Business Credit Cards

Looking for a job today is a frustrating, lonely process, even if you’ve got in-demand skills like Web design or networking capabilities. To make your job search a little less complicated, we’ve compiled this list of the top 100 niche job boards that will direct you to the best Web jobs out there. Online forums, staffing services, and government boards are just some of the resources that follow. Online Specific Boards

Your dream job could be just a click away! These websites are devoted to helping programmers, networkers, designers, system administrators, and other Web workers land the perfect job.

1. 37signals: Employers such as The New York Times and American Express post Web jobs on this site.
2. Google Directory: Google is now dipping into the job search industry. You can browse through job listings, job fairs, staffing services, or even brush up on your interview skills by reading tips from their team of experts.
3. FreshWebJobs.com: Find full time, part time, or freelance work in Web design, development, or analysis.
4. Read/Write Web Jobs: Search for Web jobs all over the world.
5. Jobpile: Jobpile searches several other job boards for you, and then lists all the announcements that match your search.
6. Authentic Jobs: Find full time or freelance job openings all over the country when you use this site.
7. Krop.com: Krop’s simple layout makes finding a job easy, whether you’re looking in London, New York, or LA.
8. MeFi Jobs: This online community allows members to share tips about new Web job openings, so you always get the inside scoop!
9. Slashdot Jobs: New Web jobs are posted almost daily. Search by category or location to find exactly what you’re looking for.
10. CSS Beauty: This job board is a partner of CSS Monster, which "was created to help bring Web Developers/Designers and employers together." This easy-to-navigate site features great jobs in North America and Europe.
11. Coroflot: Coroflot posts tons of new jobs each day. Check back often or sign up to receive job alerts that will notify you when the type of job you’re looking for pops up.
12. MinistryCamp Job Board: This job board is designed to help Web workers find job opportunities with churches and othe Christian organizations.
13. Python Job Board: Detailed posts give information about each job description, the company, and contact directions.
14. CrunchBoard: Excellent engineering, networking, and other Web job opportunities are posted daily on this site.
15. GeekUp: Find jobs in "the UK’s Northwest" on this job board.
16. Dice: Known as the "career hub for tech insiders," Dice lets you search for jobs based on location, skill, and keywords.
17. ComputerJobs.com: Search hundreds of tech jobs all over the United States. This site also features an IT Resource page, where you can find links to special training programs, relocation info, and more.
18. DevBistro: Search through directories that post tons of Web jobs daily.

Brick and Mortar Firms

These firms feature job boards posted on their Web sites but also have actual locations outside of cyberspace.

19. EDI Specialists: This company is based in Massachusetts, but its online job board posts jobs all over the country.
20. Web Analytics Association: This professional organization, headquarted in D.C., is a valuable source for job seekers.
21. Winebego Inc.: Winebego, Inc. is located in New York City and has a large department dedicated to finding jobs and maintaining contacts in the technology industry.
22. Reaction Search International: RSI has locations all over the world. Use their superior services to coordinate an efficient and effective job search.
23. Bristol Associates, Inc. A large firm specializing in many different areas, Bristol Associates features many high profile jobs in the Web industry.
24. Kelly Services: This global staffing agency has multiple offices on each continent.
25. Design Group: Based in Canada, this firm’s website is a great resource for job seekers everywhere. Find engineering and design jobs in permanent or contract positions.
26. Allyis: This company specializes in finding technology personnel and projects. Based in Washington State, they’re a great resource for anyone in the Northwest.
27. AdJob.com Located in Ohio, this firm promises to find your specialty and match you with a great job.
28. Systems Personnel Group, Inc. Multiple offices are located in Western New York, including Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Use this company to take advantage of their contacts with IT and other computer type businesses.
29. GCS Recruitment: If you’re looking for an IT job in Europe, contact one of the GCS Recruitment offices to ensure a professional search.
30. TekJobs.com Computer Recruiters: This California firm posts a wealth of Web jobs on its website, including employment opportunities for data and system administrators, software engineers, technical analysts, developers, and security specialists.
31. Going Ware, Inc. If you’re looking for a job in Santa Cruz, CA, this is a great site to visit. Its computer industry index features employers and job opportunities in the following fields: programming, technical support, Web design, network administration, and more.
32. SearchFirm.com: This website has its headquarters in New York City, but it connects searchers with jobs and firms all over the world.
33. The Riley Guide: This Maryland-based search firm provides job seekers with a salary guide and a "how to" tutorial on job searching, as well as a comprehensive job board.

Job Boards Found on Blogs

Bloggers can earn extra cash by posting legitimate jobs on their site. Keep an eye on these blogs to get updates on new job announcements.

34. Recruiting.com: This site posts articles and sponsors forums about all things related to the job search. Find Web-specific jobs on their job board.
35. Australian Microsoft Recruitment Web Log: Even if you’re not looking to relocate to Australia, this blog gives readers insight into the recruitment process at Microsoft.
36. Web Based Recruitment: Several online recruitment blogs are available to job seekers, or you can start your own to post your resume, reveal job openings, or connect with potential employers.
37. Info World Blogs: This blog features IT and computer news and gossip, but it also has a section devoted to career information.
38. Tech Crunch: This blog has forums and articles about the computer and technology worlds, but you should visit to check up on their job postings.
39. Blog Job Board: Read about job boards and search employment opportunities in the Web industry.
40. Job Board Link: This site hosts links to other job boards, making it an easy reference for job searching.
41. Online Recruitment – The Bigger Picture: Otherwise known as "Tim’s Blog," this Web site discusses all aspects of online recruitment. Look for links to potential employers or recruitment agencies for personalized help with your search.
42. Problogger: This blog features one of the most effective job boards on the Web. Browse through listings, which are updated nearly everyday.

Staffing Services and Recruiting Firms

Enlisting a little extra help from the experts is a smart move. Check out this list to see if any of the following staffing services have what you’re looking for.

43. Web Analytics Demystified: This firm offers staffing support for the brightest Web workers, whether you’re just breaking into the industry or are a veteran looking for a change.
44. Aquent:This staffing firm has a huge directory of jobs, including those in the Web industry.
45. CyberCoders: This firm provides great support for Web workers looking for employment.
46. CyberScientific: CyberScientific is affiliated with CyberCoders. Check out their site for even more postings and resources.
47. Computer Management, Inc. The recruiters at Computer Management, Inc. "specialize in recruiting for database administration, network administrator and Web development placement."
48. Spherion: This company boasts years of experience, making them one of the top go-to agencies for job searchers.
49. Link Staffing Services: Find a job, improve your resume, and more, all on this helpful website.
50. Executives on the Web: This "award winning global executive job board" supports job seekers all over the world. Check out their special IT department, which posts tons of technology jobs.
51. Net-Job: Find Web and Internet jobs in the U.K. when you search the posts on this site.
52. Datascope: This is another recruiting agency based in the United Kingdom. They find jobs in game programming and management, as well as in the internet and new media industries.
53. Jobabode.com: Jobabode.com directs you to all kinds of Internet and IT jobs.
54. Sampoorna Computer People: Search the job board to find some of the best IT jobs in India.
55. Tech-Centric: Computer and other tech jobs are posted nearly every day on this website. Save appealing jobs in your own folder, post your resume, and register for automatic job alerts.
56. Resumegator.com: This online recruiting agency connects job seekers with IT and computer jobs, as well as lets you take personality tests to find out what IT niche is the best fit for you.
57. AllEmploymentAgencies.com: Specify your location and browse through the directory to find a multitude of employment agencies in your area.

Government Resources

Whether you’re looking for a job with the government or just want a little help from an agency you trust, these resources provide valuable information for job seekers.

