CharlestonFreelancers.com is part of a network of 119 geographically-targeted freelance job boards strategically built to provide better local search results for Charleston freelance jobs, freelance talent, start-up businesses, recruiters in Charleston and those companies that provide services to the self-employed.

Strategically built to increase the online marketing reach and visibility of our members in Charleston, CharlestonFreelancers.com employs a full-range of the most effective "white hat" search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) tactics, techniques and strategies that are constantly monitored and adjusted to achieve our goal of being the best-of-breed in Charleston freelance job directories and self-employment support.

Founded by marketing experts who know the power of SEO, SEM, social marketing, traditional advertising and public relations, CharlestonFreelancers.com continually invests in multi-channel marketing to help our clients quickly source freelance jobs and quality freelance talent, network with like-minded and complimentary professionals, seek expert advice, promote and find services that help freelancers perpetuate and enjoy the self-employment lifestyle.

One size does not fit all. That’s why CharlestonFreelancers.com lets you customize your membership rates. Small businesses that offer varying services may choose several categories, sub-categories and cities in which to aggressively promote their company. "Full-time" independent contractors who specialize in many areas of one professional discipline might choose one category and several sub-categories. Part-time freelancers or "moonlighters" might only invest a few dollars to pick up some extra work in their spare time. Whatever your situation is, CharlestonFreelancers.com let’s you customize your marketing budget to attract as much or little work as you want.

Customizable Membership Rates

• Freedom to target specific cities
• Ability to expand categories as business/partnership grows
• No contracts, flexible monthly pricing

$4.95 cats, $1.00 sub-cats, $5.00 additional city listings (outside 2-for-1), $75.00 featured profile on 2-for-1 home pages

PRIMARY:
Those seeking freelance jobs in Charleston
Maintaining a consistent stream of work is difficult - not to mention all the other responsibilities associated with being self-employed. CharlestonFreelancers.com is an online marketing tool that, when used properly, should effectively increase your profile’s visibility to those searching on the Internet for your professional skills and business services in Charleston. In addition, our website provides a freelance forum where the self-employed can network, seek advice, exchange ideas, as well as a support area where freelancers can find businesses such as tax preparers, accountants, lawyers, insurance providers in Charleston that cater to the self-employed.

Those searching for Charleston freelancers and small businesses in the Charleston metroplex
CharlestonFreelancers.com has a talent list database that features mainly Charleston independent contractors and small businesses that help companies with projects and services to help them meet the day-to-day operational needs of business continuance. Buyers simply post their project for freelancers to review and bid on. In addition, buyers can quickly search for specific skill sets and experience and browse through the profiles of qualified and relevant service providers. LINK


SECONDARY:
Corporate Recruiters and Staffing Agencies in Charleston
The freelance talent market in Charleston is constantly churning and the average freelancer is doing well to last three years as a self-employed independent contractor. For most, freelancing is a well-deserved extended break between jobs, but many are receptive to full-time employment if the right opportunity presents itself. Recruiters in Charleston will find this hidden talent pool to be filled with very qualified candidates who can transition quickly and possess the critical skills that employers demand. To assist staffing agencies and recruiters in Charleston in this effort, CharlestonFreelancers.com will provide RSS job feeds to your company’s website job boards. If your professional organization has a job board, email us at RSS@CharlestonFreelancers.com.

Businesses that serve the self-employed in Charleston
CharlestonFreelancers.com is more than a simple freelance job directory. It is a community of like-minded professionals who understand the joys and challenges of being self-employed. That is why we offer you a full range of services to include help sourcing freelance projects, full-time recruitment and employment assistance, professional collaboration and networking opportunities, online marketing assistance and support for your small business such as tax preparers, accountants, lawyers, insurance providers in Charleston and more.  We do everything we can to help you spend as much time as you can sourcing new business.

Associations, Organizations and Societies in Charleston
CharlestonFreelancers.com supports many of the professional associations, organizations and societies in Charleston that cater to our members. We do this by sponsoring events, mailings, and pushing RSS job feeds to their website job boards. If your professional organization has a job board and you would like to benefit from our job listings, email us at freelancers@thefreelancenation.com.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account" in main menu.
3. Click "Modify" in the "Account Details" section of the page.
4. Make your desired changes.
5. Click "Save"

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account" in main menu.
3. Click "Modify Log in info".
4. Make your desired changes.
5. Click "Save"

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click "Modify" in the "Email Settings".
4. Make your desired changes.
5. Click "Save".

Alerts let you know when a project has posted that matches your chosen categories and sub-categories.  Alerts automatically go to your "My FN Mailbox" but can be sent to your email either immediately, once a day, or not at all and remain in your "My Mailbox" until you delete them.

To access your alerts:
1. Log in.
2. Click "My FN Mailbox" in main menu.
3. Click "Alerts".
4. Click a specific alert to open.

Watches are like "favorites", they enable you to save Projects, Buyers and/or Freelancers that interest you. When a job or project attracts your attention, click the "Add Watch" button and save the link and information into your "Watch List" folder.

