Why Coworking is the Future of Freelance Work

The idea of coworking is pretty simple, where a group of freelancers rent out a work space for a low fee.  There are facilities you can all share, like the use of a conference room, an open desk, a WiFi and a concierge.  This gives freelancers a feeling of a ‘professional work space’, minus the restraints of a traditional office setup.  When more people are freelancing and coworking spaces across the globe increased by 17 percent (data from Deskmag), we can see growth in shared offices in the years to come.  Coworking is redefining the meaning of Office, where people can work and mingle without the pressures of being bound to each other by some strict corporate law.

What Benefits Can Freelancers Get from Coworking?

I’ve just read an article where someone saved more in paying for a local coworking space than working from a coffee shop.  Unbelievable!  But if you do the Math, you may just be a believer as well.  So, how can freelancers benefit from coworking with others?

Networking

No matter how you deny it, humans are social animals and we need to meet people to promote our businesses and learn from each other.  Coworking is a great opportunity for you to meet other experts in your field, and it opens new doors for business collaborations.  Everyone gets to work better with people they trust and this means that you get to build that relationship to help you find…

Job Leads

Timing is everything when you’re a freelancer and coworking spaces will help you be in the right place at the right time.  There will be times when other renters may need your skills for a quick job.  Coworking with other people also helps you network the traditional way, where you can introduce yourself and exchange business cards as well.

Cost Savings

Many coworking spaces are equipped with facilities like photocopiers, conference area, high-speed internet connection, coffee makers and even the luxury of having your own receptionist – without putting a dent on your budget.  You may get to sip your favorite blend at your cafe, but nothing beats the privacy and convenience of using a coworking space.

Collaboration

Coworking is all about building a community of experts that work in an innovation-friendly and creative environment.  While the usual office setup is focused on building walls and counting desks, coworking spaces are aimed at developing the entrepreneurial spirit of people sharing the work place.  Because of this, many who are coworking find themselves more efficient in what they do, helping them beat that ‘freelance burnout’ resulting from home office loneliness.

Did you know that coworking spaces are also excellent for working on your personal projects?  Sure, there will always be distractions, competition and insensitive folks hanging around – so it’s best to make a personal visit before you even sign your name on the fine print.

Have you tried coworking?  How was your experience?  Please share in the comments.

Co-Working: Origins and Future

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Coworking Costs Less than Working from a Coffee Shop
Coworking Spaces: Keep Your Freedom and Stay Connected
Evaluating the Benefits and Drawbacks of Coworking

How Freelancers Can Negotiate With Their Potential Clients

You may have applied for a job opening and you suddenly got an interview invite, or perhaps, someone sent you a note that they would like to interview you for a freelance job.  At this stage, you feel that adrenaline rush, a mix of excitement and anticipation.  STOP!  You need to keep your cool and learn how to negotiate your way to success.  Here’s how:

Before the Interview

1.  What do you really want?

Ask yourself this before you even say yes to the invitation.  Are you looking for a short term deal or a long term gig?  How much are you willing to sell your services for and how far are you willing to compromise, if ever the client tries to negotiate for a lower price.  Many freelancers make the major mistake of devaluing their services in a hope of getting the client to say ‘yes’.  You have to believe in yourself so you can ask boldly for what you’re worth.

2.  What are your goals?

Will accepting the project be beneficial for your career growth in the long run?  Is your rate realistic with what the market is offering?  You need to do some research in your niche on your rates, as well as arm yourself with knowledge on the industry trends.  One of the major goals any freelancer should keep is to stop the fear of not getting hired for the project.

During the Interview

1.  Who is your client?

There are many times when clients don’t really fill in the details about the project, and this can even include their business name.  If you’re lucky enough to have info on the client’s business, you can always type in a search at Google.  If not, you can ask important questions that answer who your client is, what industry they are into, what are their products and services, and why they need your services in the first place.  Ask all the questions you need to know for the ‘devil is in the details’.

2.  Show, Don’t Tell

There’s a trick in the book where you can always start bargaining for a pay rate that’s 25% more than what you’re really charging – so it gives room for negotiation.  By showing what you can do, instead of simply telling them what you have achieved, you’re one step closer to getting what you want.  The key here is to show them results from your previous projects and show them the cost of hiring you – by focusing on the benefits that they will get from your services, instead of your rates.

