Website and Blog Tools: Backlink Checkers

Image via WikipediaBacklinks are simply links around the web that direct people back to your blog, website, or article. Others can create links to your work by bookmarking them in Digg, delicious, Technorati and other social bookmarking sites, or by putting links to your stuff in their own blog, website, or article.

Often when you leave comments online, you are allowed to input a ‘URL’. This is where you would type in the address to your blog or website. Then, when people read your comment, they can click on your name to follow your link. Another way to create your own links back to your work is to input them in your writer profiles and on other blogs and websites you have.

If you are curious as to who is backlinking to you (i.e. where your traffic may be coming from) one way is to use a backlink checker. These free and easy-to-use tools require only that you input the url of the blog, website, or article you wish to check. Some automatically input the ‘http’ or ‘www’ part, so watch for that when you input the web address or you will get an error message (or no results).

The most comprehensive I have seen is from Xinu Returns. It takes a few minutes, but it is worth the wait due to all the information you get from it. If you want to gather information in order to improve your rankings and increase page views, this is the tool to use.

If you just want to run a quick check out of curiosity, the other tools I like are:

Smart Page Rank

Backlink Watch

The Myths About Working from Home

Over on Freelance Writing Jobs, Deb Ng shed light on some common myths, and the community chimed in. Read the myth-busting blogpost:

Freelance Writing Jobs: Working at Home: Myths vs. Reality

As a freelance writer, what myths have you run across and what myths have you busted?

The two I have run across the most is that freelance writing is 'so easy anyone can do it' and 'working from home is easy/offers a lot of playtime'.

Free Stuff for Freelance Writers

Image via WikipediaHere are a few links to help you organize your time and projects as well as promote and ‘professionalize’ your business:

Custom Planner Templates

Business Fax Covers

Business Card Templates

Stationery and Envelopes

Free Post-its

Track Your Spending and Manage Your Finances

Calendars, Lists, Reminders (mobile phone access, too!)


If you know of more freebies that help freelance writers, please let me know so I can add them to this list. Thanks!

Freelance Writing and Taxes

Image via WikipediaThis post will become another ongoing resource for information with a link in the sidebar.

As of the date of this posting, the New Year (2009) is here and it is time to carry on the act of giving to others . . . by way of taxes to the government!

Yes, as a freelance writer you are considered ‘employed’ and responsible to pay not only income taxes (in the U.S.), but other items such as Self-Employment taxes may apply as well! Now is the time to begin collecting and compiling all of your income and expense information for the prior year (2008).

To keep yourself out of trouble with the government and help you know what you need when filing there are three things I keep in mind:

1-If you can’t prove it, don’t claim it! If you are audited you will be asked to provide PROOF of everything. If you don’t have proof, spare yourself trouble and don’t claim it. Make sure to get proof for it the next time. Make it a habit to document and get itemized receipts for everything related to your work as a freelance writer. Then be sure to file it in a safe place.

2-When filing taxes yourself, read all the b-o-r-i-n-g extra information that applies to what you can and cannot claim and write off. You may miss claiming something you can or claim something you cannot if you do not use extra care. Remember, the tax code changes EVERY year. What applied last year may not apply this year, or may have changed significantly

3-If someone else prepares your taxes and makes a mistake, you are STILL LIABLE for them! Be sure you use a reputable company/tax professional and that you look over your paperwork before you sign it. If they mess up, you will be liable for the taxes, interest, and penalties. (NOTE: in some cases the IRS will waive fees, and separate penalties may be lodged by the IRS against the preparer).
See:
Paid Preparer Mistakes – Who is Liable
http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/tax-preparer-made-mistake-in-2006-taxes-who-is-lia-13228.html
Paid Preparer Penalties
http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=179707,00.html

In the United States, the deadline for filing and payment is April 15th. Between January 1 and April 15, many resources of free and low-cost help will be popping up and advertised. As I see them (the legit ones), I will add the information to this blog.

In the meantime, here are some links to get you started:

United States Department of the Treasury: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Homepage
http://www.irs.gov/

Recovery Rebate Credit – Important Information: You May Qualify
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=186065,00.html?portlet=6

Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center – IRS
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/selfemployed/index.html

IRS – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
http://www.irs.gov/faqs/index.html

Highlights of Recent Tax Changes (Publications listing)
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=174600,00.html

IMPORTANT:
Please note that with the economic situation of 2008, there has been talk of giving citizens of the U.S. a tax holiday for their 2008 taxes. As the year proceeds, more information will be released and updated about that by the government, and I will continue to post updates here for you. If you become aware of any updates or relevant information not listed here, or any corrections that need to be made, please email me with them and your source(s) of information for verification. Thank you!

Playing the Client Shuffle – Happy New Year!

Image via WikipediaWhile many view New Year’s as a time to make resolutions and make changes, in the life of a freelance writer, every month can be a time of making changes. Projects end, clients come and go, pay rates abruptly change, and work opportunities are like hot dates – they come in cycles of feast and famine. It can be difficult to formulate a concrete work plan when so much can be up in the air – especially considering the U.S. economy as of late.

Something I do while playing the client shuffle is reassess where I am at in my writing career and what I want to accomplish. I want to work fewer hours for more pay. For me, that plan has been in progress for the past year and while it has not progressed as quickly as I would have liked, it has indeed progressed.

Another aspect of my plan is to only take the work I want and enjoy. No more tedium and endless articles on b-o-r-i-n-g topics that numb my brain while my eyes glaze over and I begin to drool. (Seriously – it is not pretty!)

I have had some ‘lucky breaks’ along the way, but I have also worked hard to increase my skills, pad my resume, and learn from the masters. I no longer feel like I need to take low paying gigs or tedious work in order to pay the bills. I have my financial house in order and I have worked my way up to much better pay than what I got when I started. I still have plenty of room for growth and improvement, but I have the time and the drive to get there.

When it comes to your freelance plan for the new year, what do you hope to accomplish?