As commonplace and cliche as they’ve become, everyone loves a good list. Even me. Especially me. Because when I was drawing together my Top 10 Bookmark-Worthy Blog Posts of 2011, I quickly noticed that almost all of them were lists.

A list of lists. How meta.

But even if you’ve grown weary of listicles, I hope you’ll find this one useful. It contains blog posts — all published in 2011 — that I keep returning to… posts I found so useful I couldn’t help bookmarking them for future use. They were just that full of awesome resources and easily-executable tips.

Together, they comprise a handy-dandy resource manual for building a better, stronger business.

So assuming your entrepreneurial muscles could use some flexing…

1. 50 Questions to Ask Yourself After 6 Months of Freelancing. Whenever I think I’ve found the perfect work/life balance, something inside me shifts, and I find myself growing in a completely new direction. Shifts like these have led to me moving from editorial to marketing. They have led to me going full-time freelance. They have led to my career coaching certification,  ghostwriting, and yoga. By this point, I’ve learned that it’s always good to reevaluate your goals. Which is why I love Laura Spencer’s collection of questions you should ask yourself after six months of freelancing. Though I’d take it further. I’d ask yourself these questions every six months, or even every month, from now into eternity.

2. 12 Ways to Turn Your Old, Dusty Blog Archive into Cold, Hard Cash. Carol Tice is the queen of the idea-heavy listicle. Here, as a guest poster on the always-educational Copyblogger, she suggests 12 ways to diversify… using content you’ve already created. How’s that for efficiency? From teleclasses to ebooks, she offers up information products and services to fit any comfort level. Because in an age of shrinking freelance budgets, one can’t survive by writing listicles alone.

3. 109 Ways to Make Your Business Irresistible to the Media. It would be so awesome if Ellen invited me onto her show to dance awkwardly together to the latest LMFAO song and chat about my career coaching business. But Ellen likely doesn’t know who the hell I am. And that’s okay. I haven’t really done a damn thing to grab her attention. This Copyblogger post offers up 109 ways to grab Ellen’s attention. Or get local newspaper coverage. Or end up as the guest of honor on a radio show. Now what’s your excuse?

4. 40 Questions You Need to Ask Every Copywriting Client. Let’s put aside fame and fortune for the moment. We’re supposed to be making money here. Land those projects, yo! But wait. Be careful. Don’t say yes to everyone. And don’t even say yes to the best possible clients without first nailing down all the details. What do you need to know before signing that contract? Again, Carol Tice has the answers. Or the questions, rather. 40 of ‘em. From “When do you need this project completed?” to “Who is your target audience?”

5. 110 Ideas to Get More Freelance Work and Generate New Client Leads. Okay. Carol’s not the only one who can whip up a mean listicle. Over at FreelanceSwitch, blogging buddy Susan Johnston provides some major lead-generating inspiration. Because as we recently discussed, no matter how hot your business is, those slow periods will pop up, and you will need to get back to hustling your little booty off.

6. How to Failproof Your Business. Ohmygod. A non-listicle. Let’s hold it together, people. So I may have just broken the rules of this list. This link doesn’t exactly point to a blog post. Rather, it’s a landing page for a video series created by Dave Navarro and Naomi Dunford. I have to include it, though. Out of all the content I’ve come across this past year, this video series has been one of the most educational. In fact, it’s so fantastic, I can’t believe it’s free. From how to build a list to how to close, this series has been a big part of my recent success. And I wish the same success for you, too. So watch it, punks.

7. 45 Kick-Ass Resources for Online Entrepreneurs. A list of resources within a list of list-y resources. Now we’re really meta. But this list is a good one, and contains some of my own favorite resources, including a couple that are heavily featured on this very list.

8. 50 Ways to Get a Freelance Gig. Oh Carol. We have to stop meeting this way. If you haven’t gotten the picture yet, I’ll spell it out for you: Subscribe to Carol’s blog. That is all.

