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Every once in awhile when I get some free time, I browse the Craigslist help wanted ads in the “web / info design” category. I do this mainly because most people or businesses that post in this category are just looking for a one time job with web design or other related media…which is great for freelancing.

In a recent dry spell, I couldn’t help but wonder why my emails were not getting replies. I like to think that the resume that I send along with it isn’t that bad and best of all, it provides sample links of stuff that I have worked out outside of my day job. I have had different thoughts cross mind mind such as:

A. My resume and example links are horrible.
B. Too late. They already found someone to do the job.
C. The reply got filtered, marked for spam and is gone for good.
D. They are just too lazy and don’t care to reply.
E. They are performing a cool experiment.

Because of these thoughts, I decided to do a quick experiment and I apologize if anyone out there reading this was one that did reply. My experiment consisted of a fictitious posting just to see what happens and what its like to be on the other side for once.

Here is what the ad said that I posted a couple of days ago. Like most postings in that category, they tend to be fairly vague and don’t give you much of an idea on what is needed.

Need Website and Logo Created
We are starting a website selling product and need help getting started with a fully functional set-up and logo. Please serious contract workers only.

Compensation: tbd
Telecommuting is ok
This is a contract job

Within about 2 hours of making that post, I got my first reply. From past experience on trying to sell things on Craigslist, I know that there is some spam that comes in so I was a little suspicious of this one…mainly because it came in so quick. After checking into the first reply with the provided portfolio and resume links, it seemed legit to me.

As the hours past by, more and more emails of interest trickled in. Now that it has been a couple of days, I’ve probably received about 10-15 legit emails of freelancers looking for work. Some were more serious and personal like they actually took time to write an email and the others looked like it was a copy and pasted reply.

So from what I have gathered from this experiment is that it is indeed a feeding frenzy when it comes to freelance work like this. Its like hanging a piece of meat out there and the first one to bite gets the full belly. There were some freelancers that were selling their souls and others that were super high priced. Some had great portfolios and some where still stuck in the past with horrible web and design trends. My best guess on how to be a successful freelancer while using Craigslist as a resource is to be quick and watch for new listings. It does help to have an awesome portfolio but it seems to me that it would be based on first come first serve…but that is totally up to the job poster.

So from my previous list, here is what I’ve concluded with the thoughts that I’ve been having running around in my head:

A. My resume and examples are horrible.
( I hope not but compared to what I received, its pretty damn good )

B. Too late. They already found someone to do the job.
( As the replies came in, I did loose interest and didn’t even read through the latest. I personally would consider those that are aggressive but I would still leave time open to get the best of the best. This is a difficult one to figure out. )

C. The reply got filtered, marked for spam and is gone for good.
( I did have some go in my junkbox without a doubt. The fate is in the hands of the email user and how often they pay attention to their spam piles. )

D. They are just too lazy and don’t care to reply.
( Unlikely, but possible )

E. The are performing a cool experiment.
( I sure hope not! )

Again, I apologize if any of you reading this article replied to the ad but I did it for science and the for the sake of freelancing! I now know what to expect and somewhat what happens on the other side of the fence.

Funny yet very interesting article that I just came by. Yes, I am a Blogcrastinator.  There I said it!

blogcrastination (bl?g-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn) — the deferment of writing a blog post to a later time; often a mechanism for coping with anxiety.

5 Warning Signs You Might be a Blogcrastinator

If you’ve been a blogger for long, you know how ugly blogcrastination can be.

It disrupts your goals, stifles your spirit, and makes you second guess your decisions. It can take you from writing a post every day to letting days, weeks, or even months go by without writing.

It can even make you question whether you’re really cut out for blogging.

I know because I’ve been there, and the good news is that there is a way through it.

But first, you’ll need to accept that you are a blogcrastinator (this can be difficult and requires strength of character) and begin to develop an awareness of its telltale signs.

See if you can recognize them in yourself…

Read more here: http://www.copyblogger.com/blog-procrastination/

The sun is shinning and its finally starting to warm up a bit around here in Indiana.  The next few days should be hitting around 65 and is going to make me want to get outside for sure.  I have to reintroduce myself to things like trees, grass and birds.

The bad thing is that I have been reading that the temps may take a quick drop by the weekend and we may even seen some snow.  I know that a lot of people hate hearing the word snow, but I get a kick out of seeing it in March for some reason.  It doesn’t help with the whole Spring-Fever thing either but this should be the last of it for a few months.

