software Directory
Decks
Undelete
Free Web Hosting
Used Cars
Celebrity Pictures
Data Recovery
Renovations
Train your Dog here. This site is listed under Self-Employment Directory

Magazine art photo manipulation

2007-12-21T11:27:00.000+08:00

Photos manipulated, cropped and designed with a magazine cover motif. Project all done in Photoshop CS

Flash Online Music Player

2007-12-21T02:59:00.000+08:00

An online music player programmed in Macromedia Flash. Streaming music is in SWF for easy loading and fast playing.

Sample Calling Card

2007-12-21T02:53:00.000+08:00

A high quality graphic calling card sure to catch the eyes of each receiver. Sample made in Photoshop CS.

Waiting hour band Graphic Logo

2007-12-21T02:33:00.001+08:00

A graphic logo for a 5 man band, Waiting Hour. Project done in Photoshop CS.

Pop rock Sample

2007-12-21T02:08:00.000+08:00

A pop rock sample used for an amateur band competition. Project done in Guitar Pro 4 and Sony Vegas for effects.

Jazzy instrumental Sample

2007-12-21T01:54:00.000+08:00

A remastered band entry for an amateur competition. Guitar instrumental produced in Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Vegas for optimum effects. A combination of midi and audio sequencing, where in guitars are recorded in wave, and all other instruments are midi created in Sonar. Actual quality has been decreased because of compression for uploading purposes.

Sample of Light Groovy Music

2007-12-21T01:41:00.000+08:00

A groovy and light mood minus one for a song entitled "Isisigaw namin". Used for an amateur choir contest. Project done in Cakewalk Sonar and Guitar Pro 4, rendered into MP3. Actual quality has been decreased because of compression for uploading purposes.

Remastered PTC site Icons

2007-12-21T01:32:00.000+08:00

Retouched PTC site icons to fit the motif of a blog, Online Business 105. All are done in Photoshop CS

Logo For South District Band

2007-12-21T01:25:00.000+08:00

A logo done for a band. Project done in Adobe Photoshop CS.

Social Networks 3D Icons

2007-12-21T01:11:00.001+08:00

Icons of Networks in 3D view, Friendster, Yuwie, MyLot, YouTube and Facebook. All are made in Adobe Photoshop CS2

Online Business 105 Banner

2007-12-21T01:05:00.000+08:00

The banner of a blog entitled Online Business 105. Project done in Adobe Photoshop.

KNN News Segment in KAMI NAMAN

2007-12-21T01:01:00.000+08:00

A sample episode of a segment in the magazine-sitcom show in UNTV 37, Kami Naman. All editing and musical scoring is done in Adobe Premiere and graphics in Adobe Photoshop.

Kami Naman OBB Year 2

2007-12-21T00:49:00.000+08:00

The OBB (opening billboard) for the second year of the local television magazine-sitcom show in the Philippines, Kami Naman. This was aired year 2007 in UNTV Channel 37, free UHF channel, simulcast in webcast in www.untvweb.com. This project was done in Adobe Premiere 1.5 and Adobe Photoshop CS under the supervision and conceptualization of Director Lito De Guzman.