You think you know what your clients need, but how much of that is influenced by what you want to give them? The only way to find the truth, and really understand what makes them tick, is to ask them. And that's why we have launched South Africa's first Freelance Survey. Please take 5-10 min to click here and fill it in - we'd love your input! You might even be one of 10 lucky recipients of a fabulous box of handmade chocolates from DCHOC. We'll be sharing the results of the survey with you - and possibly dispelling some myths - in our next newsletter, which will be a must-read for freelancers who want to meet their clients' needs better. On a lighter note, this month we welcome our new columnist, Gareth Pike, who reports from the freelance writing coalface.
issue 23 ::
May 2008
STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS!
Coming in August: An 'unconference' for freelancers and soloists in the spirit of BarCamp and PodCamp. Details to follow in our next newsletter and on the site.
HOW TO BE A ROCKSTAR FREELANCER
Have you read this book yet? By the authors of popular blog Freelance Switch, this is a must-read for anyone considering freelancing, as well as those of you who are already doing it. Packed with indispensable and practical advice and tips on everything from getting started to growing your business, it's available either as a downloadable e-book or you can order a hardcopy. Click the picture to find out more..
PORTFOLIO CRITIQUES
Are you selling yourself effectively in your Lite or Full portfolio? Wouldn't it be great to have someone give you an honest assessment of your portfolio, and tips on how to improve it? Lite and Full members can get this by making use of our Portfolio Critique service, via our free Advice Line. Just call the Freelancentral team on 021 780 1364 or mail us on info@freelancentral.co.za.
GET 25% OFF YOUR NEXT FULL PORTFOLIO
Don't forget that if you send us your Freelancentral success stories and we publish them in our newsletter or on the site, you'll get 25% off your next month's Full portfolio. Submit your stories by just sending us a mail.
SITE STATS FOR MAY 2008
We have recently switched to Google Analytics and will be changing how we report our site stats accordingly from next month.
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Don't forget to keep checking www.freelancentral.co.za and the Freelancentral group on Facebook for Placements and Projects adverts.
CURRENT PLACEMENTS AND PROJECTS
- PowerPoint operators for 5 day conference in October (CT) - Contact Jo for details
- Publicist/media manager (ongoing contract, CT) - Contact Jo for details
- Web developer for 3 month contract (part time, CT)
- Web designer/developer to work on some very exciting sites (permanent, JHB) - Contact Jo for details
RECENTLY PLACED
- Web designer (9 month contract, part time, CT)
- DTP operators x 2 (short term contracts, CT)
- Online marketing manager (3 month contract, CT)
- PR manager (ongoing projects, CT)
- Marketing strategist (single project, CT)
The more we know about our freelancers, the more likely we are to call you when we get a brief in, so if you are available for placements, please sign up for a portfolio ASAP.
Upgrading to a Lite portfolio is quick and easy - click to find out how.
SA'S FIRST FREELANCE SURVEY
"Freelancers are people who can't get real jobs."
"The best way to find work is via word of mouth."
True? Not true? Perception or reality?
Our survey aims to find out what clients really think about freelancers - and what freelancers really think about freelancing. If you use freelancers, or are working freelance, we'd love to hear what you've got to say. Click here to access the Freelance Survey and have your say. (It has less than 15 questions and will take about 5-10 minutes to complete). Oh, and check out the next article too...
WIN ONE OF 10 BOXES OF THE FINEST DECADENT CHOCOLATES
If you need an extra incentive to complete our Freelance Survey, then this might do the trick. Our friends at DCHOC are sponsoring 10 boxes of their decadent, handmade Belgian chocolates, which come packaged in beautiful wooden boxes. To stand a chance of winning one, all you need to do is complete our survey. Warning: Be prepared for your mouth to water when you visit the DCHOC website! Go check it out and why not spoil someone special?
US REPORTBACK
Jo says of her recent three-week business course in the US: "The experience was one of a lifetime. As well as being trained and mentored by incredible women who each have started at least one multi-million dollar company, I have made some great connections and new friends from up-and-coming South African companies. There is a huge amount of interest in the US in outsourcing services to countries like South Africa and I will be keeping in touch with my new contacts in the US to explore opportunities for South Africa's freelancers." You can read about the top 10 lessons Jo learnt in the US here.
FROM THE COALFACE: The ten-year itch
Meet Gareth Pike. As if moving from KZN to Cape Town recently wasn't enough of a challenge, he's just taken the plunge into full-time freelance writing. Every week or so on www.freelancentral.co.za and in our newsletter, he'll be sharing his thoughts, frustrations and general take on freelancing in his uniquely humourous way. His first column explains how a few 'radiant' friends and the lack of an Audi cabriolet finally spurred him into quitting his day job. Read on for more.
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