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Please confirm that you want to add Freelance Business Kickstart: Start Your Freelance Business to your Wishlist.
You have skills, and want to learn how to make money with your skills, right?
It's great to have you here. I've been in your shoes.
Whether you have never made money as a freelancer, or if you have a freelance business but want to expand your business - potentially make full time income from it.
That's what I've done, and that's what I want to teach you how to do.
What makes me qualified to teach you?
My name is Phil and two years after graduating from college in 2011, I had a 6-figure freelance business. That business has continued to grow every year since then. Plus, I'm the creator of some of the world's most popular online courses - with over 150,000 students and thousands of 5-star reviews like these ones from this course:
Not only does Mr. Philip Ebiner present this material in an easy and engaging manner, the value to the user is unprecedented. No where else online can you find all this information in one course. Trust me, don't pass this class up. You will be disappointed if you do. - Kevin Martinez
Just what you need to learn about freelancing! Amazing and powerful lectures that will help you launch a successful freelancing career! - Ivan Nikolic
Phil sets everything out very well and provides the pro's and con's as what it takes to be a freelancer - the real info rather than the glossy magazine version. It is professionally presented and the quality of the classes is very good. - Jennie
My Promise to You
I'll be here for you every step of the way. If you have any questions about the course content or anything related to this topic, you can always post a question in the course or send me a direct message.
I want to make this the best course on freelancing. So if there is any way I can improve this course, just tell me and I'll make it happen.
What's this course all about?
This course will show you exactly how to start freelancing - and to be successful at it! After successfully starting a freelance career, I always thought that I wish someone had told me exactly how to start. It was tough to do on my own! That's why I created this course.
Download a Free copy of my eBook - Freelance Kickstart - when you enroll in the course!
This course gives you a blue print to kickstarting a freelance career or just a freelance side-job to make some extra money on the side. Here is what's in the course:
You are at a point in your life where you want to get out of your 9-5 desk job. You are just graduating from college and need some sort of income. You have a great job, but want to make some money on the side doing what you love. These are all great reasons for you to enroll in this course. There are thousands more!
If you don't know exactly where or how to start; if you don't know how to get work; if you don't know how much to charge - this is the course for you!
This is a high-quality course that has everything you need to start freelancing now. You get:
With our 30-day 100% money back guarantee, there is nothing holding you back from jumping in right now and trying the course out.
Go ahead and click the enroll button, and I'll see you in lesson 1!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents:
In this section, I'm introducing you to the topic of freelancing. What is freelancing? What does it mean to me? Should you freelance? We'll go over the main pros & cons so that you know if you're ready for freelancing or not!
See you inside!
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So you're thinking about freelancing, and you need some advice. You've come to the right place. As someone who has worked both 9-5 style jobs and the freelance lifestyle, I can provide you with some tips to get started. Before we begin, I want to be completely transparent about my own freelancing. Currently, I'm actually working a regular 40-hour per week job. I landed this job after spending quite some time as a full-time freelancer. As a freelancer, I work in the video & design world. I do mostly video editing & motion graphics work, and I find the extra income from this work a great benefit to continuing to do freelance.
Ever since I graduated from college, I've gone back and forth between the freelance & full-time world. This, I believe, makes me the perfect person to help you make the decision to start freelancing. Not only do I have experience freelancing, but I've also been quite successful at it. Your success is what is most important to me, through this writing. I want to give you all of the tips that I've learned so that you can jump right into the freelance world without hesitation.
What does freelancing mean to me? Freelancing is both a type of work and a lifestyle. Freelancing, at it's core is FREEDOM; freedom from the man; freedom to do what you love; freedom to spend your days how you like; freedom to truly live a life you love. That is why I love freelancing so much, and why I plan to do freelancing forever.
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 1. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
Here's a quick message from Phil about leaving a review for this course.
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents:
In this section, we'll be covering the basics of freelancing. How do you pick a freelance career that is marketable & fun to do? Is following your passion a good idea? Starting out moonlighting? All of these topics and more!
See you inside!
To be a successful freelancer, it helps to be in certain fields. Below I'll give you a list of the top 15 freelance skills according to the amount of freelance work being done in the States. That being said, I believe that anyone can freelance with the skills they have. While being a freelance politician might be difficult, one's communication skills can lead to freelance work as a consultant. Being a freelance nurse doesn't make sense. But you can use your skills as a nurse to teach online courses, to write books or articles, or to do freelance caregiving work. You get the idea.
The basic premise is to figure out what skills you have. Then out of those skills, which ones can be translated into some type of freelance work. Finally, how can you market those skills to actually get work.
First, let's look at some top 15 freelance skills according to Elance.com:
Let's now look at some of the highest paying freelance jobs according to Payscale.com:
As you can see, there are differences in between the two lists. This shows two things - you can't believe every list you see on the internet & there are a range of skills that can be done as a freelancer. Do you have any skills on these lists? Are these jobs that interest you? If not, don't be alarmed. I truly believe everyone has skills that can translate to freelance work. You just have to find it. One thing you can do is to search around on Elance.com to find what other freelancers are doing. We'll talk more about getting work on Elance.com later. For now, head over there to get a sense for what types of jobs you would be interested in.
The second thing to think about with freelance skills is whether or not your skills can be used remotely. Can you do jobs that you get from across the country, or world? Can your job be done through a computer? Many can. But some can't. Location-specific jobs will be harder to come by, just because of the lower amount of jobs needed in your area. So finding a skill that can be used across the world is the best way to launch a successful freelance career. For an example of the differences between these two types of job, let's look at my work.What are my skills? I'm primarily a video creator. Most of my freelance work has been done doing some kind of video work: cinematography, editing, motion graphics, etc. Obviously, the video aspect has to be done on location. I've started a successful wedding video company, and have been shooting weddings since college. These jobs are location-specific. I have to actually be there to shoot the wedding. The good thing about wedding videography is that weddings happen everywhere. No matter what city I live in, I can find work as a wedding videographer. Editing these weddings can be done wherever. I've shot weddings in Los Angeles that I edited in San Francisco. This is why my editing skills are more marketable as a freelancer. I can do it wherever, whenever. Another freelance project that I recently worked on was editing a feature-length documentary. I got this job through a connection at work (It's always easier to find a job when you have a job!). Again, this is something I could do on my own time, in my own house. I share my examples to show you that my skills as a video creator can be used remotely, as well as on-location.
So what are your skills? Think outside of the box. What skills do you have that are marketable? Imagine a company (any type of company will do, but let's just say a big tech company) that is based hundreds of miles away. Now think to yourself - what could I do for this company? Stay away from whatever traditional job you currently have or had. Just think about what you're good at, and come up with a few things that you can do for that company.
In the next part, we'll be looking at your passions. Is following your passion the best advice?
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 2. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
You've heard a thousand times - follow your passion and you'll find the job of your dreams. I'm here to present both sides of this popular phrase because I believe in it, with a grain of salt.
Let's get something straight - I am absolutely, 100%, without-a-doubt against trying to make a living doing something that you don't want to do. I saw countless fellow university students in majors that they didn't like, heading towards a career they didn't want. Why do people do this? There are a number of reasons. My parents want me to be a doctor? I want to make more money so I can provide for a family. There are a lot of jobs in this or that field. I'm good at chemistry, so I'm going to be a chemist.
What do all of these reasons have in common? They're all based on fear - the fear that you'll disappoint your parents; the fear that you won't make enough money; the fear of not finding work; the fear of trying something new. Fear is not something you want to listen to for major life decisions. Fear is actually a good thing, in some cases. Fear can keep you alert when walking down a dark alley. But fear can hinder you when it comes to truly living a life you love.
This is why I do think it is a good idea to choose a freelance job that is enjoyable for you. Choose something that you are good at, AND also have a fun time doing. Why do people hate work so much? BECAUSE THEY HATE WORK! If you're doing something you enjoy, it won't seem like work. You will feel good about what you do with your time, contributing to our world in some way or another. But is this the same as passion?
For some, what I just explained in the above paragraph might be their passion. You're good at it. You enjoy it. That sounds like passion, right? To me, one's passion is something that you could spend all of your days doing. It's more than something you enjoy, more than something you're good at. It's what you wake up thinking about, fall asleep dreaming about. It's what you talk about with your friends… for hours on end. That's passion. And it's good to be passionate about what you do every day. But there are also some downsides to following your passion, when trying to find a job.
When you do something every day, it inevitably becomes work. It feels like work. And some days, you won't want to get up and deal with it. But you have to, right? You have to pay the bills. You have to eat. You have to. And that's when following your passion becomes a chore. How sad is that? You used to love carpentry, writing a blog, making movies, you-fill-in-the-blank. But now, it's 'just another day at the office.' This is not a position you want to be in.
What should you do? Find a balance. Find something that you enjoy doing and wouldn't mind getting paid to do. Keep some hobbies on the side that you're passionate, so you have something fun to come home to (or stay home, if you're freelancing at home). This will lead to a fruitful freelancing career in whatever you choose.
