eBook: Greening Your Freelance Business

Greening Your Freelance Business

An eBook by Shannon L. Buck

Greening Your Freelance Business is a very helpful book for any freelance career. In it, you will discover many ways in which it is possible to green your business activities as well as your office. So, if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, or if you are looking for more greening tips, then this is the eBook for you.

With the offered Action Steps in this eBook, you will soon be greening your business with the best of them. Learn how to green your freelance business with tips for:

* Paper, mailers, etc.

* Pencils, pens, etc.

* Shopping.

* Computer use.

* Reusing items.

* And more…

This eBook is available through: PDF Format

This eBook is available for: $12.95

Greening Your Freelance Business

Thank you!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Advice for the New Freelancer

Family Fun Day (Photo credit: Peter Liu – Kaiscapes Media)

Whether you want to be a freelance writer, photographer or (insert career here), I would like to give you some advice to get you started along your path.

1. Find your motivation, and keep it in mind at all times. This may be anything from ‘I need to eat!’ to ‘I want a better life for my family.’ Whatever it is, hold onto it at all times.

Why?

Because sometimes you will want to give up.

2. Stay on course. Sometimes you will wake up and say, I just don’t want to do it today. While this is okay once in a while, don’t let it become habit… at least not in the beginning.

Why?

Because you need to keep your momentum in order to build a successful career. Do at least one quick, easy thing to further your career on these days. This will usually take you out of your funk and get you moving.

3. Be professional, but have some fun with it. Don’t be too serious.

Why?

Because too much stress can be a contributing factor in loss of sleep, weight gain and high blood pressure.

4. Eat well and get your exercise. This is especially important if your career of choice has you sitting a lot.

Why?

To help you stay in shape and maintain overall health. This will lead to a happier you!

5. Stay positive. Keep positive thoughts flowing in your head throughout the day. Do things that keep you happy, such as taking an hour to read or socializing with your neighbors.

Why?

This will also help you to live a happier, healthier lifestyle.

6. Spend time with your loved ones.

Why?

It is important to nurture relationships. This keeps everyone happy.

So, stay on course. Be happy. And strive for a healthy lifestyle. 

These actions will aid you in creating a successful personal and professional lifestyle.

Special Report: Careers for Freelancer’s

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Careers for Freelancer’s

A Special Report By Shannon L. Buck

Are you interested in building a freelance business from home?

Are you interested in expanding upon the freelance business that you have already created?

Careers for Freelancers was written with you in mind. Take a journey into the freelance career base with this special report. Decide what careers interest you, buckle up, and enjoy the ride. There are many opportunities out there for each and every one of you. Which one(s) will you choose?

This Special Report is available through: PDF Format

This Special Report is available for: $3.95

Careers for Freelancer’s

Thank You!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Tips for Becoming a Freelance Writer

Blog! (Photo credit: solofotones)

Becoming a freelance writer may seem confusing, but it really isn’t. There is a lot that goes into building this type of career, yes, but you can take it slow, getting your feet wet before jumping in head first.

Build up to it.

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

1. Write. Every day. Something. A blog post. An article. Something.
2. Write more. Two or three articles, plus a blog post or two, will get you even further.
3. Edit everything you write.
4. Create a blog. One about the topic you write the most about, or a writers’ blog about you and your business.
5. Monitor comments on your blog. There is a lot of spam that comes through on a blog. Set your controls to indicate you want to read comments first, then allow posts manually.
6. Edit the blog as well. Grammar and punctuation are so important.
7. Find the clients you need to keep yourself in business. Your blog is the first step, but you also have to actively search out writing opportunities. Make sure your query letters are also well written. So many are not these days.
8. Offer guest posts to other freelance writers, or to bloggers who cater to the audience you are looking for. Be sure these guest posts are well written and edited as well, as they are an example of your work.
9. Check your email. Limit the amount of time you do this, but check. Especially if you are waiting to hear from someone about a possible writing job.
10. Meet your deadlines.

