business Archive

Tips for Exploring the Online Freelance Market

By
Nick Carson
Published: January 27, 2010
Tips for Exploring the Online Freelance Market

My bi-weekly tech column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper)
- Original Article: Tips for Exploring the Online Freelance Marketplace (Published Issue 7, 24th Jan’10)

The art of “freelancing” has grown rapidly online, where people from all over the world can access the skills and talents of independent contractors for hire. A freelancer is an individual that is not under the employment of a company, but instead is contracted out by clients for work in their specific area of expertise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 10.3 million US workers are freelancers (equating to about 7.4% of the workforce). Freelancers enjoy the freedom of setting their own hours and choosing the work they desire, as they are essentially a one person business.

In recent years the online revolution has also helped to spur the growth of this freelancing market. Many websites now serve as a hub to facilitate freelancers and those looking to hire them. Some of those websites include:
- www.getafreelancer.com
- www.ifreelance.com
- www.guru.com

A quick registration on any of these sites would enable you to either setup your own profile as a freelancer or post a job listing of your own for freelancers to bid on. It’s an online job marketplace where individuals are being contracted out every day for their skills. Some of the popular skill areas for freelancers include: writing, software development, website design, marketing & advertising, graphic design, and many others. Posting a listing in its appropriate skill category will allow individuals fitting the job description to place bids on the project and provide an estimated time to complete.

After reviewing the bids and experience levels of each of the freelancers, a more formal agreement can be setup to begin contracting of the work needed. Often after an initial project is completed, the freelancer is offered additional work by the original contractor, having shown the ability to accomplish the task efficiently.

To really understand the beauty of what freelancing can enable lies in the ability to access the skills and experience of others, who more than likely live hundreds of miles away. For a startup business venture, bringing in experienced persons to build aspects of your business can be extremely difficult. Hiring can be a daunting task for a small startup strapped for cash and the limited reach they have in acquiring qualified employees. The playing field is leveled now that startups can hire the experience they need through the online marketplace of freelancing. Creation of a website detailing the aspects of their business can be contracted out on the freelance hub sites. This saves valuable time and money that normally would be exerted in scouting out a local web developer or corporate web design entity.

Similar scenarios can be seen across many different business opportunities. Looking for a writer to contribute articles to your site? Hire a freelancer. Looking to create an iPhone app for that great game idea? Hire a freelancer. If you need an advertising specialist to promote your online presence on the web, you’ll find great freelance talent out there ready to work and ready to bid on the opportunity to work with you. They say jobs are scarce in this marketplace, but you might disagree after spending some time on these sites.

What kind of freelancing are you most interested in?

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Article Extras:

Here is a short PowerPoint presentation I did highlighting the uses of Freelancing:
- Freelance (PowerPoint 2007)
- Freelance (PowerPoint 2003)

Lower Barriers to a Web Presence

By
Nick Carson
Published: January 20, 2010
Lower Barriers to a Web Presence

My bi-weekly tech column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper)
- Original Article: Lower Barriers to a Web Presence (Published Issue 6, 16th Nov’09)

The web has evolved and it’s more accessible than ever before for individuals and small businesses to launch into the internet. In the past, creating a website was the sole domain of professional designers fluent in markup and programming languages such as HTML, PHP, and CSS. Those looking to create a front end web presence for their business might have invested significant time and money paying for a web developer.

However, that has changed in recent years, as anyone willing and able can get online. What was only possible by hiring professional developers with significant costs and development time has made its way to the individual and small business.

Starting up a personal homepage or blog takes less than an hour. Prominent blogging software such as WordPress and Google Blogger make it possible to launch your own online presence overnight. A few steps are all that is required: Registering a domain, aka www.yoursite.com, costing only $10 through domain registrars such as Go Daddy. “Hosting” your website, essentially renting a server out in the webspace where visitors will connect to.

Most domain registrars facilitate this need as well, costing a mere $50 per year, offering more space and bandwidth than you probably need. With a domain and hosting secured a selection of free web applications are available to install to your website.

These applications allow one click installation of impressive and functional websites. Joomla, a content management system, creates a basic website foundation and allows any number of contributors to add and create content to be displayed on the site. It features plug-ins and enhancements such as customized templates, contact forms, and complete user log-in functionalities to mold the site to your needs.

Other applications lend themselves to specialized needs: phpBB for forums and message boards, Elgg allows creation of your own social networking site, and 4Images for photo gallery sites. Other services automate the entire process for you, providing the hosting, domain registration and applications integrated into a complete package for those looking to get online with fewer hassles.

