A note about clients: They seem to want everything done yesterday. So it’s no shock when a client will come to you with a “rush” project.

As freelancers, it’s easy to get excited about a new gig and want to automatically accept it, but you should set some boundaries to make sure you don’t get wrapped up in your client’s drama—or get yourself into a tizzy!

See if it’s a real “rush.” Some clients want to give you an hour or a day to complete something but don’t consider that a rush. Other clients will come to you stating that they have a “rush job.” My best piece of advice if the client doesn’t specify the job to be a “rush project” is to determine on your own if it’s a rush. That is, get the full scope of what’s entailed and ask the client for the deadline. (If they don’t have one, it’s likely not a rush, just something they want done promptly.)

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Sometimes freelancers don’t use career tools because they think that these resources are only geared for job-hunters and corporate ladder-climbers. But some career tools are just too good to pass up, and I think LinkedIn Recommendations is one of them.

LinkedIn lets colleagues leave a positive review about you, and vice versa, which looks wonderful on your profile—but the benefits go beyond that. In the freelance business, testimonials are gold because it shows the depth of your capabilities and lends credibility to your name, too. If you have not done so already, it’s time to start using this powerful tool to help boost your image and even get gigs.

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Objective. Photo by Army.mil.

Many freelancers may think that a resume is a thing of the past—something only used to get a corporate job. So if you’re done climbing the corporate ladder, why would you need a resume?

Two reasons: Resumes can help you get freelance gigs and they offer a quick profile so potential clients can assess you.

I know, I know: The last thing you probably want to focus on is a resume. But the truth is many freelancers need them to apply for gigs. And having an updated resume is always a plus for your website because it gives clients a little insight into where you’ve come from and what you have to offer at a quick glance. A lot of freelancers I know don’t think they need this document, or think they’re too artsy for a resume—but it does lend a professional tone to your overall brand. Creating a professional resume that follows the norms can be a huge advantage.

That said, I realize many freelancers don’t know the new rules of resume writing. And yes, there are some new tricks. So I’ve put together this three-part guide to help you compile a winning resume, even if you never intend on applying for another job again.

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She’s got a well-known celebrity client and tons of tricks for getting and retaining clients. And she wants to help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground.

That’s why I thought we could all get something out of an interview with Laura Roeder of Roeder Studios. This California-based social media and publicity guru has plenty to share about how she’s effectively positioned her company—and how you can do the same with yours.

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Just as you have to do in life, setting boundaries comes into play with freelancing. Even though you may not have had to do this in the past at your 9-to-5 gig, you will once you’re in charge of your own business. You set the rules as a freelancer—but you’ve got to enforce them, too.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how to do this because it’s all about what you feel comfortable as a self-employed individual. But we can definitely explore some areas of business where you may need to establish the rules, tighten the reigns or loosen up a little.

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Got a camera? Great! But can you turn it into a business?

Aaron Lindberg did. After paying his full-time dues and freelancing on the side, this 30-year-old full-time freelance photographer from Kansas City, Missouri, has earned a solid reputation for himself and says the key to that is to keep promoting—and keep shooting!

How did you get started in photography? Did you go to school for it? Have you participated in any continuing education programs? What type of equipment do you use?

My photography career starting in college at the University of Kansas while I was getting my BFA in Art. I needed a job to pick up some extra money so I approached the school’s newspaper. I started shooting for the school newspaper (University Daily Kansan) and after shooting there for a couple years I got a part-time gig with the city newspaper (Lawrence Journal World). After graduation I moved back to Kansas City and my careers took off and haven’t looked back since. 98% of what I know was taught hands on in the field from taking on assignments at the newspapers. I shoot with digital SLR equipment (Nikon side of things) with a bag full of photo toys.

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Interviewing other creatives is always interesting; I like to see where they draw inspiration from, how they built their business and what keeps them ticking.

So when I came across copywriter Jon Wuebben—who has also written a book on his craft, along with creating a few other ventures—I knew he would captivate the freelancers that read our blog. Read on to learn more about how Jon has created several businesses and published a book, all while keeping his eye on his clients.

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As freelancers, we spend a lot of time surrounded by less-than-desirable clients. So when a gem comes along, it can not only shock us, but we may be a little dumbfounded on how to nurture the relationship or accept it for how wonderful it is.

In my copywriting business, I deal with all types of people everyday. My best clients are those that are professional, give me some creative liberties, offer constructive feedback, pay well, and—ideally—come back for repeat work. Not every client fits that formula, but there are those rare, almost cosmic, instances when I get a customer that seems to have an angelic glow.

Of course it’s easy to respond to a warm, pleasant client. But for some reason, I have to take a step back when I encounter this rare breed of client—I want to make sure that I am doing all I can to reciprocate how much I enjoy working with him or her, and ensure that I can cultivate this one-of-a-kind gem.

Here are some tips to help you do the same.

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People can get so caught up in doing things a certain way. It’s important to remember that there are many methods of doing things. And as freelancers, it’s equally as vital to be kind when explaining your school of thought. After all, you represent your business now, so it’s imperative to stay professional.

Whether you use a specific program to develop websites, or you like to use a certain format when writing a document, there is likely more than one way to do it. I find many freelancers like to discuss the different strategies they use to work—but some can be a little too gruff and pushy when promoting their method. Others can get very defensive when someone offers a different suggestion.

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Photo by CarrotCreative.

While I love the social aspects of Twitter, I also love the simple platform for self-promotion—especially for authors.

That’s why I’m also using the power of 140 characters or less to help promote my books, Ramen Noodles, Rent and Resumes and Creatively Self-Employed. Here are some tips to help you do the same for your book.

Make Nice With Your Competitors

It may sound counter-active, but teaming up with authors who have written books similar to yours is a great way to network and stay on top of what they’re doing—and what’s going on in your book niche industry that you may have missed. Many of the authors I know who have written career books take time to research statistics, for example. Because I don’t do that too much, I find their tweets (and blog posts) very valuable.

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As the owner of Triple Dog Dare Media, a Web consulting firm based in Austin, Texas, Tom Myer has built hundreds of Web applications for dozens of companies. He’s also taken his career farther both as a writer and a speaker and has a lot of advice to offer about the publishing process, staying in business and life in the Web development arena.

His latest book, From Geek to Peak, focuses on the first year of starting a business, so I wanted to find out what Myer has to say about making it through those first twelve months—and the wide world of book publishing.

Tell us about From Geek to Peak.

From Geek to Peak is a very simple book: I take the reader through their first year in business, telling them what pitfalls they should avoid. Most if not all the pitfalls are problems I’ve had; obstacles I’ve faced. Most people starting out with their own freelance business (particularly analytical technical folk) tend to over think things. They think that the rules of an Apple or IBM (or wherever they’ve worked) apply to them too, and that isn’t the case at all. Continue Reading

If you’ve ever heard of a white paper, you’ve probably heard of Michael A. Stelzner. He wrote the book, —literally—on white papers. (White papers are used by businesses to explain products and services and promote their benefits in detail. They’re one part case study and a whole lot of marketing copywriting…and they can make writers big bucks.

Michael’s website, WritingWhitePapers.com, offers a wealth of information on breaking into this lucrative field. In the writing industry, this 40-year-old San Diego resident is kind of like a legend. So of course I wanted to see how he captured this niche, made it his own and is now sharing the goods with others looking to make a profitable living as a freelance writer.

Whether you write or not, Michael has some useful information for establishing yourself as an expert in your field and securing your spot with large clients.

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