With the economy in the dumps and unemployment looming around every corner, you might think it’s a terrible time to try and sell yourself. Au contraire.  When sales are down, businesses need creative minds more than ever, as they seek new ways of generating buzz for their brand.

If you’re a freelancer, or any type of creative worker at all (illustrator, graphic artist, jingle writer, etc.), 2010 can be the year you get more gigs than ever. Here are seven easy ways to get your name out there and generate some buzz of your own.

1. Social Network, Social Network, Social Network

Even the big companies are doing it, so why aren’t you?  With a cost of nothing you should be using social networking sites for all they’re worth to establish your reputation as a go-to source for whatever you produce. Only have a personal page? Set up an account today for your work persona.

2. Print Some Business Cards

If you tell yourself “I’m just a guy who draws pictures” or “Writers don’t have cards,” you’re selling yourself short. Business cards are cheap to print these days (check out Vistaprint), and you don’t have to be a bigwig to carry them. Give them out anytime you find yourself in conversation about your work.

3. Volunteer

Some people fear giving their work away for free, feeling that it devalues what they do. In fact, the opposite can be true. Donating work creates the idea that your work is worth donating, and serves as an example of what you can do. Design brochures for a local charity or write copy for a political campaign –and make sure you leave them with plenty of business cards.

4. Take a Break from Creating

It may seem counter-intuitive, but far too many creative types spend so much time creating that they never take time to market themselves. You may have a stack of paintings a mile high, but the bills are even higher. Take time off –whether it’s a week, a month, or even a year– and devote that time exclusively to selling your product. You won’t lose your mojo, and you’ll gain real work.

5. Teach a Workshop

Whatever skills you have, there are kids who would love the chance to learn from you. Offer to teach a workshop at a community center, school or church. You can even charge a small fee while you pass on your know-how about photography or screenwriting. The upside: those kids all have parents who will now know your name, and equate you with being an expert on the subject. (Pass out those cards!)

6. Join Oozil.

It’s free –and it’s right here. While you’re on the site, take the time to sign up for the forums. With Oozil matching clients to providers, you can go back to doing what you love most: creating content.

2010 will be your year. I can feel it.

By Elizabeth Kelly

In the creative world, standing out from the crowd is usually a good thing. Every marketing student knows that having unique ideas is what separates the winningly successful from the ho-hum.

But standing out can also be the kiss of death if you don’t know how to use the concept effectively. An ad campaign that aims to attract attention by being distinctive can sometimes have the opposite of the intended effect, turning off potential customers in the process.

A bad concept is a lot like that guy at the office. You know the one: the guy with the wacky tie who thinks he’s really shaking things up, fashion-wise. He cracks terrible jokes constantly, thinking he’s the funniest guy in the building because of the nervous laughter he receives from a couple of co-workers trying to be polite.

The saddest think about wacky tie guy is just how clueless he is. A comical tie isn’t a forward-thinking fashion concept. It’s still a tie after all.  In fact, the most creative guy at work may be wearing no tie at all.

Bad jokes don’t make you funny either. The funniest guy in the office may not even tell jokes: he cracks everyone up with his hilarious way of describing everyday events.

The problem is, a lot of ideas are the creative equivalent of the wacky tie. They stand out from the rest, but not in a good way. When used car salesmen first started shouting in commercials, they probably startled people into noticing.

Those commercials are certainly different from others, but if having a fat guy in a bad suit yell out car prices was effective, you can bet the big auto makers would be doing it in national ads.

Do you want an ad campaign that stands out like a bad tie or a screaming salesman? Or do you want something that makes people stop, think, and say to themselves, “I’ve never seen that before.”

Creative thinking is organic. It comes from deep within. You can’t put it on like a Looney Toons tie. The good news is, if you can spot the difference between a bad joke and a good joke, or a good campaign versus an annoying campaign, you’ve got an ear for it. If you can’t, you may be guilty of trying too hard.