In the case of a blog, WordPress can be installed via Go Daddy. WordPress itself is fantastic, with a very loyal and supportive community of users and developers. The blogging software allows administrative management of your site to upload new entries and content.

All of this can be accomplished with absolutely zero knowledge of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and PHP. The extras extend from there, allowing customization via plug-ins ranging from Google Analytics to monitor traffic and visitors to your site, search engine optimizations and more.

Small businesses and individuals are making use of these new advances in how we interact with the internet. The benefits of not having to invest thousands of dollars for professional web designers have made the journey online significantly easier and eliminated many barriers to entry from the past.

The market has shifted away from low end web developers to commercialized web software companies that can produce easy and affordable solutions to the consumer.

Have you used any of the services mentioned?

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Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

By
Nick Carson
Published: January 18, 2010
Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

Augmented Reality at the Consumer Level

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 5, 16th Nov’09

The military has uses for it, as does TV and their associated advertisers. The real question, however, is whether augmented reality can become useful for the average consumer.

Augmented reality is the use of computer generated images and information overlaid on a view of the physical world.

All of us have been exposed to it at some point. Football broadcasts are a prime example of the use of augmented reality. The yellow line denoting the first down marker is overlaid on the playing field to “augment” the view of the game. Of course, you won’t see this if you actually go to the game.

Broadcasts also overlay advertisements directly onto both the field and surrounding environment as a cheap alternative to physically printing the image. The military also employs the use of augmented reality by using HUD’s (Heads Up Displays) and HMD’s (Helmet Mounted Displays) to display tactical information directly to aircraft pilots.

Consumer level applications could be next as the demand grows for enhanced information-based systems. We have already seen several iPhone applications break into this new market. One of these is “Monocle”, a new feature of Yelp’s app, a service to find and review businesses. Monocle uses GPS and the compass to locate where a user is and to display markers and information about locations as you look through the iPhone’s camera. However, looking through a phone is a very clunky way of using the technology. It’s likely that a more advanced method of viewing our physically space will be needed.

Advances in wearable displays could realize the full potential of augmented reality. Embedding displays within glasses or contact lenses would provide for a permanent visual solution to look through. This kind of accessibility could pave the way for what will be a revolution in the way we experience our world.

Consumers would have a variety of opportunities to incorporate this technology into their everyday lives. With a visual display pointing out areas of interest to the user, even walking down the street would be a new experience. The augmented reality could be used to identify passing faces of friends and contacts, displaying their name and relevant information on demand.

Advertisers might also attract customers to their products via a whole new dimension of advertising. Imagine walking through Wal-Mart, wearing the embedded display glasses, picking up a product off the shelf and a video instantly plays to highlight its features. Augmented reality would be highly customizable, allowing the consumer to choose exactly what they wish to see when viewing the world.

Another important aspect of this technology is its ability to replace physical displays and input devices. With just your one pair of embedded display glasses, any location or object could be a virtual display. Why buy a TV when you could project a virtual one on your wall or desk? Products of the future could be controlled by visual cues overlaid on an object, allowing you to press and manipulate these virtual controls that exist only within augmented reality.

We’re not talking sci-fi here: all of these technologies exist and are currently in development.  Given time to mature, the right companies will take up the challenges of integrating these technologies. Augmented reality will permeate into each of our lives to redefine what it is to view an information based world.

The New Wave of Cloud Computing

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 26, 2009
The New Wave of Cloud Computing

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

The New Wave of Cloud Computing

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 4, 19th Oct’09

The “Cloud” is a metaphor for the internet, and the topic of cloud computing and web based services are quickly becoming a reality. Corporations of all sizes employ a lot of overhead simply to run their IT department. Of course, this is a necessity in order to manage a slew of computers that keep a business on its feet.

From servers to workstations to switches, there is a lot that goes into managing a network within a company. First, there is the initial investment of buying all the hardware and software required, which is followed by the operating costs of employing staff to manage the network and troubleshoot difficulties. Cloud computing alleviates much of the financial strain on companies by providing an external service instead of a dedicated in-house solution.

Currently, computers are purchased and upgraded by physically adding new components to make them faster and installing software locally to make them more usable. With a cloud controlled computing environment, all that would be required is to purchase a sort of terminal, which could be as simple as a monitor attached to a small computer capable of connecting to a network. This terminal connects to a server in the “cloud” and streams an operating system along with its software directly to the user.

With cloud computing, all computation and processing is done remotely on the server, therefore requiring very little processing power on the terminal’s part. Upgrading is simple as requesting more speed and power through the service instead of upgrading hardware locally. Likewise, software is purchased and installed just as easily on that user’s account.

