Smart solutions, tools, websites and resources for the modern entrepreneur

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Free Agent Resource Guide

Welcome to the Free Agent Resource Guide brought to you by the authors of the Free Agent Formula: Six breakout strategies for the modern entrepreneur.

There is an exciting underground world of useful (and often free) applications, communities, software and tools that cater to the freelancer or entrepreneur. This guide is an aggregated list of over 200 of the top low- or no-cost services on the web.

A few notes before you dive in:

Don't forget to vote!

1. The resources are organized by category, such as "communication tools" and "dollars and sense." Functions often overlap, however, so we'd encourage you to check out all the sections. You might find something that you didn't even know you needed. Use the Table of Contents above to see a list of categories and subcategories so that you can easily find the type of resource you're looking for!

2. Our small company of three people put the initial list together however it's the wisdom of the crowd (that's you and your fellow free agents) that will make this list truly valuable. So, please VOTE, ADD TO THE LIST, AND COMMENT ON THE RESOURCES so that the very best will standout and rise to the top.

3. We've done our very best to research and test these resources but can't take responsibility for their function, availability or legal usage. And while they were all up and running at the time we posted this, some creators may have since moved on or stopped offering their online tools. (Please let us know if you find a service that is no longer available and we'll take it down.)

Thanks!

Cassie, Lisa and Cheri of Reach Group

Best Books for Free Agents

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These are our top picks for the modern entrepreneur: (please add books that you think other free agents would benefit from reading!)

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who more...1 point

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki

The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything by Guy Kawasaki

What does it take to turn ideas into action? What more...1 point

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

This celebrated New York Times bestsellernow poise more...0 points

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink

A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink

The paperback edition of Daniel H. Pink's groundbreaking more...0 points

First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham, Curt Coffman

First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham, Curt Coffman

The greatest managers in the world seem to have li more...0 points

Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself by Daniel H. Pink

Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself by Daniel H. Pink

If you're having a baby, you read "What To Expect more...0 points

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Mark Twain once observed: A lie can get halfway ar more...0 points

Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More by Chris Anderson

Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More by Chris Anderson

The New York Times bestseller that introduced the business more...0 points

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott, Anthony D. Williams

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott, Anthony D. Williams

In just the last few years, traditional collaboration-in more...0 points

Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies by Charlene Li, Josh Bernoff

Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies by Charlene Li, Josh Bernoff

Corporate executives are struggling with a new trend: more...0 points

Citizen Marketers: When People Are the Message by Ben McConnell, Jackie Huba

Citizen Marketers: When People Are the Message by Ben McConnell, Jackie Huba

"A solid, insightful explanation of how the I more...0 points

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

"Built to Last", the defining management more...0 points

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2. Collaborative Tools and Technologies

The Smart Solutions under Collaborative Tools and Technologies are listed in the categories below:
  1. Wikis
  2. Wikis in Plain English
  3. Blogs
  4. Blog-Specific Search Engines
  5. What do you think?

Wikis in Plain English

Courtesy of Common Craft (http://www.commoncraft.com)

powered by Youtube

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3. Data Management and Access

The Smart Solutions under Data Management and Access are listed in the categories below:
  1. Data / Computer Backup and Mobile Access
  2. Digital Delivery and File Compression Utilities
  3. What do you think?
  4. Presentation Sharing
  5. Website Analytics

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5. Social Networks and Communities

The number of people using social networks has exploded in recent years. Today, having a profile on a social networking site has become as commonplace as owning a cell phone or having an email account-and once you have one, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

Social networks are an extremely efficient way to keep in contact with a large community of friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Social networks provide tools that allow users to build a virtual identity (with personality), share information and media through blogs, photos, videos, music, links to other content, etc, and find friends or make new contacts.

These communities are also transforming business models and providing new opportunities for personal and specialized business marketing. Depending on the site you choose and how you use it, you can build a brand community, showcase your talent, sell your products or services, and collect referrals and recommendations.

The following is a list of some of the most popular social networks. If you don't already belong to a social network, start by asking your friends, family and colleagues what they're using and tour the sites to see if they're right for you and/or your business. You can stick with one or join multiple networks.
  1. Professional Networks and Online Communities
  2. All-Purpose Social Networks and Communities
  3. What do you think?

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  • Reply
    messel Jul 9, 2009 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    If you feel this is a good add on, I put together a brief tutorial for twitter here: http://www.squidoo.com/TwitterTutorial but it fits into a larger social media strategy (working with a couple of folks now on a web site focused on crowdsourcing information into a guide).
  • Reply
    cpruett7 Apr 7, 2009 @ 11:36 pm | delete
    For those on Twitter, here is a comprehensive list of applications: http://www.squidoo.com/twitterapps

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7. Customer Relationship Management and Time Tracking

The Smart Solutions under CRM and Time Tracking are listed in the categories below:
  1. Job Tracking and Invoicing
  2. Contact Management and CRM
  3. What do you think?

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8. Product Creation

The Smart Solutions under Product Creation are listed in the categories below:
  1. Design Software and Tools
  2. Stock Image Sites
  3. Online Office Applications and Suites
  4. On-Demand Product Creation and Online Marketplaces
  5. What do you think?

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  • Reply
    Jordan Daniels Oct 15, 2010 @ 12:47 pm | delete
    www.loanback.com. It's a loan management and structuring software which is extremely easy to use. provides loan documentation and promissory notes, plus makes all informal loans (especially loans from friends and family) legally binding in 50 states. Quite an indispensable tool when borrowing from banks is the final option

10. Sales and Support

The Smart Solutions under Sales and Support are listed in the categories below:
  1. Payment Processing Services
  2. Online Shopping Carts and More
  3. What do you think?

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12. Website Creation and Analytics

Just a few years ago, you needed to either hire a professional web designer or bribe your tech-savvy nephew in order to set up a website. Now there are tools available to help free agents create simple, clean and surprisingly professional websites and homepages.
  1. Website Creation Tools
  2. Online Advertising
  3. Website Analytics
  4. What do you think?

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  • Reply
    srdha sadi Apr 9, 2009 @ 4:54 am | delete
    Here is a site that more use full than zamzar.com download youtube videos on the fly,in any format http://youtubeddl.com dirict download from youtube server

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by

cpruett7

I'm a partner at Reach Group Consulting where I am a strategist and student of social media, Gen Y and the intergenerational workforce. I also am a c... more »

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