3.  Stick to Your Guns

It doesn’t take a lot of effort that you’re locked in a dead-end conversation, where the client simply says, ” I can’t afford your price right now” or any other tentative-sounding terms like “hoping, thinking, looking..” and so on.  If you sense that you’re being bluffed, simply be firm with your rates.  Sometimes, clients will offer you a lower rate with a promise of getting bonuses and increase.  Unless it is in writing, you should not rush into anything.  Here’s where you trust your gut feeling and take that chance to be flexible.  If you think that accepting the project will help you grow your freelance career, you can always offer a one-time discount, or offer fewer hours of work for the rate.  Keep in mind that you are not pressured to agree and you’re free to walk away from the deal.

After the Interview

1. Mind Your Manners

The conversation may not always end up to your favor, but you still have to be polite and simply thank them for their time.  You can even ask to get connected via social networking sites like LinkedIn or Twitter.  Just because they can’t afford your services now doesn’t mean they can’t in the future.

2. Don’t Take It Personal

Sometimes, the problem is not you… so you need to keep your rainbow of positivity shining and simply move on.  By taking notes on your recent negotiation, you can get some pointers for your next haggling session.

As freelancers, we always hear this timeworn advice that we should charge what our time is worth… But is it really wise to do so?  I think we should charge base on the value of what we really do and what value it will give our clients.  In the end, successful negotiation is all about careful  listening, acknowledging your prospects’ needs and making them see your side of the argument – without them knowing that you’re winning.

Do you think that there’s such a thing as a ‘perfect deal’ when it comes to negotiating with clients?  Share your thoughts!

Negotiation Skills

Something Interesting:

Switching to Freelance: How to Negotiate to Work Less Hours in Your Job
7 Tips for Negotiating a Freelance Contract

How to Reach Out to Your Past Clients

Time flies and in just a few months, your name will become another entry in your old client’s log, unless you bring them back into your circle.  Here are ways to let them know you care:

Start an Email Campaign

These days, people you know won’t mind being added on your mailing list so start building that and send out a regular newsletter on your career updates.  You can use sites like SurveyMonkey to segment your clients so you get to send a certain type of email to one group, which can be different from another.  The rule of the thumb here is NOT to send in canned messages, but to customize your newsletter so you can make warm leads out of past clients.

Send in a Pitch

Just mentioning that you are available for work won’t do much magic these days and you need to be more creative than that.  Try pitching for a project that will create opportunities for them to grow their business.  You’re not really giving an idea for free; you’re just making yourself look fresh where you can end up with a paying gig.  Also, the chances of getting one is great as they already have that ‘trust’ factor in the first place.

Socialize

If you’re a remote worker, the fastest free way to socialize is through social networking giants such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  While it is not recommended that you get too ‘friendly’ with your clients on Facebook, you can leverage Twitter which can help you get responses quicker.

Use an Indirect Approach

Whether you are requesting for referrals or asking for advice, try having a conversation with your past client – over the phone, Skype, Google Voice, or even Apple’s FaceTime.  The key here is to make your old clients notice you by simply trying to converse with them like you would in the real world.

Offer Some T.L.C.

As in ‘tender, loving care’ through sending your old clients a note on what promotions or discounts you are offering right now.  You need to be careful with any freebies you plan to offer as it can either make you or break you.  Like any other promotional, you can include a sense of urgency that will compel your past clients to take action.  For example, you can state a certain amount of discount you’re willing to offer at a limited time only.

Just remember that whatever steps you take to communicate with your old clients, you have to be:  Visible, Credible and a PRO.  You can be as creative as you would like to be when connecting with your past clients. The next question then is:  How persistent are you in keeping them informed?

Any additional tips on how to stay in touch with former clients?  Do share in the comments below.

How Can I Keep in Touch With My Clients?

To watch this video, please click HERE.

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What Freelancers Should Know Before Negotiating Pay Rates

Not all freelance projects are alike and this means that one may be quoted a higher amount than the other.  This is also one of the reasons why you may struggle right now assessing what your skills or services are really worth.  The only question to answer is: Is your rate competitive enough? Before you even dive in the murky pool of price negotiation, you can:

Calculate Your Expenses

Freelance Switch have this awesome hourly rate calculator that can guide you on how much you should bill your clients for. You can toy with it, where you can simply enter numbers in the field provided.  You may start by computing your business and personal expenses for a month.  Try subtracting it from your projected monthly earning.  If you’ve got a negative difference, you are definitely charging too low.  It is ideal that you are left with extra savings each month; better if you can have more..