Freelance writing is a worthy career choice, but you will have to work at it.

Shannon L. Buck

Related articles

• Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Freelance Writer? (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Special Report: Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

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Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

A Special Report By Shannon L. Buck

In my Special Report, Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career, you will see how it is possible  for your teenager to help you out while you are building your freelance career and how much, if anything, you should pay him or her for that help.

Teens can be a big help with:

* Their younger siblings.

* Keeping up the house.

* Your business tasks.

This Special Report is available through: PDF Format

This Special Report is available for: $3.95

Your Teen Can Help Your Freelance Career

Thank You!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Special Report: Formula for A Successful Blog

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Formula for A Successful Blog

A Special Report by Shannon L. Buck

In this special report, Formula for A Successful Blog, I will show you how easy it is to set up a successful blog for your business. Whether you own a store online or off, you work in one of the many freelance fields or you work in another area all together, you will find this Special Report useful.

It will also help you to determine what your own needs are so that you can decide what the best features are for your blog.

This Special Report is available through: PDF Format

This Special Report is available for: $3.95

Formula for A Successful Blog

Thank you!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

eCourse: Setting Up Your Business Blog

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Setting Up Your Business Blog

an eCourse by Shannon Buck

Do you want to put your business online?

Are you unsure about how to set up a business blog?

Then this 5 week eCourse is for you!

The eCourse Setting Up Your Business blog will help you to brainstorm and plan your career blog. You will learn about affiliate marketing, informational products, and how to set up a blog. The eCourse also covers such topics as newsletters, online filing systems and business accounts.

Format: PDF

Price: $10.95

Setting Up Your Business Blog

Thank you!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

eCourse: Organizing Your Work Area: When You Don’t Have An Office

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Organizing Your Work Area: When You Don’t Have An Office

An eCourse by Shannon L. Buck

The eCourse Organizing Your Work Area: When You Don’t Have An Office was specifically created for those freelancer’s who do not have their own space to work in. This is a 6 day course that will take you through the steps necessary for setting up your work space.

Learn how to:

* Choose and appropriate area for your office.

* Choose what will go into your office.

* Set up your office in an area with limited space.

* Choose and organize books and magazines for your business.

* Choose the supplies and materials that you will need to run your business successfully.

* Organize your supplies.

* Create a file system that works for you.

* Streamline your computer uses, as much as is possible.

* Add a personal touch to your office area.

* And more…

This eCourse is available through: PDF

This eCourse is available for: $11.95

Organizing Your Work Area: When You Don’t Have An Office

Thank You!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Freelance Writer?

English: One example of a freelance writer authoring directly to the Web. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Becoming a freelance writer sounds easy enough. Getting to work from home, on your own time, and (maybe) even being there for your family.

However, this is not necessarily the case.

Freelancing takes time. You may still need to keep your day job, keep up with household and family responsibilities, and still find time to take care of yourself while you begin building this career.

Not exactly all peaches and cream.

Still, while the beginning steps of creating your freelance career are time consuming, leaving you with not much time for anything else, the career itself is a desirable one.

What will you need to succeed?

• A willingness to learn.
• A family who supports your efforts, if you are not living alone.
• A plan for keeping up with household tasks. Possibly people to delegate things to.
• Stubborness, to see you through the rough patches.
• The desire to succeed, to help you stay motivated.
• The funds to start the business and pay the bills until you start earning your way, or a day job.
• A good grasp on writing and grammar skills.
• The ability to spend long periods of time alone.
• A computer or laptop, with high speed internet access.

At the most basic level, these are what you need to get started. Everything will happen as you progress with your freelance career.

What do you think? Do you have what it takes to become a freelance writer?

Shannon L. Buck

 

eCourse: Organize Your Paperwork

Organize Your Paperwork

an eCourse by Shannon Buck

Are you wondering what information you should keep on file for your business?

How long to keep that information?

What your accountant will want to see?

How to store everything?

