No matter where you are at work or play, there is always that guy or girl who is doing things just a little different. And when they are asked what they are doing they often reply, “I’m doing my own thing”. Maybe you are one of them folks who like to do your own thing or “live to the beat of a different drummer” as they say.

Sometimes it is not so much that you are different as it is you have your own pace of doing things. Or you prefer answering to yourself. Or you work better doing what it is you do best. And there is a market for you.

That is because sometimes people just need what is called a mercenary or a hired gun. They just need someone to complete a specific task for them and that’s it. Over time the world of independent contracting was born. In some fields these contractors are called freelancers.

In the Internet world freelancers are most common in the writing, photography, graphics, design, and programming areas. But whatever the field is, the reality is that the freelancer is already doing it or pursuing it. The more pertinent question is how to promote your services and skills.

Part of what we discuss here is the promotion and application of Internet freelancers. But sometimes seeing is another way to grasp the tips, suggestions, and concepts. So the Close – up series is featuring some sites that are related to the various applications of Internet business. Today we are looking at the freelance world.

Keep in mind, as we look at the examples, we are not analyzing the business on the site but just getting a feel for presentation. We are not endorsing or advertising the company or implying you should not visit this site for their business. It is just an example of how to set up your site of a similar pursuit. And some of the examples we present also may be outlets to utilize for your own venture.

So off we go. Pull up a tab for http://www.ifreelance.com/. Like some Internet businesses, a freelance service is a service that uses the web for advertising and promotion. Ironically you can also use the Net to do your thing. This site is providing a place for people to find freelance services and to offer them.

The Home Page is like a directory. The logo is at the top to the left with the site title iFreelance. Across the top to the right is a tool bar menu where you can seek help and contacts as well as log in. Log in? Yes this site is a member site.

The site is broken into two main categories. Topics inviting “buyers” or people looking for freelance help or “providers” of freelance services. The left column has menu boxes for both and a third menu box for the member. Below that is the valuable search bar. And under that is a banner ad that leads you to an affiliate site. A benefit to your site and theirs.

Two sections in the center/right also feature people from the buyer and provider world. The left section showcases service providers and the right section is presenting jobs looking for providers to complete. They are there for members to bid on or express interest in. The bottom of the home page offers help to freelancers find freelance jobs.

There are other freelance sites set up as a directory that are helpful also. And if you are setting up a directory you should check a couple more out. But what if you want to set up your site to promote yourself?

Honestly the vast majority of freelance providers are offering their services via the directory. Probably because the buyer is trained to look there. Now that is not to say that you can’t set up a simple site that features you and your talents. It is just not going to be as easy to promote your service solely from that site. In fact if you click on some of the freelance providers bidding for jobs posted you will find the company behind the bid.

I randomly picked an example of a gentleman who offers freelance services for animation and music. His name is Dave Poler. His web page is found at http://www.davepoler.com/. Let’s go there for a sample of how he promotes himself and his freelance work from his own web site.

When you get to the first page you find a clever option. Since his work involves more complex work he has things to present that require a flash program. But Dave also knows that many people who search the web are not as up to date as he is. So he offers you the option of a Flash version of his site or an HTML version. Nice touch and one that should be considered if you like the bells and whistles. Remember not everybody can upload a heavy flash site.

The home page for the Flash version is very simple and artsy. He offers video files of his work. He also has a short menu of where you can read his bio, his discography, his live videos, and how to contact him. If you go to the HTML version you get a simple text giving you the same menu options of bio, discography, videos, and contact. And you can try and launch the showcase from there. But if you can’t upload it at least you can still find the pertinent information about Mr Poler and his work. He has quite an impressive resume by the way.

Now it is clear that Dave is not using his site for affiliate income. He does not provide any ads for other sites. This one reason I chose him. Not everybody is interested in the same approach. Dave has his music, his video, and his animation freelance work that he is focused on it appears. This may be your approach as a freelance provider.

Another random example is found at http://www.keynoteonline.com/. This site features the freelance services of Deborah. She has a nice eye catching and yet very simple web site telling us about her and her work. On the Home Page is a nice box that makes it look like we are looking at a page in a book. And if you read the 3 word description of what she does you get the image and it’s connection. She offers Typing, Proofreading, and Editing services.

