A few weeks ago, we announced we were running an update to the Global Freelancers Survey. We asked readers to participate in order to make it successful – and boy, did you ever! When the poll finally closed, we had over 3,300 participants from every corner of the globe. That means we have a winner for our Grand Prize!

We used a random number generator to flip to entry page 41 and participant #24, which means Samuel from Kansas (United States) is our Grand Prize winner! Samuel will receive the grand prize package which includes a 32GB wifi Apple iPad, $100 in merchandise from MOO.com, a free copy of WPBids, and all the other fabulous prizes listed in the survey announcement. Please join me in congratulating Samuel!

The Global Freelancer Survey was a huge undertaking for us, and it was a project I was especially invested in. I’d like to thank everyone who participated. We really couldn’t do it without you! I’ll be digging through all the data in the coming weeks, but we’re already learning some interesting and sometimes surprising things about freelancers as a community! Some preliminary things we’ve learned include:

• Male freelancers out number female freelancers at a rate of more than two to one.
• Over half respondants identify themselves as a web developer or web designer.
• Of freelancers who have worked fulltime, most feel they are working more hours now than when they were an employee. (And yet the majority feel they have more time!)
• On average, freelancer writers are earning much more than their salaried counter-parts.
• Overwhelmingly, freelancers state they feel happier since they started freelancing.

Interested in hearing more? Stay tuned! All participants (with valid e-mails) will receive a complimentary copy of the survey results from Rockable Press. Additionally, Rockable Press will be publishing a comphrensive book (written by your fearless FreelanceSwitch Editor!) on the state of freelancing today, including in-depth survey analysis, interviews with top freelance professionals, and how to make the information work for you and your business! The book is tentatively planned for early next year, so watch FreelanceSwitch for updates. Once again, thanks to everyone who participated! Continue Reading

In order to gather enough data to fairly represent freelancers world wide, we’ve extended the run of the 2010 Global Freelancer Survey! We want to create a complete view of freelancers around the world–and we need your help. We need more responses in order to compare results to the success of the 2007 survey.

If you haven’t already, please take the Global Freelancers Survey and let us know what you think! We need YOUR help to spread the word and help out your fellow freelancer. You will be entered to win one of our many fabulous prizes, including a prize package from MOO and a 32GB iPad! All eligible entries will also receive an overview of survey results–find out what other freelancers are charging or finding clients!

Interested? Read the original post for full details. The survey will remain open until November 29th, 2010. Take the survey now! Continue Reading

Update: The Global Freelancers Survey is now closed. We’re contacting our winners and will have an announcement on the results soon!

The 2010 Global Freelancers Survey is online and we want YOU!

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! The 2007 survey rendered great results with input from over 3,000 participants, but we need help to update it! 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 results 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! Everyone who participates in the survey is eligible for a drawing for the grand prize. We’ve put together a prize package worth over $1,000 with some pretty sweet stuff that will make any freelancer’s life easier:

• A 32GB Wifi Apple iPad. Laptop just too old fashioned? Keep up on your work (and play!) in style.
• A free copy of WPBids, the WordPress template for freelancers. Easily create hand-crafted proposals on the fly.
• $100 worth of awesome merchandise from the print experts at MOO! I especially love their business cards.
• $100 worth of credits for the Envato Marketplaces. Flash, video, web, graphics, print, music, 3d…need any kind of stock file fast? Grab it from sites like ThemeForest, ActiveDen, GraphicRiver, and more for your next project!
• A free copy of the up-coming e-book by Rockable Press which will include full survey results, analysis, and interviews from top freelancers in the industry!
• A one YEAR membership to FreelanceSwitch’s own job board. Find new leads and keep the work coming!
• A 6 month membership to Tuts+, Envato’s premier network of great tutorials, including sites such as NetTuts, PSDTuts, WebDesignTuts and more. Get access to the premium tutorials to keep your skills sharp or pick up new ones!

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! All rules and nitty gritty included below: Continue Reading

During our recent review of The Money Book, we asked for your very best money-saving tips. The huge number of comments and savvy advice we received shows that our readership definitely knows a thing or two about saving pennies!

After careful consideration, Joseph and Denise, the authors of The Money Book, helped us pick the top money-saving tips from our readers. Each winner will receive a copy of The Money Book, directly from the authors.

Check out the winning money tips after the jump! Continue Reading

To celebrate the end of 2009 and the Christmas season, we’re giving away prizes on FreelanceSwitch and WorkAwesome. All you have to do to enter is tell us the most important thing you learned about freelancing this year in the comments–but make sure you read the instructions below before you do so!

Continue Reading

The good people from UPrinting have been generous enough to give away 1,000 business cards shipped for free to 10 lucky FSw readers. They’ll give any combination of business cards that you can dream of: Any type of stock (including the eco friendly stock), finish or size. The sky is the limit.

Uprinting has been printing business cards for the past 25 years, and they support FSw’s readers, so don’t be afraid to send people their way.

Contest Details

So, let’s turn this into a little contest, shall we? In the comments below, write how you’ll use your free business cards to improve your freelancing. Be sure to use a real email that we can contact you at if you’re the winner. Comments must be in by Friday at 5pm CST. If you’re a winner, we’ll email you the information.

Now, there’s one unfortunate caveat: The contest is only open to U.S. and Canada residents, due to shipping costs for international rates.

Ok! Let the games begin!

Note: The contest has ended. Thanks for playing!

It’s like Christmas for you guys lately, isn’t it? We’ve got cool people sending us emails all the time, clambering to give you free stuff. And we’re not complaining!

Want to get a free pack of 50 unique, professionally printed business cards? Want to pay absolutely nothing to have them delivered to your doorstep, regardless of where you live?

15 lucky and fleet-footed FSw readers will be able to do just that. All you’ve got to do is get in quick! Continue Reading