But Phil, you followed your passion, right? I did, actually. I followed my passion for video-making from the time I was in high school, through college, and today. To be honest, it's been mostly great. There are days that I love going to work. There are days when I can't stand it. As someone who followed their passion, I can honestly say that I miss just making videos for fun. I would love to use my skills as a video creator to do more creative projects, to make documentaries about topics I'm passionate about, to make videos on the weekend. But when the weekend comes, I'm tired of making videos, editing, etc. So I've found other passions - like building websites, teaching online, adopting a cat, starting a family, finances - the things I love talking about and doing when I'm at home with nothing else to do. It has worked out, and I'm actually happy that I followed my passion because I ended up in a field that I enjoy - on 90% of the days.
I guess what I'm saying is, follow your passion, but know that it comes with downsides.
What are you passionate about? What do you love to do? What would you do with your days if you had all of the money and time in the world? What do you talk about with your friends when you get together? These are your passions. Now try to imagine doing this every day, and having to do this every day, and doing this for other people on projects that you don't enjoy. Are you happy? If so, follow your passion? You will find other passions down the road of life.
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 3. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
The key to success as a freelancer is self-discipline. Talent, fancy websites, knowing lots of potential clients - these are all great things to have. But when it comes down to having a sustainable and successful freelance career, self-discipline is the most important, and maybe most difficult thing to have. It will determine how much work you have, how happy you are with work life balance, and ultimately how much money you make.
What do I mean by self-discipline? I mean setting a schedule for how much work you do per day. I mean waking up early to start a productive day and not sleeping in, just because you can. I mean putting in hard work up front to reap rewards later. This is self-discipline.
From my own experience, I know it is really difficult to get out of bed at 7 am when you don't have to be at the office by 9. I know how easy it is to spend an entire day surfing the Facebook newsfeed when you don't have a boss breathing down your neck. I know how easy it is to spend 16 hours in a day trying to get work done, only to burn out and hate the project I was working on. Being disciplined, setting a schedule, and having boundaries will combat any of these issues.
You are your own BOSS! That's amazing! You don't have to deal with anyone telling you what to do. It's the number one reason why so many people hate going to work every day - dealing with the man. And you don't have to deal with it any more! With great power also comes great responsibility. So you have to be ready to be the boss, to take charge, and to finish what needs to get done.
I could go on and on about the importance of self-discipline, but I think you get the idea. I just wanted to prepare you for the future, to let you know it's not all fun and games. Here are some questions to answer before you start freelancing:
There are many more questions that will pop up on this journey, but those are some of the best ones to keep in mind while starting out.
Everyone's situation is different. That's a blanket statement, Phil. What I'm saying is that as someone who wants to start freelancing, your situation is going to be different than mine was when I started. You may be coming out of college, looking for your first job. You may be retiring after working 30 years at the same position. You may be quitting your job with six months of savings. You may have just been fired, and are scrambling for ways to make it by. You may just want to make some extra money, and are doing freelancing on the side of a full time job. All of our situations are different, so there isn't one perfect way to start.
Starting your freelancing by moonlighting - doing freelance work on the side of another job - is the safest way to start. I really suggest this method of freelancing because you are truly free to experiment with it. You're not counting on a paycheck from freelance work. You can see it as extra income. So when you do get a job, it will be a great blessing.
Co-workers can be a great source of work. The more people who know you are available for freelance work, the more opportunities you'll have to get work. For some industries, freelance work naturally comes in addition to a regular job. As a video creator, everyone I work with knows that I make videos. A lot people are looking to have videos made, and have asked me if I do freelance. Some of the jobs that I've gotten through co-workers include: wedding videography, kickstarter videos, business promos, feature length documentaries. You name it, and I've been asked about it.
We'll talk more about strategies to get this type of work from your co-workers later. For now, keep in mind that the best way to start a freelance career is to do so while you have another steady source of income. This is just something to keep in mind if you're seriously thinking about freelancing. Don't quit your job yet! It might be the perfect launching platform for your freelance journey.
The final thing you should do before getting to work as a freelancer is to define your goals. What are you ultimately trying to do? Are you working at a job that you hate, and trying to come up with another source of income before quitting your job? Are you just trying to make some extra money for your vacation plans? What do you imagine your ideal life to look like - now, five years from now, twenty? These are questions that will help guide you throughout this journey.
Self Case-Study: Let's look at my journey a little bit more in depth to understand how to better define your own goals. Coming out of college, I was hired for a 6-month contract by the production company that I had been interning at. This was great! MONEY! I was out of college with a full-time job with more freedom (and responsibility) than ever before. Lots of my fellow classmates who did the same film and tv production program as I did didn't have jobs, and went straight into the freelance market. After the six months were up, I needed to find another job. So I started to put together a wedding videography business.
A couple years earlier I shot a wedding for a friend's sister. I knew wedding videography could bring in some decent money, so I always figured that I could really try to do that if I needed to. When my contract ended - I needed something. I started pitching myself to all of my friends and family. I put together a website. I made business cards. But what were my goals? To be honest, I wasn't clear with myself about my goals at the time. In hindsight, I know that my goals were basically to have enough work to last me until my next full time job. Soon enough, I was hired to do a few weddings and getting great reviews/referrals. To this day, I still get requests to do wedding videography. I still do it when I'm available and willing. It's a great source of income when I need it.
During this time, I started doing more freelance work for friends in the film industry. But I didn't really know what my goals were. I didn't know where my career was headed. I wasn't sure if I could make enough money freelancing. My girlfriend was stressed that I didn't have a steady paycheck. I was living in my parent's home trying to figure things out. But jobs kept coming in. I did some big projects included a high-quality awards package video for a major non-profit. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted to move out of my parents house - that was my goal. To do this, I needed a steady paycheck. To have a steady paycheck, I needed a full time job. So I applied to a few jobs and landed one doing video production at a private college.
This was great. I made more money at the job than I was freelancing. I was freelancing on the side. I was paying down student debt. Most importantly, I had accomplished my goal of moving out and living on my own. I bought a car - in cash after three months of biking around Orange County, CA. Life was good, and about to get crazy. My girlfriend was applying to Masters programs around the country. I basically told her that I was up for the adventure - I was going to follow her wherever she went. It came down to Seattle or Berkeley.
What would I do in a new city? I had few contacts in either city. The job prospects for my industry were significantly lower in both cities than in Los Angeles. So I decided early on that I needed to be prepared for this move. I started early - ten months before school would start. This gave me enough time to plan out how to freelance in a new city, and to build up some streams of income to keep me going during the transition. I started teaching online courses, doing more video work to make extra cash, and booked more wedding gigs so that I knew that I had, at least, a few months of income after the move.
Everything worked out smoothly. I quit my job in June. We traveled to the Philippines for a few weeks. I spent the rest of summer doing some freelance work and prepping for our move up the Berkeley. My goal for my new lifestyle was to do freelancing full time, and to thrive at it! I didn't necessarily want a full time job. I wanted the freedom of freelancing so that I could spend enough time discovering Berkeley - going to parks, trying to restaurants, starting a new life there!
I started reaching out to people in the Bay Area and came up with some potential job prospects. Once we moved, I was able to get some steady freelance work with a production company. I pitched myself on Craigslist and on local job boards. I continued to teach online courses. Things were going great! I was a happy-freelance-camper. I was making more money than I was at my previous job - A LOT MORE! I was confident in the amount of work I was getting, and most importantly - happy.
I tell you my story to show that at times I didn't have goals. The times that I did have goals were a lot more successful than the times I didn't. The initial time of freelancing between my first two jobs was full of stress, anxiety, and questions. This wasn't fun for me, my family, or my girlfriend. Part of the reason it was such a confusing time is due to my lack of goals. If I had really set out with a personal goal of doing freelance full time, I would have done it! Instead, I was lost in a world of not knowing what was best for me at that time. So when I moved up to Berkeley, I knew that I wanted to do freelancing full time. I didn't want to get into another full-time job that I would end up hating.
Right now I don't know exactly what the future looks like, but I have a decent idea. I have goals for the next year, five years, and for the rest of my life. I know these will change, and it's good to be flexible with your goals so you're not stuck in some unrealistic vision of your life.
For now, start writing down your goals. What do you want as a freelancer? How much money do you want to make? Do you envision freelancing for the rest of your life, or just a few months? By writing them down, you are taking action. You are stepping one step closer to attaining those goals, and I applaud you for that. This is a huge step towards a successful freelancing career! GO YOU!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 4. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents the challenges & recap video for section 2. Let's go over what you have to do to have the most success!
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Now that you've put a lot of thinking into this whole freelancing thing, it is time to start making progress. In this section, I'll show you strategies to start building a brand that people will want to hire. To be successful, you have to have a strong brand. Some basic practices include:
As you read the next few chapters, start to take action. Or read through everything, and then take action. Only through completing the practices mentioned in these pages will you begin the successful road of a freelance career!