Then this eCourse is for you! Organize Your Paperwork is a 6 week eCourse that will help you to get all of those important papers organized and will explain how you should be storing your tax packets and your business records. The eCourse also covers such topics as file system choices and how to set them up, creating a filing schedule and storing bulk supplies for your business.

Format: PDF

Price: $11.95

Organize Your Paperwork

Thank You!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Review: 2012 Goals

The Oxford Book of English Short Stories (Photo credit: dalcrose)

 

I may have previously mentioned that I do not make New Year’s resolutions. I make goals. I stick with things better if I deem them as goals.

 

My January 1, 2012 review and goal setting session led me to create the following goals. I did not meet them all, but I am pleased with what I have accomplished.

 

Goal 1: Finish edits on my first book of short stories and start the publishing process. 

 

I did another edit on the book, but I still need to edit for apostrophes. Have I ever mentioned that I hate apostrophes? No? Well, I do!

 

I have not even begun the publishing process.

 

Goal 2: Come up with a marketing/promotional plan for the first book of short stories.

 

Mainly, I have discussed the book with a few people and created a blog for it. I have a long way to go.

 

Goal 3: Learn more about the marketing/promotional process.

 

I can not very well make a plan if I do not even know the basics of marketing, I spent some of 2012 learning marketing techniques, but have only done a few things to market the upcoming book.

 

Goal 4: Complete the first draft of a second book of short stories.

 

I wrote most of the book during NaNoWrMo!! Still have a ways to go.

 

Goal 5: Work on ideas for a third book of short stories.

 

I have been working on this minimally. I do plan for this to be the manuscript I work on during NaNoWriMo this year, so I will be working on this goal more in the coming months.

 

Goal 6: Build up my Examiner.com channels by adding more content and promoting each. They are all geared toward helping others: Bangor Single Mom, Bangor Easy Meals, Bangor Frugal Living.

 

I worked on this some.

 

Goal 7: Continue to update all blogs and add content to them regularly: Frugal Recipes, , How to Live the Freelance Life, The Fitness Journal. Living the Low-Income Life

 

I could have done more with these, but I did manage to get out a couple good challenges. I also wrote other posts for the blogs.

 

Goal 8: Continue to build the writing business. 

 

Things did not progress as much as I would have liked. I did well in a few areas, but my income was drastically lower. I need better work/writing/life balance.

 

As you can see, I did better in some areas than in others. Overall,  I am not entirely unhappy with how things have gone. For example:

 

• I have learned a lot about marketing.
• I am almost done editing my first book of short stories!
• I finished the NaNoWriMo Challenge.
• And I did earn some extra money from the writing efforts that were put forth.

 

Not too bad.

 

Have you reviewed your goals from 2012? What did you accomplish? What do you still have to work on?

 

Shannon L. Buck

 

 

 

Related articles

• What is Your Theme Word? Mine is Prepare. (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

 

What is Your Theme Word? Mine is Prepare.

Freelancer Office – Panoramic (Photo credit: lastonein)

Recently, I was reading a post from Christine Gallagher over on she’sgotclients! The post, Refine: My Theme Word for 2013, got me thinking about what my own theme word should be.

I have decided that my theme word will be Prepare.

Why Prepare?

2012 was a difficult year for me:

1. I was still getting used to working at the inn while trying to build my freelance business, and I did not have internet access at home.
2. Also, winter starts out slow at the inn, and I was not ready for the busy season there as far as the writing business went. I accomplished almost nothing for my business during this period.
3. For 2012, I earned significantly less than what I was used to earning with the freelance work.

Very disappointing, indeed.

My 2013 theme word is Prepare because:

1. I need to be prepared for the busy season at the inn.
2. I need to begin preparing by making my freelancing plans for 2013 now.
3. I need to continue preparing by writing blog posts ahead of time (during the slow season at the inn) and scheduling them to post later (during the busy season).
4. I will also write articles ahead of time for my channels (Bangor Easy Meals, Bangor Single Moms and Bangor Frugal Living) and schedule them to post later.
5. I will even continue to learn more about marketing, and to put many of the new marketing tips that I  learned in 2012 into practice during 2013.
6. This blog, as my freelance base, will also be updated.