9. Life Cycle of a Book. This one’s a little different from the other posts on this list, but I was absolutely delighted with it when I first saw it, and I think it’s a must see/read for any reader of my blog who’s interesting in someday writing a book. This series of videos (fine; I did it again) takes the viewer through the life cycle of a book (obvs), from the very first draft through to publicity (by both publishing house and author). It’s a great way to learn about the entire publishing process (writer, agent, editorial, production, etc.), and there’s even a pretty infographic you can download and hang up. Check it.

10. Are Your Supposed Weaknesses Actually Your Strength? Finally, I took a look through my analytics to find out which Freelancedom post was the most popular this year. I was surprised by the result. This post of mine is more inspirational than applicable. And it even includes homework! But maybe y’all love stories of vengeance and redemption. Or maybe it gave you hope. Or maybe — just maybe — you found it helpful to see yourself through someone else’s eyes. We tend to see the worst in ourselves. Other people? They see the best.

Did I miss anything so holy-shit awesome that you sorta want to key my car? Leave a link in the comments, and let us know why it deserves a spot on this last. Thanks y’all!

Related: Merry Christmas! My 12 Favorite Freelance Tools and Resources

I believe that, in order to succeed, you should always be learning… even after you yourself have achieved expert status (a dubiously subjective term in itself).

Which is why I still take classes when I can, devour self-help books like I devour Peppermint Patties, and continue to seek out new wisdom from around the web.

In fact, when I went through a career coaching certification program back in 2009, I requested my own career coach. Her input was invaluable as I worked on creating a business that played to my strengths.

Since then, I’ve come across a handful of experts I just can’t get enough of… people who excel in areas I’m weak in… people who rock the house at what they do.

So. While I can help you create a strong query letter,  guide you through the ins and outs of the publishing world, and give you the kick in the ass you need to get the publishing career you want, I should probably point you in the direction of those who shine in the areas where I can still use a bit of help.

So as long as you pinkie swear that you’ll come back to me for all the word nerd wisdom you need, I’ll reveal the top 4 experts I love to bits. (Seriously. No clicking through until you pinkie swear.)

1. Darren Rowse of ProBlogger

I launched Freelancedom after becoming a full-time freelancer back in 2007. I didn’t know much about blogging at the time (unless you count the angsty ramblings I posted to LiveJournal), so I searched the web for an expert and found Darren Rowse of ProBlogger. He taught me everything I know about creating online content, and even wrote the book on blogging.

I continue to read his blog and follow him on Twitter, and was thrilled to see that he recently released the book on blogging… for your business. If you’re hard at work building your own freelance business, I suggest you pick up a copy of the brand spanking new ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business.

2. Jenny Foss of JobJenny

I can’t quite remember where I first came across Jenny Foss of JobJenny (On Twitter? On a friend’s blog?), but I was instantly smitten. I loved her sass and her style and her larger-than-life personality. I ate up her every bit of irreverent wisdom, and featured her in my newsletter approximately five trillion times.

I even hired her to redo my resume (one of my weak spots), at which point she created something so amazing I almost wanted to make out with myself. I urged my husband to hire her as well and, with his new resume, he was hired on the spot, and for more than what he had asked for. I urge you to pick up a copy of her ebook, To Whom It May Concern: Or, How To Stop Sucking at Your Job Search.

3. + 4. Dave Navarro (The Launch Coach) and Naomi Dunford (IttyBiz)

I’m listing these two together because I fell pretty hard for them simultaneously, when watching their How To Failproof Your Business video series. I’ve since taken one of Dave’s business workshops (so. effing. good.), and recently bought Dave and Naomi’s How to Launch the **** Out of Your Ebook. Their advice is always solid and specific… exactly what you need when you’re moving from beginner to AWESOME.

So who are your favorite experts? As awesome as you are, who do you turn to when you hit a roadblock?