I believe having a website is important for everyone in today's world. Whether you're freelancing or not, the first thing people will do when they're thinking of hiring you is search for you online. By having your own personal website, you have complete control over how you represent yourself, your brand, and your business. Of course there may be reviews of your work on other websites (another big part of creating a proper online presence), but having a personal website is your number one project to start freelancing.
While I could clearly show you how to create your own website, that would take an entire book. There are many tutorials online that you can find on creating a website. I will tell you some amazing resources that make website-creation easy & fun. I will also let you know what to include on your website so that potential clients get all of the information they need but aren't overwhelmed.
Creating a professional-looking and engaging website doesn't have to hurt the bank account. Wordpress.com, Weebly, and Wix are all free website building platforms. Pick a theme, customize, add your content, and you'll be good to go in no time. With these websites, you won't be able to have an easily shareable URL. You'll have to have something like wordpress.com/philebiner. This isn't terrible, but I would invest a few bucks in getting your own URL from somewhere like GoDaddy. I just recently purchased a few domains for just $1.49 each for an entire year. Before you check out, search for a promo code - there are always promos going on! Type in 'GoDaddy Promo Code' to Google. One of my favorite websites for getting deals is RetailMeNot. Click on their link and find a promo code that works. I just saved you some cash!
Choose a URL that is easy to remember and tell people. I suggest using your name for your URL and freelancing brand. I use PhilEbiner.com for my personal website. If you really want to use a creative name for your 'company,' that is okay. Just make sure that whatever your brand name is (your name or a company name), try to get the matching URL. Nowadays, many URLs are already taken. There is a high chance that even your name is taken. You can do something like HirePhilEbiner.com or ThePhilEbiner.com or EbinerVideo.com. Get creative if you need to. I suggest registering a .com rather than a .info, .net, .org because .com web addresses are easier to remember and have better search engine optimization (easier for people to find when searching online).
If you're really up for a challenge but want to create a more customizable website, you can build your own using Wordpress.org templates. NOTE: Wordpress.com & Wordpress.org are two different things. Wordpress.org has thousands more templates, better plugins, and higher-quality tools to make a completely customizable website. With this type of website, you'll need to purchase web hosting. I use BlueHost for all of my websites because it is very reliable with plenty of customer support. They're also quite inexpensive for hosting. Purchase your hosting here. Once you have hosting, you will need a theme. These can be downloaded for free from Wordpress.org. Higher-quality themes can be found on sites like ThemeForest.com. They have great themes starting at $3. Again, it would take an entire book to explain how to build your website from scratch. A good starting point is my Bluehost to Wordpress course.
In general, simplicity is key for creating a website. You may be tempted to create a website with lots of pages. Howabout a blog!? Can't I start some sort of ecommerce site? Whatabout a live chat feature! HOLD YOUR HORSES! I have done all of those things, and then settled on a simple one-page website that includes all of the information one would need to hire me. I'm not saying my website is perfect, and that you should try to replicate it. I am saying that for many of the jobs that I did get, the person hiring commented on how great my website was: how easy it was to find the necessary information, the great amount of sample work, and the overall cleanliness of my site. Check it out at PhilEbiner.com.
My site also gives off a vibe. Your site should too! The vibe comes through the colors, the imagery, the style of writing, etc. On my site, I have a very casual tone. I write in the first person. I include photos that I've taken that build the template of my site. This all gives off a very definitive feeling when one reaches my websites. If you don't like it, you're not going to hire me. And that's okay! Because if you hired me, you probably wouldn't like my work.
What should you include in your website? Again, be simple. You don't need to write a novel of a bio. You don't need to share every project that you've ever worked on. Only include what is necessary for a potential client. These are:
While creating your website, think about the visitor flow - what a visitor will be doing while they visit your site. This will help you stick to the basics and create an engaging website - engaging, meaning, that a visitor actually stays on your page for a while, sees your stuff, and contacts you. Let's look at a typical visitor to your website, in the ideal world.
This is the ideal visitor flow. You don't want a visitor to get to your website, not understand where they are supposed to look for more information about you, and leave the site. For example, I strongly suggest not having a blog on the homepage of your website. I know it seems like a great idea to be posting things every week to show off how much cool stuff you do. But for someone looking to hire you, all they want is the information I stated above. Keep the blog to a separate page if you need to, or skip the blog entirely.
Hopefully at this point you have a better idea at how to build a website and what information to include on your website. As always, I suggest searching around the web to find freelancers' websites that you like. Use them as inspiration for creating your own website. I'm so excited to see your websites up and running!
Resources from this chapter:
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 5. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
Building up a portfolio of stellar work is really important for any freelancer, just starting out or otherwise. You want people to see the work that you've done. If you feel like you don't have work to show off, you might want to wait until you feel confident in your work before trying to freelance. You're your own boss when you freelance, so you're going to promote yourself. No one else is going to do it.
What types of things should you post? As I mentioned before, not every freelancer has something visual to show to others. This chapter is more focused towards those that do, but it is still worthwhile to have testimonials (another part of your portfolio) of your amazing work. We'll talk about how to do that below. As for your portfolio, you want to obviously show your best work. I will use videos as an example because it is what I'm most familiar with. I only include the best work (or at least my favorite) in my online portfolio. You don't want to overload the potential customer with too much work. But maybe you have a ton of great stuff to show! If this is the case, organize it in a way that is easy to view.
For me, I have a demo reel, which is a sampling of all of my work from the previous year. This is the perfect video for customers to start with. It's an overview that will let them know my style and qualifications. Below my demo reel, which could be your favorite web design, best testimonial, or best photography if you're not a video creator, I have a grid of my favorite videos. These can be organized by kind to make it easy for the viewer to find what they're looking for. I actually didn't do the best job at limiting the number of samples. Ideally you'd want around 10 samples. Customers will have a great idea of your skills after just a few samples.
Include a variety of projects. Clients come from all sorts of backgrounds with all sorts of projects. Unless you only want to work in a very specific niche (i.e. explainer videos for non-profits), try to show off a variety of projects so that people know you are versatile.
What if you don't have a lot of great things to show, but you are amazing at what you do? This is possible. It is especially possible if you are just starting out to not have samples of work you've been hired to do. First, include stuff you've done for free. Second, do stuff for free for other people. Third, do projects for yourself for fun! On my website, I've included some motion graphics projects that I've just done for fun because I didn't have enough motion graphics examples. Spend an hour really creating something that you are proud of - a sample website, a photograph, a video, etc.
It would be even better to donate your skills to some company or non-profit to get experience. I did this with a non-profit up in Berkeley before getting my job at UC Berkeley. I donated some time to Grid Alternatives, a solar power non-profit, and made three really great videos for them. One of them is now in my portfolio, and that free work led to other companies contacting me for paid projects. We'll talk more about this in the next section because doing free work can have some drawbacks.
Along with samples of your work, it is a bonus to get testimonials of your work. You can see on PhilEbiner.com/weddings (my wedding videography site) that I include testimonials from some of my wedding couples. Now of course, this isn't some sort of official yelp review. I just took what the couples said in their emails (with permission) and put them on my website. But even though it's not an official yelp review, customers who come to my weddings page can see that they're dealing with a human. The reviews humanize my work, and the potential customer will feel reassured that I am actually a great wedding videographer.
When you're building your online presence, ask past clients for a quote about your work. Send them an email that says something like:
Hey buddy (or name)!
I'm putting together a website for my new business. I'd love to include a few of your thoughts on the page about the work I previously did for you. So how did I do? What did you like about the work I did for you? What did you like about working with me?
This short email or text that you send out to past clients can result in LOTS of work. It's a simple thing that goes a long way. Note: some people include dates for their testimonials. I suggest not including dates because time really does fly, and soon your most recent review will be from a few months ago and customers might wonder why there aren't any new reviews.
To wrap up this action-packed chapter, I just want to remind you that posting a portfolio with testimonials on your website is one of the best ways to get more work. Show off your best work. Start by directing the viewer to your favorite project. Keep your projects organized. Limit it to around 10 samples. Email your past clients for testimonials. Post the testimonials online. That's it! GREAT JOB!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 6. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
Another good way to build your online presence is to join freelance networks and other websites for freelancers like you. A freelance network is a place for freelancers to create a profile, bid on jobs, and get hired by people looking to hire freelancers. There are also many websites built for freelancers in your field - to communicate, post your work, be inspired, and get jobs. Even if a website doesn't have a hiring component, by joining these websites and creating a profile with current information, you are increasing your online footprint. This inevitably leads to more people finding you, more people hiring you, and making more money.
Elance.com & Odesk.com (now the same company) are two great places to create profiles. These are freelance networks that connect freelancers with someone looking to get a job done. I have personal experience hiring freelancers to do a range of jobs on these sites, and can tell you that it is a great place to make some extra money. You can view jobs posted in your field, bid on them, and get paid through the website (rather than having to deal with all of the financial stuff yourself). Anyone hiring can also search for freelancers and directly message them about doing a job. Make sure that you have a stellar profile with current information and a link to your website.
