The world of Freelancing!

I like to do things myself. No one to answer to. No one to blame if something goes wrong. Best of all, no one to pay! But of course, I’m just one person and I have a lot I want to do. I’ve learned a long time ago that I can’t go it alone. And so, I’ve learned to solicit advice and work from others who can do it faster and better. Regardless of the cost (well, not really).

I can build and design a website with the best of them. But with advancing technologies and programming languages, getting what I need accomplished is next to impossible. Hey, I’m not that good!

So, I now outsource my work to some of the most brilliant, hard-working people in the world. Since our economies are vastly different, I have tapped some great resources in other countries filled with eager, smart people that can do things I know I can’t. And you should too.

Finding people to work for you is easy. There are many websites out there filled with freelancers who want to work for you. Believe me, these people are hungry to work for you. Treat them with respect, pay them (very important!), and you’ll be richly rewarded when your next project is due.

Don’t be blind!
I like to know what’s involved in my project. For example, I know how a website works, can write some PHP code, but need assistance when it comes to full PHP development. By understanding some PHP and the process, I can tell if the freelancer knows his stuff just by some of the responses I get when I ask questions. Just like an auto mechanic who senses an ignorant customer. You go in for an oil change and come out with half your car replaced! Become an expert yourself so you can protect yourself.

Always pay and pay on time!
Do you like to work for free? I didn’t think so. So why would you think someone else doesn’t like money? Never take advantage of someone you’re trying to build trust with. Agree on a price and pay when you need to. If you can’t pay, do it yourself and save yourself a black mark. If you find a great worker, DON”T BLOW IT by failing to pay them. It’s may not be easy to replace them so quickly.

Outsourcing can be a great experience for both the employer and freelancer. I’ve had great success with great people around the globe. You can too. And you should.

We’ve all had jobs. Some we’ve loved and some we’ve hated. And we’ve all dreamed of making money from our basement offices or our living rooms. Walking around in a bathrobe and slippers while making tons of cash.

As nice as it sounds, it’s never really that easy. It takes work. Lots of it. The great thing is that it’s very possible thanks to the internet.

Since the mid ’90s it seems that everyone is doing some sort of business online. How many people do you know that sell stuff on Ebay? Probably a few. I know at least 4-5 people that quit their jobs simply to sell stuff online. I know a guy that goes around to all of the local flea markets, buys up items he feels has value, and lists it on Ebay for a healthy profit.

And you don’t have to sell products only. How about your services?

Are you a freelance professional? The internet is full of people developing software, building websites, ads, marketing material, etc. One popular way to make money freelancing is joining a freelance community site that allows you to bid on posted projects. Much like Ebay, these sites sell services instead of products. You can make a nice living working directly from your computer this way.

If you have the room for inventory, starting a business selling products online is another option. Many people run businesses straight from their garage. I myself sold children’s party supplies directly online and built it into a profitable business. It really helped pay the bills and gave me a sense of accomplishment I had never realized before. And our customers loved us!

There are so many ways to get started. Just think of an idea, see if you have a niche by doing some research, then get going. It’s so cliche but true. If you do nothing, nothing will happen. I hope this article gives you some motivation to make a difference for yourself and the internet community. We can probably use what you’re selling!

Steven Pepe has been a graphic designer for over 15 years. Working as both an employee and a freelancer, he has worked in many areas of the field, from graphics production to web development. He is the founder of BuyLance.com, a freelance community site working with individuals across the globe seeking freelance work. If you’re looking for freelance work, or interested in posting a job, visit http://www.buylance.com

Do you freelance as a graphic designer? Perhaps the best way to get a message across to your audience is through graphic design. Your message can be conveyed in so many different formats, from black and white brochures, to full-color catalogs, websites, and everything in between.

But not all design can be considered great, or even good for that matter. Great design must convey a message quickly and cleanly, with little guesswork. Your audience should never have to guess what it is you’re trying to say. Some of the more popular tools used by graphic artists today are, the Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, InDesign), along with web applications such as Dreamweaver. Here are some tips you can use if you’re just starting out in the graphic design field.

Too Many Fonts
You should strive to keep the number of fonts to no more than two. I typically prefer a serif font, which is a font that has “feet” if you will, such as Times, for body copy. Then I create my headlines with a san serif font such as Helvetica to distinguish paragraphs from one another. Too often, a novice designer will attempt to experiment with too many different fonts in the same piece. Keep it down to two if possible.

Too Many Design Elements
Another issue concerning novice designers is that they tend to cram in as many visuals as they can. All in a bid to display their design skills. It’s important to remember that you are trying to convey a message and get the viewer to react to your design. You are not trying to show off your design skills because more often than not, you will create an eyesore and distract the viewer.

Colors
Like all of the other elements in your piece, you should control the amount of colors used. Generally, two complementing colors should be used, with a third color for accent. This is a general rule so you can be flexible. Just remember, keep it simple!

Keep It In The Family
It’s important that all of the elements in your piece complement one another. Each image you use should relate to any other image in the piece, thereby creating a consistent theme to your piece.

I hope these guidelines can help you be a better designer. Keep in mind that you want to reel the user in so keep it simple, legible and attractive. If you can master this idea, you’re on your way to a great career in graphic design.

Steven Pepe has worked in the design field for over 15 years in both employee and freelancer roles. He has worked in many capacities from print to interactive media and is the founder of BuyLance.com. Mr. Pepe can be contacted by email at stevenpepe@buylance.com.