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in this issue... 1. How To Start Working As a Freelance Agent 2. How To Register Your Own Domain Name

Yes, I've wrote my share of 'Get In Shape' and '10 Goal Setting Techniques' type of articles.

But I wrote no such articles this year.

Sure, I've set my personal and business goals for the new year. But I had decided those goals would be briefer, sharper...

...more to the point.

Cut out those filler words you know.

I was going for PUNCH!

And I struck gold. I discovered the goal of all goals. The guiding light of goals, if you will. A goal deserving of big, bold, emblazoned letters at the top of every goal sheet I created...

Carpe diem. Seize the day.

I like it. Simple, yet powerful. That phrase has the incredible power to spur one into action.

Go ahead and try it. Say it out loud.

Heck, SHOUT it out loud!

Did you feel it? Saying it out loud makes you FEEL powerful, doesn't it?

And the beauty of that phrase is we're only talking about one day. Not tomorrow. Just today. Enjoy today. Make the most of today.

Seize today.

Beautiful.

Thanks for reading and Enjoy!

Brett

How To Start Working As a Freelance Agent

by Brett Krkosska

Freelancers are in high demand. There are literally thousands of jobs available for freelancers, and with a little know-how you can land some of these jobs. I'll tell you how.

A Freelancer, or Free Agent, is someone who works on a contract or freelance basis. As a freelancer you are acting as a specialist, or expert, in your field. This is not to say you need dozens of awards hanging on your wall, you just need to be proficient and knowledgeable in the duties you perform.

Freelancers are in high demand by employers for many reasons - when a project deadline must be met, when the company lacks adequate expertise or experiences sudden and explosive growth, etc. Many times an employer cannot justify the additional expense associated with hiring another employee.

Since you are not an employee of the company, you keep 100% of the money you earn and are responsible for your own taxes. On the whole, you don't have to be licensed, insured, or have a business of your own. You just have to be a person that can do the project.

Truly, this is self-employment at its best!

The type of projects I have seen available include accounting, translation services, language consulting, creative writing, Web design, programming, technical and business writing, data entry, Internet and off-line research, and everything in between. Believe me, there are all kinds of projects out there (including some really extravagant and offbeat stuff).

To help you get familiar with the process of finding freelance work, let's talk about some concepts you should be familiar with.

First, when you take on a project you are promising to complete the specified assignment within certain parameters... the time it will take you do the project, the pay you expect for completing the project, etc.

For you to get hired to do a project you must "bid" on it. The term "bidding" can be misleading... you are not paying any money to get the job, rather you are offering the employer a price you will accept to complete the project.

To show you how it works, let's say you find a company seeking someone to write a series of press releases for their new product line. You bid the project at $75 per press release with three revisions allowed each. The company will likely have several bids to look at, and will choose the service provider they deem most suitable.

So how does the company determine the best candidate for the job?

The company only partly bases their decision on the bid. They especially want to know whether or not you are qualified for the job. So you see, the lowest bid doesn't necessarily get the job.

Your qualifications are determined by your resume (portfolio), or profile. Since many companies hire for services on a continual basis, your skills and experience level should accurately represent your abilities in order to secure future projects with the company.

In a nutshell that's all there is to it. So what's the catch you ask?

There is no real catch. What you will notice are the dynamics of a marketplace with supply and demand features. That is, lower skilled projects tend to be more competitive, as do specialized projects where the market is flooded with experts.

How do you compete when there's a large pool of bidders?

Be the best competitor on the block, that's how. Get additional training if you need to upgrade your skills, or take an internship to enhance your experience level.

Actually, you want to be the best competitor on several blocks. Bid as many projects as you reasonably can within your area of expertise. Never lay dormant - search for projects and bid, search and bid, search and bid...

Now then, for you to get started as a freelancer here are the necessary steps:

1. Register at the site that lists projects. It's free to register and makes you a member of the site. Register at several sites to increase your chances of getting projects. Many freelancers work several projects at the same time. Just be careful not to take on more than you can handle.

2. Not only must you register, you must submit your skill set at the project site. Your resume must be in tip-top shape. It must be current and an accurate representation of your experience and skills.

If you're not comfortable writing a resume you should consider hiring a professional to do it for you. You don't get a second chance to make a great first impression.

3. Now just search the listings for projects you feel qualified for. When you find one... bid on it!

As I said before, there are thousands of projects available and I'll bet there are several just right for you. So what are you waiting for? If you've been searching and searching for a home-based job and you're feeling frustrated with the whole thing... this could be the perfect way for you to start working from home.

About The Author
Brett Krkosska is a freelance writer, business consultant, and founder of HomeBizTools.com. Subscribe to Straight Talk News for current news and information designed to help small businesses and home-based entrepreneurs succeed.

How To Register Your Own Domain Name

by Brett Krkosska

Registering a domain name (www.yourname.com) is one of those things that at first glance seems like brain surgery. It's not though. It's really easy. I'll tell you exactly how it's done.

Choosing A Name

To choose a name you just have to... well, choose one. If you're looking for a dot COM you may find the shorter names are pretty scarce.

But don't let that stop you.

You can always go for a dot NET, dot ORG, dot WS, or others as they become available. It's argued by some that dot COM should always be your first choice, but keep in mind that many high traffic sites are not a dot COM.

To check on the availability of your name you can utilize the search features of these registration sites: http://www.orderyourdomains.com http://www.doteasy.com http://www.nameboy.com http://www.namebargain.com

It's Just An Address

To use your domain name you need to know the DNS name. This stands for Domain Name Server. The DNS is simply the name of a computer in some building somewhere. It could be in your city or half way round the world. Think of it as an address. The address of a computer... somewhere.

The DNS is responsible for fetching a web page and bringing it to your browser. It does its fetching using either a primary or a secondary address. The secondary is a backup in case the primary is busy.

Here's what it looks like:

Primary DNS: DNS1.DOTEASY.COM Primary IP: 209.53.186.31

Secondary DNS: DNS2.DOTEASY.COM Secondary IP: 209.53.186.32

Now you're asking, "What's that IP thing?" Good, you're paying attention!

The IP address is a number representing a domain name. Every domain has a corresponding number. Think of it as the street numbers of a domain name. Computers like to work with digits, so who are we to argue?

If you want to take a closer look at this information go to www.onewhois.com. You can search for the records of any registered domain name.

Park It or Use It

When you register a domain name you need the DNS information of the company that will host your site. If you haven't decided on a host, the company you register your domain with will "park" it until you have decided. One way or another your domain needs a place to call home.

Putting It All Together

Here are the steps to registering your own domain:

1. Choose a domain name.

2. If you have decided on a company to host your site, get their DNS and IP information. You'll need this when you register your domain. If you haven't got a host, then the company you register with will park your domain for you.

3. Now fill out the forms provided by the company you are using to register your domain.

There you are. Not hard at all. Not even close to brain surgery is it. Well, maybe it is... after all, do those brain surgeons really know THAT much about the brain? Hmmm.

About The Author
Brett Krkosska is a freelance writer, business consultant, and founder of HomeBizTools.com. Subscribe to Straight Talk News for current news and information designed to help small businesses and home-based entrepreneurs succeed.

Final Words

Thanks for reading! It is my hope that the information in this newsletter leads you towards greater riches, both in work and at home.

You are invited to send me your comments or questions.

Keep an open mind and reach for the heights!

Brett Krkosska
Founder, Editor, Net-a-Holic

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