Another beauty of cloud computing is allowing a user access from any terminal. Because terminal requirements are so low, one is just as good as any other. Even computers seen as outdated can utilize the full power of cloud computing, which makes the cost of computing decrease exponentially. The beginnings of the transition to cloud based computing can already be seen through several established and emerging technologies.

Google Docs is a prime example of the transition to cloud computing. If you have not had experience with it already, Google Docs gives you a full featured office suite where you can create and edit word documents, spreadsheets and more. What’s different is that its online and accessed through a web browser. This simplifies the process of moving documents around on disks and flash drives from computer to computer.

Microsoft has taken note of this new wave of web and cloud based services, and is poised to release its flagship Microsoft Office suite as free, web-accessible products. Documents can be created and edited, like Google Docs, and saved on a remote server accessible anywhere. The trend is toward more and more services accessed through the internet.

The infrastructure is not fully there yet to realize cloud computing for everyone. However, it is being slowly implemented within companies to manage the increasing number of computers in a more cost efficient way. Cloud computing is great for business, as it can reduce a lot of the costs in hardware, alleviate data loss problems and provide fewer barriers to entry.

Guide to Writing a Business Plan

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 21, 2009
Guide to Writing a Business Plan

After using StumbleUpon for a bit last night, I came across a great guide for writing business plans.

If you have an idea that you might be pursuing as a possible business venture, it would be a good idea to check this out as it details every aspect of what you need to come with in advance.

It’s very important to have these things fledged out and planned ahead if possible.

Guide to Writing a Business Plan

Guide To Writing A Business Plan
by Jerry Glen,

1. Name of Firm. State the legal name of the business.

2. Owner or Owner-To-Be. State owner(s) name(s), as well as the form and percent of ownership.

3. Information on the Business

a. Type of Business and Product or Service.

  • State the general and specific nature of the business (i.e.,general -energy-, specific – oil, solar, wind: or general – food; specific restaurant, catering, farming, ice cream parlor, bakery).
  • State the type of…

Read the rest of the article

New Web Services Vying for Business

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 19, 2009
New Web Services Vying for Business

Continuing with another article I have written for my bi-weekly column in the Warrington Times (UF student run business newspaper):

New Web Services Vying for Business

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 2, 23rd Sept’09

Discover “Web 2.0″ with a look at new services emerging on the internet. Several of them might even become household names like our beloved Twitter, Facebook and Google’s of today. Whether you’re looking to study for the GMAT or just save money, there are a few web services I’d like to share with you.

Check out Grockit. www.grockit.com

If you’re studying for the GMAT or LSAT, you understand the agony of endlessly practicing questions and going through archives of old tests. Consider studying in a new way with Grockit. Grockit is a new service that allows you to study and practice questions online with other students. You begin by logging in and selecting a group of 4-5 people you want to study with. The site enters you and your peers into a private chat room and presents you with a question on the subject you chose. For example, many of you may be looking into an MBA, so you might be practicing verbal questions for the GMAT. The questions are similar to those given on the actual test and give you multiple answers to choose from. Together, as a collaborative unit, you can discuss the question with your peers and see the answer that others have selected. Sharing your thoughts on the question and discussing with your peers will help you arrive at the correct thinking. The idea is that together you can practice with other students in live study groups. Right now, Grockit offers SAT, ACT and GMAT, with plans to include LSAT, MCAT and the GRE.

Want to save money? Take a look at Mint. www.mint.com

The service allows you to link together all your bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, and loans — basically anything related to your financial status. It will then analyze all the transactions you have made and identify various areas you can save money. Setup was simple when I gave it a try. I added in my Wachovia checking accounts, credit cards and my E*Trade financial investment account, and it correctly analyzed and categorized the transactions into restaurants, rent, bank fees, etc. After analyzing the data, it provided a detailed account and chart of where I was spending my money every month. This is a really powerful tool, with advanced options to set budgets and goals. Try it and you might discover numerous areas where you could save money that went unnoticed before.

Grockit and Mint were emerging companies featured at the TechCrunch50, a conference dedicated in discovering the best Web 2.0 start-ups and ventures. Finalists at the conference presented in front of venture capitalists, companies and press known for being influential industry leaders. Take a look at the conference online for other great start-ups (www.techcrunch50.com). According to TechCrunch, Grockit raised a sum of $10.7 million in funding. Mint, launched in 2007, was later acquired in 2009 by Intuit for a sum of $170 million. These rising stars of the internet world are sure to make a splash in the coming months and showcase more of the countless applications possible.

University of Florida Overview

By
Nick Carson
Published: September 13, 2009
University of Florida Overview

gator-logo

I attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. I am going into my 4th year.

