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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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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.

Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

By
Nick Carson
Published: October 24, 2009
Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

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

Reading Your Mind, Endless Applications

By Nick Carson - Published Issue 3, 5th Oct’09

It’s the subject of numerous science fiction movies: the ability for an outside source to access your brain to identify what you are thinking. Scientists, led by Berkeley researchers Jack Gallant and Thomas Naselaris, have developed a method of reconstructing an image produced in your mind purely by tracking neural activity. The method involves using fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a specialized type of MRI scan that measures blood flow through the brain. The researchers focused on parts of the brain accountable for processing visual information. By monitoring active parts of the brain responsible for visual processing, they were successfully able to identify images within the brain. Currently, the technology allows researchers to pull an image from a large database that represents what a subject has seen– not quite a full reconstruction method. Through development, the technology is expected to make gains towards reconstructing visual images from scratch. That is where applications will really come into play.

Imagine being able to electronically search for pictures by using your mind. Simply thinking of a random object or a friend/acquaintance could one day produce that image on your personal computer. This could have far-reaching applications for new search platforms by, for instance, allowing you to navigate the web based solely on images produced by your brain. The days of simply thinking about what you want to say and seeing the words appear on a computer may quickly become a reality. In fact, the Bing search engine by Microsoft has already launched a new method of search dubbed “Visual Search”. It allows a user to search the internet by presenting them with a grid of images instead of using the typical text option we are all familiar with. Couple this with technology that allows images to be accessed directly from your brain and you have the ability to interact with the internet via your mind.

This technology could be adapted for a variety of uses. For example, consider the impact on the justice system. Investigations might utilize brain scans that depict the very scene of a crime from the point of view of a witness or culprit.

Image reconstruction may even alter the basic methods of computer operation. Identifying spoken words and language could pave the way for computer controlled interactions. In the near future, simply thinking about words and speech could produce them directly to your computer. The keyboard and mouse have been around since the birth of personal computers as our primary method of input. They remain two of the few technologies yet to be completely revolutionized. These devices are simply middle men in our interactions with computers. We think about words and images and rely on our fingers to produce what we were thinking. These technologies aim to cut out that primitive and inefficient process.

Who will be the new companies to emerge into the technology of computer-brain interactions? Although fully developed technologies might be decades away, the right insight and planning for this revolution could prove valuable. It is to be seen whether current leaders in the market will prepare and invest appropriately or if new, up-and-coming companies will seize the opportunity.