At Oozil, we’re looking for people who know the difference. People like you, with standout ideas. You can even work at home. That means no tie is necessary (especially not wacky ones.)

By Elizabeth Kelly

At Oozil, our philosophy of collaboration, creativity, and commerce means we love gadgets –especially gadgets that help us collaborate better, create more inventively, and earn more. After all, that’s why Oozil was created in the first place.

The iPhone is not just a toy for techies. With the right apps, it can also be a tool in your arsenal of creativity. We’re not talking about virtual lighters here, but real tools to organize you and inspire you. These are some of the best:

Print & Share

Our favorite part of this iPhone app is the “share” part.  With this handy tool, users can easily print out information from their iPhone to a printer. Anything from your phone contact numbers to web pages and photos can be printed out straight from your phone itself, to get it into the hands of potential clients ASAP.

Photogene

The iPhone can be tricky to shoot with, so if there’s anything a photographer needs it’s a photo-editing application. Photogene has a huge range of editing tools, and it scores points for being easy to use, so even if photos are your sideline, you can edit like a pro.

Brushes

If you doubt that anyone can do any real, serious creative work on an iPhone, you need to read about Jorge Colombo. Colombo created a cover for the highly-selective New Yorker earlier this year using the Brushes app, while waiting in line at Madame Tussaud’s.

TED

Those familiar with TED already know the level of inspiration at the conference that features lectures by “the world’s leading thinkers and doers.” This app lets you view high quality video of the entire TED archive of geniuses in technology, entertainment, science, business and global issues.

Reel Director

The brilliant geeks at Gizmodo say “This is as close as you’re going to get to iMovie on your iPhone.” The  video editing app lets you stitch together clips, add opening and closing credits, search within video clips, and preview your work with new editing applied, all while you’re waiting in line for movie tickets.

Read it Later

Anyone who works in a creative world knows the importance of keeping up with reading, whether it’s news about your field, insightful tips from a successful competitor, or an inspiring novel. Read it Later allows you to save pages to read anytime, and it works even without an Internet connection. You’ll never lack for airplane reading material.

Shozu

Social connections are important to creative workers more than ever. Shozu makes networking a one-step process, allowing you to transfer content from your phone directly to 30 different sites, including YouTube,Flickr and Facebook. It saves money too: you’re only charged for sending one message.

Cleartune

Even musicians can benefit from the technology of the iPhone with an app that’s beautiful in its simplicity. This chromatic instrument tuner and pitch pipe uses your phone’s built-in mic to fine-tune just about any instrument that sustains a tone: guitars, strings, brass, woodwinds and pianos, for starters.

You’ve got an Internet connection on that phone –why not bookmark Oozil today? We’ll keep our eye on what’s happening while you keep creating your best work.

By Elizabeth Kelly

“Nobody creates a fad. It just happens. People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It’s like a conspiracy.” -Creative Genius Jim Henson

Jim Henson is right. Fads just happen, and so do trends –the difference is only in how long they endure, with a trend having a longer duration (sometimes several years) than the short-lived fad, which is gone in a flash. I have a sneaking suspicion that Henson called Miss Piggy “a fad” early in the run of the Muppet Show, not knowing the characters would endure to the point of being character icons.

But, despite that fact that fads and trends “just happen,” those who work in the advertising world spend tons of money every year trying to predict them. It’s a risky business, and despite the cost, it sometimes misses the mark.

For freelancers or small clients who can’t spend thousands on trend forecasting services, it’s much smarter instead to stay on top of what’s popular now, instead of gambling it all on what may or may not be the next big thing.

Here are five easy ways to stay current that you may have overlooked.

#1) Google Hot Trends

About once every hour, Google updates a list of the most frequently used search terms and lists the top 100. Because the list updates so quickly, you can watch trends unfold over the course of a single day. A handy feature also lets you search for hot terms within Google trends and view a graph that charts its popularity over time. As I type this, hot search topics are the new episode of True Blood, the giant jellyfish on the coast of Japan, and debates over yet another “Miley Cyrus is Dead” ‘Net rumor (It’s false.)

