internet business

Freelance Jobs On Top 10 Websites

July 13, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Freelance jobs on the top 10 websites online — Freelance jobs posted online are becoming easier to find.

Freelance jobs can solve income problems for many people who work at home. In 2015, some 15.5 million Americans were self-employed, according to Bureau of Labor statistics. By 2020, the number is expected to rise to about 60 million – more than 40 percent of the total workforce.

Freelance Jobs Online

Freelancers are doing their work at home, in coffee shops and co-working spaces everywhere. Many or the best and brightest are leaving traditional jobs to take advantage of the flexibility and autonomy in jobs of their own creation. Whether the objective is just making a side job of a hobby or making freelance the way to a living, there are resources that can be helpful.

Toptal

Toptal is a freelance network of elite software engineers and digital designers from more than a hundred countries around the world. It has a screening process that weeds out everyone except the top 3 percent of talent in a number of categories. If you are selected, you know you are in company with the elite. You are allowed to decide if you want full or part-time work, how many hours and set your own rates. Toptal works with such companies as AirBnB, IDEO and JP Morgan and has a consistent lineup of interesting clients and projects.

Upwork

Upwork, a union of the two leading freelance networks, Elance and lDesk, is now the largest website to find freelancers. It has more than 10 million registered users, four million clients and listings for three million jobs every year. It is a source for writers, architects, legal aides, photographers and others. Users can enroll for short-term or long-term projects, work by the hour or by the project. A chat feature, time-tracker and payment protection are part of the program.

99 Designs

99 Designs has its own twist. The platform is for designers and every job comes in the form of a contest. Instead of browsing through a catalog of portfolios and resumes, clients are asked to crowd source projects, set a budget and give instructions and then let designers submit work based on the project brief. At the end of a week, the client chooses the best design and pays its originator. This is a good site for designers who want to test their talents and shake up their workflow.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour offers a source for all skills related to web projects, including software engineers, digital designers, SEO specialists and marketers. A tool called WorkStream simplifies the business side of the work by organizing payment, communications and management all in one place. You can browse jobs, be notified of new openings via your inbox and send up to 15 proposals without charge before you sign up for the premium plan.

LinkedIn Profinder

This freelance source has more than 420 million members in more than 200 countries and is a leading place for learning about job-related information. It recently launched LinkedIn Profinder as a means to help freelance professionals to find jobs. Based on its enormous amount of user data, it is able to connect freelancers with strong leads based on keyword searches and companies followed.

SimplyHired

SimplyHired has the largest variety of freelance jobs of any on this list, with information on jobs ranging from construction to concierge work. It offers help for those seeking extra work and has information on jobs in more than 24 countries, offering opportunities in 12 languages.

Freelance Writing Gigs

Freelance Writing Gigs is a job board that is updated daily with freelance writing and blogging jobs. Topics vary from technical writing to writing about such things as recipes, photography and healthcare. There are great opportunities whether you are looking to supplement your income or make freelancing you full-time work.

If you are among the millions of freelancers looking for new opportunities, check into these sites to see what’s in them for you.

Job Hunting? Go Online

April 28, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

The number of online resources to help in the job search is expanding and creating a very valuable tool for people looking for work. They have the advantages of being available 24 hours a day and of being constantly refreshed as new jobs come onto the market.

Online Resources Convenient For Employers

Employers are becoming aware of the resources and find them convenient in matching the qualifications of applicants to their particular needs. There is no charge for the majority of the services.

Among The Resources You Might Tap Are:

1. America’s Job Bank, which lists job openings nationwide.

2. FirmFind, which lists job possibilities by category to make your search more specific.

3. Your state also is likely to have job listings online if you are interested in staying put geographically.

How Resources Work

The computerized systems streamline by matching your skills, abilities and work history to specific job requirements. They list government jobs as well as those in the private sector. They range from unskilled to highly technical and can be part-time, temporary or permanent.