58. U.S. Dept. of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Learn what you can expect by pursuing a job in the Web industry. This site discusses working conditions, salary information, and the overall job outlook based on the current economy.
59. GovJobs.com: Search for jobs with the government while you take advantage of relocation information, disability programs, and more.
60. Military Connection: Research what it would be like to be a Web programmer for the United States military. Browse job opportunities with the navy, army, air force, coast guard, or marines.
61. Government Job Search: This website posts lots of jobs in the IT field. Search by category or by state.
62. Government Job Listings: This site will connect you to government jobs all over the country.
63. Jobs in Government: Read this article to learn what to expect when you work for the government.
64. The Book of U.S. Government Jobs: Read this book to find job listings and descriptions of Web industry job opportunities with the government.
65. FedWorld.gov: This site is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Find out where to search for jobs with the government, no matter where you are.
66. "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government – 2007:" Read this article from U.S. News and World Report to discover where you might want to consider looking for a Web job.
67. DisabilityInfo.gov: Learn about your rights as an employee with a disability.
68. StudentJobs.gov: If you’re still in or just out of college, consider working as an intern for one of these high profile government agencies.
69. Careers in Government: This site is an excellent resource for those who wish to puruse a career with the United States government.
70. GovernmentJobs.com: Browse government jobs at the state and local level.
71. GovernmentBids.com: Figure out how you, as a freelancer, can bid on government projects.

General Job Boards

These job boards post employment opportunities in many different industries, but their attention to Web-specific jobs is so extensive, we felt that we had to include them somewhere on our list!

72. JobHuntersBible.com: Browse through a multitude of jobs, and get valuable tips on interviewing and resume writing.
73. Creative Hotlist: This comprehensive job search site allows you to browse job postings by location and industry.
74. Career.com: According to the homepage, Career.com is "the world’s first recruitment site." Apply for hundreds of Web-related jobs each day.
75. Job Databases: This resource provides you with all the tools you need during your job search: job boards, links to employment agencies, and other tips to help you land your dream job.
76. Job Central: Post your resume and wait for employers to contact you, or you can search jobs by U.S. state, metro area, or company name.
77. Yahoo Hot Jobs: This popular site is bursting with technology job postings, resume tips, and other useful information.
78. Monster.com: Organize your job search tools by setting up an account in which you can file away your favorite jobs and custom designed resumes.
79. America’s Job Bank: This site is a great resource for finding websites, staffing agencies, and employers based on location.
80. USA Jobs: Search IT and computer jobs on this website while reading articles about the different aspects of the hiring process.
81. WSJ Career Journal: This "executive career site" is full of tools, tips, and job boards that will help you find the job you’ve been wanting. Take advantage of the salary search and career columnists pages.
82. Craigslist: This famed site is great for finding jobs and housing all over the world.
83. New York Times Job search: Search the extensive directory on the New York Times directory to find IT and other Web-related jobs.
84. Jobs.Internet.com: Find tons of tech jobs that "you won’t find anywhere else."
85. Business.com Job Directory: Click through the directory at Business.com to find internet jobs.
86. Internet Job Store.com: This site is designed to help you easily and quickly search for jobs in the Web industry.
87. TrueCareers.com: Post your resume, search for jobs by state, or catch up on industry news, all at TrueCareers.com.
88. CareerSite.com: Find the jobs you want when you use this Web site for searching.
89. Internet Career Connection: This site allows visitors to search for jobs and seek general career advice from experts.
90. Top USA Jobs: "Where Top USA Talent Finds Top USA Jobs."
91. WebReference.com: The job search directory is listed in alphabetical order, allowing you to search different job boards quickly.

Just for Freelancers

If you’d rather be your own boss, check out these job boards which cater exclusively to the freelance crowd.

92. All Freelance: Find everything you need to know to be a successful freelancer. Browse jobs, read articles about tax law, and more.
93. Go Freelance: Learn about freelancing marketing strategy and post your resume online.
94. Elance: Elance is a great site for finding Web-related freelance jobs.
95. Workaholics4Hire.com: Search jobs and read articles on evaluating your freelancing abilities.
96. FreelanceSwitch: This networking community supports freelancers by posting writing, design, and programming jobs.
97. "How to Win Contracts:" Read this article to improve your branding, marketing, and pitching skills.
98. Guru.com: This Web site is great for freelancers looking to land top gigs.
99. CSS Juice: This site provides links to other job boards, allowing you to compare and contrast easily.
100. FreelanceJobSearch.com: Search by state to find loads of Web-related jobs.

This list will put you in contact with all the right resources during your job search. Link up with staffing services, check out recruitment blogs, or browse job postings on any one of these great sites.

Trying to make a living as a photographer is tough. You have to deal with odd schedules, low-paying gigs, and sometimes long breaks between work. The Internet can help make working as a photographer a little easier. You can post your portfolio online, network with potential clients, and even find new and possibly high-paying jobs. Following is a list of 33 innovative ways amateur photographers can make money online. Work with Online Companies

Existing online companies are constantly looking for photographers to supply them with photos that they can sell to their own customers. Check out these sites to get a piece of the profits.

1. Buy a Photo: This website serves as an online photography store. Visitors can browse through their catalog of photos, and then purchase the ones they want.
2. Shutterstock: Bloggers, designers, and anyone in the market for photos can download them from this site to use for their projects. If your photo is chosen, you’ll get a cut of the profits.
3. Share A Pic: This company pays photographers through PayPal and Google AdSense. Upload as many photos as you’d like to increase your chances of being published.
4. Digital Railroad: This site connects you to buyers from professional organizations who are looking to purchase and publish photographs.
5. Fotolia: Register with this system to sell your photos. You’ll make making money each time your photo is sold to a new customer.
6. Alamy: Get 65% of each sale when you work with Alamy, "the world’s largest online collection of stock photography." Alamy makes photographers do a little more work than other stock photo sites, but you’ll get a much larger share of the profits.
7. CameraDollars.com: This company pays photographers to upload digital images onto their site.
8. PhotoBiz.com: Join PhotoBiz.com to make money for submitting your photographs. You’ll also meet new customers who with any luck could become your personal clients.
9. Instaproofs: With Instaproofs, you can upload whatever photos you want. Read the marketing tutorial to learn more about meeting and working with new clients.
10. Backprint.com: Sell your photos through Backprint, and take advantage of their custom marketing campaigns and private label services.
11. Photo Stock Plus: Maintain the rights to your photos and earn 85% of the profits when you affiliate your services with Photo Stock Plus.
12. dotPhoto Pro: At dotPhoto Pro, their number one mission is to "empower the professional." As an artist and a business person, you have the control to sell whichever photos you want and set your own prices and print sizes.
13. MorePhotos.com: This website lets you upload and organize your photos and set up a shopping cart for customers.

Selling your photos

Find the entrepreneur in you, and sell your photos to buyers online. These sites will help get you started.

14. Show Me Proofs: Register for this free program which allows you to sell photos through your website. The best part? You get to keep 100% of the profits!
15. Zooomr: Their website boasts that Zooomr is "universally the best way to share, search, store, sort and sell your photos online."
16. Photoblogs.org Create an account to become a member of the Photoblogs community. Your blog will appear on their website, connecting you to an unlimited number of potential buyers and contracters.
17. Image Display Works: This online software designed especially for photographers allows you to sell photos and other photo products from your website. Sign up for direct deposit, and you’ll be able to see your profits instantly.
18. Smug Mug: Set up your own photo gallery using Smug Mug. Get valuable tips and read funny photo session stories on the site’s forum.
19. ProBlogger.net: Learn how to design a sleek, profitable blog, on which you can post and sell your photos.
20. Lulu: Publish your images on the Internet quickly and easily. Lulu allows you to set your own prices and remain in control of your copyright.
21. Shutterpoint: Learn the ins and outs of selling photos online when you participate in Shutterpoint’s photo store. Earn 85% of the profits, and then start your own online shop once you’ve learned the ropes.
22. Easy Store Creator: Download free shopping carts and other handy merchandising tools that will turn your website into an online store.
23. PMA: Visit the Web site for The Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations to learn marketing strategies and other money making opportunities for independent photographers.