#2) The Bestseller Lists

Looking at what people buy to read is an indicator of subjects the masses have more than just a passing interest in. Although some of the books purchased never get read, the buyer usually has the intention of reading them. Knowing what’s selling in the bookstores is a glimpse into the collective consciousness, especially non-fiction. Check the New York Times list frequently, but also take a look at Publisher’s Weekly, which collects separate data for more genres and age groups.

#3) Late Night Commentary

You can always watch the news (and should), but you’re only getting part of what you need. The straight facts aren’t as useful for advertising purposes as people’s reaction to the facts. For an easy way to gauge public opinion, listen to what talk show hosts choose to feature in their standup segments. Audience laughs or boos will let you know if they feel the same way about the celebrity or story being lambasted. Can’t stay up? Watch clips on Hulu or the network’s website.

#4) The Real World

It’s not enough to be social with social networking sites. Twitter and Facebook will only tell you so much about the world around you. Get outside, go places, and interact. Notice what weird new items are on the menu, what buzzwords you overhear, and what the teenagers are wearing. Chances are, it’s not the same as what you’ve seen on TV.

#5) The Garbage

Before you throw away your packaging, take a look at it. Marketing departments spend millions of dollars deciding what that wrapper should look like, so you might as well steal some insight for free. If you suddenly notice a well-known brand change its box to chartreuse polka-dots, it’s a safe bet that look is hot. Starbucks notably changes their paper bands several times a year, and it’s no coincidence that the color scheme  is often the one you’ll see women wearing that season.

Keep your eyes open. just because upcoming trends are hard to spot doesn’t mean you won’t stumble onto the next big thing. But while you’re looking, use these tips to make sure you don’t miss the current big thing.

By Elizabeth Kelly

A few weeks ago, I posted about the success of three very different television commercials: the McDonald’s singing fish, Subway’s “Five Dollar Footlongs” campaign, and Burger King’s revamp of a classic rap to sell Spongebob Squarepants toys. What I didn’t realize at the time was that these three commercials have something in common you wouldn’t even think about while watching TV.

They all rely on the importance of timing.

It’s no accident that Subway launched its campaign during an economic recession. Offering a memorable deal on a filling sandwich just when many people are having to cut back on meals out means that Subway can continue to do brisk business even in a crunch –possibly even better business than before. Burger King’s marketing of the Spongebob Squarepants kids’ meal toys didn’t just coincidentally appear at the end of school year, either. More kids at home translates to more kids clamoring to go to Burger King.

And what about that singing fish? McDonald’s purposefully released the commercial with the infectious jingle just before Lent, when some religious denominations eschew meat but still eat fish. McDonald’s sells about 300 million Filet-O-Fish sandwiches each year, and one quarter of those 300 million are during the Lent period. While even McDonald’s couldn’t have foreseen the success of the ad, its timing was every bit calculated.

It’s not just advertisers that are concerned with the “when” of a big release. You’ve probably noticed how many big movies come out in November, just in time for the huge surge in movie attendance. Do you think that many movies just happen to be completed and ready for release all at the same time? Sometimes a movie is even held back to take advantage of the season.

Sometimes books or movies are held back intentionally so that they won’t have to compete with a bigger and better title that they know will get everyone’s attention. They make their debut in a slower season to make a bigger splash. Some products do the opposite, intentionally releasing a similar product at the same time as their competitor to take advantage of the current interest in the subject matter.

You’ll see more weight loss ads in January, when dieters are still trying to stick to their resolutions, and a second surge in late spring, when women panic about bikini season. A large percentage of weddings are in June, but not many bridal shows are; they’re held in January to give brides-to-be a six-month lead to buy their wedding supplies when they plan for those summer weddings.