There are other things I can do to help me to Prepare as well, I am sure, and I will be writing about all of this here on my blog, as well as continuing to offer my  regular posts.

What is your 2013 theme word? Think about it. Act on it.

Shannon L. Buck

Keep Track of Your Writing Ideas

 

Index cards (Photo credit: redspotted)

 

It is always a good idea to keep track of your writing ideas, whether you will use them now or not. By doing so, you will have a stock of topics to choose from the next time you need new ideas. These may prove fruitful later on.

 

There are a number of ways one might keep track of these ideas.

 

1. In a journal or notebook.

2. In a box, on index cards.

3. In a document on a computer.

4. On a recorder.

5. On a list, hung on the wall next to your desk.

 

Title the idea, and leave a little note about what the article, blog post or story is about.

 

Shannon L. Buck

 

Save Money on Supplies for Your Business During the After Back-to-School Sales

 

This shows a walmart rollback/unbeatable price that is the lowest I’ve seen. It’s for folders and spiral notebooks. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

September is a great time of year for stocking up on the supplies that you need for your freelance business. Often, you will find deeply discounted items that you will need throughout the year. Stock up on enough to get you through to next September, and you will save much money on these necessary supplies, as well as others:

 

• Planners: A weekly planner for the 2013 year can be purchased now, for under $10.00. I have seen them as low as $6.99 at this time of year.

• Pens: Purchase these for under a dollar package. There is no need to be picky. A pen is a pen. I paid .87 a package for these this year.

• Pencils: Another cheap commodity. I paid $1.00 a package for these at the Dollar Tree a couple months ago, but have seen them cheaper this month at Walmart.

• Notebook: One subject notebooks, great for planning individual projects, are being sold at .17 a piece at Walmart. Staples has composition notebooks at .10 a piece.

 

You will find great deals on other necessary items, such as index cards and highlighters, as well.

 

Happy shopping! And enjoy the savings.

 

Be sure to keep your receipts for tax purposes.

 

Shannon L. Buck

 

Purging Files

Files (Photo credit: Velo Steve)

With a new year for the freelance career comes the need to purge files, both on the computer and in the file drawers. Yes, this is a time consuming task. And yes, this does have to be done. Why? Because doing sow will help to keep our business organized. We will be able to find what we need quickly, and we will free up space for the files we will create this year.

I will be working on this task over the next week or two.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Discard anything that is not necessary. Use a paper shredder if there is anything personal/financial on a sheet of paper.

2. Keep anything having to do with your finances. If you still have stuff from the last tax period, bundle it in a large envelope and put it in a safe place. I keep tax records for seven years, others keep them longer. Talk to an accountant to see how long she suggests.

3. Combine files if you can, but do not over crowd a folder.

4. Cull client files. Combine only basic information on previous clients in one folder so as to save space. This information may become useful again. Have separate folders for existing clients.

5. Sit back and decide how you will organize your files. You may decide on a variety of ways. For instance, by client, by project, etc., etc.

What file system do you currently use? Does it need to be revamped?

Shannon L. Buck

Schedule Time for Marketing and Promotion

Marketing communications planning framework (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my goals for Year 4 is to learn more about marketing and promotion. As a writer, I prefer the act of writing. I do not generally even like to think about M or P. Seriously. The whole thing seems too much like work to me

At any rate, I am learning. I am making the time to learn what I can about marketing and promoting, and I am trying to figure out how much time I will spend on these tasks. One the one hand, I do not want to take away too much time from the actual writing. On the other, I want to make sure my work gets recognized.

So, how am I going about this? I am scheduling time at least twice a month (at this point) for M and P. It has to be done if I expect to be successful. As I learn more about these tasks, I will likely increase these tasks.

Expect to see at least a few blog posts this year about how to market and promote your work and yourself.