Under the header words she has a smart little nugget to get you to read the entire site. She invites you to a contest or challenge of sorts. She tells you there is a typing error somewhere on her site and that you will receive $50 of free service if you correctly find it. Contests or offers are always good for a web site. And if you can find a creative way, like her idea, of doing it that is all the more power to you.

She provides a to the point About me page along with Past Projects, and a Contact Me page. She added another cool touch by giving you an Eye/Brain exercise page. It was informative and fun. At the bottom of each of her pages she reminds you that she has been successful at her job for 30 years. This is a good idea. She doesn’t make it look like she is bragging or impressing you but she is telling you she is confident and experienced.

Deborah also is not using her site for affiliate ads. And again she appears to be satisfied with keeping her freelance business as her #1 priority. Both her site and Dave’s I cannot imagine require a huge investment and cost either. Both sites have a subliminal correlation between the appearance of the site and their area of expertise. That is important and another reason why the Close – Up series can be helpful to all of us Internet entrepreneurial freelance tigers.

You know who you are. Freelance guns for hire ask yourself am I maximizing the directories and keeping a solid Internet presence?

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Whether a full time endeavor or a supplemental income you can have a fun rewarding hike for a job. You can be an Internet freelance specialist.

Yes, in the sense that you may offer services in a specific field or application. Most freelance people are not qualified to do everything. As long as you can do at least one thing very well, then you should be good to go. For as we know the Internet Freelance tree is very big and has many branches.

Sir Walter Scott allegedly coined the term in his novel Ivanhoe to describe a mercenary. In today’s world is an adjective to describe that you offer a service or services on a for hire basis. The Internet has only made the demand for such services grow exponentially in areas of writing/blogging, editing, indexing, programming, web design, software, advertising, information, tech support, and so on. Any of which can be an Internet business unto itself.

One area of freelance that has taken a life of its own is in the publishing field. Since the 1980’s more and more publishers have outsourced jobs like proofreading and copy editing to the freelance world. The advent of e-books and the sheer presence of the Internet has only made this all the more valuable. The Internet has broadened the geographical area you can consider to find an editing mercenary and it also accelerates the speed in which it can be done.

It’s vital that you as the freelance editor can deliver the quality of performance that is expected and needed if you plan on building a reliable business for yourself. You also need to know how to construct the contractual and business applications for each project.

Providing editing for publishers requires strong language, grammar, and spelling skills, attention to detail, formatting, checking accuracy, fonts, design, layout and the like. Performing these duties on line usually means that corrections, additions, and formatting can be done directly by the freelance editor, which is awesome in the eyes of the publisher. Remember the time factor we alluded to earlier?

This is an ideal job for a language major or perhaps even a teacher. Obviously it is not exclusive to someone in that position. Factor in that this can be a lucrative career or supplement makes this type of freelance application worth looking into.

Acquiring the needed training and skills is simply a matter of matriculating into the necessary schooling. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you don’t like school and/or you don’t have time. Realistically speaking though if you are looking to change careers or upgrade in the employment world, chances are you will need to take some classes. Why not enroll and pursue a career that you will enjoy and can perhaps even have some flexibility in your schedule?

Being a freelance publishing editor very well may afford you that opportunity. Keep in mind that once you get your name and reliability out there publishers will begin to seek you out. Why?

That is because like all independent contractors you save the company, the publisher in this case, from employee costs. This is also a reason that some back away from starting a freelance or independent service; because some see providing your own insurances and retirement/pension considerations as a drawback.
And each person needs to examine the pros and cons. Just remember that there is an endless list of self employed people who have made a nice living and have been quite successful being their own boss, and that includes caring for their own employment benefits. It is also important to keep in mind that it is the rising cost of hiring employees that is making freelance services blossom and increase in demand. And yet it is more cost effective to hire a contractor while the contractor is paid handsomely for their services.

That’s what they call a win/win situation. And you’re a winner aren’t you? Then get in the game.

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