Miscellaneous

From contests to consulting, you’ll find more money making opportunities here.

24. Snapfish.com: In addition to developing beautiful prints, this site also allows you to create mugs, cards, and other promotional items that feature your photos. Have fun making these items, and then sell them on your website to make extra money.
25. Jyve: Earn money by becoming a consultant over AIM or Skype for Jyve.com.
26. Just Answer: Just Answer is another site that hires freelance consultants to participate in Internet dialogues. Share your photography expertise with people around the globe.
27. Guru.com: Join Guru.com’s directory of freelance professionals and wait for employers to come to you.
28. Spy Media: With Spy Media, you can either upload the photos that you have or go out on actual assignments requested by buyers and the company itself. Earn money for each photo.
29. Citizen Image: Photo categories include: news, sports and entertainment, travel and daily life, and creative. Submit photos, and earn money whenever they are published.
30. FotoSurf Monthly Contest: This website sponsors monthly photo contests. Upload your photos to be considered in the voting process.
31. Proof Positive Photo Contests: Proof Positive sponsors several contests year round. Check out this page for deadlines, guidelines, and prize information.
32. Elance: Use this job board for freelancers to offer your services as a Web designer. Custom design existing photos to fit a website’s theme or take new photos as assigned by your clients.
33. PhotoServe.com: Become a member of this photo community to connect with buyers all over the world. PhotoServe conducts year round marketing promotions to make sure your portfolio is seen by the right people.

Photographers don’t need to just rely on the occasional wedding gig to make extra money. There are plenty of opportunities to make money online as well. Try out a few of these. You might end up being successful enough to quit your day job!

With the dawn of Web 2.0, making money on the Internet has never been easier. Whether you’re in the market to make some extra cash on the side, or you’re trying to create a livable income from your online endeavors, there are numerous ways to make money through the Internet. Below is a list of 50 ways you can cash in during your free time.

Blogging

Blogging is one of the easiest, most straightforward ways to brand and market yourself on the Internet. By being your own boss, you can decide the subject matter of your posts and how often you want to write articles. Take advantage of these smart money making ideas to make the most of your blog.

1. Start your own blog: If you haven’t already started your own blog, you should go ahead and create one now. Use WordPress to help you get an overview of what blogging is, as well as see all the different kinds of designs, tools, and other custom options you can feature on your blog. Blogs can be real moneymakers, as you’ll find out from the following tricks and ideas.
2. Write paid reviews on your blog: Setting up your blog so that companies can post advertisements on your blog is one way to make money, but another, more profitable trick is to review the actual products for them, for a fee of course. Read more about paid reviews and Pay Per Post on Pureblogging.com
3. Google AdSense: Setting up Google AdSense on your blog is an easy way to make money without spending any time. Once you’ve registered your domain for AdSense, Google will post relevant ads from participating advertisers onto your blog. When readers click on the ads, you receive a percentage of the ad revenue. Click on the Google AdSense page to learn more.
4. Ask for donations: It seems tacky, but asking for donations to help support your blog is actually quite common. Convince your readers that they’re helping your cause: without a little financial support, you may not even be able to continue blogging. Don’t ask for a large sum, and be grateful for anything you do get.
5. Link your professional website to your blog: Drive traffic to your homepage to transform readers into potential customers.
6. Blogads.com: This site is another source that will put you in touch with advertisers. Here you can find out how you can play a more active role in selecting the kinds of advertisers you want to promote.
7. Bidvertiser.com: Search through this website’s directory of approved advertisers to find the ones that best suit your blog or website. You get paid each time someone clicks on the ads.
8. Write for Thisisby.us: Thisisby.us is a website that fosters a community of both writers and readers. Sign up to write for the site and earn 50% of the revenue. Or, you can just browse through the posts and comment on various articles, earning you 10% of the revenue.
9. Freelance for Suite101.com: This site publishes articles on all sorts of topics, from sports to history to pop culture, and more. Sign up to write short articles and blogs, while earning money. You can participate as an entry level writer or a feature writer depending on how much time you have to devote to the project. This site is a great resource for those who are looking to further their freelancing opportunities, or for those with steady jobs but want to earn a little more cash.
10. Search Engine Optimization: Read about how to increase your blog’s appearance in search engines at CourtneyTuttle.com.
11. Weblogs, Inc.: Get paid for one of nearly 100 blogs featured on this site.
12. BlogToProfit.com: Join this networking community to get in touch with the companies who want to advertise on your blog.
13. DayTipper.com: Get paid $3 each time you submit a tip. You don’t have to spend lots of time developing a whole article, and the tips can be about nearly anything, like pets, technology, travel, or finance.
14. CafePress.com: This idea was inspired by Mike Peed, as seen in The Washington Post. Designing and selling t-shirts, underwear, and other promotional items with your blog’s logo will give you instant profits, as well as boost your advertising off the Web.
15. Crisp Ads: Crisp Ads boasts that it is the "premiere blog advertising network." The site strives to give bloggers and advertisers the exposure they crave by creating relevant matches and partnerships.

Online Investing

Register with one or several of these online brokerage firms to watch your money work for you. You’ll get updates on the stock market, and you can buy and sell at virtually anytime you want, quickly and easily.

16. InvestingOnline.org: Check out this site before you start investing serious cash on the Internet. Take quizzes to gauge whether or not you’re ready to tackle the world of online investing, read about your rights as an investor, and more.
17. ShareBuilder: This website is designed to walk investors through each step of learning and executing trades on the market.
18. E*Trade Financial: E*Trade Financial is one of the most popular sites for online investing. Its website claims to manage 4.3 million accounts across the globe.
19. TD Ameritrade: TD Ameritrade allows you to trade as much or as little as you’d like. If you’re looking to kill a little extra time at the office each week or at home, this website is worth checking into.
20. Fidelity: Start putting away for your retirement early on with profits you make trading with Fidelity.
21. Sify Walletwatch: This site is an all-in-one toolbox for getting updates on stocks, managing your trades, and learning new tricks for profitable investing.
22. 2BuyShare.com: Buy and sell stocks while you read articles devoted to making you a better trader.
23. Scottrade: Allow the brokers at Scottrade to make money for you, while you spend time at your day job.
24. Bank of America Investment Services, Inc.: Read about what Bank of America can do for you and your wallet with its investment services.
25. BondsOnline.com: Conduct research about and trade your bonds using this great online investment tool.
26. HedgeStreet: Open an account with HedgeStreet and start trading in currency, oil, gold, and silver.

Miscellaneous

Learn about online surveys, becoming a virtual assistant, and more!

