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Tools: Remember The Milk

December 18th 2009 03:22
: Freelancing Tips
Remember The Milk
Online Task Reminder

We all need a little help remember to do tasks on time sometimes.


After all, with all the things we have to do, sometimes it's hard not to slack off.


If you:
1. Check your email more than anything
2. Are bad at remembering to do stuff

then you might be interested in Rememberthemilk.com.

This website will allow you to write to do lists, and you can have them emailed (or sent by phone) to you on their due dates. These can be edited to repeat.

For example here's is my to do list:
Freelance Tips Blog Post: Due Friday, Repeat every Friday and Wednesday
10 Dollar Mark Weekly Check in: Due Tuesday, Repeat every 7 days
10 Dollar Mark Monthly Check in: Due January 1st, Repeat every month on the 1st

There are many flexible options for repeat tasks. For people who forget to update their to do list, making a general list like "make a blog post every week" or "advertise every monday" means if you forget to update your list in a while, you'll still be somewhat reminded. I'm a very forgetful person, so I'm not going to remember to add every article idea to a to do list. However if I write something like "write an article every other day", at least every other day I can check my email and go "yeah, maybe I should write one".

Check out Remember The Milk .com

This website is free of charge (though more advanced tools are available for a fee).

Other pros:
- Lists can be published and shared if wanted
- You can set up categories and tags
- You can integrate your list with igoogle

Need more Help?
Eat The Frog - 21 Great Way to Stop Procastinating and Get More Done In Less Time
Eat The Frog - 21 Great Way to Stop Procastinating and Get More Done In Less Time
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Freelance Tip #2: When you don't find work

December 10th 2009 14:37
Presenting and Organizing
The tough part of being a freelancer is knowing that your income is limited to whether or not people need your work. If you're having issues getting a project to work on, you can still make your time valuable.

Changing Mediums
This is a simple tip: If you're an online freelancer, try going offline. If you're an offline freelancer, try going online. Both have advantages.

Online:
- Create an online portfolio/web site with samples of previous work, and the ability for people to contact you to order your services.

- Find a popular blog regarding your skill, and offer to write an article or make an instructional video to help others, with a link back to your website.

Offline:
- Talk with local shops to find out if they might need your services.

- Be willing to give first time discounts. Happy first customers can result in returning customers.

- Ask if you can put up flyers or give out business cards at stores. The store owner may not need you, but maybe its customers might.

Use your time to learn a side skill
Often times, having a marketable skill isn't enough. A person can write, but if they're asked to write about video games and that person doesn't play them, then it's an article that can't be written easily. Just like a web designer may be fluent in CSS, PHP, MySql, or ASP.net, but it's useless if someone's asking you to use Drupal.

- Do research about what people want that isn't readily available
- Take the time to learn subskills. Sure you're not working right now, but it might help to land you future tasks.

Marketable Charity
Colleges, and even public lower schools, often like to have public speakers to show students the various job paths they can have. Contact a school, or a club respective to your skill, and offer to give a presentation about the possibilities. Make sure to make it age appropriate if needed.

However, there's more you can do:

- You can offer workshops. If you can't get a job, why not spend the time teaching others the basics of your job?

- Write your own textbook or workbook and let people purchase it online. Since public speakers often give out pamphlets summarizing the point of the lecture, you can include a link to your website. An interested student might just buy your textbook if you moved them enough.

- Join affiliate programs. Let's say you're a sculptor. Chances are you have some tools you'd recommend more than others. Various shopping websites have affiliate programs, allowing you to earn a commission if you convince other people to purchase their products. Find out which stores sell your favorite tools and see if one of them has an affiliate program. You can then make a "recommend tools" webpage on your website.

Photo Credits
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Legality: When is it OK to rewrite?

December 8th 2009 01:29
Legal Action by Chris Consani
Legal Action
Buy This Print From Art.com
Only 8.99$

As a freelancer (writer), you will often have to deal with the temptation and possibility of rewriting. Whether it's of your own volition, or commanded by a publisher, it's still up to you to decide if what you are doing is legal or not.

What is a rewrite?
To rewrite means to take content and completely change it into new content, while keeping the same topic and points.

Is it legal to take someone's content and rewrite it?
Usually no. Unless that person has given PLR content (public license rights), or unless you've specifically asked to be able to rewrite that person's content.

What if I give a link back to their original article?
This is a common blog practice. Someone covers great news, and another blog will rewrite the article into a shorter summary, while giving a link back to the original. This is actually not legal, but most content publishers don't care if you link back with a rewrite (since it won't really affect their google standing). If you link back using a direct copy, they will probably ask you to take your page down. If so, you should oblige or be ready to face a DMCA notice.

What about user reviews and answers
If you've ever had the idea of taking someone's Amazon review, or a Yahoo Answer, because you think it's OK, don't! Most sites have some copyright over what their users write. You are technically stealing.

If a publisher asks me to rewrite an article, should I?
The short answer is yes. Unless it's obvious that the article was stolen, there is no valid reason for you not to think that your publisher has the right to rewrite that content. As far as you know, the publisher is within his/her right, and therefore you're not doing anything wrong.



Can I rewrite my own article?
Rewriting: How to do Things With Text
Rewriting: How to do Things With Text

It all depends on what you did with the original. If you published it, you need to check what rights the publisher is giving you regarding the content. Some take full copyright: once you publish it, it's no longer yours. Others will give you print copyright: you can rewrite/republish it, but only in print (not on the web). Of course, many will give you full copyright: Do whatever you want as long as it's your article.

What happens if I choose to rewrite an article even though I know I'm not supposed to?
The reason why rewriting is such a popular (but tricky) business is that it's hard to get caught. Unlike blatant plagiarizing (copy-paste), rewriting is much harder to catch. If you are caught, you will probably be sent a DMCA notice (for online content) or be taken to court (for print content)

Conclusion: So when is it all right for me to rewrite ?
If you, or the publisher asking you, have the right to alter and publish an article, then rewriting is acceptable. For example a publisher may pay a writer for his business' FAQ, but then realize it's not all that well written. Since he owns the rights to the F.A.Q., he can pay someone else to rewrite it and make it more appropriate.

Note: This post was written for a US audience. Depending on your country or region, these legalities may change. However, for the most part, the above should match most rules
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Idea Workshop 1

December 5th 2009 15:02
Infinite Thought
Infinite Thought


Buy this photographic print from Art.com
[ Click here to read more ]
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Portfolio Tip #1: Free Work at a Condition

December 4th 2009 02:57
Marketing Yourself
Making Deals for a Great Portfolio
As a starting freelancer you will need to create a portfolio so prospective employers can see how great your work is.

The problem? Since you're just starting out, you won't have much to show. Here are some possible options


[ Click here to read more ]
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