I major in Computer Engineering – Software Emphasis. I am also pursuing a minor in Sales Engineering. First, a brief history on my selections, and then a overview of each program, its associated class listing, and a more elaborated reason for selecting these to pursue as an undergrad.

I have been working with computers since a very young age (5-6 years old). I am very adept at computer systems, software, programming and electronics in general. Although I  have taken on many roles pursuing a career in software engineering and IT related positions, it is not my most sought after ambition. Instead, I wish to combine my skills and knowledge in computers and electronics with business. More specifically, I aim to start-up a tech business that deals in either computer systems, software development, electronic devices or web-based services. I believe that as an undergraduate, building a sound foundation of understanding in a particular technical field will be more useful  than just a business degree.

Computer Engineering (Software) – From the UF Engineering Website:

eng-logoThe objectives of the program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering is to provide students with a strong theorectical and practical background in computer hardware and software, along with the engineering analysis, design, and implementation skills necessary to work between the two. A computer engineer is someone with the ability to design a complete computer system from its circuits to the algorithms that run on it. Although one can consider hardware and software separately, a computer engineer must take a more holistic approach. If an electronic device is to be called a computer it must produce mathematically meaningful results. Similarly, any useful theory of computing must be physically realizable. The synthesis of the theory and algorithm which must take place before any useful computing can be achieved is the job of the computer engineer, and to produce such engineers is the mission of the program.

A computer engineer will:

  • Be adept at the fundamental theory and practice of computer science and electrical engineering, as it applies to computer hardware and software
  • Understand all the elements required to design a complete computer system (hardware and software)
  • Understand the interaction between hardware and software
  • Have the analysis, design, and implementation skills necessary to solve problems using computer engineering principles and techniques
  • Understand the ethical, legal, and social issues in the computing discipline, and in the engineering discipline in general.

This program is accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)

- Computer Engineering (Software) Class Listing

The Sales Engineering minor is meant to supplement my engineering knowledge in computers with a set of skills in business, sales and entrepreneurship. Providing fundamentals for business operation and setup. I’m using it as a foundation into future formal business education. It is very similar to other minors such as the Business minor and Entrepreneurship minor.

Sales Engineering – From the UF Engineering Website:

Graduates with the Sales Engineering minor are regarded highly by recruiters for industries seeking sales engineering staff. The minor provides the academic background for careers in sales, managerial and entrepreneurial pursuits. Graduates are more effective communicators. They are trained to promote and market new technologies and related products.

- Sales Engineering Class Listing

Let me elaborate more on my mindset in studying these topics.

Of course, my main interest is to start up a tech business. So why choose a somewhat grueling and technical major such as Computer Engineering? Why not a standard business degree? Well, business majors do learn sound fundamentals of running a business, including current practices and theories. They seem poised to start up a business in a particular market with familiarity and ease. I have a problem with this assumption, because usually this important question should be considered: are you knowledgeable enough about a particular field to create a business around it? You need insight and knowledge in a product’s technical aspects to develop and design successfully. You also need insight into what skills and human resources will be essential to your business. If you don’t possess the technical background needed to develop your particular idea from a technical standpoint, you might be dead in your tracks for a while. Even worse, you could end up investing all your time and money into a business with the wrong ideas and organizational structure; you could leave customers unsatisfied or uninterested.

Introduction to Carson Critique

By
Nick Carson
Published: September 13, 2009
Introduction to Carson Critique

A little about myself:
My name is Nick Carson and I am an undergraduate at the University of Florida currently studying Computer Engineering (Software). I’m an aspiring entrepreneur and hobbyist of all things technology and computer related.

My mind never stops thinking of new ideas to pursue in the future. Business ideas, products and innovations circle my thoughts on a constant basis. My ambition since before I could even remember is to bring together  the right people with the right resources to create a successful enterprise. Aiming to inspire others with  ideas and pursue their development. Each step I take in life propels me toward that goal.

Specializing in computer hardware and software system, I have designed websites, built computer systems, and coded various software applications for research projects. Aside from technical knowledge in my field, I am a highly motivated entrepreneur. I have done freelance work, served as a brand rep for a major corporation, dealt with several start-ups, and pursued various venture opportunities. I look forward to ultimately starting and running my own business in the tech/software market utilizing my technical knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset.


entrepreneurAbout Carson Critique:
This site serves as a resource and discussion of business, computers/technology, college life, and insight into the mindset of an entrepreneur. It also serves to critique the decisions and path taken along the way. I have also provided a look into my current projects, educational endeavors, and job opportunities.

For Prospective Employers/Interested Persons:

  • View my Resume (Updated for Spring 2009)
  • View my Portfolio (Updated for Spring 2009)