LinkedIn is one of several important networking sites for the Freelancer. It is a great place to showcase your resume, get endorsements and update your status to a group of like-minded professionals. If you don’t yet have an account, check out the new user starter guide that they offer to get going and set one up today!
Keep in mind that when you are scheduling a telephone interview you will need to know where the person you will be talking to is located. For example, I’m on Central Standard Time (CST), so if I’m interviewing someone on the East coast (EST), I’ll need to clarify if we are doing the interview at 2 pm my time or their time…
It’s embarassing to get this one wrong, and it takes just a minute to find out ahead of time. Build that into your inquiry and you won’t get burned.
One of the best ways to get started with social media is to set up a Twitter account. It only takes a minute–you just provide a name, username, password and e-mail. Agree to the terms of service, and you are all set. Try to follow some people who are in the writing industry to get started, and send out a few “tweets”…
Just remember to keep them under 140 characters.
Do you need a contract in order to write an article?
The short answer to that question is no, but in reality it is better for you if you can get one. Contracts spell out all of the terms, and give you a way to stand up for yourself if something should go awry. If you don’t have one, you won’t have much leverage if the publication decides they are going to do things differently than you discussed.
Better to protect yourself if you can.
With April 15th right around the bend, can you honestly say that you saved every receipt that you could have written off?
If not, try a simple technique that works. Grab a jar, a shoebox or another container and set it on your desk or by the door. When you come home, empty your pockets, purse or wallet and put your business-related receipts in the container immediately.
You can sort through it each week and enter your writing-related expenses, but this keeps everything from getting lost along the way…
Sitting on your bum all day, eating quick-grab foods and neglecting fresh and raw fruits and veggies is a huge mistake that many freelancers make. Yeah, I know that Ding Dong is way more appealing than an apple, but with the apple you get nutrients that sharpen your thinking skills, hone your focus, and improve your health. The Ding Dong just helps you grow a shed over your tools.