27. Become a Virtual Assistant. Only be as involved as you want to when you’re a virtual assistant. Setting your own boundaries and list of clientele will allow you to either work as a VA for your full-time job, or just on the side. A virtual assistant is similar to a personal assistant, only all of your work and communication is completed over the Internet and/or phone. Read more about becoming a VA on the Virtual Assistant For You homepage.
28. Flixya.com: By sharing photos, blogs, and videos on this site, you can earn 100% of your total generated ad revenue.
29. YellowSurveys.com: This site boasts that participants can make $10-$150 an hour taking fun, exciting paid surveys. Follow the link to learn more and sign up.
30. You Tube: Follow the link to You Tube’s Web site to learn how to quickly make money by posting your home videos on their site.
31. Sell items on eBay. eBay is another simple resource for making money online without having to put in much time. Once you’ve registered for eBay and posted whatever product you’re trying to sell, you just wait for the bidding to end before shipping off your merchandise.
32. Play-Asia.com Affiliate Program: Sign up to earn store credit at Play-Asia.com, an online retailer of video games and other entertainment products. Refer other Internet surfers to their Web site by posting their link wherever you want.
33. SurveyClub.com: Set aside a few minutes every once in a while to take online surveys and earn some easy money.
34. PicFury.com Affiliate Program: Join the affiliate program for PicFury.com, and your photos could be seen all over the Internet. You make money based on the amount of impressions each photo receives.
35. eBooks: Read more about writing and selling your very own eBook on the Internet by following the link.
36. Freelance as a Web Designer: Even if you don’t have the time or the resources to design an entire company’s website, you could still put your web savvy skills to use by coding and designing a blogger’s site. Visit FreelanceDesigners.com to see what other freelance designers are doing, and how to advertise your own services.
37. CashCrate: Complete free offers, try out new products, and take surveys to earn quick cash.
38. Shutterstock: Submit your photos to this Web site, and "get paid every time one of your photos is downloaded" from their directory.
39. Become a Millionaire in "Second Life." Read this article about how to make real money by participating in a virtual economy.
40. Set up an Online Store: Whether you’re trying to get rid of several used items around the house, or you’d like to start your own business selling handmade products, add an online shopping cart to your website and start contacting customers. Try using this software to get you started.
41. $$$Secrets.com: This tutorial shares secrets for making big money on the Internet.
42. Log on to JobThread.com: Post a JobThread widget onto your Web site or blog and earn major cash. You can request a certain job field that is relevant to your site; for instance, if your blog is about pets, JobThread will post job openings for veterinarians.
43. InnerSell Inc.: This site advertises that you can, "Earn additional income when you use the InnerSell system to connect those customers who want what you don’t sell with trusted Vendors."
44. Amazon.com Affiliate: Read this article by Scott Allen to better understand the system behind the Amazon.com Affiliate program. You can make easy, fast money with little effort.
45. A1Tutor.com: Become a tutor by logging on to this learning network.
46. ShoppingJobs.net: Getting paid to shop seems like a dream, but you really can make money by shopping and eating out.
47. Be a Host or Moderator for a Web site. This article by Kelly Land gives tips for becoming a paid host online.
48. Start your own Credit Card Business. This idea may seem like it would take up a lot of your time, but it really won’t. Read the article, and earn some extra spending money each month.
49. Virtual Vocations: Check out this site for tons of easy jobs you can do from your own computer.

Hopefully there are at least a few ideas here that strike your fancy and will help you start making money on the Internet in no time, whether on your breaks at work, at home, or even on vacation. There are so many options out there that there’s bound to be something that works for you.

Ever have times when you’re sitting at your desk with nothing to do and wish you could be doing something much more productive instead? If you put your mind to it, you could be, and maybe even earn a little money at the same time. So long as you’re still getting your primary work done, there’s really no harm in taking your productivity to the next level, right? Here are a few ways that you can start using your spare minutes at work or at home to make a few extra bucks a week with a part-time business.

Around the House

Looking at your own to do list should be enough to show you that there are plenty of tasks you can do around the house that many people would be willing to pay you to take care of for them. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Handyman: Are you good with a hammer or a screwdriver? Why not turn that skill into a little extra money on the side by offering handyman services to those who are too old or too inexperienced to do minor home repairs on their own. You can even spend your downtime at work posting ads for your services on local bulletin boards.
2. Cleaning houses: Everyone wants a clean house, but not everyone wants to do the work that goes along with it. Offer cleaning services to local homeowners and you could make good money for just doing a few extra chores around the house.
3. Home inspection: Before buying a home, most buyers have it checked out by a home inspector to make sure it’s sound before they complete the sale. If you’ve got some knowledge of construction and building codes you could be that inspector and be making money anytime you get spare time to check out a house.
4. Window tinting: With a little basic training and equipment, you can get set up to tint the windows of just about anything. Whether it’s tinting car windows or office buildings, you can be making some green by offering this service during your downtime.
5. Houseplant maintenance: If you’ve ever gone out of town and come home to withered and brown plants, you all about the need for plant care. Offer your watering and care services to homeowners as well as businesses who don’t have a green thumb or the time to care for their leafy decorations.
6. Organizing: Have a gift for bringing order to chaos? Make it your job. Help packrats clean out their closets and get rid of the excess clutter and you could make a tidy profit.
7. Yard care: The outside of the home is the only part that most people ever get to see, so it makes sense that it should look good. Capitalize on this by offering yard care services like lawn mowing, weeding, fertilizing, and pruning. Money could just end up growing on trees after all.
8. Wallpaper hanging: If you’ve ever hung wallpaper you know how difficult it can be to get just right. Some lucky people, however, have a particular skill at it. If you’re one of them, you can earn some extra weekend dollars by hanging wallpaper for those who are clueless in the ways of papering walls.
9. House sitting: Put a vacationing client’s mind at ease by being a house sitter. You’ll be there to make sure the plants get watered, the mail gets brought in, and those daily newspapers don’t just pile up in the yard.
10. Window cleaning: No matter what, over time, windows will get dusty and dirty. With a ladder and a squeegee, you could turn a profit cleaning these hard to reach windows for people in your area.
11. Pool service: While cleaning and maintaining pools might not be the most glamorous work, it can bring in some much needed income, especially if you live in a hot area where many people have pools.
12. Power washing: You can rent, borrow or buy a simple power washer and turn it into a small side business. Driveways, houses and even businesses could stand a little bit of a wash now and then.
13. Paint curbs: Who doesn’t want their address displayed clearly? It can make a big difference in the event of an emergency. It can also be a great way to make a little extra cash for not a lot of extra work.
14. Babysitting: This can be a great way to make some extra cash, as finding good, reliable and readily available babysitters can be a chore. If you don’t mind giving up your nights and weekends every once in awhile you can build a solid customer base for your childcare services.
15. Shovel snow: Few people want to go out in the snow to clear driveways and sidewalks, and would be more than willing to pay you to do it instead. Invest in a snow blower and you could turn all that white stuff into green.

Arts and Crafts

If you’ve got a creative talent, don’t let it go to waste. Here are some ideas on how you can use it t make some extra profits.

16. Microstock: If photography is your hobby, why not post some of your favorite shots on microstock sites? You’ll earn money each time one of your snapshots is used.
17. Antiquing: Spending your weekends scouting garage sales, thrift stores, estate auctions, and flea markets can be a great way to score old treasures for cheap. Research to find out the real value of what you’ve found and spend your next lunch hour auctioning it off on eBay.
18. Making jewelry: Go to any crafts fair, and you’ll quickly find out that making and selling jewelry is big business, even when the materials aren’t highly valuable. Work with gold, silver, beads, or even recycled materials to create original designs you can sell online or at local craft fairs.
19. Picture framing: Framing pictures takes a little bit of know how and a few specialty tools, but if you are good at it it can be a wonderful way to bring in some extra money on the side. Make friends with local artists, galleries and photographers if you want to boost your business and your income.
20. T-Shirt design: If you’re good with design and know how to screenprint or applique designs you could turn a good profit making t-shirts for local teams, groups and businesses.
21. Write: Writing doesn’t have to just be a hobby, it can also be a great way to bring in some extra money freelancing. Write online for blogs, for a local newspaper, or sell short stories to literary magazines to get your name out there and help pay your bills.
22. Upholster furniture: Sometimes the fabric on a chair will go out of style long before the shape. Update old furniture by selling your skills as an upholsterer. You’ll make money and help rid the world of ugly furniture.
23. Interior design: Some people are just hopeless when it comes to decorating a room and picking out furniture. If you’ve got a knack for it, market your skills for paint, fabric and layout as an interior designer. If your own home looks great, use that to help market yourself.
24. Sew: If you know how to hem a skirt or take in much to large dress you could be using those skills to bring in a little extra income. Many people aren’t especially skilled with a needle and thread and will be more than happy to pay you to take care of it instead.
25. Musician: If you’ve got some musical talent, you can spend your next lunch hour booking gigs to bring you and your band mates some extra cash for doing something you love. Play at a local club or check out the wedding circuit.
26. DJ: If you’ve got a record or CD collection that just can’t be rivaled, you can start making it work for you by becoming a DJ. Get gigs at weddings, school functions and parties and put together play lists over your lunch break.