Here are some helpful tips for getting hired through one of these sites:
Following these tips should help you get some jobs on these freelancer networks.
I mentioned joining other websites created for your line of work. One great example of this is Dribbble.com. Dribbble is for graphic designers to share their work with the world. It's a great place for inspiration. Viewers can also hire people through the site. It's not easy to get your work on the front page of Dribbble, but if you do it can be a great launching platform for getting even more work.
There are probably sites like Dribbble for your freelance field - web development, photography, writing, etc. Search the internet for 'photographer network' or similar to find these. Join them. Post a few samples of your work. Create a profile with your bio, a link to your website, and contact information.
Now is your time to take action. Stop reading this book, and get a move on!
Resources from this chapter:
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 7. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
VideoSchoolOnline.comBUSINESS CARDS
There isn't much to be said in the chapter, because the title says it all: business cards. Carry them around with you wherever you go. Have at least three in your wallet or purse at all times. I've made the mistake of not carrying them around and meeting someone that needs video work. You'll never know who you'll run into today. They might be a potential recurring client.
Business cards don't have to be expensive, and you don't have to know how to design a business card yourself. Vistaprint.com is a great place to get your personalized business cards. At the time of writing this, you can get 100 business cards starting at $15. They have an online business card building tool where you can pick from hundreds of styles. Or you can upload your own style!
What should you include on your business card? I'm all about simplicity. I just have my name, email, phone number, and website. I would even say that just your name and website could be enough if your contact info is easy to find on your website. No need to include your address, unless people are sending you a lot of mail or something. Just include the main way people can connect with you.
That's it! Get your own business cards and feel like a baller!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents the challenges & recap video for section 3. Let's go over what you have to do to have the most success!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents:
FINALLY! We're going to talk about how to find work. Where can you go to find jobs? How much should you charge? How do you craft the perfect job proposal to land that gig? These are all questions that I answer in this section.
See you inside!
Up until this point, I've been talking a lot about how to prepare your freelance career. This preparation is very important, and every step that I laid out before you will help you be more successful. But like me, you probably just want to know how do I get the job? How do I get money? How do I survive? I don't want you to just survive - I want you to THRIVE. To find work, you need to know where to look. Let's cover that base first.
I've already mentioned in previous chapters places that you can find work - through friends and connections, on professional freelancer networks like Elance & Odesk, by volunteering for local organizations to get your foot in the door. Some other places that will have jobs are Craigslist and other online jobs boards. Craigslist can be difficult to land a decent-paying job because the people that are looking to hire on Craigslist are usually looking to do so on a budget. But if you're starting out, you're going to need to do some work on a budget. I found some work on Craigslist that led to a few referrals for more work. To find jobs, look under two locations - Jobs & Gigs. I actually see more freelance work under the gigs section because these are usually one-off projects. Many people forget to look under gigs though. Once you click on the gigs button, search for jobs using keywords related to your field (i.e. video, videographer, film, editing, cinematographer, editor, motion graphics, etc). When you email the job, include a link to your website, and in 3 sentences or less explain why you're the perfect candidate for this job. Sit back, and wait for replies. When you're starting out and really needing to find work, try checking Craigslist once in the morning, and once at night - every day. There are other websites like Craigslist that might have paying gigs - think Monster.com or Indeed.com.
Search for local professional organizations in your area. I know that in San Francisco, there are many organizations for freelance video creators. They have their own job board, mixers, and other events where you can meet professionals in your field. There is probably something similar in your area for your field.
Cold calling companies and organizations is another way to get your name out. Find big companies, schools, and organizations and send an email to them introducing yourself and your business. Don't say that you're a freelancer looking for work. This sounds like you're a someone that can't get hired. Rather say that you've started a company that does x, y, z, in their area and that you just wanted to reach out to say hello. Give them your website and contact information. You never know when companies are trying to find a new graphic designer or photographer for an event.
I mentioned this before, but once you have your website up and running - send an email blast to your friends and family that says you're in business! Post your website on social media. Create a LinkedIn account and post in groups relevant to your work with links to your website and samples of your work. The more places your name and website are, the better. Better than just blasting out something on social media that most of your cousins will ignore, call them up and ask them if they know if anyone is hiring for your skills. At the same time, you'll be able to catch up with a family member. If you're currently moonlighting and have another job - tell your inner circle of co-workers that you needed to make some extra money, and have started doing your freelance work on the side. They might know someone who wants to hire you. Be careful as to not let your supervisors get upset that you are doing outside work that may affect your current work.
If none of these things are working, it's time to volunteer your talent to a local organization. Idealist.org is a website for non-profits and organizations to get volunteers for a variety of things. I found an NGO looking to have a short video series made, and sent them my sample reel. They loved my work and asked if I could do their project. It was a fun project, I got to meet a lot of great people, and my brand got bigger as more people knew what I did.
The key thing here is to stay busy. Even if you're not finding paid work, do some volunteer work. Practice your skills. If you're posting samples of your work or volunteering your time in your community, I assure you that you'll eventually find work. BEST OF LUCK!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 9. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
Finally after all of this hard work, you get a response or inquiry from someone asking about your work. What do you do now? The first thing to do is put together is a simple proposal for them. What is included in the proposal? There a a few main ingredients: a project description, schedule, and bid. All of this should be limited to a single page so that someone can quickly see the entire scope of the project on one page.
The project description describes what the project is and includes the objective of the project and the process for doing so. The schedule includes specific dates that you will be working and/or an estimate of the time you will be putting into the project as well as when the project will be complete. The bid includes the price you are willing to do the project for and can include a breakdown of what makes up this price (equipment costs, hourly rates, etc). It isn't necessary to explain where every penny is going unless they ask. Here is a sample proposal for a photography event that you can base your proposal off of:
Event coverage of the end-of-year gala. I will shoot photographs of the entire event including: people mingling, speakers, performances, and general coverage. I will edit the photographs and send you the files digitally. You will have the opportunity for one round of re-edits for the photographs.
The gala takes place on December 15, 20** from 6pm-11pm. I will edit the photos and send you the first round of edits the following day.
Total cost: $575
This is a very basic example, but I hope it gives you a good idea for what needs to go into a proposal.
With your proposal, they may ask for a contract. Or, you might be asked for a contract after they've seen your bid and tentatively accepted it. The contract will consist of what's in the proposal including a spot for signatures from both parties. There is a great online contract creator that you can use to automatically build a contract for your job.
That's the basics of creating a proposal and contract! NOTHING is holding you back now! Get to work!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 10. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
How much should you charge? Am I charging too low? How can I make more money? When should I increase my rates? These are all questions that I used to ask myself. Setting your prices can be one of the most difficult things to do. It comes down to a few things: quality, competition, and really how much you want to charge.
Setting your prices should be based on the quality of your work, and not the quantity. I've been in situations where I see companies paying top-dollar for one-off projects, but pay a measly amount for a series of projects. Of course it is good to have consistent work, and if you can set up a deal to do multiple projects for a company that would be great! But doing this doesn't mean you should give them a dirt-cheap rate. Base your prices off of your quality. You're a person with a lot of skills - skills that they don't have! That is why they are hiring you. You know that you can do top quality work. Charge accordingly. Don't be scared to ask for more than your gut says.
Make sure you are covering your expenses.Let's step back and look at the big picture. How much do you need to make in a year to cover your expenses? How much more do you need to start saving up, and afford a comfortable lifestyle? How much work will you be able to do in one year? Now set your prices accordingly. Do you get what I'm saying? You need to charge the amount of money that you need to survive - and thrive! So when a project comes in, calculate how many hours you are going to put into it. Set your hourly rate. This will vary depending on where you live (including what the market rate is in your area). It could be anywhere from $15/hour to $75/hour. Add the cost of any equipment or tools you'll need for this project. Add some cost for depreciation. Add 15.3% for taxes. That should get you to a decent figure.
Should you charge per project or per hour? This is a big question that really changes how you work. My rule of thumb is if it is going to be a big project - 40 or more hours, I'd like to charge per hour. You never know how long a project can drag on. So stay safe by charging per hour. If it is a one-off, quick-and-dirty project, it's good to charge one fee. Of course, as I mentioned above this fee will be based on your estimated hours and hourly rate.
If you get stuck in a job that expands the original scope, it is okay to increase the cost. You'll need to have an honest conversation with your client, and let them know that you need to charge them more to complete the project. NOW, only do this if the project doesn't stay consistent with your contract. Don't let them take advantage of you! You don't want to burn out.
Another tip is that you can charge more for rush work.The client needs it fast, and should be willing to pay a premium. Charge 20-40% more for rush work.
Update your prices regularly - at least once per year. As you get more work, and get better at what you do, it is a good idea to update your rates. If you're in the middle of a project you can let the client know that after this project your rates will increase to x, y, z. This also gives you an opportunity to reach out to previous clients at the start of the year. Keep an email list of all past clients, and send them an email at the start of the year with your new rates.