Know Yourself

If you can’t have an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, ask someone to do it for you.  After finding out what you can do well, you can now put a better price on it.  You can even do a simple market research by sending prospects an email of your work portfolio together with your hourly rate – just to see if you’ll get positive replies on what you have to offer.  You can also run a survey or ask questions in many Q&A sites online.

Keep Your Enemies Closer

You may think it’s a waste of time to peek at your competition, but sometimes, they can help you set your price right.  Is your rate current with what your industry is charging these days?  What makes you better than those who charge a dollar an hour?  You can always do a search on your competitors and compare your skills with theirs – so you can match rates.

Make a List of Benefits

Setting up your sales funnel may just mean making a list of all the benefits your potential clients will get if they do business with you.  Think of it as attracting moths to a flame so you need to keep your focus and stay positive about it – without bashing your competition.  If you have a website, you need to put a call to action which clients can click to buy what you have to offer.

Do Not Focus on Price

Now that you have completed steps one to four, you’re more than ready to start negotiating your rates – but you need to learn the art of doing so by steering your client away from the price and talking about costs.  Here’s an example: Instead of simply saying you charge X amount an hour, you can follow it up by saying that you will be working on the project for a specific set of hours which will amount the client a certain XXXX amount.  The logic? If that client will try to bargain for a lower price, you can always compare it with those who charge low and point out that yes, it may seem like a great deal.. but these freelancers don’t have the skills and experience you have in solving the problem – which means that there are more room for errors and the project will just take longer, costing them more than how much you’ll be charging.  This will make them feel they made a smart choice too.

If none of these works, always remember that the problem is not you.  Many freelancers who didn’t end up with a contract in their hands often blame themselves for it, making them do a major mistake of lowering their rates just to compete.  If your client’s budget won’t allow him or her to hire you, it’s not really your fault; Just stick to your guns and move on.

Is setting rates the toughest challenge for you as a freelancer?  How did you cope?  Share your thoughts on the comment below.

Discussing Temp Rates with Clients

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Collection 101 for Freelancers

It is only normal to be furious when you don’t get to receive what you deserve for your hard work.  While checking out the signs of online job scams is your best defense, you may never know what will happen next.  Yes, sh** happens, even if you have done all you can to ensure timely payments from your clients.  Always keep in mind that in the art of collecting money, if you don’t ask for it.. you don’t get paid.  Here are steps you can take:

1.  Write a Reminder

Nothing can be more unsettling than unpaid invoices so do your part in reminding your clients a week before due date about their obligation.  This will give you lead time for accommodating revisions as well.

2.  Nudge Your Client

When payment date comes and you have zero balance on your account, send your clients a short, simple and to-the-point email.  Keep it professional, minus all the mixed emotions you’re feeling right now.  Your clients may just be too busy for the moment… so try to keep your cool.

3.  Dial that Number

Give your client a deadline of 72 hours and if s/he failed to reply, that’s when you need to pick up the phone and dial.  Have you even gotten your client’s business number?  Telephone is one of the most useful tools in collection because you get the chance to talk to the person, ask questions and end the call with a commitment to pay.  Just do it with tact and maturity, minus all the threats you can think of.

4.  Be Flexible

There are times when clients are in real trouble and they really don’t have the intention of becoming the next vanishing act on cyber space.  It is important that you keep your options open and consider a flexible payment scheme that will be beneficial to you both.  You may even agree to have payments post dated or you can give discounts for advance payments in the future.  The goal here is to clear your clients debt easier and faster.

5.  Nudge Harder

When your client crossed that thin line between a customer and a debtor, you must get outside help.  You simply figured out that after all those payment reminders you’ve sent and extensions for your payment dates that your client has no intention to pay; it’s time to tap into the many collections agency on the Web.  Some of these may charge you a lot and you must always compute the rate against the worth of your unpaid invoices.  You can also try writing your collection letter which you can send in a 30, 60, or 90 days past due notices.  If nothing happens, you can consider reporting that client to FBI’s internet fraud department, the Better Business Bureau, FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, The Freelancer’s Union or any online review sites.

Legal action should be the last resort for those freelancers wishing to collect money owed to them.  This will be very costly and lengthy so make sure you have a good chance of success.  The last thing you want is to be wasting money on chasing a client who won’t pay.  Just keep in mind that if you really lost money, you can write it off as loss in your income tax statement.

The Good News: Fortunately, the number of clients who pay on time outnumber those who don’t and Ajeva will simply make the collection process a hassle-free experience for freelancers.