What’s the lesson here? It should be clear.

The next time you’re working on a project, ask yourself some questions. Would it be beneficial to hasten the work to get it out sooner? Could you maximize profits or interest by holding it back a few months to take advantage of a holiday or event? It’s all in the timing.

Don’t just consider the quality of the work, the budget, and the audience. Consider the calendar.

by Elizabeth Kelly

Speaking of timing, what’s more exciting than being part of a creative community with actual earning potential? Being part of it from the beginning! Oozil is near launch, and you can be there at the countdown. Share your ideas with us by registering for the Oozil forum today.

The Oozil forum is still in its infancy stage, but an interesting question has already been posed: “If you could choose just one creative tool, which one would you choose?” While I suggested pen and paper, someone else suggested email. Though each has a distinctly specific purpose, the most important aspect of each is exactly the same: they send an idea from one person to another. Each is a medium, the same as a radio show, a painting, or a smoke signal.

Today we have more choices among types of media than ever before, and the Internet means that we can share our creative work faster and faster. That even goes for works that aren’t in an electronic form to begin with. You can photograph your painting and upload it in a flash instead of waiting for a buyer to spot it in a gallery. You can record your song and let people download it. Even something as archaic as a smoke signal can be filmed and posted on your web page, and it’s as easy as using your phone to do it.

But what happens if the process is interrupted? Maybe you never hit “send” on that email message. You might put the painting in the attic and put a blanket over it, or even build a fire in a valley, so the smoke signals never get seen by anyone. What’s the worst thing that can happen if your message is never received? I’ll tell you: nothing. While probably nothing too terrible can happen as the result of keeping your work hidden, nothing great can happen to you either.

There is at least one significant case of potential medias interruptus that was luckily averted . Stephen King thought his original manuscript of Carrie was no good, and he threw it in the trash. His wife Tabitha fortunately found it, and encouraged him to revise it into what became his first published novel. King and his family were struggling financially at the time. Carrie ended up selling one million paperback copies in its first year and catapulted him to worldwide fame as a writer. What would have happened if Carrie had never been seen? What if the novel responsible for Stephen King’s career had been carted off in the trash?

We often read about books, poems, or screenplays being discovered in the desk drawers of writers, books that end up being posthumously published. Sometimes they are paintings instead of written works, stashed away in a moldering attic. In some cases, the works that come to light after the death of their creator are shockingly good. The public has to wonder: why was this hidden away? What made the artist think it was not worth bringing to light?

It can only be because he or she questioned it –found flaws that no one else could perceive, or that possibly didn’t even exist. Because of their reservations, they never got to know how much those hidden works meant to those who later enjoyed and admired them.

While the people we’re talking about enjoyed success in their life, what about those that have not yet “made it?” What about you? Do you have a story, painting, song –an idea of any kind– that is rotting away in a desk drawer, or even worse, still inside your head? Get it out. Put pen to paper. Send an email. Show someone. Who knows what may happen once you share it.

I can guarantee what will happen if you don’t. Nothing.

by Elizabeth Kelly

Have an idea bursting to get out or opinions on the creative process in general? Comment here, or better yet: join the Oozil forum and let’s start talking.

We’ve all heard it said that too many cooks spoil the broth. Experience tells us that the cliché is quite often true. It’s not just broth-making, either. You could also say that too many painters spoil the masterpiece, or that too many writers spoil the movie. If you need a case in point, look to a film that employed a staggering thirty-two writers for its screenplay: The Flintstones. I probably don’t have to remind you how many Oscar nominations it received.

In contrast, screenplays that are written by one person alone are some of the best in the field. The Piano by Jane Campion, American Beauty by Alan Ball, Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe: what would have been the terrible result if thirty-one more writers had put their grubby hands on these scripts?