Keep track of your time. This will let you know if you are charging too much or too little. At the end of each project, calculate what your hourly rate was. Now you'll have a better idea for what to charge in the future.
Never guess. Always have a reason for how much you're charging. The client might ask why you are charging a certain amount, and it is good to have an answer. You don't have to explain all of your reasoning up front - just when they ask. As I mentioned before, check out your competition to see what they're charging. You can send an anonymous email to other freelancers in your area to see how much they would charge for a project. You can search online forums to find the going rate. But know that rates will dramatically fluctuate. For example, videographers make a lot more money in California than in Kansas - due to higher cost of living and competition.
Find your sweet spot. It's tough to price right. I often have felt like I charged to low. It will take time. Charging too high can show you're too cocky or too inexperienced trying to get projects. Charging too low might show that you don't have much to offer, or that you don't dedicate much time to your work. So try to find some middle-ground that will be fair to you and the client! If your client is happy with your work, they'll be happy with what they paid you. That's the bottom line.
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents CHALLENGE 11. Please take action to get the most out of this course! You'll be finding work in no time if you follow all of these challenges!
The freelancer life-style is all about staying organized and staying positive. Having a good workflow to your day-to-day routine is key. It may be helpful to schedule out your weeks in advance. For example, know that on Monday and Tuesday you will be applying to new jobs and reaching out for new leads. Wednesday, you will spend some creative time working on a project for your portfolio. Thursday and Friday are days spent reaching out to old friends and clients to see if they have work.
Once you have a job, set up your work-day flow. When will you wake up? When will you start working? How long will you work before you take a break? How will you complete your job? Is there a routine that can be replicated for each job? The more systematic you can make your freelance lifestyle, the less crazy and stressful it will seem.
When I do freelance work, I now have a very good flow from proposal to final delivery. I know exactly what I should be doing and when to do it. This makes freelancing fun and rewarding!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents the challenges & recap video for section 4. Let's go over what you have to do to have the most success!
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents:
In this section, we'll talk about taxes & money - two very important things to consider as a freelancer.
See you inside!
VideoSchoolOnline.comTAXES & MONEY TIPS
I won't pretend to by an accountant, so I'm not going to give you very specific advices on taxes or money. You should consult an expert about all things money. I don't want you to get in trouble. That disclaimer being said, I do have some tips that will help you while you start out. So pay attention, because this is important.
SAVE! Just starting out, it is hard to tell how much money you'll be making from your freelancing, or if you'll be making money at all. I believe in you though, and really think you're going to do great! Heck, you 10 steps ahead of everyone else after reading through this book and taking action. So we're going to assume that you're going make a decent amount of money freelancing. That means you have to save. Save at least 15% of your income for taxes. I actually suggest saving more because you want to have extra just in case you make a ton of money and end up in a higher tax bracket. Put it away when you make get paid, and don't touch it. I've seen so many fellow freelancers spend the money they've earned as soon as it hits their checking account. When it comes time to pay taxes the following April… literally 15 months after doing the work for that particular project, it can be hard to remember where that money went. So do yourself a favor, and save!
Pay quarterly taxes. Did you know about this? Well, I sure didn't when I started. Quarterly taxes are taxes that you need to pay four times throughout the year. What!?! I have to pay taxes four times! Sounds crazy, but it's important. It actually helps you, because now you don't have to worry about accidentally spending money that's not technically yours. We all owe Uncle Sam part of our paychecks. Talk to your accountant to find out more about quarterly taxes. If you don't pay them, you'll incur fees and interest on the taxes that you don't pay by the end of the year.
Taxes aren't fun, but they are important. For those of you that live in the United States, we live in one of the greatest countries in the world. As messed up as it sometimes seems, traveling to third-world countries over the past few years has consistently shown me how amazing our lives really are. I'll use the postal service as an example, a heavily government-subsidized organization. Sure the lines in the post office are too much to deal with, but what they provide is freaking amazing! For less than fifty cents, you can put letter outside your front door. A professional mail carrier will walk up to your doorstep, take that letter, hand deliver it to the the distribution center in your town that deciphers your scribbles, puts that letter on a jet plane that uses far too much fuel to a truck that takes it to another distribution center, that organizes the mail and puts your letter on a car that is driven by a man or women who hand delivers your letter to the doorstep of your intended receiver.
WOAH! How amazing is that? And it's less than a buck! You can't get much for a buck nowadays, but you can do all of that?! That's awesome. And the only way it's possible is because your tax dollars go to this (along with a number of other questionable but also amazing things). My point is: pay your taxes, and realize how awesome life.
Those are my tax & money tips. If you have more questions, get on the phone with an accountant or do some in-depth web searches.
VideoSchoolOnline.com presents the challenges & recap video for section 5. Let's go over what you have to do to have the most success!
Hopefully by this point you feel like you have a grasp on launching your own freelance career. If you follow my tips, and take action after each chapter you'll be landing jobs in no time. I BELIEVE IN YOU! I know how it is to start freelancing without support. Maybe you have a boyfriend or girlfriend who is afraid that you won't have enough money. Maybe your parents will be ashamed of their non-doctor/lawyer/banker. Maybe you are worried that it might not work out.
Take charge of your own life. If you believe in yourself, everything will work out. Most importantly - TAKE ACTION! Spend time each day building up your freelance career. It can (and will) be so rewarding. Freelancing is freedom. It is control. It is no-bosses-looking-over-your-shoulder. It is fulfilling. And I'm so excited for you.
Thanks for reading this book. Please leave a review of the book wherever you downloaded it. Share it with a friend. Keep it as a reference. If you're interested in diving deeper into all of the topics I mentioned in this book, please enroll in my full video course on launching a successful freelance career. Because I like you so much, I'm going to give you $50 off the full course. Now you can enroll for only $49!
See you inside the class!
VideoSchoolOnline.com thanks you! We are so happy that you made it this far. I hope this course has helped you launch your freelance career. Let me know!
This lecture contains some amazing discounts to other courses that you might be interested in to further your knowledge.
My passion is inspiring people through online courses. I love learning new skills, and since 2012 have been teaching people like you everything I know. Through my online learning business, Video School Online, I create courses that teach you how to become the better version of yourself with all kinds of skills.
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If you want to do any of these things, just enroll in the course. You have a 30-day money back guarantee if you don't like it. And I'm always improving my courses so that they stay up to date and the best that they can be. Check them out, and enroll today!
I've always tried to live life presently and to the fullest. Some of the things I love to do in my spare time include mountain biking, nerding out on personal finance, traveling to new places, watching sports (huge baseball fan here!), and sharing meals with friends and family. Most days you can find me spending quality time with my lovely wife and our cat.
In 2011, I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Production at Loyola Marymount University - one of the top 10 film schools in the country. While there, I was fortunate to make documentaries in Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, and India. After graduating, I worked at Participant Media shooting and editing short-form documentaries for their website TakePart. I followed that stint with a contract at Stanbridge College where I discovered online learning. I helped pioneer their online school there. Most recently, I spent 2 years working at University of California Berkeley with the media team. Throughout this time I built my Video School Online brand to teach others the skills that I have. In May of 2015, I left the 9-5 world to make my own path. Since then, I've made more money, worked fewer hours, and only have done the things I love each day.
I want to show you how to be a better creator, make money from your creations, and live the life you dreamed of.
Learn creative skills, from absolute beginner to advanced mastery.
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text: Hello Everyone The ONLY resource I found for weapons customiztion was this Tutorial: http://www.ut40k.planetunreal.gamespy.com/unreal-Dateien/ut3tuts/UT3_Weapon_tutorial_3.htm The Problem we are having is on page 3 of the Tutorial: "....Ok before we start I an Not A Coder, i copy/paste and change names then compile and see if it works. ...." How can we compile script without a Dev Environment (like the old ude.exe for 2004). Or does he mean BUILD in the actual Unreal Ed? The team I am working with is still confused how people have gotten as far they have with online resources that are out there (forums, available tut's, etc) without having previously modifed the 3 other unreal versions. Regardless it is still behooving to find resources on this specific topic. If anyone has any other references for this Topic would be great. Is there other tools that will help us other than our 3d packages, that are made for UnrealEd? Also, can I go through the archives of this listproc to see previous questions that have answered? Steve --------------------- TO LEAVE THE LIST --------------------- Write to LISTSERV (AT) EPICGAMES.COM and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: SIGNOFF UT3MODS

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A resting, CONNECTING &
learning site
Copyrighted 2006- 2013 Dr. S.E. Williams Updated 06/2013
Want to experience a whole new view for your spiritual walk - be ready!
You can order the Kindle version 3.99 and download the free Kindle apps for your PC and your smart phone / android phone.m So do it! God will bless you!
Are you thirsting for the Living Water? Really? Do you drink into you, the
presence of God, Abba, Mother/Spirit, Brother/Son/Savior/Lord?
