I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a skeptical person when it comes to the value of most forms of social networking. While there always seems to be stories of a friend of a friend who is landing clients with Facebook, I’ve yet to see most social networks as little more than a way to connect with your peers or a way to waste a huge amount of time.

Part of my problem is that I have never really invested in creating a strong social presence or spent the time on learning how connection points like Facebook can be run to deliver value to potential clients. So before I write off Facebook completely I figured I should learn a little more about it. For this reason I was looking forward to Rockable Presses’ most recent book Successful Facebook Marketing.
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I realize this may sound a bit absurd, but I don’t know Guy Kawasaki from Adam. In fact, I think I know Adam a whole lot better. So when the girl who was looking after our house mentioned that a book had arrived for me, and it was written by some “Apple dude”, my curiosity was piqued.

I’m happy to say that Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki is worth a read. Even if it was written by some Apple dude.

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I recently returned from a two month stay in Japan, where along with a bit of networking, I made sure to hand out a few business cards. Just a few days ago I received my first potential client contact from one of the cards I handed out. It further proved to me that the power of business cards has not diminished even in this digital age.

Here are a few standout business card templates from GraphicRiver that may get you kick started if you’ve been holding out on getting your business cards done. Sorry about the watermarking, but if you squint a bit you can make it go away

1. BlackDot Business Card

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Nothing quite matches the convenience of exchanging contact information like handing out your business card. Paperless office or not, business cards are still pretty darn useful.

So here are a few great choices from the Creattica network to give you a little inspiration to make your next business card design really stand out!

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It seems to be the natural evolution of the freelancer that sooner or later we all try our hand at photography. While we may never classify ourselves as anything more than a photo hobbyist, we all strive to improve our photography skills.

The new Rockable Press book How to Take Great Photos with Whatever Camera you Got is here to help!

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From expert advice by members of the freelance community to hard cold numbers on what’s happening on the freelance scene from around the globe, Freelance Confidential tells all.

FreelanceSwitch editor Amanda Hackwith uncovers the facts and myths about freelancing and reveals some of the numbers and tips that keep freelancers on the top of their game.

The book is available from Rockable Press in eBook format for $29 and paperback for $34.99 from Amazon.

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Credit: @Saigon on Flickr

As I sit here in the Melbourne Airport, it’s starting to dawn on me that I’ve been looking at travel and freelancing with decidedly rose-colored glasses.

Up to this point I have always thought that working while on the move was a relatively simple thing. With the world-wide penetration of wireless, moving throughout the world with your laptop should be a snap.

The reality is, it makes me want to chew glass.

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Photo Credit: bernat... on Flickr

Motivational posters have graced the offices of businesses throughout the world. They typically contain an inspiring word followed by text designed to grab you by the neck and shake you into action.

They make me sick every time I look at one. So here are a few de-motivational posters to abase and darken your freelance office with. Warning, humor lurks ahead.
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Starting out on your freelancing career can be a daunting task for just about anyone. From registering your business name to setting up your accounts, there can be a lot of stress when making those first important decisions.

One question the FreelanceSwitch forum gets frequently asked is: what should you use to invoice your clients? So we thought we would take a look at one straightforward invoicing service called – Blinksale.
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Well, this is it people. You’ve read Part 1 and Part 2 of our Crazy Comment Personality Guide. Although there is a heap more crazy on the Internet, this week we’re going to wrap up our tour of the crazy comment personality types you will most likely face on your blog.

Hopefully you have learned through these articles how to identify these special people and deal with them. Feel free to use your knowledge to root them out and step all over their dreams.

** Warning – this article may contain humor **
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Hopefully you were able to catch our previous introduction to crazy comment personality types. Last time, we covered the delights of First! Freddy and Angry Andrew.

As we move along into the second half of our list we will be introduced to two more delightful characters. This week: Grammar Gertie and Self-Promotion Sammy.

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Whether a freelancer is going through a slump or just looking to diversify their client base, finding new clients is an ongoing process.

Martha Retallick’s recent eBook the Freelancer’s Guide to Finding Clients is here you help you get proactive in finding clients rather than waiting for them to come to you. Continue Reading