How the baby that ate its own head can help you get readers and links

Every day the baby helps bloggers, columnists and journalists get front page exposure for their content . Well, OK, it’s not really the baby. It’s that undeniable urge that compels us to read the article about the baby. It’s the same thing that killed the cat…yep folks, you’ve got it - it’s…curiosity.

In his book “Tested Advertising Methods,” John Caples lists curiosity headlines as one of three successful headline types. So, let’s familiarize ourselves with the curiosity factor and start reeling in those links and readers.

Irresistible headlines due to curiosity

These three headlines were taken from Digg’s Home page. In fact, more than 50% of the home page articles (at the time this article was written) relied heavily on the curiosity factor.

Blueprint For Dictatorship - Notice how the contrast between the feelings of order/security we associate with blueprints and the feelings of fear/instability we associate with dictatorship make this headline irresistible. Isn’t this headline much better than the obvious - “America is becoming a dictatorship”.

Anti-piracy group pirated my data - It’s the tale of David catching the thieving Goliath red-handed. You absolutely have to know what happened. This title is all good.

Marijuana Shrinks Tumors, Government Knew In 1974 - If you are a cancer patient, a marijuana smoker or a fan of conspiracy theories, you cannot resist reading this article.

How to use the curiosity factor to create irresistible blog posts

This technique has three steps:

Mine Digg/Reddit/Netscape for a curiosity headline (not news headlines) - go to the Digg home page. Look at the articles that became popular in the last 7/30 days. Select one that is not news-oriented.
Figure out what makes this headline unique - Try to understand why this headline is so compelling and if there is an underlying pattern to its drawing power.
Remix the headline - Use the pattern to create new headlines.

Let’s do a couple:

Original Headline:	How to tell if you are a fanboy
Underlying Pattern:	How to tell if [you/someone close to you] are/is a [something that no one wants to be]
Remixed headlines:	How to tell if you are a cold fish
	How to tell if your boyfriend is a male chauvinist pig
	How to tell if you are still stuck in the 80s

Let’s try another one:

Original Headline:	Condemned To Google Hell
Underlying Pattern:	Condemned to [Do no evil type of object/entity] Hell
Remixed headlines:	Condemned to Hawaii Hell
	Condemned to Candy Store Hell
	Condemned to George Clooney Hell

So start weaving curiosity into your headlines and you’ll see those readers and links rolling in.

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The story behind Clever Tools - Tools for the freelance programmer

A couple of days ago I had the privilege of taking a sneak peek at Clever Tools. A web application that might become the productivity Swiss Army Knife for freelance programmers. I also had a very interesting conversation with Jason Jenning, CleverTool’s CEO. Jason was very candid, and gave a lot of insight and advice about developing web applications, raising funds and being an entrepreneur.

For those of you that are in the process of - or thinking of starting a web start-up, this should be an interesting read. Enjoy.

Q: What is Clever Tools?

Clever Tools is an online suite of web tools to help organize projects, manage your business, and collaborate with virtual teams and clients. It consists of 6 main tools- Project Management, Invoices/Estimates, Bug/Issue Tracking, Time Tracking/Time-sheets, Leads Management, and a Collaborative Whiteboard system. The beautiful thing about Clever Tools is you only select and use the tools you need and those tools work together. I hate bloated software and hate having features I will never use. So why make other people use features they will never use? How do they work together? For example, let’s say you have a list of time-sheets from a project you are working on for a client. If you also have the invoice tool, you can create a new invoice for that client with the click of a button and all pertinent information will be filled in for you. That is just one example.

Q: Who are you targeting as customers?

Clever Tools really can be used by a wide variety of people. Any contractor, consultant, students, etc can use specific tools. But, our target audience is web designers, developers, programmers, and project managers. It is specifically useful for virtual teams.

Q: How will CleverTools help those customers?

Clever Tools will help our target audience be more productive and help them manage and run their businesses better. So in essence, it will help them be more successful and profitable by eliminating the fragmentation of their data across multiple services which causes frustration and inefficiency.

Q: When do you expect the beta to be released?

That’s a good question. To be honest, there are currently only two of us working on it. There is Andrew, who has done a phenomenal job doing all the design work and all current programming. And then there is myself who came up with the vision. I am more of the project manager and business development- I do not do any programming and only modest design work. We are in the process of hiring 1-2 more programmers, so I hope to have a beta ready in July.

Q: What made you start working on Clever Tools?