Professional Skills

Make your professional work skills count even when you’re not at your primary job. Here are a few ways to make money on the side using your degree or professional skills.

27. Medical transcription: Help out a hospital, doctor, dentist or even a veterinarian by transcribing medical records. These kinds of services are in big demand and best of all you can work from home or from where ever you are. You’ll be most successful if you have a good knowledge of medical terminology and great typing skills.
28. Consulting: If you’ve got loads of knowledge on business or IT, you could be using it to help out other businesses by doing a little consulting work on the side. Just make sure it isn’t a conflict of interest with your current occupation.
29. Prepare taxes: As inevitable as they are, people hate doing their own taxes. If you’re number savvy and have the know-how, you could be spending tax season getting more than just your own refund.
30. Tutoring: Got a college education that isn’t being put to much use at your job? Use your downtime to tutor kids after school or over the Internet. You’ll be helping out students and making a little extra for yourself as well.
31. Language lessons: With the world getting smaller and smaller with new technology, knowing more than one language is a must. If you’re bilingual use your language skills to create a business opportunity. Teach children and adults in your area or give classes at local businesses.
32. Fund raiser: If you have excellent people skills and marketing talent you could become a part-time fund raiser. Many fund raisers are paid a percentage of what they raise, so that’s all the more incentive to get yourself busy bringing in the money for a local charity or non profit organization.
33. Accounting: If you’ve got attention to detail and the math skills, you could make some extra money managing the books of a business on the side. Check your local newspaper for ads from businesses looking for part time bookkeepers.
34. Virtual assistant: You don’t need to be in the office to be an assistant these days. You can find work with many places where you’ll perform tasks over the Internet instead. It can be an easy and commute free way to get some extra money.
35. Editorial services: If you’ve got speedy typing fingers and an eagle eye for grammar mistakes, try offering your services as a typist and proofreader. If you’ve got a computer, printer and email you’re set and ready to go starting this side business.
36. Debt counseling: For those from a financial background, offering services to help others get a handle on their finances can be a great way to bring in some cash. You’ll be getting both you and your clients on the road to a better financial future.
37. Green business consultant: Many businesses are looking for ways to be more environmentally conscious these days. If you’re an earth loving type with some know how, you can launch this into a successful side business.

Health and Fitness

There are few things more important than health or fitness. Improve your financial fitness with these side business ideas.

38. Personal trainer: Pump up your profits while you help others pump iron. Fitness gurus willing to get certified can make quite a bit of money offering training services to those who want to lose those pesky love handles.
39. Yoga instructor: If you’ve been practicing yoga for many years, chances are you could learn to teach it to others as well. Offer classes to local businesses, health clubs, or through your local parks and recreation to bring in some extra cash while maintaining your zen.
40. Personal chef: With so much going on, it can be hard for some people to find the time to cook a real meal. That’s where you can come in. Plan and cook a menu for clients that will be healthy and satisfying.
41. Swimming lessons: Don’t let all those early morning swim practices go to waste. Use your swimming skills to teach kids in your area. You’ll help them become more confident in the water and help keep your finances afloat.
42. Espresso cart: Selling coffee can have quite a large profit margin if you know how to move it. Buy or rent an espresso cart and head out to local sporting events and markets in your area to capitalize on those caffeine addicts.
43. Make jellies: Never thought that jelly making your grandma taught you all about would be that useful? It could be if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. Sell your custom creations over the Internet or at a local market.
44. Grow vegetables: If you rarely use your backyard why not turn it into a garden? You can sell the best products of your harvest and if there’s anything left over you’ll have fresh fruits and veggies ready to eat for dinner.
45. Walk dogs: Dogs need to be walked one way or another and some pet owners simply can’t get home during the day to take their best friend out for a walk around the block. Creating your own dog walking service can be a great way to get exercise and get yourself some extra money.
46. Hiking guide: A love of the great outdoors will make you an ideal candidate for considering this as an alternative way of making some cash. You’ll get to do something you love while making sure others stay safe enjoying their hike.
47. Massage therapy: If you take the time to get certified as a massage therapist you could be making quite a bit of money offering your services. Massage appointments are sometimes short enough that you could even sneak one in over your lunch hour.
48. Life coaching: Encourage others to be successful and make the most of their potential as a life coach. You can fit in appointments on weekends, during lunch and after work, making it easy to do double duty.
49. Makeup artist: If you’re constantly getting complimented on your stellar makeup skills, then perhaps it’s time you tapped into them as a business endeavor. Paint the faces of women for weddings, parties, and even stage performances in your spare time.
50. Organic catering: Organic food has become increasingly popular as people become more aware of the harmful effects of chemicals. Capitalize on this and your cooking skills by offering 100% organic catering services.

Technology

Technology is in everything these days, and if you know enough about it you can make good money selling your skills. Here are a few tech related business ideas to try out.

51. Computer set up: Despite the constant presence of technology in most peoples everyday lives, there are some that just can’t seem to get the hang of it. This is where you can come in and get paid to help those with new computers get them set up, install new programs, and make sure everything is plugged in correctly.
52. Home entertainment service: Home entertainment systems are getting fancier and fancier, and as a result many people have little idea of how to hook them up. This is where you can come in. With a little bit of knowledge about home electronics and wiring, you can set up tvs and stereo systems for a little extra cash in your pocket.
53. Computer tutor: You might be a computer whiz, but many others, especially older people, aren’t and could use a little help learning how to navigate their desktop. Offering at-home instruction on how to use word processors, surf the web, or set up a computer can be a big help to the less tech savvy who still want to stay connected.
54. Records search: Explore your investigative side by searching for information for clients. Use the Internet to browse public records to find lost loves, check out questionable employees, track down debtors, and much more. Best of all, you can do it right from your desk.
55. Blogging: Got something to say but no place to say it? Try starting a blog. If it gains popularity you could bring in a good chunk of cash through on page advertising each month.
56. Buy and sell domain names: While many of the best .coms are already taken, you can still make money in the domain name business with the newer .tv and .info names out there. With a little business savvy you can turn your afternoon domain auction browsing into a cash cow.
57. Design webpages: Well-designed webpage work is always in demand and is something that you can easily do on the side with the right technical know-how to make some extra money.
58. Be a virtual mogul: With the growing popularity of online programs like Second Life and WoW, there is plenty of money to be made in creating in-game clothing, real estate, objects and anything else and exchanging it for real life dollars.
59. Web hosting: You don’t need to buy a lot of fancy and expensive server hardware to provide a Web hosting service. Many big hosting companies allow "reseller" accounts where you sell hosting plans to customers and the hosting company will host them all for you under your account umbrella, and you can charge your own rates for the service.
60. Sell on eBay: You can make a profit not only selling your own things on eBay but charging others to sell their things as well. Doesn’t sound like something people would pay for? Many business are already making substantial profits doing it, so why not jump on the bandwagon?
61. Computer cleanup: Viruses, malware and spyware are everywhere these days and can bog down a computer in no time. Offer your services to help clean and speed up computers that may have been infected.
62. Transfer formats: Know someone that would be happy having their album collection moved to CD or MP3 format? With a small amount of equipment you can do this while you’re working on other things around the house.