P.S. A few years ago, I experimented with GoogleAdSense here on Freelancedom. Google made it easy to execute, but I didn’t like the way those ads cluttered up my page, and I really didn’t love how untargeted they were. So I took them down. But I’m working on making my blog a more integrated part of my business plan, and that plan involves advertising income. So this post includes affiliate links, and you can now find affiliate ads for all my favorite experts in the sidebar. I’m going to promise you now: I will never throw up an ad for someone I am not batshit crazy for. This blog is all about giving you the resources you need.

It has been over a month since my last Link Love. In lieu of the Hail Marys and the Our Fathers, I’m finally going to own up to the fact that something’s gotta give.

I mean, my grandfather died. And then I started a new copy editing gig. And then I launched a mom blog over at YourTango. And Michael and I started making plans to go hang gliding, maybe go on a French wine cruise, clean out our condo and sell it, buy a house.

Things fell by the wayside. My plans to do market research for my career coaching practice. My e-book. This blog.

Something has to give, but I don’t want to give up any of it. Which is why, at the very least, I can at least stop feeling guilty over the infrequency of my blog posts. At least for now.

Last night, I attended a callanetics class with my mom. I’ve been going every week for the past 11 years (give or take the few years I was away at college). It typically serves to simultaneously relax and invigorate me, both stretching me out and strengthening my core. Last night, however, I had a panic attack during class, and started crying on the drive home. I just felt so overwhelmed.

So yes. I’m going to try to feel less guilty. I’m going to try to acknowledge that I am merely human. I am not going to give up this blog. But I will be here less often. If you’d like to stock up on some reading material in the meantime…

Blogging:

• BlogWorld’s 10 Must-Have Pages and Why Your Blog Needs Them
• WordCount’s 10 Sure Cures for Blogging Burnout
• Inc.’s How To Build a Loyal Blog Following

Jobs:

• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s 47 Places To Find Telecommuting Jobs
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s The Freelance Writer’s Guide To Passive Income
• This Is Going To Be Big’s How To Hire a Hacker in NYC
• Coupon Sherpa’s 25 Hot Dang Inspirational Resumes
• MediaJobsDaily’s DOA Clarifies Unpaid Intern Rules — Unpaid Internships Are Basically Over Now
• Glassdoor’s The Myth of Transferable Skills
• Writing Coach’s Laid Off? Reassess Before You Start Fresh as a Freelancer
• Freelance Folder’s How To Find Work Without Using the Freelance Job Boards

Networking/Marketing/Self-Promotion:

• Nine to Thrive’s How To Make Time for Networking
• Jargon Writer’s I’m Done Holding Up Walls
• Valleywag’s Copywriter Uses People’s Incessant Self-Googling To Get a Job
• Living In Place’s On Justifying Social-Networking (or Why I Might Abandon Social Media)
• Yahoo! HotJobs’ Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
• C-Level Strategies and Awakenings’ You’re Just Not That Into Me (The Introvert’s Guide To Attending a Conference)
• Mack Collier’s The Introvert’s Guide To Speaking

Running Your Business:

• WebWorkerDaily’s 4 Ways Not To Be a Doormat
• Freelance Folder’s 10 Hidden Skills of Successful Freelancers
• The Urban Muse’s Open Thread: What’s in a Name?
• Lindsey Pollack’s 10 Great Career Books for Young Professionals
• WordCount’s How To Know If You’re Freelance Editor Material
• Freelance Folder’s Freelancing Without a Safety Net
• Freelance Folder’s How To Know When To Walk Away
• The Wall Street Journal’s More Freelancers Fight To Be Paid
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Your Freelance Writing Business: Important Considerations for Choosing a Name
• Men With Pens’ Imperfection Is a Good Thing
• Folio’s Inc. Edit Staff To Try Virtual Office for One Month
• WebWorkerDaily’s Is It Time for You To Telecommute?
• Brazen Careerist’s When Passion Strikes, How Do You Find a Balance?

