We’d like to welcome our new advertisers, Mozy Pro and Agency Fusion.

Mozy Pro is an online backup system by Berkeley Data Systems. The system only needs to be set up once, and then works automatically, which is great if you’re like me and always forget to backup until your computer freezes. The backup is then encrypted and stored in a remote location. And if you’re a nomad or like to work remotely, you can access it from anywhere. The neat bit is that it will only back up the data that’s new or that you’ve altered – so there’s no need to waste time backing up files over and over again! I personally recommend (from terrible experience) that every freelancer backup in at least two locations, so if you’re not covered yet give Mozy a try.

Brett from Agency Fusion is a writer for FreelanceSwitch, and is a big authority on development. Agency Fusion build websites. So if you’re a web designer who hates to build, or even a graphic designer working with web for the first time, Agency Fusion is the place to go if you’re serious about delivering quality to your clients. All their websites feature Tweak, their own Content Management System – so you or your client can edit copy and photos whenever you need to, which is always handy for those tight deadlines!

We’d like to welcome our new advertisers! Remember, we can’t do what we do without the support of our advertisers, so please support them!

We’ve decided that August is going to be the biggest month yet on FreelanceSwitch. Why? Well we have a few little things like the survey results (now past 2500 respondents) coming out, the new site design which Collis is sending off to have built this week, we’ve joined a blog network (see below), and later today we’re putting up a huge list of inspiration sites to continue on where our 34 Places post left off. Also as you may have heard we’ve been working hard these last couple of months on a FreelanceSwitch book titled “Hired Gun” which *cross fingers* will be out this month too!

So today’s big news though is that I’m happy to announce that FreelanceSwitch has joined the coolest new blog network around, LifeRemix.

We’re rubbing shoulders with quite a few of my favourite sites like: Black Belt Productivity, Behance, Cranking Widgets Blog, Happiness Project, LifeClever,
LifeDev, No Impact Man, Pick the Brain, Success From the Nest, Tim Ferriss’ Four Hour Workweek Blog, Unclutterer, WiseBread, Zen Habits.

Actually the neatest thing to come out of this so far is that I discovered Behance, a site that made me rather jealous. If you’re a designer, go check out their super blend of classic, swiss aesthetic and great content.

And now, for the winners of the Light Product Review and Giveaway!

We couldn’t go past Drury Bynum as our pick for originality:

With the extra money generated from using Light, I would invest in efforts to learn to better communicate with animals. My office surrounded by trees and birds and every time I go outside they are chattering away. I know their language is complex and specific, like alerting one another when I’m around, “Brown Cap Man! Brown Cap Man.” Heck, they probably even make jokes about me, “Ugly shoes, bad choice, Ugly shoes, I’d go with purple”. Purple, I know, but birds like different colors than we do, that’s one thing I’ve learned.
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Adii.co.za recently interviewed Collis and I about FSw. If you want to find out a bit more about FreelanceSwitch (and read us babbling on) you can check out the interview at the site. We covered topics like:

• What we did before the advent of FSw and why we decided to launch the site,
• What we think of blogs and blogging,
• Collis weighs in on the most important aspects of blog design,
• We give our most important pieces of freelancing advice and finally,
• FSw’s future plans – revealed for the first time!

So check it out and let us know what you think of where FSw’s heading next!

Brian from Simply Invoices contacted me a little while ago. The app was still in development, but Brian had taken the time to make a screencast just for FSw! The app itself looked great, and the personalized narration convinced me that this was our type of guy!
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A little off topic, but the team over here as just put up an inspiration gallery called Faveup which showcases great logo, business card, flash and css design. It’s only just gone up and I’ve filled it with some content to get started, but over the coming months it’ll slowly pad out to be a really neat site I think.

So head over, bookmark it, subscribe to it, and if you have anything really spectactular to add, then by all means do so!

Oh and if any of you are Diggers and like the site, please feel free to head on over to Digg and give this story a bump

Time for a roundup of useful links from across this beast we call the world wide web:

JDs Blog has a great article about how to improve your Time Management Skills.

Our favourite productivity writer, Leo Babauta, gives us his Top 10 Ways To Reduce Your Work Week. Considering most of the freelancers I know (including me) work upwards of 60 hours a week, we should all probably read this one!

For those of us who need to make the occasional speech or pitch, Lifehack has 10 Tips from Lincoln on Writing a Kick-ass Speech.

We all have our bad days – we may have lost a pitch, had a row with a client, or have just realized we’re getting really fat from being at a desk all day eating Doritos (how good are Doritos?) When this day comes, you should go read Wisebread’s 10 Killers Ways to Feel Like a Million Bucks (Even If Your Bank Account Says Otherwise). My bank account does say otherwise, but that’s okay because I’m silently stretching my hamstrings (note: that will only make sense if you read the article.)

If you have decided to start a blog but don’t know how, there is a very easy to follow guide at How To Split An Atom. The only tip I’d add to that is to ensure you have some kind of USP. Simply recreating your favourite existing blog will not make much of an impact, unless you’re a literary genius.

If you have a useful link or article that you think FreelanceSwitch readers would be interested in, Send It In!

Do the survey now!

The 2007 Global Freelancer Survey is online and we want you to take it!