How to Write a Collection Letter

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5 Top Reasons Why Your Freelance Project Failed

‘It’s you! Not me!’ is the common thought any boss or client has in mind when something goes wrong and seldom do they take accountability for why the project failed in the first place.  Only a few will admit to their mistakes and have the courage to take responsibility over a situation gone wrong.  If you’re still clueless as a business owner, check out these signs:

1.  Your Mission Statement Stinks!

Have you informed your team why your company exists and what its goals are?  This is very crucial, especially when you hire someone to do marketing campaigns for you as that person needs to represent your brand and message clearly.  You don’t have to give your team a mega list of your mission and vision as the simpler it is, the clearer it will be and the higher the probability of getting work done according to your specs.

2.  You Forgot to Be a Sponge

By sponge, it means learning what it takes for your project to succeed.  You can’t simply state the obvious, and hope that whoever you hire will do the learning and solving for you.  There’s a reason why venture capitalists would want startups to have the essential knowledge and experience in their niche.  You can’t simply tell people to solve things without you providing brilliant ideas to help move the project forward.  Besides, being an entrepreneur means constant learning… so absorb knowledge and pass on the answers.

3.  You Get too Comfy with the Results

There’s a huge difference between good and great.  If you’re comfortable with the idea of a satisfactory job, you’ll fail in achieving a work extraordinaire.  You need to be firm with your needs and make sure that your team respects what you want to achieve.  You can always instill in them a sense of ownership by making them participate and have a voice in the decision-making process.

4.  You are Totally Lost

What’s the worse thing than having a bad plan?  It’s having no concrete plan at all.  You need to be fully committed to your goals.  Yes, there’s never going to be a picture-perfect moment, but you need to keep going on this road map you planned.  Freelancers hate it when you’re changing the scope of work simply because you are undecided with what you want to do with your business.  Your instability will cause them to lose focus, affecting their productivity in the long run.

5.  You Never Learn… Ever!

The worst failure of them all is failing to learn from your mistakes.  You think you did everything to collaborate the project into successful completion and you may even think you have the most innovative approach.  Is it pride or lack of insight?  When your goals didn’t even reach its ROI and the steps you want taken are totally misaligned, you better pause for a while and ponder real hard.  It’s not your team’s fault that they missed the target.  Besides, they’re just following orders… from YOU.

As Henry Ford said, “Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.”  Most of the times, the client who owns the business doesn’t really know how to make a project work like magic just because everything seems so predictable.  While failure is good for learning, having too many is not that great.

Do you think that failure is essential for success?  Share your thoughts on the comment below.

Failure: The Secret to Success

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The Ugly Side of Payment Guarantee Exposed

A couple of months ago, I’ve encountered an interesting story about one freelancer’s mishap by accepting credit card transactions through Paypal.  Many of us hate to bother with legalese and reading the fine print is already time consuming, on top of our gig hunting days and deadlines.  It was even a big surprise for me to learn that Paypal only protect delivery of tangible goods and if you’re selling services, you need to save all the proof you need ( and cross your fingers for good ol’ luck to help you out ).  The truth is that even with countless policies you encounter on many big online marketplaces, those who are in the business of getting work for free will always find a loophole in the system that they can take advantage of.  Now, if you are working for an offshore client, things can get really complicated, time-consuming and not to mention – expensive.  Getting legal counsel alone can cost a lot.  You can be done with two or more freelance gigs and still, your issues may not be resolved.  If you think that I’m writing this post to scare you, that’s a good start.  I want to raise your awareness that payment protection policy is a myth these days, unless you live in the state of NYC where freelancers get a safety net under the Freelancer Payment Protection Act (S4129/A6698).  The move started when a study estimated that nearly 900,000 independent contractors are having trouble getting paid – amounting to $4.7 billion in loss. ( Take note:  That’s just one state! )

If No One is Guaranteed Payment for Freelance Work, How Can You Stay Protected?

There is only one answer that will summarize everything that a freelancer can do:  Build TRUST.  We read this advice countless times and it’s something easier said than done.  No one can build trust overnight, that’s a fact… But, you can build one over time.  It will all start with yourself through personal branding, where you build a name for yourself as a leader in your niche.  Think about your brand as a product you market to potential clients out there.  You can always reach out to social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter to build conversations with people – later on turning into relationships that count!  Bear in mind that anyone can be a freelance client so always put your best hat online.