Writing:

• The New York Times’ Taylor Momsen Did Not Write This Headline
• Babble’s Why My Life Is an Open Book
• Writing Roads’ Mothers… of Creation
• Jezebel’s Anonymous Sex Blogger Fired From Her Day Job
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Use a Skills Inventory To See What Writing Jobs You Can Do

Fun:

• The Life and Times of a Freelance Writer’s 13 eCards for Freelancers
• Gawker’s The (Potential) Intern From Hell
• The New York Times’ A Tax Form for the Marginally Employed

I feel as if this week was a perfect example of how much I was missing when I was playing recluse for the past year. (The positively balmy weather didn’t hurt.)

On Tuesday, I went to the #nyblogout — a happy hour for NYC dating bloggers — and met a few people I had previously only known online. On Friday afternoon, I went to an open dress rehearsal for Armida at the Metropolitan Opera, and then went to a Ben Folds concert in the evening. And today, I went to the local university to rehearse a choral piece an old high school friend had composed for his grad school recital. It felt good to get away from the computer screen.

But I was still accomplishing things as well. I launched my new web platform (with the help of my web developer husband). I had a final appointment with my very first career coaching practicum client. I came that much closer to finishing up an ongoing copywriting project. And I might be heading up an exciting new project at the web magazine where I work part-time.

But somehow, with everything that was going on, I still managed to read some pretty terrific articles around the web:

• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Seven Reasons Writers Don’t Get the Better Paying Writing Jobs
• Heather Huhman’s Unpaid Internships: The Fair Labor Standards Act Doesn’t Go Far Enough
• Freelance Folder’s 7 Ways To Identify and Market the Uniqueness of Your Freelance Business
• BusinessWeek’s The Job Satisfaction Paradox for the Self-Employed
• Mashable’s Top 5 Ways To Make Your Site More Fun
• Copyblogger’s Six Questions To Ask for Powerful Testimonials
• Living In Place’s Work Isn’t Supposed To Be Fun
• Lauren Novo’s Why Blog for Free?
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Will Funny Get You the Freelance Writing Job?
• Freelance Folder’s How To Ask for a Referral Without Sounding Like a Jerk
• Daily Finance’s Atlantic Publisher Takes Stand on Intern Pay. Who Will Follow?
• GlassDoor’s How To Not Burn a Bridge When You Quit a Job
• Diesel Sweeties’ comic about writers
• Marian Schembari’s I Still Hate Internships, But Sometimes Free Is Smart
• The Coachella Review’s The Payoff Will Be in Good Karma
• Ms. Career Girl’s How 8 Months of Unemployment Turned Out To Be a Blessing in Disguise
• WordCount’s Q&A with Marla Beck, Life Coach for Writers
• Design Informer’s What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Freelancing
• Business Insider’s AOL’s Content Strategy Is Still a Mess
• Gawker’s Conde Nast and the End of Magazine Jobs
• Inkygirl’s Twitter Chats for Writers
• Ms. Career Girl’s 10 Guerrilla Job Search Tactics That Work
• Fortune’s 7 Tips for Shy Job Hunters
• Writing Roads’ Back-Up Plans, Face Plants and Rice
• Marian Schembari’s What People REALLY Notice About Your Blog
• The Urban Muse’s 10 Things You Should NOT Ask a Freelance Writer
• Edelman Digital’s Practical Guidance on Blogger Disclosure and FTC Guidelines

It’s been a busy week, and my poor ebook keeps falling to the bottom of the heap in terms of priorities. After all, who has time to whip up a book when there’s an office job to stay on top of, clients to coach, copy to be written, and blog posts to be…well…blogged? Still, my new web platform is slated to launch at the beginning of April (see: clock ticking). And my new web platform will have a products page filled with coaching packages that can be ordered directly through the site. And an additional item — available to order as a standalone product — will be my ebook. Yes, I am currently employing my oh-shit face.

Which is why I’m hunkering down this weekend (my sniffles have effectively quashed the desire to go outside, anyway) and working on nothing but Job Hopping for Word Nerds. Luckily, a good number of you have weighed in with ideas on what I might include in my ebook. Which makes my job a lot easier. (I love you guys.)

