By Robert Bowen
Compared to other professionals, freelancers seem to be a separate beast. They’re even a different breed than the rest of the online community. They pay whatever costs are required to be their own boss. Most became freelancers after having evolved to the point that the corporate shackles became more than uncomfortable, and they longed to break free and blaze their own trail. This evolved being now has mostly the same basic needs as the rest of the online community: feeds, /home, networks. But the freelancer seeks a different type of Web experience.
You see, freelancers want to maximize their time online at every opportunity, to establish or build their business. They make contacts, hone their skills and solicit or share advice with others in their field to grow their businesses and create opportunities. For them, the online community is a kind of Freelance University, where they find mentors to lead class discussion and clients to assign projects.
Below is a collection of some useful websites that no freelancer should do without. Whether because of the awesome resources and information contained therein or the oodles of opportunities they promise, these 15 blogs should be at the fore of any freelancer’s mind as they find their way in cyberspace.
Freelance Folder
Freelance Folder is a multi-author blog dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and freelancers. Whether you’re a blogger, writer, publisher, designer, artist, small-business owner or entrepreneur, Freelance Folder is for you. You will find articles that provide you with the tools and information that you need to succeed!
Outstanding Posts from Freelance Folder
3 Things Your Customers Won’t Tell You … Unless You Ask
5 Easy Ways to Start a Productive Day
How To Get Your Clients to Take You Seriously
Ten Tips To Stay Motivated — Even When You Really Don’t Feel Like Working
Building Your Portfolio With Zero Clients & No Spec Work
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Freelance Switch
Freelance Switch is a community of expert freelancers from around the world. If you’re a freelancer, whether a young buck or seasoned veteran, this is the place to get all of the information and support you need!
Outstanding Posts from Freelance Switch
How Freelancers Can Use Active Listening to Improve Business
How to Tweak Your Home Office to Be Productive Full-time
10 Ways Freelancers Can Get Help and Support
How to Handle a Missed Deadline
Errors and Omissions Insurance: Do Freelancers Need It?
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All About Freelance
Well, the name pretty much says it all. All About Freelance is just that, a great resource for freelancers new and old and covers all things in the freelance arena.
Outstanding Posts from All About Freelance
Freelance Advice: The 4 Hour Work Day…
Freelance Inspiration Does Not Necessarily Mean Freelance Motivation…
Freelance Design Tips – Don’t Be Too Available…
Noise Canceling…
Freelance Design, 101: Touch Every Project, Every Day
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Guerrilla Freelancing
Guerrilla Freelancing is a website dedicated to helping every freelancer who is still in the trenches, working as hard as they can to build up a solid freelance business. The main objective is to be a voice for those who have not “made it” and provide straight-to-the-point advice and tips for the guerrilla freelancer. Are you a guerrilla freelancer?
Outstanding Posts from Guerrilla Freelancing
Get paid more (per client) and work less hours
15 benefits to working as a full time freelancer
15 draw backs to working as a full time freelancer
Building your freelance design business with only $25.00
50 money filled blog niches YOU should be dominating
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Wake Up Later
Wake Up Later addresses website-building, freelancing, blogging and online entrepreneurship. It covers a variety of topics, from freelance tips and programming to SEO and Internet marketing. It is a growing repository of Flash, audio and other stuff that are free for personal and commercial use. And it encourages the sharing of ideas and experiences through interviews and groupthink.
Outstanding Posts from Wake Up Later
10 Useful Tasks for Slow Times
Get Smart: 12 Free Educational Resources for Web Workers
Deciding When to Use Project Pricing
Setting Guidelines for Turning Down Freelance Work
Client Communication: The Most Important Part of Freelancing
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All Freelance Directory
All Freelance Directory is a directory and blog aimed at freelancers, consultants and the self-employed. It offers advice and many helpful tips and resources for home-business owners.
Outstanding Posts from All Freelance Directory
Getting Started Freelancing While Keeping Full Time Work Position
Subcontracting Out Your Freelance Work
20 Ways to Promote Your Freelance Services Using Forum Marketing Techniques
The Freelancers Guide to Setting Deadlines
Freelancers’ Guide to Time Management: Setting Limits On How Much You Work
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Freelance Venue
Freelance Venue is where freelancers can network. Join the Freelance Forum and connect with other freelancers on the Web. The website is dedicated to anything about freelancing: working at home, business opportunities, money-making opportunities and so much more.
Outstanding Posts from Freelance Venue
How to Get Traffic or Visitors To Your Website WITHOUT Google!