Trust is something that’s tough when you are working for a client for the first time and so having a contract helps, where you both agree to certain tasks, responsibilities and limits.  One of the major fail of newbie freelancers is asking details about the project before they are awarded the work.  Because they are not experienced in the art of negotiation, more often, they become the victims of exploitation and non-payment issues.  Those who are in the business of scamming know how to play this weakness and so they would take advantage of it, like asking for spec work.  The lure of getting paid alone can make someone rush through the work without thinking twice.

Why Nurturing Your Clients Matter… a Lot!

Have you ever Google’d a potential client before accepting a contract?  It’s a favorite habit that I’m addicted to, especially when the closest thing I get to meet the person is through a tiny pop-up window on Skype.  There’s really nothing wrong with making a small research about the person or company you’ll be working for.  Why is this important?  Because you can come up with topics for your small talk with your client that will set him/her at ease.  I’m not saying that you fake the conversation here, but by having a friendly and professional chit-chat, you will trigger the ‘green light’ of trust, one step at a time.  This is why no matter how you hate sending out emails to keep your clients updated, you have to do your share in opening that line of communication.  Always keep in mind that they are humans too and by constant nurturing through ‘keeping in touch’, you might turn them into your loyal clients ( or even your friends ).

In the end, your payment guarantee will come in the form of trust and you don’t have to pay a ‘middleman’ in the usual online marketplace that gives you a false sense of security.  If you will only go the extra mile to engage with your clients better, you might just as well be paid for your hard work… on time!  What you need is not a cut from your paycheck, but a Freelance Revolution that gives you freedom to do business the way freelancing is meant to be done.  Your rules, your tools, your pay… Your Way!

Something Interesting:

How to Win Clients and Influence Visitors : A Freelancer’s Story
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Five Keys to Your Client’s Happiness

Here’s the secret:  Anyone can be that happy client you’re searching for.  That happy gene is lying dormant and you need to tap it by:

Understanding What They Really Want

No one can read minds, this is a fact.  Unhappy clients are often misunderstood so before you start working on a project, make sure that you ask all the questions you have in mind.  If it helps, prepare a questionnaire for each prospect to fill out so you have a clear idea on who your target is, what they want achieved and how you can channel your skills to serve them better.

Getting Your Client Involved

You may hate micromanaging and clients hate doing that too.  Be the freelancer they can trust by being transparent with every critical decision and steps you will take to complete the project.  By opening your communication line, whether through email or chat, you give them a reason to feel confident with your work.  It may be a freelancer’s pet peeve but you have to keep in touch within 48 hours max.  How frustrated have you felt when someone wouldn’t return your calls?  Everyone hates to be ignored.

Sticking to Deadlines

My favorite motto in work is: “ I love deadlines.  It’s either I make it..or I’m dead! “  There’s a reason why your clients bug you with deadlines and you have to be open to them if it is reasonable for you, or if you need extensions.  Never promise what you can’t deliver.  Time management is the answer here and you need to manage yourself by being attentive to dates.  If you submit your work ahead, your client will surely notice it and give you a +1 on it… and be sure you never miss future D-days either.

Keeping a Keen Eye on Details

If you think you can get away with your lazy freelancing style because you have too much on your plate, think again.  Clients have this sixth sense of knowing when you’re not paying attention so wake up and stay focused!  Your clients hire you because they believed in your expertise; take time to get to know your clients’ goals and come up with ideas to help them grow their businesses.

Listening Proactively

It’s easy for freelancers to get attached with their work, but keep in mind that you are hired to do what your clients want.  It is a no-brainer!  If you feel that what they have in mind is not in line with yours, disagree with them politely and give your honest-to-goodness, expert opinion without insisting too much.  You’ll be glad that you’ve listened to them and it doesn’t matter if they like blue and you like pink; it’s what they want that matters in the end.

Here’s a little happiness disclaimer: I’d say that it’s tough to manage your clients’ expectations right.  But putting on your best hat to keep them happy without sacrificing your personal happiness works for me best.  Everybody makes mistakes and customers are not always right… But, they deserve to be treated right and doing so may just give you a loyal client to keep.

What worked for you in making your clients more than satisfied?  Share your thoughts on the comment below.

Everyday Compassion at Google

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Perhaps, like me, you have all your sleeves up as you are a virtual slave to your PC, working almost 12 hours a day – or even more.  You’ve provided great service and you never run out of clients.  Though this can be good news for anyone wanting to break into the tough world of freelancing, sometimes, success can take a toll on you, making you end up with projects or clients you hate.  You might be screaming for some air, literally.  When have you taken a real vacation since you started freelancing full time?