Before  brew another pot of coffee, however, and chain myself to the laptop, here are a few pieces you might find worth a read:

• The Renegade Writer’s How To Find the Best Sources
• The Huffington Post’s 10 Things That Are Not Networking
• The Urban Muse’s Open Thread: What Do Bloggers Owe Readers?
• Freelance Folder’s 15 Reasons Why I Utterly Refuse To Give Up on Freelancing
• Freelance Switch’s Tuning In To True Wealth: Optimizing Your Freelance Business
• The Urban Muse’s Why A Steady Freelance Gig Could Be Holding You Back
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s More on Freelancing, Blogging and Giving Out Free Information

It’s been a long, ridiculously busy week and, I must admit, I’m feeling a bit burnt out. Which is why, last night, I forced myself to step away from my laptop and indulge in an evening of Netflix+hot cocoa. Still, work goes on, and I completed a copywriting project for a new client, had my very first career coaching appointment, and got back into the bloggy swing of things. I’d still like to write up a guest post, organize the content for my new online portfolio, and make some headway on my e-book but, you know…we’ll see how that goes. In the meantime:

• The Writing Coach Blog’s How to Create a Forward-Looking Freelance Writing Resume
• Mashable’s The Small Business Guide to Google Apps
• Chris G’s Why I Sucked at SXSW So You Don’t Have To
• The New York Times’ The Beat Goes Online, Minus the Glitz
• Guardian’s Book Merchandise Gets Weird
• Time’s From Job Hopping to Career Monogamy
• The Writing Coach Blog’s How Freelance Writers Can Make Conferences Pay
• Lisa Romeo Writes’ Writer Making Nice. Not Always.
• BlogWorld’s SXSW: The Cool and the Lame
• Jonathan Fields’ 7 Sneaky Ways To Write Irresistible Headlines
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Your Turn: Where Do YOU Find Freelance Writing Jobs?
• The Daily Beast’s Almost Famous 2.0
• The Urban Muse’s Open Thread: What Are Your Must-Read Blogs?
• Stratejoy’s The 21st-Century Threesome: Me, You, and My Blog
• Writing Roads’ Blogging Pheromones
• Technology Live’s South by Southwest: Spring Break for Geeks
• Freelance Switch’s 7 Tips for Marketing Your Freelance Business Offline
• Penelope Trunk’s How To Find the Most Fulfilling Careers

What a week! I announced the winners of my Career Coaching for Word Nerds contest, and have my very first appointment scheduled for this coming Wednesday. I’m way excited to start helping people find career fulfillment, and am also interested in seeing how the balance of editing, writing, and coaching shifts in my own life.

Not only that, but I managed to tear myself away from the computer twice this week in order grab drinky drinks with fellow entrepreneurs. On Monday, I met up with a former colleague who just resigned from her full-time job in order to throw herself into full-time freelance writing. As we’ve both been on the editing and writing sides of the table, I had a great time talking freelance strategy with her, and sharing on-the-job stories. And on Thursday, I headed to Ginger Man for happy hour with two fellow tweeps who had driven up from NC for a short vacation. So great to put faces to tweets!

I’m not sure yet whether this Sunday will be lazy or productive (I have an ebook to work on, and a new copywriting client) but, before I decide, let me give you some weekend reading:

• NWJobs’ Freelancers: Don’t Forget Your 2009 Tax Credit
• Betsy Lerner’s I’m Singing in the Rain
• The Renegade Writer Blog’s You Ask, We Answer: Which Editor Should I Pitch?
• The Writing Coach Blog’s How NOT To Win Freelance Assignments
• The QuickBase Blog’s Day in the Life–How To Manage 4 Jobs
• NWJobs’ Why a Handful of Mentors is Better Than One
• Lisa Romeo Writes’ Writer Busy. Thinking About Shoes. And Other Things.
• TwiTip’s To Schedule Tweets or No? Two Reasons You Should.
• Mashable’s 270+ Tools for Running a Business Online
• The Globe and Mail’s A Lament for the Bookshelf
• Problogger’s Feeling “Blogged Out”? [10 Pro Bloggers Share Their Advice on What To Do]
• Lisa Romeo Writes’ Of Winter, SAD, Lists, and Writing
• The New York Times’ The E-Snub: If They Won’t E-mail You Back, Pretend They Did
• Freelance Folders’ Bad First Impressions That Can Drive Potential Clients Away
• Copyblogger’s The Critical Mistake That Keeps Bloggers Broke
• The New York Times’ Writing a Resume That Shouts “Hire Me”