Retail

Shopaholics and penny pinchers alike will appreciate these ideas on how to make money in the world of retail.

63. Personal shopping: You’d be surprised at how many people would pay to not have to deal with the hassles of shopping, especially around the holidays. Make their laziness your benefit charging by the hour for your services.
64. Market research studies: Spend your free time at work browsing the classifieds for opportunities to participate in paid studies. Depending on the study, it could be some of the easiest money you’ll ever make.
65. Product reviews: Companies are often more than willing to pay reviewers to use and review their products. You’ll not only get paid, but you’ll get free products to boot.
66. Mystery shopping: Many big retail chains are willing to pay you to shop on their behalf to see how the staff treats customers. Buy products, eat meals, or stay in a hotel, all on someone else’s tab.
67. Gift wrapping: Many people make good extra cash around the holidays wrapping gifts for others. If you’re skilled with tape and ribbon, it could be a great way to help afford those extra holiday expenses.

Miscellaneous

Still looking for that perfect fit for a side business? Try these on for size to see if they can help you bring in extra revenue.

68. Genealogy: Many people want to know more about their family history but just don’t have the time to look up all the records they need. You can offer your services as a family researcher and help clients get in touch with their roots. Best of all, you can do a lot of this research right from your desk at work.
69. Trip planner: Everyone needs a vacation now and then, but not everyone wants to make all those reservations and bookings. Take the work out of vacation planning for someone else and earn yourself some money to put towards your own vacation.
70. Run errands: Whether your clients just don’t have the time or lack the mobility, they’ll be happy to use your service to save them the time of running their own errands. You’ll make some extra money and you might even have time to take care of your own to do list at the same time.
71. Obedience school: No one likes a naughty and destructive pet, and if you’re good at reigning in dogs you could have a profitable side career as an obedience trainer. Offer both individual classes and group sessions to maximize your profits.
72. Feng shui consulting: Interest in feng shui has risen in recent years and you can capitalize on it by helping individuals and businesses get in harmony in their interior and exterior spaces. If you get certified you can make quite a bit, especially on larger projects.
73. Cake decorating: Cakes often form the centerpiece of formal occasions like weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. If you’ve got the artistic flair, why not use it to create impressive culinary creations? Do a beautiful job and you’re sure to get loads of business.
74. Tour guide: If you live in a touristy area, consider becoming a tour guide in your off time. You can show groups around all the major highlights of your city and get to enjoy the fresh air.
75. Scrapbooking: If you’ve got a flair for making your memories look even more memorable in a scrapbook, you can try teaching scrapbooking classes in your area. Additionally, you can make a pretty penny selling supplies for scrapbooking as well.
76. Boat cleaning: In the right market, the opportunities to make a profit cleaning boats are extensive. After all, there are a lot of boats, and likely more than a few need to be cleaned. Advertise your services at a local dock or marina to bring in clients and some money.
77. Fill out surveys: You’re unlikely to make a bundle working on filling out surveys, but you can do it from your desk, and it might even look like you’re actually working.

Sometimes the best way to learn about entrepreneurship is to watch others talk about it. Here are ten videos about exactly that. You’ll see that entrepreneurs come from all walks of life, from all over the world, and different age groups, and that they become entrepreneurs for many different reasons. Not all are bootstrappers, but many are. My favorite tip, from video #9, is that "life is long… and you don’t have to succeed right away." In fact, many famous entrepreneurs failed a couple of times before succeeding. Lessons learned through error can be valuable. Note: Each video in the player below should advance on its own, though SplashCast servers hvae been overloaded, so you may need to manually forward when a video ends. Sound levels are different in each video, but unfortunately I have no control over this. Total playing time is nearly an hour.

If you’re running your own small business or selling services and products over the Internet, you know that getting your clients and customers to pay up can often be a challenge. This list of tools will help you stay on top of your finances so that you can accurately track pay dates, invoice numbers, client contact information and transactions online. Wherever you can find a computer, you can access all of your company’s billing information easily and securely. 1. BillMyClients.com: Freelancers, small companies and large corporations can take advantage of this online invoicing solution that features three separate systems designed to help all kinds of business owners keep track of their finances and "quickly and easily create and print invoices and bills." 2. Blinksale: This "elegantly-designed web-application" can help anyone create and send invoices to clients and vendors. Users can upload contact lists for easy record management and use a tagging system to organize archived and pending invoices. 3. 2ndSite: Manage your invoices and billing records online with 2ndSite, a company that helps you get "paid faster," according to one reviewer. 4. FreshBooks: Its website claims that FreshBooks is "the fastest way to track time and invoice your clients," and their easy-to-use system is especially popular with small businesses and freelancers. 5. BambooInvoice: If you run your own company or freelancing business, try out this open-source invoicing solution to bill your clients and manage your data. According to the website, you’ll "never need to trust your invoicing data to anyone else, and you can get it out of the system easily." 6. Invoice Journal: The DownloadSquad gives this Web-based system a positive review for it’s simple structure and no-frills website. 7. Simplifythis: Simplifythis promotes "business made easy." This attractive, professional-looking solution lets companies organize financial data in a clear, concise manner. 8. BillingOrchard: BillingOrchard in an online system that does more than just basic invoices. Freelancers and business owners can set up recurring billing and time billing options to manage the different needs of all their employees. 9. Invotrak: Instead of buying expensive software, use Invotrak to set up, send out and manage your invoices and bills for free. 10. Bank of America Online Banking: Bank of America’s online banking center helps small businesses supports a "premium online invoicing service" for companies "to create and send invoices online using customizable templates." 11. ToadTime: Metal Toad Media supports ToadTime, an online invoicing system used along with QuickBooks to help you manage your time, project collaborations and more. 12. EZ Invoice, Inc. (EZI): This software system runs on your website’s server so that you can manage all of your client information and business applications on one spot online. 13. SuperInvoice: Windows users should try out SuperInvoice for secure, professional invoicing services hosted online. The system also lets users keep an address book, host password-protected invoice sharing and more. 14. Time59: Time59 is marketed towards independent professionals and contractors, and its sleek look makes it must-use tool for those who work with higher-profile clients and associates. 15. 21st Capital Corp: This company offers several online financial tools, including an easy-to-use invoicing system and QuickBooks integration capabilities. 16. Invoice4u: This online invoicing solution has features like high security standards, a customer messaging system, invoice customization options and more. 17. Simplybill: Simplybill is "ridiculously easy to use" and can help non-techies manage and send out professional-looking invoices for all their clients. 18. Invoicera: Consider using Invoicera to take advantage of their user-friendly online invoice billing system. 19. ST Web Invoice: This online invoicing program pulls from the AJAX software tradition of creating a smart, workable system combined with maximum usability. Use ST Web Invoice to create and design invoices and then e-mail them to your clients and vendors instantly. Payments can also be accepted online. 20. PayPal: If you’ve only been using PayPal for your eBay purchases, it’s time to upgrade. Try out their invoicing services for fast, trustworthy transactions.