I started working on Clever Tools because I was getting very frustrated with the current tools I was using to help run my consulting company. I run a small consulting company who specializes in mobile and web technology. We have clients such as Marie Callenders, Sprint, and San Diego State University. Being as how my team is virtual (I’m in San Diego, Andrew in South Dakota, and 4 programmers in Iowa), I use web based tools to run my business. Well, there are 6 different web applications I use. It got frustrating for me, my team, and even my clients to remember 6 different URLs, logins, interfaces, etc. So I asked myself, why couldn’t all these core tools be in one place? The answer? They could and I wanted to do it.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself

I just turned 25 and have been running my consulting business for 4 years. Technically remnants of it started when I was a junior in high school and started my first company with my youth pastor doing computer tech work and networking in schools under the E-rate program. I was making $15/hour in high school and was happy. I moved to San Diego to attend college and focused on school. I realized I enjoyed working better and started my consulting business back up and built it all over again in a new city.

I’m recently engaged and also will be graduating from San Diego State with a BS in Business with an emphasis in Information Technology in a few days. I love TV- I mean I am absolute fanatic. I love soccer, computers, video games, and reading. Oh, and scuba diving. I love Working. I love having ideas and bringing them to life. I love helping clients and helping them
reach goals.

Q: Are you VC funded/Self funded/Other?

Clever Tools is self funded and has a small silent investor.

Q: What was the initial investment?

The small silent investor, my fiance’s dad, invested $10,000 to get started. I put in another $10,000 and took out a SBA (Small Business Administration) loan to help finish the project. Total investment to date: ~$45,000.

Q: How much do you expect the overall investment to be?

Well, currently all money will be spent on development. That means we have no money for marketing and are counting on the blogsphere and users to help spread the word- hint hint ;). However, we do understand the importance of marketing. So, we are possibly looking for another $50,000-$100,000 to go towards marketing and also to develop an Adobe Apollo desktop application for Clever Tools. So, that would put total investment between
$100,000-$150,000.

Q: Are you looking for investors? if so, what kind?

We are currently entertaining the idea of looking for a real investor. We are open to different types of investment.

Q: As a web 2.0/on-line entrepreneur, what are the top three tips you can give other entrepreneurs?

1) The hardest thing about a start-up, is actually starting. I read that quote somewhere and it is true! It takes a lot to risk it all for an idea. But, you need to do it! Just plan it out and set your mind to figuring out a way to do it.

2) Be passionate about what you start. I’m passionate about Clever Tools because I truly need it and I believe it can help tons of people and companies like me. There is nothing worse than doing something just because you think there is profit in it. More than likely, you will fail if you got at it for that reason alone.

3) Know your strengths and weaknesses and do not be afraid to find people to fill those gaps. No one can wear every hat! It’s okay to bring other people in who can do things better than you. That is why I don’t program or do graphic design- I just do the business development side of things.

Q: What should entrepreneurs be weary off?

Be weary of taking money too quick or taking too much of it. I believe the barriers to entry and cost factors have been significantly lowered over the years. If you’re willing to pour your heart and soul into something, you can get it started with much less money than in the past. Be smart about the money and take it only when you need it. Don’t get stuck in a bad situation because you took too much money and gave away too much of your company.

P.S.

Jason is looking for beta testers. So if you are interested in using Clever Tools, sign up for the beta.

The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need

Running a business for yourself means you have to be inventive and always on the lookout for a new and better way to get things done. Innovation junkies, take note: the Internet has a lot to offer. From invoicing to marketing, these are tools that freelancers need to know about.

Organization

If you’re busy with lots of client work, it’s easy for things to get out of hand. Don’t let your work get away from you; organize information and projects with these tools.

Backpack: Get your projects organized by using Backpack. Create to-do lists, notes, files, images and a calendar with reminders that can be sent via email or to your mobile device.
Central Desktop: Collaborate, communicate and share files with clients and coworkers using Central Desktop.
iOrganize: With iOrganize, freelancers can organize work by keeping notes, ideas and bookmarks in one place.
Viapoint: Viapoint makes it easy for freelancers to store emails and files by client or project.
Stikkit: Use Stikkit’s “little yellow notes that think” to keep in touch, plan and collaborate with clients and coworkers.
Webnote: Webnote users can take notes using a web browser, then save and return to the notes on any computer. This is especially helpful if you’re working on-site with a client and have to use a computer other than your own.
Netvibes: Spend less time searching and more time working by customizing your browser’s start page with email, feeds, messaging, job boards and much, much more.

Calendars & To-Do Lists

Client meetings, important events and a never-ending list of things to do can wear you down if you can’t make them manageable. Use these handy calendars and to-do lists to keep your schedule from taking over your business.

