Setting Up in Business? There’s an App for That…

Desktop Toolbar

I’ve recently set myself up as a freelancer for the third time in my career history. Something I’ve noticed this time around is that setting up in business is a much more tool-rich process than it was even seven years ago (the last occasion).

When I last set up, seven years ago, there didn’t seem to be all that much to choose from in the way of business software that wasn’t either a professional-grade office software package or slightly clunky freeware with usability way down its list of priorities.

Now though, there’s a wide – and potentially bewildering – array of software options on offer. Whatever business process, system or application you can think of, I can guarantee that there are going to be several software options – most of them cloud-based, rather than desktop-clients – to choose from.

After a few weeks of on-and-off research, there there are a few software packages or cloud apps that I’m either settling in to use long-term or currently trialling. The aim is to provide support and productivity improvement in the following areas of my business:

  • Email, Calendar, File Storage and Sharing
  • CRM
  • Finances & Invoicing
  • Task Management
  • Virtual Networking
  • Business Development

I’ll cover the first three elements briefly here, but task management, virtual networking and business development are clearly much larger areas, so I’ll talk about each of those areas in separate posts.

Continue reading ‘Setting Up in Business? There’s an App for That…’

Escape Your Career Cage, with ‘Be A Free Range Human’ by Marianne Cantwell

Be a Free Range Human, by Marianne CantwellQuick Overview

A practical guide to personal fulfilment through career-change that emphasises the need for imagination, passion, hard work and commitment. No empty promises or get-rich-quick schemes here, but if you’re serious about making a major change and escaping a career rut, then Marianne Cantwell’s book might be just the catalyst you’ve been searching for.

Full Review

Marianne Cantwell broke out of her cubicle cage, transformed her life and now eschews the daily commute and soul-destroying office grind in favour of a whirlwind tour of the globe. These days she works from wherever she chooses to set up home (Mauritius and Italy to name but two) as a consultant and inspirational speaker.

Now, in Be a Free Range Human Marianne wants to show you how you, too, can follow your dream and live the lifestyle you’ve always longed for.

Continue reading ‘Escape Your Career Cage, with ‘Be A Free Range Human’ by Marianne Cantwell’

Darren Turpin Ltd. is Back in Business

After five years working in the UK publishing industry for Little, Brown Book Group and Angry Robot, I’m back on the freelance scene and hugely looking forward to developing my new business.

I’m a website manager by trade, specialising in online marketing strategy, website content management and mid-level WordPress wrangling.

This website will be part portfolio – showcasing the work I’m doing on behalf of my clients – and part business blog, talking about any interesting developments, tips or best-practice techniques. that I encounter in the course of my background reading and research.

I believe in practising what you recommend, so I’ll be focusing on subjects like online marketing strategy and practice, website and social media content management and, yes, WordPress wrangling. And I believe in the power of word-of-mouth recommendation, so I’ll also be highlighting the great work done by the clients, partners and allies that I work with along the way.

If you’re at all interested in hiring me to work on a relevant project, please do take a look at the section of the site to see what I specialise in, and of course you should feel free to check me out before you contact me – in this day and age I’d expect nothing less.