Like any novice in the business world, the beginning freelancer is bound to make a few flubs along the way to professional success. After all, nobody is perfect. Most mistakes are harmless learning experiences that help you in your path to becoming a better businessperson, but there are some mistakes that can really make your life difficult, and that you might be better off having never made. Here are a few of the most common, and sometimes most painful mistakes that freelancers make, and some tips on how you can try to avoid them, or just make them less harmful on your path to freelancing success.

1. Quitting your 9 to 5 without any preparation. While your cubicle may feel more like a prison than a workspace, you shouldn’t just run out on it without any prior preparation. However bad your current job, ending up without a steady income and wholly unprepared for managing your own business is much worse. Before you take the leap into freelancing, make sure you have enough money saved to keep you afloat, at least a rough business plan, some solid contacts and a good understanding of where you’ll fit into your particular market. This will make it much easier on both you and your finances to make the transition from the corporate world to working for yourself.
2. Working for less than you deserve. One of the biggest mistakes that new freelancers make is not charging clients what their time is actually worth. While you don’t want to charge so much that clients balk at your rates, you also don’t want to be forced to work ridiculous hours just to make ends meet because you aren’t charging enough. You can find a happy medium by researching what the going rate is for freelancers in your field and using that figure to gauge what you should charge. If you’ve got load of experience and a killer portfolio, you might warrant more than the average, while if you’re just starting out in your field you’ll likely have to work your way up to the higher echelons of work.
3. Choosing the wrong clients. Something freelancers will quickly learn is that not every client is a good fit for your abilities and some may even test the limits of your patience and sanity. Sometimes the money made on a project simply isn’t worth the headaches that come along with it, and can result in you working more hours for less money than you should be, and ultimately being unhappy. Before working with clients, consider their working style, how difficult they will be to work with, whether or not they’ll pay on time, their particular market and how well these things fit with your needs. When choosing clients you have just as much of a right to interview them as they do you. Ask lots of questions and see if you can do a few projects on a trial basis before committing long-term.
4. Spending too much on equipment you don’t need yet. It can be really tempting to give yourself a sweet office setup, especially since you’re going to be spending so much time in it, but investing in brand new computers, copiers, scanners and other equipment before you’ve got the workload to absorb the cost can cast a shadow over the success of your business before it has even gotten off of the ground. You can avoid overstepping your budget by only investing in the equipment that is required to do your day to day business. Once you build up your clientele, and your need for more office equipment, you can then make an investment.
5. Working all alone. Just because you work at home and aren’t surrounded with coworkers doesn’t mean you have to completely isolate yourself. New freelancers are prone to take the term "going it alone" a little too literally when in actuality, you don’t have to do it all by yourself at all. Avoid feeling isolated by seeking out communities and resources for freelancers in every field to learn how to get started, network, and make positive and lasting connections with clients. They can also be a great place to get feedback on your ideas and vent when clients are making your life difficult.
6. Not researching your market. When you’re first starting out and looking for new clients, it can be a daunting task and you can often make pitches for projects that are less than stellar because you haven’t done the appropriate research on your client. Approaching someone asking for work without really knowing their needs, desires, or how the work you will do will really benefit your client isn’t going to win you much business. Avoid this common pitfall by researching your clients thoroughly before ever even attempting to work with them. Check out their website, see what their company is about, and what their long term goals are. Then you can more accurately assess what you have that will be of value to them, and increase your chances of getting hired.
7. Failing to be realistic about business expenses. Many freelancers make the mistake of underestimating their business expenses and how much they’ll really need to stay afloat during the preliminary stages of their business venture. You’ll need equipment, computer programs, advertising, websites, domain names, business cards, and loads of other small expenses that can add up quickly. Don’t let this scare you away from freelancing, just be honest with yourself about the potential costs you’ll face when you decide to pursue it. After all, you don’t want to end up not being able to afford to put a roof over your head. Before you make the transition to freelancing, carefully lay out your current expenses, as well as any additional expenses you think you’ll encounter when going into business. It’s better to overestimate slightly rather than underestimate, as unexpected expenses always seem to come up when you’re short on cash. Once you have this estimate, you can figure out how much you’ll need in the bank before you start your business.
8. Not educating yourself on the basics. Even if you’ve been in your particular line of business for a while, there may be things that are different when freelancing that you might not expect. New freelancers can be taken advantage of if they don’t take the time to learn about how to work with clients on a one on one basis. For instance, when you’re drafting or signing a contract with a client, will you know what makes a good contract and what makes one you should avoid? You can avoid getting tangled up in messy legal battles or stuck with the client from hell by taking the time to learn about contracts before you ever have the need to sign one. The same holds true for managing your business finances, taxes and marketing. If you’re at a loss, try asking others in the business or take a class online from the Small Business Administration.
9. Not keeping set business hours. Now that you make your own hours, you can work whenever you want, right? While that might be the case, if you want to maintain your personal life you might want to lay down some ground rules with yourself and your clients. Without set hours you could end up working all hours of the night not only to get things done, but dealing with client calls and last minute changes, which is probably not what you had in mind when you decided to become a freelancer. By setting hours, you will create a time when you’ll force yourself to sit down and work, with few interruptions from friends and family, and later have time to spend with friends and family with few interruptions from work.
10. Taking on too many projects at once. When you finally start finding work, it can be tempting to take every client and assignment that comes your way in an attempt to build a more solid portfolio and get your name out there in the freelancing world. While the money may be good, chances are pretty good that you won’t get much repeat business this way. You’ll be so busy juggling projects you won’t have time to give each one the attention it deserves and your clients may start to feel like they aren’t important to you. Avoid stretching yourself too thin by only taking on what you can actually handle, no matter how tempting those additional projects might be. You don’t want to get overwhelmed and burnt out in your first few months of freelancing.
11. Getting too personal. Every once in awhile as a freelancer you will have a client that you simply love. They’re easy to work with, you get along great, and have a great rapport. But it’s very easy to fall into the habit of becoming a little too personal with your client and that can ultimately make working with them much more complicated. Feelings can become hurt at decisions that are simply business related, or you can start to appear unprofessional. You can avoid this by keeping your correspondence friendly, but professional, and making sure that while you’re working together, your relationship is strictly business.
12. Having only one income stream. For new freelancers, figuring out how to make ends meet with assignments from clients can be difficult. If you find a client that’s willing to give you continued work, that’s great, but don’t stop looking for other work just because you’ve found a reliable client. After all, if your client goes out of business or suddenly no longer has a need for your services, you could be left out in the cold, quite literally. It’s better to rely on a few different clients for your income, so that even if you lose one, you have something to fall back on. When you’re starting out that might be difficult, so consider taking on a part time job to supplement your freelance work, just in case.
13. Allowing yourself to slack off. Everyone has days when they wake up and simply don’t feel like doing a thing, and as a freelancer you are perfectly capable of taking advantage of that feeling and curling up on the couch all day to watch reruns of Full House and eat junk food until your stomach hurts. And every once in awhile, that’s totally fine. But a little slacking can turn into a lot, and soon you’re not making money and not getting work done on time. It’s fine to allow yourself the flexibility to work with your natural productivity highs and lows, but at the end of the day, you have to get your work done. Push yourself to make deadlines, please clients, and further your business. Once your hard work has paid off, reward yourself with a few days of guilt-free slacking.
14. Not communicating effectively. This isn’t a problem just for freelancers, but for people from all areas of business, and it can have a big impact on your success at running your own business. In order to deliver a good product, you’ll need to know what questions to ask, how to conduct yourself in conversations, and how to not lose your temper or get overly emotional when your work is criticized. And in order to make sure that you’re happy, you’ll need to know how to ask for the pay you want and terms you can live with. While you won’t become a savvy, confident businessperson overnight you can give yourself a leg up on communication skills by tying to be honest, clear and professional in all of your communications with clients. Don’t leave room for interpretation and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure.
15. Failing to create a business plan. It’s very easy to go into freelancing without any idea of where your business will end up in six months or a year. You may be the fly by the seat of your pants type, but you’re really doing yourself a disservice not to mention taking a risk when you fail to plan for the future of your business. Figure out who you are and where you want your business to go before jumping in or you could find yourself way off track when you reflect on it after a few months in the field. Having a basic outline of what expenses you expect to incur, what your target market will be, how you will find clients, how much you’ll charge, and a plethora of other issues should be addressed before you ever take the leap to avoid unhappy consequences later on.