The anointing to be God's light in a world drowning in darkness is upon us
children of God, the Bride of Christ and the newness in the very air has
gotten stronger and brighter. Have you noticed? God, our All-in-All
Daddy, Spirit-Mommy, Son-Brother-Savior-Lord, rejoices for us and in us -
and through us now in 2014. What excitement, what challenge,
what peace. Are you with me? Good, let's continue.
God purposed for us, planned for us, gave us the gift of new life in Him
through Jesus Christ, and God enjoys us walking in the ways out of no ways
He/She/He has already made for us. Have you been receiving this truth
daily - as in always? Are you learning and growing in this season and
getting ready to step into your calling/purposed by God?
Jesus PAID the price for us to BE FREE! Get it? We are free of even our
own limited ways of not being. Our biggest challenge is to let go of our
thoughts and feelings (as in judgments and wounds) about our life; let go of
ALL the garbage and yuk - Cast them ALL upon God.
As in remember Jesus ALREADY PAID THE PRICE and EMBRACE/RECEIVE
LOVE for our new life.Choice, Choice, CHOICE always for us. So Choose
already - let go and LET GOD!!!
Are you ready to really accept that you chose life? Not just say it and
occasionally speak it or feel it! Are you ready to BE alive in New Life in
Christ NOW?
There is no life without God or outside of God and His Grace and Mercy. Any
life is in God. Now you can choose to have life new every day - dynamic
and awesome - learning and growing - or you can choose to have no life,
and simply exist in death, separate from God. Your choice.
This is a new season so why not make a new choice? Choose Life, Choose
to be, Choose to grow and learn always and forever 24/7/365 in God!


text:
A Delaware man was arrested Tuesday after police say he followed a woman around a Walmart store and threw a handful of his own semen on her legs and buttocks.
Frank J. Short Jr., 22, was charged with harassment, disorderly conduct, lewdness and offenses touching of another with saliva, urine, feces or other bodily fluid, police documents obtained by the Smoking Gun show.
The incident began Tuesday afternoon, when the 20-year-old female victim stopped into a Walmart store in the town of New Castle. The woman told police she was standing in an aisle sending a text message when Short walked past her and said, "Excuse me."
When he passed, the woman felt something wet on her buttocks and legs, and looked down to find what she described as a "glob" of fluid.
Fearing for her safety, the woman contacted store security, who called 911. When police arrived, they interviewed the woman and arrested Short, who was still milling about the store.
Questioned by the police, Short first stated that he had a cold and had simply "sneezed into his hands, then shook his hands off." As their interview continued, however, Short changed his story, telling police he had spit into his hand and threw it at the woman while pretending to "slap her ass," as he thought she was "hot."
The police report concludes that Short threw his semen on the woman "because he was sexually attracted to her.
[quote]Short, who has since been booked and released on bail from a Wilmington jail, also told police that he was a "loner," and that he had gone to Walmart to "kill time."


text:
Literature for F.R. Leavis, is not merely an aesthetically written work of art designed to give pleasure to the reader. It is not simply a document of language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree. According to Leavis, it is 'the storehouse of recorded values: It is the writer's exploration of the cultural tradition of his age. It is a record of all that the age habitually thinks, feels, and acts upon. Literature keeps the healthy moral and cultural traditions alive.
Great literature does something more too-it enriches a nation's cultural heritage and traditions in several ways. Great literature age after age from the literary tradition of a nation. It is in literature that the best of the nation's culture, both of the past and the present, is kept alive and communicated to the future. It appeals to and elevates not only the smaller section of educated people but also refines the masses. It exercises a pervasive influence upon feeling, thought, culture and standard of living. In brief, literature is not just an aesthetic experience but a faithful record of the author's most profound interest in life. Leavis says, "Aesthetic is a term the literacy critic would do well to deny himself. Opposed to moral, it certainly doesn't generate light".Leavis also says that literature is higher than history even in preserving the culture of the past. History only maintains the record of the past; literature infuses life into it. Literature re-lives the life and culture of the past for us. Leavis calls it 'the exploratory-creative use of words upon experience.


text:
I am 4 months PO. I do not like my scar placement and it is stressing me out and depressing me sooo much. I also don't think I'm as tight as I could be and have dog ears. Does it look like some smartlipo, skin tightening and lowering the scar are options for me to get a better result?
Tummy Tuck Scar Revision, Am I a Candidate? (photo)
Doctor Answers 9
Revise Tummy Tuck Scar
Thank you for your question.
I would have to examine you in person to be certain, but from your photos it does appear that you have enough excess skin to revise your Tummy Tuck Scar to a lower location.
Careful Liposuction could also improve your result
Learn more: http://drseckel.com/boston-tummy-tuck/boston-tummy-tuck-how-to-decide-if-you-need-an-abdominoplasty/
Tummy Tuck Scar Revision, Am I a Candidate?
No you are not at this time. you should wait at least a full year. But the issue is the pre operative discussions between you and your surgeon as to incision placement. This lowering idea is very very hard to achieve. No lipo will address these issues.
Revision will improve your results
Learn more: http://aaaplasticsurgery.com
You might also like...
Tummy Tuck Revision Surgery Candidate?
Thank you for the question and pictures.
Although you may want to wait a few additional months of (and even up to one year) before undergoing revisionary surgery, I think you will be able to achieve an improved results with additional skin excision and possibly liposuction surgery.
Best wishes.
Learn more: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/Procedures/Procedure_tummyTuck.htm
After tummy tuck
As a rule, the center of the abdomen is tighter than the sides after tummy tuck because much more tissue can be removed from the midline than from the sides. In your situation, you have two issues the level of the scar being too high and the extra tissue. You should discuss the revision with your doctor and wear underwear or bathing suit while being marked for the surgery to make sure the scar can be hidden, and where you want it. The level of the lateral arm of the scar has changed many times as fashion has changed, and I suspect that it is going to continue to change with the garment fashion industry changes.
Tummy Tuck Scar Revision
Thanks for your question and for the photographs you have attached.from the third photo it looks like you're demonstrating some laxity near the edge of the incision. It looks like there is enough excess skin here event her incision could be lowered by extending your abdominoplasty part or most of the way around towards the back, the procedure some call posterior body lift or a belt lipectomy.
It looks from the photos that she's had a full tummy tuck, but the skin tightening from that procedure will not extend beyond the incision. I don't think that SmartLipo will give you any improvement.
Thanks and best wishes
Scar care after tummy tuck
Best wishes,
Pablo Prichard, MD
Learn more: http://www.aaaplasticsurgery.com/photo-gallery/details.cfm?ID=79&StartRow=21
Tummy tuck scar revision - am I a candidate?
If unsightly scars are still present after approximately a year's time, other things that your surgeon may consider are intralesional steroid injections, laser, or just surgical revision of the scar itself. Revision may be considered to lower or conceal incision if appropriate and there is enough laxity to potentially move the incision.
Hope that this helps! Best wishes!
Problem scars around the umbilicus and positioning of the low transverse scar after an abdominoplasty
Problem scars around the umbilicus and positioning of the low transverse scar after an abdominoplasty. The umbilical scar is really he cherry on the ice cream sundae when it comes to abdominoplasty surgery. It is the most visible scar and most plastic surgeons are very careful to create a nice, aesthetically pleasing scar. Everything can be done correctly and a small percentage of patients will make a bad scar. Your scar and lateral fullness can be improved with a revision.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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PRINCETON, NJ — A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. Forty-six percent say marijuana use should remain illegal.
When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States." The National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2009 found that "16.7 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, an increase over the rates reported in all years between 2002 and 2008."
Full article here


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Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, on Friday accepted a mandate to form Israel's next government after recent parliamentary elections left the country in a political deadlock. Continue reading
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert averted a split in Israel's coalition and staved off a key coalition partner's threat to bring down the government, giving him at least a few more months to pursue peace agreements with the Palestinians and Syria. Continue reading
National Security Advisor Samuel Berger speaks with Jim Lehrer about peacekeeping efforts in Yugoslavia and other world conflicts. Continue reading


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Video break: In the Life on the state of equality
In 2008, President Barack Obama secured the LGBT vote, promising full equality for the community. Two years later, many are critical of the pace of change. This month on IN THE LIFE, we ask if the man in the White House is an advocate for gay rights, and service members talk to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'


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Prices do not include additional fees and costs of closing, including government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer documentation fees, any emissions testing fees or other fees. All prices, specifications and availability subject to change without notice. Contact dealer for most current information. Some of our used vehicles may be subject to unrepaired safety recalls. Check for a vehicles unrepaired recalls by VIN at http://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin?
*These estimates reflect new EPA methods beginning with 2008 models. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle's condition. Mileage estimates may be derived from previous year model.