To access your "Watchlist"
1. Log in.
2. Click "My Watchlist".
3. To review an item, click on the Title
4. To remove an item, click "Remove Watch".

CharlestonFreelancers.com helps the self-employed perpetuate the freelance lifestyle by making project work easier to find, providing small business support, and providing an easy and effective way for freelancers to market their services, website and resume online. Most important, to stop perpetual "under-cutting," CharlestonFreelancers.com ensures 100% blind bidding so that only the independent contractor and the prospective client ever see the freelancer’s estimate or scope of work relating to the project.

100% Blind Bidding
Unlike our competitors, CharlestonFreelancers.com is a 100% blind bidding service.  We believe that the practice of open bidding encourages continual underbidding that is ultimately detrimental to buyers, sellers, and the freelance industry as a whole. We are extremely passionate about this. CharlestonFreelancers.com was built by veteran freelancers who’s goal it is to protect and propagate the self-employed lifestyle. Read More!

Customizable Membership Rates
One size does not fit all. That’s why CharlestonFreelancers.com lets you customize your membership rates. Small businesses that offer varying services may choose several categories, sub-categories and cities in which to aggressively promote their company. "Full-time" independent contractors who specialize in many areas of one professional discipline might choose one category and a few sub-categories. Part-time freelancers or "moonlighters" might only invest a few bucks to pick up some extra work in their spare time. Whatever your situation is, CharlestonFreelancers.com let’s you customize your marketing budget to pick up as much or little work as you want.  Read More!

Greater Portfolio Exposure
At CharlestonFreelancers.com, you can customize the categories and sub-categories you want your professional profile to be listed in as well as market your services on over 100 local freelance job boards across the nation. Plus, when you sign up, you get 2-for-1 profiles; one listing in CharlestonFreelancers.com and one listing in CharlestonFreelancers.com. This gives you increased exposure on the Internet - especially when you fill out your profile and search engine optimize it.  Read More!

Local Job Search and Marketing Tool
From the ground up, CharlestonFreelancers.com is strategically designed, written and marketed to help Charleston freelancers find work and work find freelancers in Charleston. Every aspect of CharlestonFreelancers.com, from our large network of 119 regional sites, search engine optimization strategies, on-page content, customizable profiles, online marketing plan and offline marketing plan is specifically tailored to help freelancers find work in Charleston. In the early days of the Internet, companies thought it "cool" to work with vendors from around the world. But now, with the proliferation and widespread adoption of the Internet, companies are seeking local talent in an effort to reduce complications with time zones, currency, culture and accountability. CharlestonFreelancers.com enables them to shorten the development life cycle and increase their productivity by quickly sourcing and qualifying freelancers in Charleston.  Read More!

Self-employment and Small Business Support
The freelance lifestyle carries with it a lot of responsibility and time demands - time that is often better spent working on your core competencies; not inefficiently muddling through areas of business you don’t understand to well. That is why CharlestonFreelancers.com offers several areas of support that makes it easy to find professional assistance such as tax preparation, administrative support, bookkeeping, business consulting, legal assistance and insurance from those who understand the unique needs of the self-employed.  Read More!

CollaborationNation, an open freelance forum and network venue
CollaborationNation is an open forum that encourages and enables freelancers in Charleston to exchange ideas and seek partnerships. Despite their "go-it-alone" image, independent contractors won’t be self-employed long if they don’t network and build strategic partnerships and affiliations with other independent consultants who have complementary skills. By networking locally, freelancers can strengthen their service offerings to their clients. For instance, copywriters can locate graphic artists, videographers can locate production artists, accountants with tax preparers, and so on. Read More!

No commissions, ever.
We think charging a commission is unfair to customers - at least to ours. The service we provide has everything to do with connecting people and facilitating a relationship, but nothing to do with getting in the middle of it and trying to profit from it.

Open communication channels
We know this sounds like a "no-brainer," but unfortunately there are freelance job services (and we use the term loosely) out there that strictly prohibited open communication because it may exclude those sites from their commissions and fees they insist upon charging. How can people work together effectively and make informed decisions if they are not allowed to communicate? At CharlestonFreelancers.com, we allow our customers to communicate in whatever manner they choose.

To provide services on CharlestonFreelancers.com, you will need to post a provider profile:
1. Click the "Start a Profile" link or button.
2. Follow the sign-up process and have your credit card ready.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account"
3. Click "Modify".
4. Make your desired changes.
5. Click "Save"

Each profile supports eight freelance portfolio samples ranging from images to documents to active links to other websites.  To create a portfolio:
1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account"
3. Click" Create Portfolio"
4. Click "Add Sample" and follow the instructions
5. Click "Save"
6. Repeat the previous steps for each freelance portfolio sample you wish to add.

