Finding More Work - Creative Freelance Part III

Talking to who you know and getting plugged into your community should always be the first two things that you do. Interacting and networking with those that you know can be much more productive for your business than with those in cyberspace. But there is something to be said about online business.

There are hundreds of websites that can connect you with creative freelance jobs. The possibilities are endless. If you need money quickly, you've just started, and you don't have much business yet [or at least, not enough to spend 20 hours a week on], you may want to consider checking out jobs on freelancing websites like getafreelancer.com (the Swedish based company will even send you updates throughout the day that match your chosen abilities, like graphic design, Flash, and proofreading to name a very small few off their list). If you don't have a virtual base for your work yet (whether it be a blog, website, or even flickr.com), you will need to create one and add your work to it.

You can even put your work on already established sites. If you're a writer, volunteer (or accept a small donation) your work on blogs to get your name out there. makemoneyfromwriting.com has tons of tips to help you get started. If you're a graphic or web designer, avenues like etsy.com and moo.com can help you get your work out there and you can make a profit without having to do all of the marketing. If you're a musician and you've already recorded, iTunes and many other digital distribution sites have made it more accessible for independent artists to sell their work.

With your online resources:

* Join online sites that notify you when there's work relating to your creativity

* Create an online presence and drive traffic to it through advertising

* Volunteer or receive small donations for your work to get your name out there

All it takes is getting your name (whatever that may be) more established. You need to have your name in the mouths of your friends and family, community, and online. The more you're pushing for it, the more you'll see it come to pass. It may take a six months to a year to finally get the full-time creative work you've always wanted, but it's well worth it. Think outside the box. And the next time you find yourself sucked into Craig's List for hours and hours, remember this article and pick a new project to work on to help you find more work.

L'voe,
Jenn "Branden" O'Brien
Creative Consultant--connecting the creative world to the business industry one musician, artist, and writer at a time.*

Visit LvoeStudios.com to learn how creative consulting can help you increase your creativity within your business, music, artistry, or writing today.