How to Get Started in Freelance Graphic Design
Have You Already Set Goals For Your Business? Here’s How to Setup Business Goals
How Entrepreneurs Succeed With Their Business
Freelancing: A Business That Still Thrives in a Down Economy
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Pro Freelancing
When people hear the words “freelance writer,” they often think of a starving individual tapping away at a keyboard for hours on end. While Pro Freelancing owner Chad does love typing away, he has accomplished a lot in his short time in the business and has built a successful foundation for his long career ahead.
Outstanding Posts from Pro Freelancing
Stop the Madness and Start Hand-Picking Your Clients
Always Make Your Purpose Greater Than Your Paycheck
Why Aren’t People Buying Yet?
5 Secret Habits for Success
How To Turn Your Dreams Projects Into Reality
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Podcast for Freelancers
The Podcast for Freelancers (which, ironically, also includes a blog) serves all those who currently or aspire to freelance. Whether you’re freelancing or want to, this website will help.
Outstanding Posts from Podcast for Freelancers
7 Reasons Why It Sucks To Be A Freelancer
6 things to do when your ill
5 ways to make your clients happy
Q & A: How to move away from the Job Boards
10 tips for freelance twitter-ers.
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Self Employed Blog
The Self Employed Blog was created to share ideas, products and opportunities that help others move closer to their dream of being their own boss. The content focuses primarily on home-based businesses run on the Internet.
Outstanding Posts from Self Employed Blog
Why You Should Create Your Own Info Product Ebooks
Should You Start Freelancing?
Pros and Cons of 3-Way Calling in Network Marketing
How to Keep Making Progress in Your Business and Life
No Risks, No Rewards
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Social Media Rockstar
Social Media Rockstar is another fantastic resource for freelancers who need a little guidance navigating the social media landscape, because social media is so key for freelancers.
Outstanding Posts from Social Media Rockstar
6 Tips for Creating “Sticky” Social Relationships
How to Build a Strong Reputation With Blog Comments
Is Social Media Marketing a Rat Race?
5 Signs You’re NOT a Social Media Expert, Yet
A Brief History Of Social Media
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Zen Habits
Zen Habits is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so that we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing and find happiness. Zen Habits features three powerful articles a week on such topics as simplicity, health and fitness, motivation and inspiration, frugality, family life, happiness, goals, getting great things done and living in the moment.
Outstanding Posts from Zen Habits
The Only Way to Become Amazingly Great at Something
How to Stop Being a Workaholic
Coding Simplicity: How to Avoid Feature Creep in Your Life
How to Defeat Burnout and Stay Motivated
The Habit Change Cheatsheet: 29 Ways to Successfully Ingrain a Behavior
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Persuasive.net
Persuasive.net offers a wonderful way to learn persuasive communication, providing compelling articles without the fluff that usually accompanies content from trainers in the personal development industry.
Outstanding Posts from Persuasive.net
Use Conversational Hypnosis To Be More Persuasive
It is Written All Over Your Face: Understanding Facial Expressions
What Gets Buyers to Say “Yes, I’ll Buy?”
How To Handle Objections, After You’ve Made The Sale
The Difference Between Being Influenced and Brainwashed
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The Simple Dollar
The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare 500 mutual funds; we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.
Outstanding Posts from The Simple Dollar
The Best Money Advice, in Ten Words or Less
When Is Frugality Stealing?
Giving Experiences, Not Things, This Holiday Season
Teaching Money Management Through Self-Responsibility
24 Ways to Save Money Today
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Six Pixels of Separation
Six Pixels of Separation is a blog by Mitch Joel. Mitch brings you digital marketing, new media and personal branding insight, provocations and foreshadowing from his always on, always connected world.
Outstanding Posts from Six Pixels of Separation
How To Build Your Digital Footprint In 8 Easy Steps
Personal Branding Is Not An Option – It’s Crucial To Success
Hold Off On Twitter – Fix Your Website First
6 Ways To Build A Strong Community
Marketing Is More Important Than You Think
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Further Resources
This is a good start but by no means should be mistaken as the journey’s end. Below are other resources that every freelancer should check out. So many more helpful hints and tools are contained on the following websites that you would be remiss to have come all this way and not give them a glance or two. Go ahead: you know you want to!
Freelancers’ Toolbox
30+ online freelance resources.
Fire your Boss!
The successful home freelancer’s guide.
A Guide to Starting Your Business
Help with the small-business paperwork, the basics of accounting, and an overview of some legal considerations.
85+ Tools and Resources for Freelancers and Web Workers
While a lot of these items are focused on Web design elements, such as photography, programming and writing, something is included for everyone.
Freelance Designer’s Toolbox
200+ resources for freelance Web designers.
The Roadmap To Becoming A Professional Freelance Web Designer
Freelance Contracts: Do’s And Don’ts
6 Simple Ways For Freelancers To Increase Productivity
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