Shannon L. Buck

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• Welcome to Year 4! (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Necessary Writing Tools

English: Two A7 (2.9″ X 4.1″) form factor spiral-bound notebooks on top of an A5 (5.8″ X 8.3″) form factor spiral-bound notebook. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What tools you use will depend highly on your personality, budget and writing style. They may include index cards, pens or pencils, highlighters, a laptop and a dozen notebooks, or simply a desk top computer, along with a pen and some paper for note taking and idea generation.

I have gone through phases, using different tools in each. Right now, I find these items necessary to help me keep track of everything and do my writing:

• laptop, with a sticky notes program

• pens

• notepads

• a series of notebooks

• file folders and a file holder

• poster board/ old posters or large calendars

• tape

• clipboards

• yellow legal pads

Each of the tools has a purpose for me. For example:

• The poster board hung on the wall gives me a visual (and daily reminder) of certain tasks that need to be done throughout the month. I write categorized lists on each months board, and check off tasks as they are completed.

• The sticky note program allows me to easy take notes from the internet until I can get them into the appropriate notebook.

• The clip boards help me to make lists of tasks that need to be done on my blogs, as well as for the challenges that I create. These are then hung on my wall as another visual.

What tools do you find essential to your freelance business?

Shannon L. Buck

Finding Time for A Freelance Career

“Writing”, 22 November 2008 (Photo credit: dr_ed_needs_a_bicycle)

It can sometimes be difficult to find time to work on a freelance business, if you have another job as well or family responsibilities. I work a ‘day job’ then come home to work on my writing business, clean my home, run my errands and try to relax. Sometimes, I would rather be relaxing than working on the business. And I rarely have time to hang out and enjoy the company of friends and family.

With two daughters grown and out on their own, you’d think I would have plenty of time for the writing business. This is not always the case, though. I try to keep up with everything, but it is hard.

I try to schedule out time whenever I can, though. I do want to concentrate more on fiction writing this year, and keep up with the freelance work. I usually have two days off, and these are generally spent writing part of the day and at the library working on other writing tasks the rest.

The important thing to remember is that you cannot do everything. Don’t stress because you don’t have enough time for the business, just keep plucking away at it.

Possible goals may be:

• Work on the freelance career at least half the day on days off from the ‘day job’.

• Spend a couple hours in the evenings, after coming home from work.

• Keep a notebook available to make notes in, so as not to forget the important business tasks.

• Bring the laptop to work, so tasks can be worked on at lunch or while waiting for the bus.

• Schedule specific days for writing, and other days for internet use. (I do not have internet at home, so I have to schedule online use around my job and two separate libraries.)

Do what you can, in between or doing other tasks. For instance:

• Brainstorm business ideas while watching television during the evening hours.

• Do other household chores while doing laundry, so you can have time later to work on a story.

How do you fond time for a freelance career?

Shannon L. Buck

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• Year 3 Wrap Up (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Year 4 Non Fiction Goals

A Picture of a eBook Español: Foto de eBook Беларуская: Фотаздымак электроннай кнігі Русский: Фотография электронной книги (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My non fiction goals for Year 4 are mostly concentrated around this blog. I have important eBooks, mini Ebooks, eCourses and Special Reports that I want to provide all of you, besides the ones that you can already find in the sidebar.

I am very excited to get these written and published, so I can share them with you.

I would also like to get some audio and video workshops up and running for you here on the blog, but can’t really do this without internet access here at home. There is no wireless here, and I do not have a phone line for dial up. I am looking into a couple options, and hoping for the best. Wish me luck!

Of course, I want to publish a few more cookbooks for the Frugal Recipes blog, and create an eBook for the Living the Low-Income Life blog if I have time. These two blogs are very important to me. I would also like to incorporate audio and video aspects on these blogs as well.

And, I will be adding a lot of content to my channels on Examiner.com: Bangor Single Moms, Bangor Easy Meals and Bangor Frugal living. I also have a food column that I want to get going again, and two newsletters.

Pretty lofty goals, I know

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