The Internet has made freelance work easier

The life of a freelance worker before the Internet was very different than it is today. In the past, any freelancer would need great mobility or a very sympathetic pricing plan from their phone company. In order to get around to pitch yourself to potential customers, you would require boundless energy, and an ability to deal with being told “no” face-to-face or over the phone.

So much of freelancing is about speculation, after all. You can try and sell yourself a hundred times and could be told “no” a hundred times – and the chances are that you will get at least fifty rejections even if you are excellent. Although the Internet offers no guarantees of acceptance, it does make things a bit more equal for the freelancer.

There are many sites on the Internet that offer the opportunity for freelancers to pitch to potential customers on specific jobs. A searchable database means you can even check for jobs that match up perfectly with your own specific skills and abilities. You can name your price and tell the customer how quickly you can turn a job around.

The days of having to get out there, pound the pavement and then be told “sorry, we’re not interested” are more or less over. Not to mention, the Internet provides a truly monumental research tool for the jobs that require a bit of extra knowledge. The internet is nothing less than a launch pad from which to set your career in motion.

Using a Blog to sell yourself, or others

Having your own blog not only works in lieu of a website, to advertise your business or sell products, but you can sell for others as well. Online blogging sites, such as WordPress and Blogger, are now a major tool for savvy Internet entrepreneurs to make money.

Although there has been some criticism of the “blogosphere” - as some people will insist on calling it - for being a window on a world of moaning teenagers, the simple truth of the matter is not only are many blogs a more reliable news source than the mass media, they also present the budding businessperson with a way to get money coming through the door. All it requires is a bit of thought, an idea and the motivation to make it happen.

Blogs are easily navigable sites that are equally easy to update. So it is not necessary to have any great knowledge of internet technology to keep one running.

It can be used in one of two ways. You can make your blog a pure information/entertainment site that people will read for the enjoyment of it. A blog with a reputation can attract advertisers, just as any newspaper or magazine can, providing a source of revenue. Or, you can use the blog as a way of promoting a more conventional business.

If your blog gains a reputation for being something that a lot of people read, advertisers may well approach you, or you can approach them offering a not-to-be-missed opportunity to get their product advertising space somewhere people are likely to look. There's also affiliate marketing programs with Internet sites like E-bay and Amazon. This can be enough for an individual to live on, although this is not going to happen instantly.

A blog can also be used like a website to promote yourself, or any number of products that fit the blog's topic. Then all you need is something they are prepared to pay for – and that can be almost literally anything.

Use the Internet to sell your skills

Besides selling products, the Internet can be used to sell skills. Making money from the Internet can be as simple as selling what you do best; that one thing you do well that sets you apart from the majority of people.

What are your skills? If you are unsure, look at what you have done successfully in the past. What business have you worked in most recently, and did you do well at it, and enjoy it? If so, there is a clear indicator of what you can do well.

What were you good at when you went to school? If it was languages, for example, you can set yourself up as a tutor in those languages, or a translator. If you have a college diploma, even better. Few subjects you can major in at college are incompatible with making money.

It comes down, as often as not, to doing what you are comfortable with. Your instincts will tell you what the path to follow is. Then it is simply a matter of honing the business to your key strengths.

Then there's how much to charge. Being a sound business mind includes setting a price that will attract customers, while not leaving you short.

There is some trial and error involved in setting a price, but instinctively you will have an idea what is fair. Some quick research will tell you what comparable businesses are charging for similar services. From there it is all about working to your strengths.

Blogging for customers is free advertising

There have been people – many people – who have set up a website and expected it to become lucrative immediately; without putting in the time and effort to let potential customers know they're open for business. Compared to setting up a business on Main Street, the Internet can deliver results for a relatively small outlay of funds. An advertising budget makes things easier, no one would ever deny that, but it is certainly not essential. Blogging is a cost-free method that only requires putting in the time and effort.

The Internet is crawling with forums and blogs for just about any topic of conversation you can imagine. Certainly there will be a blog that discusses topics that have a connection to your business.

By registering on these forums you can make your business known to a receptive audience. Many forums have anti-spam measures that prevent you from posting irrelevant content or linking without context, but you are usually allowed to link to your business in the signature box beneath your posts.

Depending on the nature of your business, the possibilities for promotion on the Internet are many and varied, and they make for a real opportunity to drive your business forward, usually at no extra cost to yourself.