Remember The Milk: Remember The Milk reminds you to take care of important tasks, so you’ll never forget when a project is due.
CalendarHub: Use CalendarHub’s web-based calendar to keep track of deadlines and set goals for your business.
Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a web based tool that allows users to organize their schedule, so you’ll always know exactly what you need to be working on.
Planzo: Planzo’s online calendar keeps freelancers connected to events and things to do. It lets you share your events just about anywhere, get a daily digest and receive text message reminders.
Spongecell: Spongecell is an online calendar made for freelancers with lots of meetings and engagements. Plan events, spread the word and allow guests to add content to your calendar.
Neptune: Neptune’s web based to do list tool helps you keep track of the things you need to take care of every day. It lets you email yourself new tasks, get an email report every morning and upload files to store with your projects.
Ta-da List: When you’re busy with lots of projects, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve accomplished. Make web-based ta-da lists for yourself or other people, then share them and check items off as you go.

Your Money

Money is what keeps your freelance business going, but managing it can be tedious and time consuming. Sure, it’s fun to see money come in, but does anyone really like sending out invoices? Use these tools to make the process of managing your income easier and more enjoyable.

Wesabe: Use Wesabe to keep tabs on where the money in your business goes, helping you to make better financial decisions.
InstaCalc: InstaCalc is a web based calculator with lots of bells and whistles including spreadsheet capabilities, unit conversions and programming commands. It’s great for freelancers because you can send clients links to any of your calculations, put a calculator on your website or create charts and graphs from your calculations.
XE: If you’re working with an overseas client, you may need to handle foreign currencies. Use XE’s currency converter for accurate calculations with up-to-the-minute currency rates.
Dimewise: Use Dimewise’s web-based convenience to manage your business transactions wherever you are.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks offers a program for “painless billing,” so you’ll never have to spend hours sending client invoices out. Designed with service-based businesses in mind, this software provides a method to manage and send invoices, handle work orders and generate reports with ease.

Storage

Do you have too many client files clogging up your hard drive? Use these services to take a load off.

openonmy: openonmy’s website offers storage for files up to 1GB. These files are made to be accessible from any computer, so you can open them up even when on-site with a client.
Xdrive: Xdrive offers 5GB of online storage. Use their service to share files with your clients and coworkers.
YouSendIt: Have you ever had to clean out your inbox just so you’d have room to send out an email? YouSendIt puts and end to that trouble by sending files up to 2GB to your clients.
Flickr: Save space on your hard drive by uploading your photos to Flickr. It’s a great way to store, share and organize photos for your business.
Box: Create an online file-sharing location for you and your clients on Box.
MediaTemple: Keep your important client files safe on MediaTemple’s servers. They offer innovative hosting solutions for all kinds of websites.
DivShare: Use DivShare’s file hosting service to email files to clients or store them in a folder for shared access later.

Project Management & Productivity

Do you wonder where all of your time goes? Do your clients want frequent status updates? Keep tabs on your time and projects with these tools.

Harvest: Harvest offers web-based time tracking software with simplicity. Track your progress and inform your clients using Harvest’s reports.
Side Job Track: Side Job Track, designed with freelancers in mind, provides software that lets you track and manage project information. Features include job tracking, invoicing and reporting.
Basecamp: Basecamp offers a way to improve project communication. Use it to keep your teammates and clients informed about what’s going on with your projects.
ConceptShare: ConceptShare provides online design collaboration. Invite clients and coworkers to view your design and make comments on your work.
ProjectStat.us: Instead of fielding constant calls about the status of a project, let your customers view the status of their project online with ProjectStat.us.

Writing & Design Tools

Being creative can get expensive. Purchasing icons, stock photos, book publishing and the like can add up fast and eat into your profit margin. Check out these free and inexpensive tools designed to make the lives of freelance writers and designers cheaper and easier.

Writeboard: Have you ever had a client or coworker revise a document and end up wiping out your work? Use Writeboard to share and collaborate while saving separate versions each step of the way.
Lulu: Lulu gives fledgling writers an easy way to get published. Each product is printed as it’s ordered, so you don’t have to build an expensive inventory.
MailBuild: Built for web designers, MailBuild allows users to set up a template for client email campaigns.
MyFonts: Do you want to see how fonts will look on your design before committing to a purchase? MyFonts provides a source for trying out and buying new fonts.
IconBuffet: Find and trade stock icons for your web designs on IconBuffet.
stock.xchng: Add photos to your writing or web design at low or no cost. stock.xchng provides tons of stock photos, many of them royalty-free.
Google Docs & Spreadsheets: Don’t bother spending hard-earned money for the latest version of MS Word. Create, upload, share and edit word and spreadsheet documents online using Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
MorgueFile: MorgueFile’s high resolution photos are has-beens in the stock photography world, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a great job spicing up your work.