How Can You Enhance Your Possibility Of Finding The Perfect Job Online?

Be professional in your application. Be sure you include a current phone number, address and email address. Be straightforward and accurate in listing your qualifications. Be thorough and use correct grammar and punctuation.

Create An Online Account

Create an account that will enable you to apply for thousands of jobs. When you spot something that interests you, follow the instructions on the announcement to apply. You must be completely registered to be able to see the application instructions.

Stay Current

Check on your applications frequently to learn your status and update your account regularly.

Be Available

Be certain that you are available to respond if a prospective employer is interested in your application. Remember, he has plenty of choices.

Black Friday: What Happened This Year?

March 11, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Well, the annual bacchanalia of holiday bargains has come and gone. Whether it was the standard grab-for-the-goodies frenzy or a ho-hum just another day depended to a large degree on where in the country you are located.

As predicted, some of the oomph of the post-Thanksgiving spree has eased, with fewer shoppers willing to brave the early hours and crowds, reports from around the country indicate. In some locales, demonstrators piggy-backed on the opportunity to attract a crowd. And some people opted to stay home and peruse the ads in newspapers or online before making spending decisions.

Bottom line, according to an Associated Press rundown, crowds this year seemed to be smaller than in the past. But there were variations on the theme in some places.

Colorado

In Colorado, which legalized marijuana recently, discounted weed and specially wrapped holiday combinations were on sale for the Black Friday crowd. In traditionally snowy Denver weather, some crowds lined up and braved the cold to get in on the weed deals.

Chicago

Some Chicagoans linked arms and tried to block traffic into stores in protest of the shooting of a teenager in their city. In some of the stores, employees safely ushered shoppers out of side doors to prevent possible clashes with the protestors. Some of the shoppers took it all in stride and used their smartphones to photograph the event.

Kansas City

Some shoppers who have reveled in the competition and excitement of Black Fridays past were actually disappointed to find themselves in stores without crowds. One woman in Kansas City listlessly shuffled through racks of clothing and wondered where the fun went.

Arizona

In sunny Arizona, people told news reporters they preferred hiking in the saguaro-studded hills rubbing elbows with crowds of shoppers. For some like-minded non-shoppers, it was an opportunity to impress upon children the true meaning of the holidays, one Tucson mother was reported as saying.

Online

As technology takes over more and more of the country’s shopping functions, the experts reported that – as predicted- more retail shoppers used their phones than their desktop computers to order goods. The option of sitting at home quietly digesting the Thanksgiving turkey while ordering online rather than facing the mobs in stores, seemed to make even more inroads into the Black Friday events.

Big Retailers

Even with the slight slackening of Black Friday traffic, some of the nation’s biggest retailers reported brisk sales. WalMart reps reported that its stores dotting the country saw increased sales this year, both in the stores and online, over last year. Ditto Target, which racked up a record in online sales, particularly electronics. Business in Target’s stores also was satisfactory, spokesmen said. Penneys put considerable effort pre-season into making its apps more user-friendly and said the results were good. It was apparent that many shoppers were researching online then going to the stores for purchases, a spokesperson said.

Black Friday may be losing a little of its luster, but don’t count it out yet as a holiday event of great magnitude.

Identity Theft Hits 15 Million U.S. Residents

February 29, 2016 By Twila Van Leer

Identity theft is a more rampant than ever. — 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year.

Identity theft hits 15 million residents. It seems that no matter what steps people take today to protect their identity against fraud, those who do the fraud have a quick way to get around them.

Jean Chatsky, an American financial journalist, author and motivational speaker, has made a list of the most recent methods identity thieves use to deprive you of your identity. Read them and then act accordingly to be sure you aren’t the next victim.

Approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion.

Identity Theft Through E-Mail

The conman sends you a message saying it is from a retailer, the U.S. Postal Service or other common deliverer regarding a package that can’t be delivered. The message includes a fake email address that you are supposed to use to resolve the problem. It asks for details about your identity. Or it may ask you to fill out a form and take it to your post office. That download may install malware onto your computer that feeds more information to the bad guys.