CharlestonFreelancers.com was specifically built, written and search engine optimized to increase your visibility on the Internet - but there is more you can do to help yourself.
1. Fill out your "Meta Data".  This information will be custom to your profile and will help buyers find you faster.
2. Complete your profile using Keywords and Key phrases you want to be found under. The more detailed, the better.
3. Fill out your "Industry Tags" with words and phrases that describe the industries you’re most proficient in
4. Fill out your "Skill Tags" with words and phrase that describe your professional skills
5. Fill in your "Headline"
6. Fill out your "Professional Bio"
7. Add images to your "Portfolio"
8. Write a keyword, key phrase "Resume" and add it to your profile
9. Fill out the "Educational/Awards/Associations" section
10. Network and contribute in CollaborationNation, a forum for freelancers that...
11. Using the "Bookmark me" box, bookmark your own profile.
12. Set up profiles in LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook, and others and link back to your Freelance Nation profile.
13. Be active and resilient in seeking out and bidding on projects, however, we do not suggest discounting your prices below what is reasonable or fair market value. We actively encourage buyers to select freelancers based on their talent and the value they bring to the project.
14. Sign up for project Alerts. Click here to find out how.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click the title of the profile you want to modify.
4. Click the "change logo" link.
5. Make your required changes.
6. Save your changes.

1. Log in.
2. Click on "My Account".
3. Select the profile you want to modify by clicking its title.
4. Click the "change photo" link.
5. Make your required changes.
6. Save your changes.

The primary category of a profile cannot be changed, but you can modify the profile’s subcategories. Because several items relate to the category of a profile (bids, portfolio samples, alerts, etc.), system integrity would be violated if the category could be changed.

If your profile must be listed in a different category, you will need to deactivate the existing profile and post a new profile in the correct category.

To change your profile’s subcategories, please follow these steps:
1. Log in.
2. Open "My Account".
3. Click "Modify".
4. Make your changes.
5. Click "Save".

Stay ahead of competitors by signing up for project alerts via RSS.
1. Go to our RSS page
2. Build your custom feed
3. Copy and paste the feed link into your favorite RSS reader or a browser that supports RSS feeds directly.

1. Locate a project you would like to bid on.
2. Click "Submit Bid".
3. Follow the instructions and fill out the RFP.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Projects".
3. Click on the "Bid On" tab.
4. Click on the "Pending" sub-tab.
5. Click on the "Bid" icon to open your bid.
6. Click on the "modify" link.
7. Make your required changes.
8. Click "Save"

CharlestonFreelancers.com provides multiple options for buyers to contact you and to hire you for your services.

Many buyers post projects to attract interested service providers. You will be alerted when projects are posted that you are eligible to bid on. You may also receive invitations from buyers for the projects they post. If a buyer has any questions about bids you submit, that buyer may start a discussion with you.

As a second option, buyers frequently search our database of service providers and portfolios to locate the right provider to complete their projects. If a buyer is impressed with your service offerings, they may contact you directly via the contact information you have opted to reveal on your provider profile.

Historical records of all projects you bid on are stored in your "My Projects" folder. We automatically remove Projects not awarded you 10 days after the bidding phase has ended. To review your "My Projects" folder:
1. Log in.
2. Click "My Projects".
3. Click "My Bids".
4. Click any of the following, depending on your needs:
Pending: Un-awarded projects you have bid on
Awarded: Projects you have been awarded
Won: Projects you have accepted
Lost: Projects you bid on but were not awarded

You may retract any bid you submit as long as the project has not been awarded. To retract a bid, please follow these steps:
1. Log in.
2. Click on "My Projects".
3. Click on "My Bids".
4. Click on the "retract" link.
5. Follow the instructions

When a project has been awarded to you, you will receive an alert (and an email). You may also monitor your "Awarded" project page for awards issued to you.  To locate projects awarded to you, please follow these steps:
1. Log in.
2. Open "My Projects" by clicking the corresponding link on main menu.
3. Click on the "Bid On" tab.
4. Click on the "Awarded" sub-tab.

CharlestonFreelancers.com does not facilitate financial transactions between buyers and sellers, nor do we take legal responsibility for the business dealings between parties. We encourage parties to use the following industry standards of payment methods for services rendered.
1. Check or Money Order - This is the most common method of payment for freelancers and usually entails invoicing the client.
2. PayPal - PayPal is accepted worldwide and you can sign up here.
3. Credit Card - You must have a Merchant Account to accept credit card payments. We suggest contacting Paymentech for this service.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click "Modify" in the "Contact Settings".
4. Make your changes.
5. Click "Save".

1. Click here to begin a secure Log In Recovery Process.
2. Follow the instructions. If you have any questions, please Contact Us directly.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click "Modify Credit Card information"
4. Make your changes.
5. Click "Save".

Temporarily suspending your account allows the information in your Profile to be saved in our database so that you can reactivate it at any point in the future.
To deactivate your profile:
1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click "Suspend my account"
4. Follow the directions. If you have any questions concerning this process or how we can better serve you, please contact us directly.

1. Log in.
2. Click "My Account".
3. Click "Cancel Account"
4. Follow the directions. If you have any questions concerning this process or how we can better serve you, please contact us directly.