Top Ten Quotes to Motivate Freelancers

Just like a car, your freelancing career needs a tune up to keep it running smoothly.  Let these soothing words be your guide in keeping your work-life balance on the grid:

On Ambition

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” -Mary Kay Ash

On Challenges

“I went to the brink many times. A couple of times I thought “I’m gone.. This is it.” But then you would just keep working. I think if you’re close to the brink and just make sure that you work twice as hard and put twice as much effort into everything and the people around you and everything, you should come through.” -Gerry Harvey

On Business Ethics

“Ethics or simple honesty is the building blocks upon which our whole society is based, and business is a part of our society, and it’s integral to the practice of being able to conduct business, that you have a set of honest standards. And it’s much easier to do business with someone when you look them in the eye and say, “This is what we’re going to do,” and you understand what you each mean, and you can go away and get it done.” -Kerry Stokes

On Imagination

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” -Albert Einstein

On Passion

“The kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do, an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work. Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step.”  -Jim Collins

On Success

“I believe the true road to preeminent success in any line is to make yourself master in that line. I have no faith in the policy of scattering one’s resources, and in my experience I have rarely if ever met a man who achieved preeminence in money making.. certainly never one in manufacturing.. who was interested in many concerns.” -Andrew Carnegie

On Risk

“Every day, you’ll have opportunities to take chances and to work outside your safety net. Sure, it’s a lot easier to stay in your comfort zone.. in my case, business suits and real estate.. but sometimes you have to take risks. When the risks pay off, that’s when you reap the biggest rewards.” -Donald Trump

On Opportunity

“If you don’t act now while it’s fresh in your mind, it will probably join the list of things you were always going to do but never quite got around to. Chances are you’ll also miss some opportunities.” -Paul Clitheroe

On Failure

“It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.”  -Sun Tzu

On Happiness

“The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.” -Alan Greenspan

When was the last time you read an inspirational quote?  You may just be too busy to bother, but getting a single dose of good ol’ motivation will last you a healthy lifetime of being a successful and happy freelancer.  Be Blessed!

Please feel free to share inspirational quotes to your fellow freelancers here, or on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ajeva

Motivational Success Quotes in a Minute

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There are plenty of job sites where you can search for the latest freelance gig, but most of them are often too general.  Searching for jobs using RSS feeds may help you filter specific jobs you care about.  Some online jobs marketplace already has the feature for you to filter projects via keywords, but you may miss on opportunities outside of these.  For this reason, you can mash together multiple RSS feeds into a super feed and have it sent to your email as well.  How do you get started?

RSS Readers We Recommend for Freelancers

Google Reader

Either you sign up or login with your Google credentials, Google Reader lets you keep up with the latest news that matters most to you – as easy as checking your inbox.  You can check out your favorite sites and share the buzz with your peers.  Best of all, it’s free to use and works well with most Web browsers so you don’t need to install any software.

Netvibes

Just as Netvibes‘ slogan goes, this RSS Reader is your personal dashboard so you can keep yourself updated with your favorite  blogs.  You can even get the latest news from social networking giants like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and many others.  All you have to do is type in your topic and customize the way you see content.  You can also put a widget of your search on your blog or desktop, create your public profile and share it with friends – for free.

Twitter Search

What can be the best way for you to filter all the noise out there but to use Twitter’s very own search tool.  When Twitter is a mecca of trending news that hasn’t reached the ears of mainstream media yet, you better get the front row tickets.  Just type in your keywords and subscribe to the RSS feed of your search results.  It can be an amazing way to connect with potential clients.

Yahoo Pipes

If you’re filtering multiple sites and you would like information mashed into one feed or alert, this RSS blender is the best option you have.  There are plenty others, but they come and go in time.  Yahoo Pipes is a powerful news aggregator that lets you mashup info from the Web so you better think about your keywords very well.  You can combine everything into one, sort, filter and translate content.  You can also create widgets or badges for your site, as well as well as export data into various formats – and all you have to do is sign in with your Yahoo account.

Having an RSS feed doesn’t only give you the latest news, but fresh ideas that can help you with your writing projects.  Whatever you choose to do with all the data you will get from these feeders, what matters most is the quality of information you’ll get.

Do you think that using RSS feeds can help you become more productive?  Share your thoughts in the comment below.

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