Security & Privacy

Don’t let your work get stolen or compromised. Can you imagine how your business would suffer if you lost files due to a virus? Or worse, if the financial information of your clients got exposed to spyware? These services help you stay safe and secure.

SpamSieve: Fighting spam takes time away from your business and opens your system up to intruders. Use SpamSieve to keep spam out of your Mac email client.
Escrow: Don’t get burned by clients that make fraudulent payments. Use Escrow to protect yourself and your clients from payment fraud.
Cloudmark Desktop: Cloudmark protects your Outlook inbox from spam, phishing and viruses, so you’ll never have to worry about compromising business files when reading your email.
PayPal: Give your clients a way to pay without sharing their financial information by using PayPal.
Moneybookers: Open your business to the worldwide market safely. Use Moneybookers for secure worldwide payment and acceptance.
Spamato: Keep your business email secure by using Spamato with Outlook, Thunderbird or Mozilla Mail.
Spybot Search & Destroy: Make sure your confidential client information is safe from prying eyes by scanning for spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Protect your business files with a good antivirus program. AVG Anti-Virus offers a free solution for protecting your computer from viruses.

Mobility & Contact

When running a business, it’s essential that you’re able to keep in contact with clients, vendors, coworkers and other important acquaintances. Use these tools to communicate with ease.

Campfire: Campfire is a web-based chat tool that’s ideal for online meetings with clients or coworkers.
Meebo: Don’t miss out on a client just because you don’t use the same instant messaging tool. Get access to every major messaging service on Meebo’s website without having to download anything.
FaxZERO: Online communication is popular, but sometimes you just have to send a fax. But who wants to invest in a fax machine and phone line for something that happens only on a rare occasion? Instead, use FaxZERO to send a fax anywhere in the US or Canada for free.
eBuddy: Don’t miss out on important messages while you’re away from your base of operations. Log on to eBuddy to sign on to online messengers using your mobile device.
K7: FaxZERO lets you send out a fax for free online, but what if a client wants to fax something to you? Enlist the help of K7, a service that assigns users a phone number that accepts fax and voicemail messages, which are then sent to your email.
GoToMeeting: Use GoToMeeting to keep in touch with clients and coworkers via online meetings.
LogMeIn: Don’t let your business suffer because you can’t take your computer on the road. Use LogMeIn to get access to your computer’s desktop anywhere.

Marketing & Networking

You provide a great service and offer awesome rates, so why isn’t the world knocking down your door with business? Perhaps it’s because they have no idea you exist. Get your name out there and find new clients with these tools.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn offers online networking at its best. Find opportunities and contacts based on your work and the people you already know.
askCHARITY: Take advantage of askCHARITY’s database of key media contacts to get the word out about your business.
Craigslist: Craigslist is an invaluable tool for any freelancer. Find clients, sell your work, buy supplies, network and more using Craigslist.
Coroflot: Use Coroflot to post an online portfolio and find design jobs.
ProfessionalOnTheWeb: ProfessionalOnTheWeb hosts a directory of portfolios. Make sure yours is there when clients search for help.
Elance: Use Elance to get connected with clients that need your services on a project.
37signals Gig Board: Use the 37signals Gig Board to find freelance jobs in programming, design and more.
WebProJobs: Find full-time and freelance web professional jobs on WebProJobs.
Job Pile: Job Pile aggregates popular freelance job boards, so you can spend time working instead of searching.
YouTube: Use YouTube’s viral video to get the word out about your creativity.
CafePress: CafePress offers on-demand printing for promotional items as well as a place to sell your design.
Spot Runner: Use Spot Runner to build a TV advertising campaign.

Business & Legal

Paperwork isn’t always fun, but it is necessary. Forms and agreements can provide legal protection and help you avoid disputes down the road. Check out these tools that help you protect yourself and spend less time on the boring stuff.

MyNewCompany: Get legal and tax protection for your freelance business by making things official. Use MyNewCompany to incorporate or form an LLC online.
Help Me Work: Get the stability of corporate life while still working as an independent consultant. Help Me Work takes care of taxes, client billing, paychecks, benefits, retirement plans and more.
Designers Toolbox: Get set up with all the legal forms your design business may need with Designers Toolbox.
Creative Commons: Use Creative Commons to specify how much or how little legal restrictions you want your work to carry.
AIGA: Protect your business with AIGA’s standard form of agreement for design services.
Nolo: If you’ve got a legal question about your business, head to Nolo. Experts there offer legal advice for independent contractors and consultants.
Creative Public: Head to Creative Public for forms, contracts, pricing guides and more for your design business.