Even armed with the knowledge of what to avoid, you’re bound to make a few mistakes in your freelancing career. Don’t let it get you down-everyone has been there at one time or another. So long as you learn from what you’ve done, and improve for the future, there are few mistakes that you can’t recover and come back even more successful from.

Whether you work from home or have a separate office space for meeting up with clients, your work area is probably cluttered with loose documents, disorganized filing cabinets and messy paperwork. Web workers are on the computer most of the day anyway, so why not transfer all of your files onto a Web-based system? Read below for 25 online filing systems that will make your life much easier.

1. Files Anywhere: This popular filing tool provides features like easy-to-use upload and delivery functions, secure encryption services, file sharing options and much more.
2. Xdrive: Xdrive offers up to 5GB of free online storage to its users. Back up important files, and access all of your uploads from any computer, no matter where you are.
3. FileCroc: Once you’ve organized your files online for yourself, you can use FileCroc to share documents, images, videos, software programs and other files with your business associates.
4. Your File Link: Store large documents and images at Your File Link, a system which provides "both fast uploading and downloading times" and a secure connection.
5. Box: This filing favorite offers free online file storage, Internet file sharing and more. Box gives users the option of setting up an individual, business or enterprise account, depending on your company needs.
6. FileSend: Web workers will love the fast, hassle-free delivery system from FileSend. FileSend hosts your files and lets you select the e-mail addresses you want your documents to be sent to.
7. Hotlink Files: Hotlink Files is "your hard disk on the net." Users can store and share files, including photos and videos which can be backed up for maximum protection.
8. Savefile: If you need to share and collaborate on many different projects at once, use Savefile to upload your files. All files will be given links that others can use to download the documents.
9. Upload Jar: Your files will never be deleted on Upload Jar, a free file hosting service that maximizes online storage space.
10. FileXoom: This service is "the largest host that allows direct linking." A free account will grant users up to 2GB of of free file uploads, including mp3s, documents and photos.
11. .ionEngine: Advanced Web workers should try out .ionEngine to organize their huge lists of downloads and files.
12. Haizon File Renamer: This "industrial-level file sorter, file organizer [and] file renamer" automatically renames your files based on their content, and then organizes them into different folders.
13. Atlast! File Notes Organizer 3.5: This shareware download organizes and catalogs all of your files, including photos, videos and audio files.
14. FileWind: FileWind features unlimited storage and downloads, and claims to have a fast connection and around the clock system support.
15. FileMatrix: The FileMatrix doesn’t just organize your files online. It’s also a file manager, allowing you to rewrite and redesign image filers and effects, backup files, automate file copy, and more.
16. HTTP Commander 6.0: This Microsoft-compatibile filing system features file management capabilities like moving, copying, deleting and renaming, as well as search options and a Files and Folders MetaData tool, which allows Web workers to customize their files’ advanced properties.
17. WebFileExplorer: The WebFileExplorer can be used remotely, so that you can access your files even when you’re away from the office.
18. File Folder Organizer 3 3.14: Windows users can organize files online with this software solution.
19. Web-a-File: This remote access file storage center and manager backs up your files in a "reliable data center" and is so flexible that "you can use any Internet device, host, provider, browser and location around the world to access your files."
20. Furl: If you stumble across a Web page with an inspirational design or idea, save a copy to Furl, "your personal Web file." This system also lets you share your saved files and search for sites that others may have found interesting.
21. Click2File: Whether you’re a contractor or someone’s supervisor, you could probably use some straightening out all your tax-related documents. Use Click2File to organize your documents online and pay them electronically when the time comes.
22. Basecamp: Basecamp is generally used for its excellent project management and collaboration capabilities, but its file sharing and storage features are also useful. Keep track of important documents, pay sheets, and other office records in one stop with this online tool.
23. MediaMax: Streamload’s MediaMax is "the best online storage on the Web." Users can take advantage of the 25GB of free storage, secure backup system, and file sharing options.
24. Scribd: Scribd is an excellent tool for Web workers who want to store and publish and embed their files online. An unlimited number of files of any size are accepted.
25. iDC File Manager: Features of the iDC file manager include compatibility with all browsers, a built-in search facility, no file size transfer limits, and a secure file sharing system.

Converting your papers and documents into online files is a way to securely and effectively protect your business and communicate with clients and vendors. Try out any of these 25 online filing systems in order to clean up your office and help your business grow.

Other Reasons for Editorial Calendars
I’ve previously written in a number of blogs about how an editorial calendar can help you stay on track when building a blog full of great content, whether for your business or otherwise. Usually, I’ve looked at the use of an editorial calendar from a mostly self-centric view, about how it helps writers, editors and even ad sales reps. But Maki of DoshDosh has an excellent (as always) article about increasing your readership with an editorial calendar. In the article, he points out that having somewhat predictable content can create anticipation in your readers and thus get them to subscribe. Maki also lays out a long list of the kind of content you can produce.

Being a Better Blogger
Of course, just having an editorial calendar or a general plan isn’t sufficient. Being a good blogger involves many factors. To wit, Nathania Johnson at Copyblogger offers a look at improvisational acting techniques that make you a better blogger.

Establishing Your Authority, Spread Your Ideas
While you build your skills as a better blogger, you also establish your authority with your excellent content. Chris Garrett offers some tips for how to spread your great ideas and knowledge through blogging.

Sayonnara and So Long
By the way, this will be my last post at Bootstrapper. It’s been simultaneously fun and challenging by degrees. However, my career destiny appears to lie in another type of writing and creating, and I need to move along the closest path for once, after seventeen years of putting off the filmmaking goal. But all those big resource lists written by the Bootstrapper other writers will continue to appear here, as far as I know.

If your business relies on an online presence, you’ve probably already considered having a blog for your business website – possibly to boostrap your business with ad revenue. (Though the success of that really depends on your market as well as what you’re “selling”.)

As you probably already know, blogging isn’t about merely writing an article here and there at random. At least, not if you want some success out of the effort. I’ve already written about this a fair bit and don’t want to rehash it. I do want to point out that I believe critical thinking is important for entrepreneurs, especially for any work in the digital domain.

Particularly important to building the value of your website articles is the practice of deep linking, a subject I’ve written about extensively, as part of “link building”, at a number of places, especially Search Engine Journal.

Link building is important because it’s the act of any effort taken to get other “good” websites to link back to your site, especially particular articles. The link building effort also contributes to improving your site’s authority and “relevance” in the search engines for your chosen niche topic.

In a nutshell, the key purpose of good link building in any given article is to offer relevance to the reader. Link to relevant and worthwhile articles – both elsewhere and your own site – and in ways that are preferably seamless.

Whether or not a particular search engine will assign a measure of relevance to your article depends on their own algorithms, but you should still try to cater to the reader first. So when you write and when you link out to other sites and deep link to your own articles, put yourself in the place of the reader. Does the link you’ve used seem relevant to the context of the sentence, the paragraph, the article? Answer that question satisfactorily and you’ll likely be a better link builder.