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TODMORDEN: Olwen Jennings -Lib-Dem hold
ILLINGWORTH: Geoffrey Wallace - Con gain
RASTRICK: Ann McAllister - Con gain
ST JOHN S: Mohammed Saghir - Con gain
OVENDEN: Bryan Smith - Lab hold
HIPPERHOLME/LIGHTCLIFFE: David Kirton - Con gain
BRIGHOUSE: Colin Stout - Ind gain
CALDER VALLEY: Mary Seward - Lib/Dem gain
SOWERBY BRIDGE: Howard Blagbrough - Con gain
GREETLAND/STAINLAND: Keith Watson - Lib/Dem hold
LUDDENDEN FOOT: Peter Coles - Lib/Dem hold
TOWN: Janet Hardy - Con gain
WARLEY: Martin Peel - Con gain
NRTHOWRAM/SHELF: Graham Reason - Con hold
SKIRCOAT: John Ford - Con hold
RYBURN: David Lang - Con gain
ELLAND: Patricia Allen - Lib/Dem hold
Election result - ST JOHN S
MICHAEL Higgins was unceremoniously dumped as the Labour leader of Calderdale Council last night and vowed he would not be standing for election again.
He had a majority of more than 1,000 when he was elected in St John s in 1996 but saw that cushion dramatically wiped out last night.
Instead, Conservative Mohammed Saghir was returned with a majority of more than 100 to join his son, Coun Shakar Saghir in the town hall - the authority s first father and son team.
The Conservatives had a tremendous night and took overall control of the Council with 28 seats. Labour, previously the largest party in a hung council, now hold only 10 of the 54 seats.
The election campaign in St John s was hard fought and there were claims from both sides of dirty tactics to win crucial votes.
Councillor Higgins said he had received widespread reports of electors being intimidated.
I have had people telling me about how they were subjected to threats and abuse, and not just against voters but also against the police, he said.
Councillor Higgins has represented the St John s ward since 1992 and for four years prior to that, he represented the Mixenden area.
He is a former education committee chairman and has been leader of the authority since May last year, and for several years before that was deputy leader.
He is a past chairman of the Halifax Constituency Labour Party.
I am not going to stand again - I have done 12 years and I believe the Party needs new people, he said.
Councillor Higgins beat Mr Saghir into third place in a by-election in St John s in 1992.
Last night the boot was on the other foot.
Mr Saghir said he was very happy and proud to be representing the community in which he had lived for many years.
They have shown confidence in me and working alongside my son, I will not let them down, he said.
Councillor Shakar Saghir was elected to the council in May 1998 with a majority of just three votes.
Both claimed they had suffered at the hands of political opponents who had tried to ruin their chances of success by putting out cheap and nasty last minute leaflets
Mr Saghir is a former Scunthorpe and District community relations officer and is head of the Kashmir Foundation, in Halifax.
Independent candidate Mrs Lynne Peggs, of Clifton Road, Manor Heath, Halifax, attracted 427 votes.
She was elected as a Conservative councillor in Warley ward in 1994 and a year later joined the Liberal Democrats before losing her seat in 1998.


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JERUSALEM (Aug. 4)
Premier Golda Meir told the Knesset today that her government has accepted the United States' peace initiative for the Middle East on the basis of President Richard M. Nixon's assurances that Israel will not be placed at a military disadvantage by so doing. Mrs. Meir read the text of the government's official reply to the U.S. which reiterated that there would be no withdrawal from occupied Arab territories until a peace treaty embodying "secure, recognized and agreed boundaries" is consummated. The Israeli reply stressed the negotiating aspects of the American peace plan and mentioned the cease-fire element only briefly, saying that "Israel's position in favor of a cease-fire on the basis of reciprocity on all fronts remains unchanged." It committed Israel "in due time, to designate a representative to discussions to be held under Ambassador (Gunnar V.) Jarring (with Egypt and Jordan) according to such procedure and at such place and time as he will recommend." Mrs. Meir pledged that Israel will participate in these discussions "without any prior conditions." The Prime Minister addressed the Knesset only hours after the Gahal faction resigned from her cabinet in protest against acceptance of the U.S. plan. She spoke after the Knesset defeated by a vote of 64-5 a motion of no confidence filed by the small right-wing Free Center faction which also opposes the American plan.
In part, the text of the government's acceptance of the plan followed almost word for word a statement that Secretary Rogers asked Israel, Egypt and Jordan to subscribe to, which would be in the form of a report from Ambassador Jarring to United Nations Secretary General U Thant. Mr. Rogers made that request in his June 19 letter to President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. The Israeli reply agreed that the talks to be held under Dr. Jarring's auspices "shall be held within the framework of the United Nations Security Council's Resolution number 242 (of Nov. 22, 1967) on the basis of the expression of readiness by the parties to carry out that resolution in all its elements." The reply went on to confirm that the object of the talks should be "an agreed and binding contractual peace agreement between the parties which will ensure a termination by Egypt, Jordan and Israel of all claims or states of belligerency and to respect and to acknowledge the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of each other and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." The Israeli reply stated further that each party would be responsible for preventing hostile acts from within its territory against the other. It said that "withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the 1967 conflict to secure, recognized and agreed boundaries (are) to be determined in the peace agreements."
Mrs. Meir defended her government's position in accepting the U.S. proposal. She cited statements by President Nixon, Secretary Rogers, Assistant Secretary of State Sisco and Dr. Henry Kissinger, the President's advisor on national security affairs, which set forth basic U.S. policy in the Mideast "including the obligation undertaken by the U.S. to grant aid to Israel in all that concerns maintenance of her security and the balance of forces in the region, particularly in the light of the growth of the Soviet involvement and the flow of Soviet arms to Egypt." Mrs. Meir made it clear that acceptance of the U.S. plan implied no change in her government's basic position on vital security matters. She noted that Israel has publicly declared that "by virtue of her right to secure borders, defensible borders, she will not return to the frontiers of June 4, 1967 which lays the State open to the temptation of aggressors and on which on various fronts lends the aggressor decisive advantages." She said further that Israel stands firm on the principle that implementation of Resolution 242 will begin only after agreement has been reached on all issues.
"In our talks with the political sectors concerned," Mrs. Meir said, "we have repeatedly made it clear that paragraph 11 of the UN Security Council resolution concerning the granting to the (Palestinian) refugees of a free choice between returning to Israel or the receipt of compensation or rehabilitation is irreconcilable with Israel's existence, security and character." Mrs. Meir's remarks were obviously intended to rebut opponents of her government's position and re-assure others that acceptance of the American initiative in no way compromised Israel's security or rights. But Menachem Beigin, leader of the Herut wing of Gahal sharply questioned the Prime Minister's assurances. Taking the Knesset floor as an opposition leader for the first time in three years, Mr. Beigin denounced the Rogers plan in the same bitter terms that he used in last night's debate that ended in Gahal's withdrawal from the cabinet. He claimed that Israel had acquiesced to a plan which, at best would leave it with borders only slightly different from those that existed on the eve of the June, 1967 war. President Nixon's assurances, he said, could not diminish the gravity of the undertaking "to accept a withdrawal which we had never accepted before." Mr. Beigin repeated his earlier charge that the Rogers plan was drawn up by the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the exclusion of Israel. He compared it to the "Munich dictate" that resulted in the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia before World War II.


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In a recent post, we looked at what it is that actually makes your website "mobile-friendly." Having that understanding is important, especially since mobile users now make up a majority on the Internet, outnumbering "traditional" laptop and desktop computer users online.
Today, we want to go a bit further and look at the different options you have for adding mobile functionality to your business website…
By Building a Mobile Version of Your Website
Mobile-specific websites are just what they sound like: versions of your web presence that are built, designed, and encoded specifically for mobile devices. These work and display best on small screens, of course, since they are optimized for that purpose. However, they bring the additional expense of creating an entirely new website, not to mention keeping it up-to-date, along with your existing web presence.
With an Adaptive Web Design
With an adaptive web design, you have one website that actually has several different versions. When a visitor comes to your pages, the coding within the side "decides" which version to show based on the available browser and screen size. While this does give you mobile functionality, it can lead to small errors when a mobile web browser and your website platform communicate incorrectly, causing the wrong layout to be displayed.
Through Responsive Web Design
Responsive web design works in a similar way, except that the adaptations are more fluid because of back-end coding. In other words, your website "responds" to the visitor's device and browser, but can also change appearance if they resize their screen or change options. Because responsive web designs are more flexible, they tend to make fewer mistakes, and are also more likely to be compatible with future mobile devices, and screen sizes, that may not be popular yet.
By Developing a Custom App
As an alternative to mobile compatibility in your website, or an additional option, you could have a custom app developed that either serves as a replica of your website or adds more features. For example, your custom app might let mobile users log into their accounts, place new orders, or get specific updates (like package tracking) in one secure and convenient place. The downside to developing an app is that you'll generally need lots of people to use it before you can justify the cost.
So, with all these options out there, which one makes the most sense for your company?
To explore the choices a bit further, and to decide which one might be right for you, contact a member of the WebRevelation team today and ask for a free website evaluation.
When Google announced that it would start factoring mobile compatibility into its search engine rankings beginning on April 21, business owners and web designers were sent into a flurry. Suddenly, thousands and thousands of new companies decided it was the perfect time to adopt a "mobile-friendly" web platform.