Client Contact & Feedback

Your clients are what keep you in business, so it’s important to check in with them and make sure they’re satisfied. Use these programs to keep in touch with your clients and find out what they have to say about your work.

Breeze: Send out email campaigns to your clients with Breeze’s easy tool.
Wufoo: Use Woofoo to make forms, surveys and invitations for your customers with ease.
Relenta CRM: Keep track of customer relationships using email, contact, document and activity management with Relenta.
Highrise: Don’t lose track of your customers: keep in touch with Highrise’s online contact management system.
ScratchnScribble: Use ScratchnScribble’s service to have handwritten or printed greeting cards sent to your clients.

Website Tools

Clients are looking for your business online. Will you be there? Check out these applications to make sure your business has an excellent online presence.

Big Cartel: Set up an online store to sell your products using Big Cartel’s service.
WordPress: Blog about your business and industry with WordPress.
Inblogit: If you’re a design professional, your blog should be attractive. Use Inblogit for blog functionality with more flexbility in design.
Icebrrg: Create web forms with Icebrrg so that your website can generate customer inquiry and feedback.
XHTMLized: If you’re too busy to build a website yourself, use XHTMLized. They take your design and turn it into a web page that is browser and search engine friendly.
XHTMLiT: XHTMLit offers freelancers another time-saving solution for converting design into HTML.
Userplane: Make your website interactive for your clients by bundling chat, messaging, video, search and live presence with Userplane.
Ning: Let your clients network with each other by creating your own Ning social network.
ExpressionEngine: Impress your customers by having a website with lots of features. Use ExpressionEngine to publish just about anything on your website.
FlashDen: Build a great-looking website that your clients will want to visit. Buy Flash, audio, video and fonts to make your website look good at FlashDen.

Printing & Packaging

When your products look good, your business does too. Presentation makes a difference, so be sure to make a good impression by using these innovative printing and packaging tools.

Jewelboxing: Impress your customers with Jewelboxing’s customized, professional-grade DVD and CD packages.
Qoop: Qoop prints everything freelancers might need: business cards, apparel, promotional items, posters and more.
Moo: Moo prints note cards and mini cards from your photos and design. These can be used for promotional materials or business cards.

Tools to Give & Take

These tools pack a double-whammy of functionality. Use them to get the resources you need or as an alternative revenue stream.

Google AdWords: Use Google AdWords to advertise your business or make money by putting AdWords on your website.
Prosper: Using Prosper’s people-to-people lending website, you can borrow money for business expenses from real people. If you have extra cash, use Prosper to earn interest by lending to others.
Text Link Ads: Generate interest in your website and attract clients with Text Link Ads or earn money by selling space for others on your site.
PayPerPost: Use PayPerPost to have a blogger write about your product or service. Alternately, you can earn money by writing about someone else’s business.
Guruza: Find answers to your business questions or earn money by giving expert advice on Guruza.

Miscellaneous

From office suites to creative stimulation, these tools have a lot to offer for freelancers. Check out these applications that cover anything and everything else you might need for your business.

Zoho: Zoho’s Office Suite includes a variety of software solutions for freelancers: a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, wiki writer, notebook, project management, CRM solution, database creator, calendar, web conferencing, email and chat.
Veetro: Veetro offers another all-in-one solution that specializes in the tools freelancers need the most. This program combines money, document, task and customer management with email marketing, reporting and blog publishing.
Work: Are you clueless about what it takes to run a business in your industry? Work offers guides that show you how.
Pandora: Get your creative juices flowing with Pandora’s fully customizable internet radio.

Visit our StumbleUpon Blog for more technology and productivity tips

How to tell if you are stuck in the 90s - Test Yourself

Here are the top five tests that will help you determine if you are stuck in the 90s

The Music test. If you can hum a tune or (god forbid) sing a line from the works of the BackStreet Boys, Boyz II Men or the Spice Girls, you are soooo 90s. If you buy CDs instead of iTuning or SoulSeeking - 90s!

The Politics test. You are stuck in the 90s if you think that the worst president ever is George Bush (senior).

The Action/Adventure Movie test. If Pulp Fiction is one of your favorite movies and you have a hidden (but strong) affection for Mr Van Damme and Professor Steven Seagal then there is a 95% chance that you are a guy that’s stuck in the 90s.

The TV test. If you are still watching Melrose Place or Beverly Hills 90210 then it is almost certain that you are stuck in the 90s, girlfriend.

The Newspaper test. If you think that Blog is the name of a B-Movie and that “real people” get their news from the newspaper - you are stuck in the 90s.

So…are you stuck in the 90s?

This has been a break from our scheduled programming.