It probably appears that I’m making a case for creators to work alone. I’m not. These examples represent two extremes. Some good movies had several writers (Gone With the Wind had fifteen), and some singular visions are lucky to have even been made (anything by Ed Wood, Jr.)

The truth is that splendid things can happen when great minds collaborate. In 1954, a movie was made based on Cornell Woolrich’s noir short story “It Had to Be Murder.” John Michael Hayes single-handedly turned it into a screenplay. Grand master Hitchcock directed it, and Jimmy Stewart starred. The result: Rear Window, which received four Academy Award nominations and is #48 on AFI’s list of the best films ever made.

Do you see the difference in this kind of collaboration and the Flintstone’s kind? Rear Window’s collaborators weren’t all working on the same part of the machine, like the writers all unsuccessfully tinkering on the same film script. Each person had one job, and they did it singularly well, whether they were acting, writing, or directing. Several minds played to their unique strengths and culminated in a film masterpiece.

You might think that you work best alone. You may even be right. There’s nothing wrong with writing your novel, sketching your illustrations, or composing your music completely by yourself if you need to. But what might happen if you let another creative person add a new layer once your product is finished? What would your novel look like with illustrations? What would your painting look like if it were animated? How would your music sound as the background of a short film?

The key to successful collaboration lies not in several people all trying to do the same job, but in each person bringing their own brand of creativity, in their own way, to the project to make a single stunning product. Give it a try. The result could be the next Rear Window.

Of course you could always stick it out alone and try for the next Plan 9 From Outer Space. It’s your call.

by Elizabeth Kelly

Oozil aims to connect creative people of all types. The beginning of your successful collaboration could start here. Questions? Comments? We’re anxious to hear what you think.

Creative people who actually work in the creative field are some of the luckiest people in the world. Not everyone gets paid for doing something they love. There are some days when we work on a project and feel a sense of satisfaction close to what Hemingway or Picasso must have felt. It’s pride. It’s no wonder that artistic types often confess that they would still write, draw, design, etc. even if there weren’t a paycheck on the other end.

But then there’s the other side. Some days you go to work (whether in an office or at your laptop at home) and can’t believe you have a deadline. The fact that you must perform when you don’t have a single ounce of creative juice in your body at the moment feels wrong. How can you create art when it feels so much like work?

Don’t despair. Creativity isn’t something that just leaves you. Sometimes it just lies dormant and needs to be poked with a sharp stick to wake it back up. Think of these tips as sharp sticks, and pull them out whenever you feel a dreaded slump coming on.

• Get Out. No wonder your creativity is stifled if you’re sitting in front of a computer all day. Get outside of your regular environment (the coffee shop doesn’t count –it’s filled with writing zombies who need to get out too). Go to an art gallery. Visit an old friend. Take a walk around the block. Inspiration is right around the corner.

• Look at Some Bad Examples. Taking a look at the worst in the field can be one of the best creative boosts there is. Read some amateur fiction, check out some outsider art, or browse a website of failed ad campaigns. You won’t be able to help thinking that you could do it better, and once you realize how, you’re back in the game.

• Pick a Word. One of the simplest tools I’ve found for stimulating a napping brain is this random word generator. Let it pick a random word (rope, flying, rush), then force yourself to work with it, no matter how strange. You don’t have to actually use the word in your final creation, but you’ll find that the process of trying will lead you to a new idea.

• Recycle a Favorite. Chances are, one of the ideas you’ve already used is worth a revisit. I’m not advocating reusing the same work in its entirety, but the idea behind it. Take a look at some of your successes. What made each one work? An unexpected hook? A spoof of a classic? See if that same technique works for your current project.

If none of these seem to be working, then the best trick is to simply start. Just getting something on paper, even if it’s terrible, gives you something to mold, edit, or otherwise build into something remarkable. Then, once again, you’ll be bursting with the pride that makes you want to create in the first place.

by Elizabeth Kelly

Have a go-to trick for getting your creative juice flowing? Share it with the Oozil community.