Freelancing 101
Membership is Everything
Last night, I spent a few hours over at the Freelancers Union. I’ve been a member for what seems like forever but I recently started paying more attention to the events newsletters I get now that I’m back in NYC. Last night was one of the monthly member meetings and we worked on helping each other develop some branding phrases for our businesses. I felt like I had that covered when I walked in but when I walked out I had brainstormed some really great ideas for my website copy and the way I market myself to clients.
Read MoreSell Like a Pro or Fail Like a … Pro
Selling is fun. I could never actually understand why so many freelancers resent it so much. It allows you to see your business growing. It helps you to be busy. It brings cash to your bank (and who doesn’t like that?). Let’s face it, not matter what you might think, it is also the most important part of running a business. Without selling your freelance career will end with a bang louder than 4th of July fireworks.
Read MoreDeadline Deadbeat
Life has been a poop storm recently. Between the move, some major projects, some personal obstacles and the fact that I have the immune system of a two week old baby, I’ve had more than my fair share of stuff to deal with. I’m not complaining. I’m a very fortunate person that gets to eat as much as she wants everyday, loves what she does and has someone big and hairy to snore next me every night. I’ve lived much worse lives. But, the last few months and especially last month has been challenging.
My biggest regret throughout the whole time has been that I’ve missed a few deadlines here and there. Not my major ones, but I may have flaked for day or two on something I’d say I’d get done for a friend or been late getting in a guest post for someone. I was really late on a magazine assignment but I was able to give the editor prior notice so he was fine with waiting a couple of days.
Read MoreDisclosing Part-Time Freelance Status to Clients
Many freelance writers are part-timers, or at least start out that way. Whether it’s a full-time day job, going to school or raising your kids, you have something else that takes precedence over your freelance work. Although it’s a situation that a lot of us work through, how we do it varies. Like whether we even tell our clients we’re part-timers at all.
The beauty of freelance work is that it can generally be done on your own time. It’s not always relevant to the client whether we’ll work full-time or part-time on it. As long as they get charged for the correct hours and the work gets done by the deadline, it often doesn’t matter. Really, it’s up to you and there are reasons to go either way.
Reasons to Disclose
- You want to be honest and transparent with your clients.
- You want your clients to understand why you aren’t available during normal business hours.
- You don’t feel like keeping up the facade.
- Your other commitment is relevant to the work and can actually help you get the job.
Reasons to Keep It To Yourself
- You fear that if your client knows you’re a part-timer, he won’t think you’re serious about the work.
- Your other commitment is irrelevant or may even hinder your freelance career.
- You plan to go full-time within just a few months and you’d rather just keep it to yourself since it’s a temporary thing.
- You think it makes you look more professional.
It’s a personal decision everyone has to make for themselves. When I was a part-timer, I didn’t tell anyone about it. I never out and out lied but I definitely didn’t disclose. And I did everything I could to keep it under wraps. I chose that route because I felt like it was a temporary situation and I also was worried I’d get passed over for work because of it.
In fact, I know at least one very large client I landed early on that told me years later that he had no idea I wasn’t a full-time freelancer and had he ever found out he would have fired me. When I asked him why, he said he just preferred to work with full-timers. I don’t know what my other clients thought because it never came up at all. I’d like to think my work got me the jobs but maybe they wouldn’t have even looked at my portfolio had they known my real situation.
It really is just what you decide is best for you and your freelance business. So if any of you part-timers are out there reading this, I’d love it if you would sound off in the comments about which way you do it and why.
Read MoreYou’re Not The Boss of Me
Today is my freelancaversary! Here’s a video message I made for you guys in honor of the day.
Today is also the launch of She’s Self-Employed, a website for women who write their own checks. Please stop by and check it out.
Read MoreDude, Your Website Needs a Blog
Remember when I told you that your freelance writing business needs a website? Well that hasn’t changed. You need a web presence. You need a place where potential clients can learn more about you because they WILL want to know more about you than your name and that you’d like to write stuff for them. You need a place where you can put your best foot forward. You need a website.
But here’s one more thing I’d like to say about your website: it needs a blog.