Freelancers by nature usually work on their own, as such we often don’t really know what others are doing, charging and thinking. This survey aims to compile our collective knowledge for the benefit of freelancers everywhere! By taking part in the Global Freelancer Survey you will be rewarded in three ways:

1. Detailed Statistics. After the survey is complete we will be posting an abridged version of some results on FreelanceSwitch.com, however respondents who complete the survey will be emailed a COMPLETE set of information and data from the survey. I.e. you’ll get exclusive data that non-respondents don’t get!

2. Random Prize Draw. We have prizes. That’s right, fabulous prizes! We’ve put together the ultimate freelancer kit from Amazon for one lucky winner who will be drawn at random from the pool of respondents. The prize pack includes:

• A Balance Ball Chair from Gaiam. Balance ball chairs give you stability while encouraging proper posture. Plus they’re bouncy so you can burn calories while you work!
• A Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000. This keyboard will help you fend off the evil RSI.
• Studio Monitor/dj Headphone. This headphone is a gem for anyone who needs to block out distractions, as it delivers superior sound while blocking outside noise. If you have kids, noisy neighbors, or an overexcited schnauzer in the house, you will love it.
• Caffeine for the Creative Mind: 250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain. We all need a little creative wake up call once in a while, and this book is just the ticket.
• Western Digital 60 GB USB External Hard Drive. It’s sleek, black and sexy, and it also holds all your bits and pieces. Every freelancer needs some heavy duty back-up, and this baby will do the business.
• And finally, what I want for my birthday, a Nintendo Wii!!! These will provide not only a great break after a hard day’s freelancing, but will also get you off your butt after sitting on your balance ball chair all day long.

3. Satisfaction. By completing the survey, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping compile information to help freelancers everywhere, it only takes 10 minutes of your time and the sum of our collective knowledge will be huge!

The survey only takes a few minutes and will be a great resource for all of us – so take it now!

Time for a roundup of useful links from across this beast we call the world wide web:

Image from iStockPhoto

Brett at Agency Byte tells us the 5 Things We Should Know About IT People. IT people have always aided me out of massive confusion, so I have nothing buy the highest regard for them, but if your aim is to understand them (rather than not even trying), then this is the article for you!

Aaron at Charisma18 ponders the The Good And Bad Of Small Business Growth. As somebody that expanded a freelancing business to a small business I can tell you that it’s all true! Be warned.

Communicating international clients? Daily Writing Tips tells us The 6 Foreign Expressions We Should Know. Eg. We reached a Cul-de-sac vis-à-vis my de facto awesomeness.

Our own favourite productivity guru, Leo Babauta gives us 15 Ways to Create an Hour a Day of Extra Time … for Solitude. In a recent poll on FSw, most of us said we worked harder now that we freelanced, so we could all probably use a little more “me-time”.

If you have a useful link or article that you think FreelanceSwitch readers would be interested in, Send It In!

So what is The 2007 Global Freelancer Survey you ask? Well, it’s a survey that will reveal how we as freelancers are doing. We’ll be able to gauge things like how much money freelancers are making, how we work and if we’re happy with our lifestyle. Best of all you’ll be able to compare how you are pricing yourself with others around the world judging by country, by industry, by experience and expertise. It’s going to make for excellent reading! Continue Reading

Time for a roundup of useful links from across this beast we call the world wide web:

Image from iStockPhoto

If I had to choose one person in the world to learn about business from, it would have to be Steve Jobs. Lifehack has 10 Golden Lessons From Steve Jobs that will hopefully turn us all into billionaires.

Savita Iyer wonders whether she should Freelance Or Work Fulltime with kids.

Jamie Huskisson tells us 10 Things You Hope Your Client Never Says. I’ve heard 7 out of 10 – let us know your scores in the comments

The Bootstrapping Blog has some very good advice for newbie freelancers (and even some old hats) in their 10 Steps To Making That First Sale.

Finally, Matt Huggins has the 55 Essential Articles Every Serious Blogger Should Read. There are some great articles in here _ especially if you’re a blogger who enjoys reading blogs on their downtime from blogging.

If you have a useful link or article that you think FreelanceSwitch readers would be interested in, Send It In!

Time for a roundup of useful links from across this beast we call the world wide web:

Studio7Designs.com

For all you designers out there, I thought I’d mention a great agency we’ve come across recently that makes our hearts smile. As a designer, I’ve always wondered if making things pretty so people would buy them was perhaps a little shallow. I’ve always added a hefty dose of charity clients to lighten the ethical load. Studio 7 Designs serve socially minded companies around the world, which is pretty nifty. Even better, their work reflects an appreciation of the natural world which is great to see. If you are a designer and want to see individuals who are walking the talk and making it work financially, then go check them out.

Banner Blog – Where Banners Click, is an Australian blog that showcases the best in banner advertising. If you’re interested in innovative advertising then check them out.

For those of you working towards a freelancing career, or any of us who set goals, sometimes things don’t go quite as we plan. The Simple Dollar tells us How To Deal With Not Meeting Your Goals And Set Yourself Up For Success The Next Time.

The incredibly talented Christine Kane tells us How To Get Nothing Done. This is a must read for those of us who put off doing the really important things.

For bloggers, anyone working on their portfolio site, or copywriters, Molt:n has Six Tips For Writing Content For Search Engines.

If you have a useful link or article that you think FreelanceSwitch readers would be interested in, Send It In!