Casual Articles - Writing and Speaking

5 Reasons To Use A Buyer's Agent
Real estate transactions come with risks, competition, and expenses. With your financial and family future on the line, there are five reasons to use a buyer’s agent in order to give you a fighting chance.The buyer’s agent is a Realtor that has gone through special training with the National Board of Realtors. The training authorizes the Realtor to use the specialized sub-title in addition to the realtor title they already carry. The Realtor is a real estate specialist. Therefore when you attain the help of a buyer’s agent, you are also getting the experience and

? Rachel Goldstein: Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Muralist

In order to assure your chances for the greatest success, you should do some self-evaluation before you leap into freelancing. Not only does it take a special temperament to run a successful business, but it also takes talent and expertise in your field. This includes some or all of the following personality features: self-confidence, common sense, innovation, and ambition.

Summarizng the experts:

►Have experience in your area: All of the contributors worked full-time in their area at some point to gain experience.

►Marketing: Simply put, you will not succeed unless and until you learn how to market your skills (effectively and consistently).

►Perseverance: Simply hanging in there is the final piece of advice our contributors offered.

Excerpted from Advice for Suc

Personal Loans For Student Debts
Getting a personal loan to finance student debts allows you to combine all federal student loans into one loan with one single monthly repayment. These payments are considerably lower than those required for the normal ten-year payment option. Through the FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) Program all banks, credit unions, and other types of lenders can offer this loan. The federal government also provides this loan through the Direct Loan Program (William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan).Federal education style loans can be granted eligibility to be included int

For the e-book, Advice from Successful Freelancers: How They Built Their Careers & How You Can Too!, I asked ten questions of freelancers who were living their dream life. Following are some of their answers. They cover successful marketing techniques, how to get clients and more!

1. Why did you start freelancing? Yuwanda Black, Writer, Editor, Small Business Columnist

My sister and I worked at the same company. We were freelancing on the side. Once we realized that we were making more as freelancers than as full-time employees, she quit and started Inkwell Editorial. Once the business was able to support two salaries, I joined her, which was one year later (1997).

2. How long have you been a full-time freelancer? Eileen Coale: Marketing & Corporate Communications Writer

I don't work full time. On average, I work about 15 hours a week, sometimes a bit more. I work mornings until my youngest gets home from kindergarten, and sometimes I'll put in evenings and Saturdays as well. Sixty to 70% of my work hours are spent networking and marketing to get assignments. The remainder is spent writing. In another year or two, I expect that ratio to flip.

3. How many years of experience do you have? Marcy L. Brown: Cataloging, Indexing & Information Management

I have five part-time years of indexing, but 10 years of library employment including cataloging, some indexing, and information management.

4. Do you specialize in a certain area, e.g., legal, medical, production? If so, what? Cathy Moore: Writer, Instructional & Marketing Copy

Instructional writing and marketing copy. I write appealing text for any readability level, including kids.

5. What specific marketing tips have you personally tried that worked? Jennifer Lawler: Writer, Editor

I tried a direct mail letter to editors that included the type of editing I could do, a few companies I had worked for, and my business card printed in such a way that it could be popped right onto someone's rolodex. This letter generated so much business for me that I never had to do another direct mail package.

6. How do you get most of your clients? Katharine O'Moore-Klopf: Editor, Copy Editor, Factchecker

When I first started freelancing, I got them mostly by word of mouth, and some were former employers. Now, I get them mostly by word of mouth and via my Web site.

7. Under what circumstances would you turn down work? Jennifer Dirks: Journalist, Editor, Writer, Speaker

I’ve turned down work if the pay (or potential payoff) won’t compensate me for the work I’d put into it. I also once turned down work from a magazine publisher who in the past has asked for several rewrites without explanation and I was unsure if anything new I did for her would ever please her.

8. Approximately how many hours a week would you estimate you work? Nan Yielding: Copywriter

Anywhere from 50-60. I pretty much work a 9-hour day ... weekends included. However, I do allow myself some time off every so often to just 'play,' so it averages out.

9. If offered a well-paying, full-time position, would you accept? Please explain why you would accept/refuse. Richard Adin: Desktop Publishing & Copyediting Services

This cannot be answered yes or no; there are too many factors that I would have to consider. "Well-paying" is important but also important, perhaps more so, are matters of responsibility and challenge.

10. What is the number one piece of advice you would offer to freelance newbies? Rachel Goldstein: Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Muralist

Summarizng the experts:

►Have experience in your area: All of the contributors worked full-time in their area at some point to gain experience.

►Marketing: Simply put, you will not succeed unless and until you learn how to market your skills (effectively and consistently).

►Perseverance: Simply hanging in there is the final piece of advice our contributors offered.

Excerpted from Advice for Succ

Life Insurance Providing Little Protection from Terrorism
Recent statements by the City of London Police Commissioner James Hart that future terrorist attacks in London’s financial centre are, "a matter of when, rather than if", will increase already serious concerns over issues of personal and business financial protection.Mr Hart’s statement pointed out that, "if you want to hurt the government, hurt people at the same time, and you want to cause maximum disruption...where better to hit than at the financial centre?"Mr Hart also echoed a report by the insurer Axa which warned that just under 50% of small firms d

re. I work mornings until my youngest gets home from kindergarten, and sometimes I'll put in evenings and Saturdays as well. Sixty to 70% of my work hours are spent networking and marketing to get assignments. The remainder is spent writing. In another year or two, I expect that ratio to flip.