So here we go with the song of the day. Hi-Tek featuring Common – The Sun God…

Lyrics to The Sun God :
* she vocalize during interludes with no discernible words

Common… Common…

[Common]
Yeah, yeah
Hi-Tek

[Verse One]
Free the rhyme or risk a dig into a deep sound abyss
Unit in the stash the beats and never found the shit
Experience like Hendrix, keep my sound enriched
Cats ask about my stitch, to me they soundin bitch
In my sounds the glitch of hatred, for cats who ain’t make it
I’ma give it, as far as you can take it
Tried to take the safe way, told you there’s a gateway to skinny
Many can find it but few can climb it
I’m open-minded like a pothead
Doin what I gotta do to keep the spot fed
In the climate, of locked dreads, corn-rows, torn souls
Worn hoes, who been molested by they uncle
I bundle, amongst you cold mother-uckers
The world is bitter, like baby mothers
Look how far El Dorados and wine bottles drug us
Least God and the sun love us, it’s the Sun God

[Verse Two]
Everywhere is broken glass
Nephews smokin squares, nieces smokin grass
Try not to say shoot around my daughter she already know to blast
Catchin the future, don’t know who threw the past
It’s the, year of the snake and the hidden dragon
Niggaz is fake like bitches braggin
Listen to the ocean and the stars, keep my vision in motion
In motion like cars
I’m down to Earth, at times I feel closer to Mars
The world is yours, I’m hopin it’s ours
Some say the Gods is crazy, I see God in our babies
Child of the sun, I allowed it to raise me
(.. from a distance) niggaz tried to appraise me
I’m hard to read like graffiti so it don’t phase me
My days be spent, behind dream’s tent
Through the sun the divine being is sent
It’s the Sun God

[Verse Three]
Letters from prison sayin we need a better religion
I’m a rebel that listens from a eighty-seven position
I can’t crystalize the mission lies within
Born to die even in death we begin
It’s heavy ‘jo learnin what we already know
and carry low swing on a chariot slow
Brothers stick though remindin me of revolution
If the drama comes I’ma have to uhh pop his gun
It’s the Sun God, yeah

Just a heads up that I’ve finally uploaded all my old videos and stupid old flash tricks to YouTube.  I found a program that converts swf files into flv for uploading straight to YouTube.  Most of the stuff can still be found in the WebTurd Media section of this, but just cooler on YouTube.  I still have a few more videos to add but its a good organized feeling to have everything in one place.

Go here for the official WebTurd YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/WebTurd#p/u

Since owning my new Palm Pre, I find myself changing up wallpapers all the time.

I’ve never really had a phone that would display  backgrounds so crisp and vibrant, so I find it hard to just leave one wallpaper or background up longer than one day at a time.

Since the Palm Pre’s resolution is at 320 x 480, its really easy to find wallpapers as the Iphone has the same requirements.  Iphone wallpapers are everywhere and very easy to find. If I don’t make the Palm Pre backgrounds myself, I hit up a few of my favorite sites to download some new ones.

Here are a few of my favorite Palm Pre Wallpaper hot spots.

http://idesignpre.com
http://poolga.com/en/p/
http://ideas.veer.com/wallpaper/iphone
http://ph7labs.com/site/download/
http://store.glennz.com/downloads.html

To save time and less screen tapping, be sure to check out the ” Switcharoo Free ” Palm Pre application.

Switcharoo is a nifty utility that will randomly switch your wallpapers for you, based on a schedule, (once an hour, once a day, etc). It includes a setting that allows you to pick the album that the switcher will pull the images from. You can also pick “All Images” which will include all the images in all the albums.

More info on Switcharoo Free here: http://www.precentral.net/homebrew-apps/switcharoo

*At the time of writing this post, I didn’t realize that there was another version to the Switcharoo application.  Its called Wallpaper Switcharoo Demo and apparently automatically downloads images from a server for even more Palm Pre wallpaper fun.

So have it and get to changing you wallpapers often for a fun and fresh phone every time you look at it.

Was feeling this one on the way back in today…

Something’s gotta change
Sounds of laughter and happiness turns my teardrops to rain
Been bearing this burden for too many of my days
Looks like breezes of Autumn done finally blew my way
Like memories of yesterday…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5_ZaEOrCI#t=1m33s

I read a really good and inspiration article this morning and wanted to share it here.  Its focused on growing, thriving and expanding as a web designer and worth the read.

“ I love to live simply. If I don’t see the need to grow my business, I won’t. For me, more money does not equal more happiness, especially if I have to work myself to death for it.

But many designers get to a point, as I have in the past, where they feel they have to grow in order to be comfortable with themselves and their business.

When does this point come? Well, it’s different for everyone, but most web designers fall into one of the following categories:

You need more financial stability.
Whether you’re expecting a baby, buying a house or climbing out of debt, life changes demand career changes. Improving as a web designer and cultivating your business increases stability.

You’re anxious for advancement.
As life goes on, even if we’re financially stable, we yearn for advancement to fill a need for self-worth. It’s not selfish, just a part of life. Advancing one’s career is a great way to advance personally.

You’re just learning the business.
Whether you’re young or just switching careers, you may be new to web design. To be successful in this business, you need to learn how to grow.

These scenarios are general, and surely many of us have been through all of them. Whatever your reason for wanting to grow as a web designer, the tips below may help. “

Read the rest of this article here: http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2010/02/how-to-grow-as-a-web-designer/