Founder of the Freelancers Union Sara Horowitz explains why the self-employed are a bigger factor in today’s economy. Check out this video from CNNMoney:

It’s happened to all of us. We start off with the best of intentions in creating a new habit of backing up every day, and we’re committed to sticking to it. But just like any diet or New Year’s resolution, “real life” creeps in and pulls your attention away towards more important things.

At first you only skip a day here or there. But eventually, days turn into weeks and months. This is only natural, considering the busy lifestyle that most freelancers have.

That’s why, when it comes to backing up their data, freelancers really love the automation and convenience that comes with online backup services. You just install the software once, and you never have to think about it again until something bad happens. You can just feel safe knowing that it’s there, working in the background for you.

However, there are MANY different services to choose from. And prices range from FREE to $10 per GB. With so much variety, how can you pick a solution that’s right for you? Well here are a few features that freelancers should keep in mind when looking into automating their data protection:

Automation and ease of use
Because freelancers work alone, they don’t always have access to reliable technical staff. For this reason, you’ll want to pick a solution that installs quickly and runs fully-automated in the background while you work.

Also, since your time is the only product that you have to sell, you can’t afford to spend hours learning how to use a new application. It has to be intuitive enough to start using right away. That’s why any new software you buy has to be very easy-to-use in order to minimize the learning curve and prevent any problems down the road.

Continuous protection
Every freelancer has had the experience where they’ve pulled an all-nighter, working 12-hours straight for an important deadline, only to have something disastrous happen at the last second.

In order to prevent this, you’ll want to select a provider that offers Continuous Data Protection (CDP) capability. CDP simply means that the software will back up your data files every time you save instead of waiting until a scheduled daily backup time. This means that your potential “window” for data loss will be kept to only about 5 minutes instead of 24 hours.

If you decide to go with a CDP solution, make sure that it also offers block-level uploads. Block level capability allows the software to analyze your files, and only upload the portion that has changed since the last save point. This can significantly speed up your backup process and minimize the load on your internet connection.

Laptop-specific features
Most freelancers travel a lot, and often end up in places that may not always have the most reliable internet connections. Make sure that the solution you select offers laptop-specific features that can protect you on the road.

One such feature would be the hybrid capability to create both local AND remote backup copies of your data.

In other words, the solution should give you the option of creating a local hard drive partition which can be accessed in an emergency… even if you don’t have internet access. And of course, this should automatically synchronize with your online data backups as soon as you connect to the internet again.

And if you’re working out of an area that has only a slow internet connection, the CDP functionality we’d discussed earlier should ensure that your data still gets backed up without causing a significant burden on your connection.

Security and privacy
Often, freelancers will deal with very sensitive information. Make sure that the online backup service you select offers proper encryption.

But more importantly, make sure that the application you select allows you to encrypt the files with a password that only YOU know. In other words, make sure that the online backup provider can’t access your encrypted data once it’s on their servers.

Not all providers offer this feature. So make sure to ask before signing up.

So there you have it! If you want to protect your freelance business from data loss, just make sure that the solution you pick offers:

• Automation
• Continuous Protection
• Laptop-Specific Features
• Proper Security

If you follow this simple checklist, you can feel confident that you’re making the right choice for your business.

About The Author: Storagepipe Solutions offers online backup and backup software for freelancers & other small businesses.

Before we get into tactics for improving your social media presence, it must be said that solid marketing is all about the ideas behind your product or service. These ideas need to be communicated on your website with clear messaging and visual appeal (which good creative advertising firms can help you with), as well as through a variety of channels. Social media is rapidly becoming a preferred channel for web users to communicate and share ideas, and should be a strong part of your web strategy. Here are some tips for improving your website’s presence as it relates to social media.

Create Content!
Being a participant in social web requires that you create content, and certain kinds of content at that. Regardless of your industry, to create buzz you need to educate or entertain your target market, and well executed content will make people want to share it.

Improve the “Linkability” of your Content
Having “static” web pages, e.g. brochure-style or storefront pages, are definitely useful for product information. But to optimize a site for social media, we need to increase the frequency and linkability of the content. My favorite method is to add a more-personal blog that shows your personality and thoughtfulness about a particular topic area. Other types of content, like white papers or aggregated selected links to related articles, are also quite useful for potential readers. Remember, the idea is to create something valuable beyond your core product offering to keep potential customers coming back.

Enable Easier Bookmarking and Sharing
Once a reader thinks your content is worth sharing, make the process as easy as possible for them! Adding website features like ReTweet and ShareThis buttons are a great way to allow your users to spread your content via their preferred channels. I also like to make sure each page has concise meta tag data (Title, Description, etc), because it will be easier for places like Facebook to import and show pertinent information about your link. As mentioned before, make sure your content is valuable and interesting because buttons-alone cannot get people to share your work.

Encourage Inbound Links
Inbound links from other blogs and websites are crucial to enhancing your search optimization and overall rankings. Listing trackbacks with each article or post will entice users to link to your site in the hopes that you will reciprocate a link. However, be aware of trackbacks from unrelated, spammy blogs or sites that are merely republishing your content without permission. For these reasons, I like to approve trackbacks manually before allowing them to enter the comments.

Help Your Content Travel
Building multiple channels of distribution for content can be a very effective way to gain exposure and attract links. Use Email newsletters, RSS subscribers, Facebook status updates, Twitter updates, content syndication, video syndication with YouTube, etc can all improve your social reach. With the number of possible channels on the web increasing, you need to make sure to stay current with popular services in the industry

Encourage Video Sharing
Online video is a growing medium, and in my opinion a rich and effective channel for entertaining, informing, or just getting a message across. If you have the resources to create compelling video content, please give it a shot. Since distribution is VERY inexpensive, especially with YouTube and embedding capabilities, you can potential receive a high return on your efforts. Encourage and embrace others who republish your videos.

Participate in Conversations
Let’s say you have a decent social presence – your Facebook page has fans, your blog is receiving comments, people are contacting you through your site. Take the time to connect one-to-one with these active readers, they’re often your best customers! Foster dialog in whatever public forums you have, but also think about dropping a quick email or note in private to create a more personalized relationship. Show your true passion for the topic at hand. You just might be connecting with a top influencer or champion of your service.

Get to Know Your Audience
As long as you understand your subject matter and that community’s interests, you’ll be able to set yourself for successful social media connections. Don’t stray too far from your niche, leverage the latest tools and industry trends, and try to stay focused on content that will drive interest in your expertise.

Thanks for taking a look at our thoughts! What tips for social media marketing and optimization would you add?

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