It’s been a busy week, what with the training of new interns at YourTango, my short stint at Vogue, my back-and-forth negotiation with a new client, and the launching of my coaching practice. And there’s still so much to do! (I’m hoping to make major headway on my copywriting project today, and also get some pitches out there.) But before I get started, I wanted to thank you all for the supportive comments you left on my career coaching contest post. I’m so excited to jump into things, and also super-nervous, and it helps to have such an amazing community of freelancers and writers and freelance writers cheering me on. Okay. Let’s not get emotional. Without further ado, here’s this week’s link love:

• Copyblogger’s What Belly Dancing Taught Me About Personal Branding
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Your Turn: What Makes a Qualified Freelance Writing Blogger
• Altitude’s How I Made 100K with Twitter
• Diana Vilibert’s So, Blogging This Means Drink Are Definitely Off, Right?
• WordCount’s New Tools for a New Writing World
• Marketing To Women Online’s Why Do Women Blog? [video]
• Copyblogger’s How Smart Freelance Writers Handle Their #1 Hassle
• Misadventures with Andi’s Finding Blog Topics
• U Stand Out’s 10 Reasons Why Part-Time Bloggers Shouldn’t Post Every Day
• The Writing Coach Blog’s How To Negotiate Better Freelance Writing Contracts

So I’m trying to dive right back into things. Here at Freelancedom, and with my fledgling coaching practice. I’m even beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the copywriting project I’ve been spending so much time on. Maybe if I’m lucky, I can even get a few pitches out this weekend, to some people I’ve recently been put in contact with. Oh, and I do have that guest post to write. Ah, well. So much for weekends. Before all that, though, I’d like to present you with some interesting links…just to pass the time with:

• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s The Dark Side of Freelance Writing: When Clients Don’t Pay
• Brazen Careerist’s How To Be a Good Mentee: Unfiltered
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Freelance Writing Jobs You’re Not Feeling: 3 Tips for Getting Through the Clunkers
• Penelope Trunk’s Twitter Can Save Your Life
• Freelance Folder’s 5 Bad Work at Home Habits: Are You Guilty?
• The Renegade Writer Blog’s Advertorial & Editorial — Can You Write Both?
• Write To Done’s A Writer’s Greatest Tool: The Smartphone
• a.k.a. writer’s This Writer is Attempting to Step Away from the Keyboard
• New York’s Hearst to Launch HGTV Magazine?
• Brazen Careerist’s Shyness or Social Anxiety Limiting Your Work Performance and Career Success? 9 Powerful Coping Tips
• newswise’s Emo-Journalism: Should Reporters Be the News?
• Brazen Careerist’s Personal Branding and the Crazy Cat Lady
• The Renegade Writer Blog’s How To Work Less

It’s been a good week. I’ve been ridiculously busy at the office. I’ve been ridiculously busy at home. And it seems that query challenge karma alone is bringing new opportunities my way. (At the moment, I’m at Barnes & Noble, working on my ongoing copywriting project and doing some market research.) Before I dive back into work, I wanted to share with you this week’s link love:

• Problogger’s 44% of Bloggers Sell a Product or Service of Their Own from Their Blog
• Men with Pens’ Dating Rules for Courting Your Clients
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s 75 “Write for Us” Pages
• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s 40 More Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More
• Freelance Folders’ 12 Reasons You Shouldn’t Freelance
• Gloson Blog’s 17 Important Things To Do After Starting Your WordPress Blog
• Copyblogger’s Want To Be a Better Writer? Get Your Ego Out of the Way
• Modite’s Can You Have Any Job You Want?