Articles by: Hanna Brooks Olsen

[caption id="attachment_11100" align="aligncenter" width="620"] via Wesley Eller on Flickr.

[caption id="attachment_10774" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image via Pantone[/caption] Scientifically, we know that color matters to people -- it impacts the way we feel, what we buy, and even how much we eat -- but rarely is it more clear, socially-speaking, than when Pantone announces their Color of the Year. This year, it's a wine-inspired burgundy-brownish shade called Marsala, which Panton calls a "tasteful hue.

What do freelancers need, other than more clients and more hours in the day? Plenty of things -- and even if they don't, they might still like a thoughtful present that says "even though I don't have a single clue what it is you actually do, I hope you continue to do it well in the new year!

[caption id="attachment_10738" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image via Flickr[/caption] Running a small business is no small feat -- but before you can even get into the meat of the operation (like figuring out pricing and fulfillment and all of the other complexities of operation), you've got to jump over a few pretty huge hurdles, like coming up with a name and a motto or tagline to help define your brand. And while the stuff that comes later is definitely tricky, it's those small pieces of your overall marketing that can make it hard to move forward.