You know what's great about freelancing? Almost all. Pants are optional (most of the time), pets make better co-workers than most, and you can listen to Kenny G as loud as you want without fear of teasing or retaliation from your co-workers. (Ahem.) If you plan to go it alone as a freelancer or start your own business, you and you alone are responsible for making sure Uncle Sam gets his due. Unfortunately, the US tax system is one of the most grotesquely complex bureaucracies in the world, and for the uninitiated, filing a simple return as an independent contractor can quickly become a Byzantine nightmare. Today I'm going to walk you through the fun and exciting world of taxes for freelancers. We'll touch on some general points before exploring some of the more juicy stuff, like what you can (probably) clear as well as pitfalls to avoid. Before we begin, however. First, a very important disclaimer Before going any further, it is important to note that this guide focuses exclusively on US tax law; While some of the cell phone number list advice may apply if you live elsewhere, this guide is primarily for freelancers living and working in the United States and may apply to foreign contractors working for US companies. I am not a lawyer. I am not accredited by any bar association (insert joke here) nor am I qualified to offer legal advice. Also, I am not a personal finance expert. As such, none of the content in this article should be considered a substitute for hiring an accountant or tax attorney who knows what they are talking about. Please also note that, for the sake of simplicity, all of the tips and tricks below apply only to federal taxes, that is, money you owe the federal government. State tax laws vary widely from state to state, the complexities of which would obviously be impractical to discuss here. If you are in any doubt about any of the issues raised in this article, contact the IRS (or your state Treasury office). Contrary to popular belief, most people who work for the IRS are actually really great, friendly, and helpful people. Don't be afraid to contact them directly if - and when - things get darkly complicated.

2017 is half in the bag! The world has been turned upside down and reversed. Amazon has snacked on the world's leading supplier of non-GMO cheetos. There were fidget spinners. Other things happened. While we've already had a handful of PPC experts weigh in on the hottest strategies to launch search and social media this year, it seemed high time to tackle ALL the latest features, across all platforms, that can impact your digital marketing strategy. Below, you'll find highlights of the search and social channels our products currently support, as well as some potentially paradigm-shifting features from other digital advertising platforms! Best New AdWords Features While I'd love to focus on some of the new targeting features revealed at this year's Google Marketing Next, there's a big, shiny elephant in the room. So, naturally, I'm kicking off the list of best new online advertising features of 2017 with the updated AdWords UI. While this last step might make it hard for some to consider the cell phone number list new AdWords UI a true flagship feature of 2017 (so far), I'm not one of those people. The elegance alone is worth a conversation, but it's the little extras - things that aren't even available in the current UI - that get my juices flowing. Mark Irvine, Senior Data Scientist at WordStream, wrote about some incredibly useful features hidden in the "New AdWords Experience" (like improved and beautiful reports) if you want to learn more! One of the biggest advantages of search over traditional modes of advertising is the ability to discern intent. But while a business query is a great place to start, not all iterations of “buy Nikes for men” are created equal. That's why Google has extended its in-market audience feature to search. It doesn't matter if you sell SaaS services or Subaru Foresters: the ability to increase your reach (and your bids) to searchers with an active search history for your product is a boon to your business. CTR may not be your most important KPI, but increasing the rate at which prospects click on your text ads means more opportunities to drive conversions. Enter promotion extensions, a method by which advertisers can display a small price (and price!) for their products directly on the SERP, like this:

As we all know, it's easy for marketers to brag about the quality of their product or service. Writing compelling copy, taking eye-catching photos or even producing glamorous videos are all tactics we use to draw attention to our brands. While all of these strategies can be successful, there really is no better way to gain trust and prove your brand's validity than customer testimonials. Testimonials divert the salesperson's attention and focus it on the customer. Your cell phone number list customer was once in the shoes of the buyer, debating which product to choose, comparing prices, reading marketing message after marketing message. Once the potential new buyer hears about someone they can really relate to - someone who isn't being paid to say those wonderful things - then their confidence deepens and their chances of buying increase. Chow Now Another beauty is the ChowNow customer testimonial page. Its simple design focuses on remarkable customer videos and quotes. This approach is clear, simple, and easy to navigate - not bogged down with large chunks of text that can be overwhelming and easy to ignore. ChowNow has clearly invested in sending a video team to their customers' restaurants to produce these high quality video testimonials, but I bet it was worth it. Video can be the best way to display happy customers because it allows the viewer to connect on an emotional level that can be harder to convey through text alone. Startup Institute The Startup Institute has used its business model to create a unique and compelling way to display customer testimonials in the form of “love letters”. Startup Institute is a career accelerator that empowers professionals to learn new skills, take their careers in a different direction, and pursue careers they are passionate about. Naturally, they receive praise from students who have completed the program. Whether it's a student elated to have landed their dream job or simply a message of appreciation, these letters are truly authentic testimonials. This page is a creative and thoughtful way to share positive customer reviews and testimonials.