Lost in this sudden surge of mobile programming, however, was the fact that a lot of marketers don't fully understand what "mobile-friendly" really means. To help shed some light on the situation, here is what you need to know about that term, and the underlying functionality it adds to your website:
The Basics of Mobile Compatibility
The essence of a mobile-friendly website is that it can display cleanly on a small screen, and adapt to a mobile browser that may have limitations a traditional web browser wouldn't. The most obvious of these has to do with page and image widths, which need to be restricted on mobile devices. Without that, mobile users will be forced to scroll from left to right while trying to read text, for example, or view an image.
In addition, mobile browsers work better with standard fonts than they do exotic ones, so that should be a consideration. It's also a good idea to limit image sizes and animations, since these can load slowly or use up too much space on a user's data plan.
Generally Speaking, Mobile = Simple
What these basics amount to is often a simpler version of your standard website, or at least a version that displays more cleanly and simply for mobile users. As an example, if your website has a dozen links across the top of your main navigation bar, these may need to be moved, abbreviated, or otherwise altered to make them usable on a smart phone. Additionally, content can be rearranged so that it's easier to scroll from top to bottom instead of left to right.
Buttons and Action Items Need Tweaking, Too
The third factor in mobile compatibility is the availability of radio buttons, click-to-call response forms, and other simple calls to action. Few mobile visitors will want to type long strings of text to get more information from your business, or fill out complicated forms on tiny screens.
Part of mobile functionality is ensuring that it's is easy for customers to do what you want them to do – especially if that's to make a purchase or get in touch with you for more information – than it is for them to see and read your content.
Although Google's new mobile-friendly stance may seem like it's driving the trend towards smart phone and tablet compatibility forward, the reality is that mobile web users already make up more than half of all Internet traffic. So, adopting a mobile-friendly attitude is a good idea, regardless of whether you rely on search engines or not.
In the next post, we are going to outline a few of the different ways you can bring mobile compatibility to your business website. If you can't wait that long, or have more specific questions, feel free to contact WebRevelation today and ask for a free consultation.
One of the things that tends to frustrate business owners and marketers most about search engine optimization is that Google – which controls the lion's share of search traffic in North America – tends to only hint at small changes before unleashing them onto the world. In other words, you rarely ever get word of the storm before it hits.
With that in mind, web designers and marketers have to be at least a little bit grateful that they've been given advance warning this time. On April 21, Google will roll out a huge algorithm update that's aimed at giving a higher search priority to mobile-friendly websites (and by extension, pushing websites that aren't mobile compatible farther down the listings).
You can read more about this algorithm shift in Google's own words here, but we are going to save you some time and give you three details every business owner or manager needs to be aware of:
#1 April 21 Could Bring a Huge Shift in Search Engine Positioning
Experts think this won't just be a minor change in the way Google processes and displays search results. In fact, most are predicting that it will eclipse both Penguin and Panda (which were huge in their impact on SEO in their own right) in terms of the way it will change the landscape.
That means there are going to be winners and losers – websites that suddenly start getting lots more search traffic, and others that see their search volume dry up overnight. Which category will your business website fall into?
#2 Google Isn't Leaving You Any Wiggle Room
One interesting thing we know about the coming April 21 algorithm shift is that Google either considers your site to be mobile-friendly or not mobile-friendly. That is, there isn't any wiggle room, and they aren't taking into account the degree to which you've made your website compatible with smartphones and tablets.
There are still plenty of reasons to incorporate as many mobile features as you can, but for now the world's largest search engine is going to give you a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
#3 If You Aren't Ready, Take Action Now
If you have any questions about whether or not your business website is mobile-friendly, or suspect you aren't ready for the April 21 algorithm change, we strongly advise you to speak with a WebRevelation team member today. Over the years, we've learned two important things about getting customers from Google: first, that it can be highly profitable and cost-effective; and second, that it can take a long time to catch up if you fall behind or run afoul of Google's requirements.
A major change to the way search engine positions are calculated is coming quickly, and it's coming regardless of whether you're ready or not. If you need to make some changes or upgrades to your business website before it's too late, call WebRevelation now at 817-283-3324 or 405-607-0349 to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help.
Web Design in Oklahoma
Call 405.607.0349
Web Design in Texas
Call 817.283.3324


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A relative in Scottsdale is having an operation (shoulder) and we would like to give him a gift certificate for a couple of takeout meals from restaurants known for the food, not the decor or service. They are not picky as to the restaurant type, although I know they like Japanese as well as standard American food.
We would appreciate a couple of suggestions for restaurants or delis in the Scottsdale area that could offer both takeouts and gift certificates.


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Dear telecentre.org Partners,
This is a new space set up to discuss the topic of Resource Mobilization. All organizations need resources to sustain and expand. They may have obtained an initial funding source, but without a resource mobilization plan, they will not be able to continue when that initial funding source dries up.
What is Resource Mobilization?
Very often, we equate the term "resource mobilization" with fund raising. Raising funds or money is only a part of resource mobilization; in fact, it can be a target or an outcome of resource mobilization efforts. Resource mobilization goes beyond just dollars and cents. It includes building valuable contacts and networks, and garnering the interest, support and in-kind contributions of people important to your organization. As important as raising funds is the effort to building relationships. People don't give money to causes, they give to people with causes.[1] So resource mobilization goes beyond fund raising; it is friend raising as well[2].
Planning for Resource Mobilization
Organizations should make adequate preparations for resource mobilization to be effective and to ensure they are maximizing all opportunities. An organization's resource mobilization plan should be tightly integrated with their organizational strategic and communication plan. If an organization is well-managed and conveys its key messages effectively to its target audiences, it will be more successful in raising resources, and this, in turn, will contribute to the organization's continued growth. Hence the two strategic plans must go hand in hand. A resource mobilization plan must follow closely the vision, mission and goals of the organization or be aligned with specific objectives for raising those resources.
Another reason why the resource mobilization plan must be closely linked to the strategic plan of an organization is that the management team must be fully involved in the resource mobilization planning. Like marketing, it is a function that is not just left to the resource mobilization team. All the different parts of the organization must be aware of the objectives of the resource mobilization plan and the role they plan in its execution. For example, the finance or accounting section of the organization should and could participate in the resource mobilization process by helping to construct the "fund raising needs statement", which assesses the target resources to be raised, the organization's current financial situation and, based on that, the resource gap to be filled.
Five Steps to Resource Mobilization
There are five key steps to be considered for your resource mobilization action plan. They are:
I will discuss each step in this forum in the next few weeks.
For now, I invite you to post your comments and views on the above introduction to resource mobilization.
I look forward to reading your postings.
Best regards,
Vivien Chiam
Advisor, Telecentre Women: Digital Literacy Campaign
[1] Resource Mobilization – A Practical Guide for Research and Community-Based Organizations, Venture for Fund Raising, Philippines, 2009
[2] Raisers' Ask Fundraising Magazine http://www.raisersask.in/digital/Raisers_Ask_December_2010_for_Web.pdf
Views: 677
I remember one time our Radio station broke down and we needed some money to put it back. We started mobilizing resources and one Old lady gave us her goat of which we sold and got some money.
more still, when the roof at the Telecentre went off, community members mobilized some roofing materials and we managed to put the roof back.
Human Resource mobilization, our Center applied for a Peace Corp Volunteer from USA and he has been a resource to both the Center and the community as a whole.
More still, Nakaseke Telecentre is working with a team of 22 volunteers on Radio programs and their efforts have contributed to the sustainability of the Center.
so, resource mobilization can be anything which can benefit the Telecentre
Hi Balaba, what you have listed are excellent examples of resource mobilization. The kind old lady who donated her goat, the Peace Corp Volunteer and your 22 other volunteers are all precious resources, through whom you were able to raise money and other benefits.
Thank you Vivien. Very enlightening indeed. I actually thought resource mobilization was same as fund raising. I do have some questions.
How does one integrate the organization's resource mobilization plan with the organizational strategic and communication plan?
Are there trainings on Strategic planning, or organizational planning in general? Please provide me wuth links or leads.
Thank you once again. I look forward to your next post.
Dear Chinyere, let me try and answer your questions.
On the first question, an organization's strategic plan charts out its direction, goals and objectives (whether short-, mid- or long-term) and actions it will take to achieve these goals. Its resource mobilization plan should be based on these same specific goals and should articulate ways it will raise resources to help achieve these goals. That is why the resource mobilization team needs to have the strong support and involvement of the management team, to ensure there is coherence between the two. The communication plan should also be crafted accordingly so that the organization's goals and services it offers can be presented effectively to the various audiences. Good communication with potential donors/contributors will increase resource mobilization efforts. Hence, all components need to be harmonized for synergy.
There are many training courses on strategic planning, organizational planning and resource mobilization. Most resource mobilization courses will also include or at least revisit the strategic plan (for reasons mentioned above). The Resource Alliance website has much resources focusing on these topics, and also runs training courses and workshops. Check out www.resource-alliance.org.
Hope this helps.