Email Attachments

Never click on a link or attachment you receive in an email unless you know the sender. If, in fact, you have a delivery that couldn’t be made, you will receive written notice on your door or in the mailbox from the sender. Contact the shipper.

Smishing

Smishing is a new coined word that is first cousin to phishing. But instead of trying to get you to take their bait via email, the fraudsters use text messages. Usually it involves a message about a great deal, a deep discount. To take advantage of the “bargain,” you divulge your personal information, and set your self up to become a victim. Don’t pay attention to any text from someone you are not familiar with. Legitimate deals come directly from the company. Sometimes they come as a text, but you have to sign up to receive them.

Social Media Messages

The crooks pay attention to your social media messages to figure out how to steal your identity. If you post on Facebook or Twitter that you just had a great experience at a restaurant or retailer, they may call, text or email you pretending to be from the business with whom you were pleased. They may tell you your credit card didn’t go through and ask for the information. Then they have the means to set up a false account in your name. Bye-bye security.

Bogus Charities

Using fake addresses and websites to appeal to you to support a “good cause,” they weasel pertinent information from you. These scams often follow a highly-publicized disaster to take advantage or your empathy for those who have been negatively affected. Hurricane Katrina spawned thousands of fake “charities.” If you want to support good works, give via well-known and reputable websites. Or write a check. If you are solicited by email or text, never click on a link. Consider making your donation to a large, well-recognized entity such as Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders or others that you know to be bona fide organizations.

The people who would use electronics means to cheat you make it a full-time job. Stay informed so you’re always a step ahead of them.

20 Tips To Writing A Good Press Release

October 29, 2012 By Sherry Tingley

Over the past two years, interest in writing press releases has decreased according to Google Insights for search. Prior to that there was a considerable amount of interest in press release writing. With the economy improving, interest has picked up a little. Learning how to write a good press release may be the key to whether you and your family dine at McDonald’s’ or at the Outback Steak House.

The benefits of writing a good press release and submitting it to press release websites are numerous. Widespread distribution of your announcements can build relationships, trust and hopefully more revenue. There are many sites that allow you to submit your release and the cost varies from free up to several hundred dollars.

If you follow these basic tips, you can get past writer’s block and start producing something people will want to read.

1. Research your topic.
2. Write professionally. Avoid exaggerations.
3. Answer the question, Why should anyone care?
4. Make your press release timely and unique.
5. Choose to highlight something unusual.
6. Discuss a study or real life example.
7. Clearly state the problem your company solves.
8. Highlight compelling industry trends.
9. Use real life examples.
10. Make the headline a summary.
11. The first paragraph should clarify your news.
12. Use the body of the press release to provide the details.
13. Tie your news release to current events, recent studies, trends and social issues.
14. How does your product or news satisfy desires?
15. If possible, provide a killer news hook for your story.
16. Attach images, videos, links, pdf document or any other materials that enhance your release.
17. Celebrate an anniversary, new president, or new employee.
18. Announce a new product line or service.
19. Promote community events.
20. Write it. Proofread it. Print it. Proof again.

According to www.prweb.com, a popular press release website, Amy Mauzy with Malibu Boats says:

“Thanks to PRWeb, we are leaving our mark on both mainstream and industry media… our Malibu Boats brand is getting the attention it deserves… and we are quantifying all of it. The true value of PRWeb is in the sales it has helped us generate.”

Janet Meiners Thaeler‘s new book, “I Need a Killer Press Release” provides a road map for you to use in establishing your company or brand name. It goes into further detail of exactly how you write press releases and submit them on the web.

Hopefully these tips will help you at least start thinking about your next press release might be. It is a good marketing strategy to use when building a small business online. Be sure to stop back and tell us how it went.