Sandra Says

I’m spending the day at FreelanceCamp San Antonio and will be Tweeting from here (for as long as my access & power hold). Will post tweets here later. If you want to follow “live” check out my Twitter stream @sandrasays.

sandrasays: At @freelancecampsa. got a late start, so arrived late. Glad to be here tho. Have seen @marc1919 & @epodcaster

sandrasays: Next session is via Skype on state/federal laws to know as a freelancer. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Last presentation was by @trishlambert on freelancing, of course. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: My attention span is fine, my hearing sucks. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Skype presentation is by @eric_b_meyer. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Learning that legalese is not one of my languages. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: discussing the differences between a contracts and an employee. What is one vs the other? rights? #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: wondering how much is different in Texas from other states for freelancers. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: discussing contracts 2 state that u aren’t an employee 4 out of state “employers” so u r not liable for state taxes there. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: speaker (Lawyer) advises that we check with a lawyer for those contracts. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Livestream of the current workshop I’m sitting in http://tinyurl.com/bwnvgj (expand) #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Livestream of the current workshop I’m sitting in http://tinyurl.com/bwnvgj (expand) #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Current topic is using social media to promote events. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: discussing benefits of incorporating vs sole proprietorship #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: discussing sales taxes, when to charge, when not #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: build your network _before_ you go freelance #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: did i forget to mention that current topic is “i am a freelancer, now what?” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: insurance, finding it as a freelancer, is a big concern #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: some recommendations of getting a 9 to 5 just for benefits, do freelance on the side #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: save all your receipts, deduct everything possible #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: join groups, you need live support system, not just online #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: “be bold” says @epodcaster, make “teams” to go after bigger projects #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @ingridfuller lots of great talent here. am learning good tips in areas I want to strengthen. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @shelleyrae I realized that halfway thru the AM. but I figured i should be consistent #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @shaine is covering great point on going freelance #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @shaine discussing freelance/collective collaboration models, w/@epodcaster #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: ask questions, what does your customer really need? vs what they’re asking for #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: “residual passive income” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: “be shameless, be bold” repeats @epodcaster #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @SheilaS is doing the next session “how social media sent me to China” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: new speaker going over project creep, delivering what you promised & agreeing to price for new project scope #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: as a freelancer, especially with service bsns, clarity in what’s being delivered vs what will cost money to add is iffy #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: RT @SheilaS: I’ll be speaking about socmed/networking and China NOW at UStream: http://tinyurl.com/bwnvgj (expand) #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @sheilas says that making connections/network is fun #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: “do what you love and the money will follow” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @sheilas says @dsilverman told her to 1) get a blog, 2) get on twitter, 3) get a web enabled phone #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: if you are going to go to an event, as a freelancer, you need to have a takeaway #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: hmmm…. does an increase in twitter followers count as a takeaway? as I sit here I’m seeing numbers increase #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @sheilas is talking about the need to think strategically as a freelancer. why are you doing X? what’s the impact? #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: interesting to hear @sheilas on how she made the decision to go to China, that the trip and expense was worth it for bsns #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @shaine will figure that out later. Comment on followers was facetious. I don’t look at that, but was mentioned here today #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: friend and family network is important as a freelancer, says @sheilas #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @sheilas: “build your networks, make your connections, be your own authentic self there, and good things will happen” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @sheilas: “have a backup plan, and have a backup plan for that” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @epodcaster is asking @sheilas what she learned in China, reply “entrepreneurial spirit in China is fascinating” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: new topic is “free tools for freelancers” #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: do you use Utterli? #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: business need to experiment with social media, ppl are consuming content in completely different ways #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: if u are a graphic designer, u can’t have a podcast show where u say “hire me,” need to have design tips & interviews, etc. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: My comment, there is self promotion and then there is obnoxious. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: there is a lot of opportunity in being the type of person who helps people, making connections for them #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @ewkrause sorry you aren’t here. I got to meet @sheilas, @shaine, @trishlambert among many many others. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: podcasting is a platform to share your knowledge. easy tools include utterli, blog talk radio #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: from me, I think today has wiped out my excuses in why @dicesandra and the planned podcast hasn’t happened. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: re tools: 1) you need to know they exist, 2) you need to know how to use them, 3) you need to use them #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @epodcaster says “it doesn’t have to be perfect” — i.e., good enough is good enough. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Yes, I did applaud @sheilas, it was funny. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: Should I mention here that most of what I know about social media I learned from the librarians I work with? #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: other tools mentioned: Grand Central, Mind Meister #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: you want people to know who you are and what you do #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: new topic is re nonprofits #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: online giving has grown/is growing (ex., Obama) #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: go to txnp.org to look up nonprofits and their budgets, says speaker #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: discussion of Raiser’s Edge, Results Plus as databases to use for NPOs, Kintera too #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: links & resources: afpnet.org, chronicle of philanthropy (trade journal) #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: projects for NPOs are “zero to launch” to get them up to speed fast #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: look at USA GIVING for stats on giving #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: google “gift calculator” to estimate how many people need to give to increase donations by x $ #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: push vs pull strategies in how NPOs communicate, initiate action #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: I Just pimped @netsquared and the Houston meetings #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: @marc1919 did a good job on creating buzz on coworking, have been hearing the word all day. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: or maybe the buzz was already here? will give @marc1919 credit anyway. #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: the largest piece of the pie is individual giving #freelancecampsa

sandrasays: feeling inspired by yesterday’s #freelancecampsa.

We’re two weeks into 2009 — how are your new year’s resolutions doing so far?

I gave up on resolutions a few years ago. Instead, I create goals and break them down into milestones. That’s worked much better for me. It gives me specific goals to meet by specific deadlines, which is always better than the generic resolutions I used to come up with every year.

Wishing you all the best in 2009.