Why Freelance Writers Should Self-Publish
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably a writer.
And it’s probably occurred to you that since writing is what you do so well, you might as well turn your writing into a book, and get all the credibility, fame, and fortune that comes with it.
Well, credibility, anyways. 
But the one thing holding you back has been a publisher – you don’t have one, and you don’t know how to get one.
Well, I’ve got news for you – even if you had a traditional publisher, it wouldn’t do you much good, and you will get the most mileage out of your work if you self-publish.
Here’s why… Continue Reading
The Crazy Success of, I Want To Draw a Cat For You
When I first saw this video I was confused. Sure, the jingle was catchy and the editing was swell, but, was this guy for real? Did people actually buy his terrible drawings? He doesn’t do this for a living…does he? I decided to put on my investigative journalism hat and see if I couldn’t get some answers about this crazy cat guy. I went straight to the source. Continue Reading
Keys to Setting Your Rate Based on Experience
Credit: Suljo on Photodune
There is no one set strategy for setting your rates, which is why the process can be so confusing for freelancers. Basing your rates off regional competitors’ prices is a very smart tactic, but I think many freelancers forget about something important when putting together rates, and that is their value.
It seems that so many of us are quick to assign the highest price we could be making–but that’s not necessarily the most practical strategy. Why? If you have little experience and a non-brag-worthy portfolio, why should someone pay $100 an hour to hire you?
Instead of pricing yourself at a point that seasoned freelancers are getting, there’s nothing wrong with pricing yourself at a competitive wage that reflects your skill set. You can still make a good salary, plus you won’t be excluding the opportunity to build your skills and your portfolio. Continue Reading
Features of the Freelance Economy
As the unemployment rate in many industrialized countries continues to languish in double digits – or close to it – government policy makers are devising all sorts of programs that will put people back to work. Most, if not all of them, focus on the creation of jobs.
Now, since this is FreelanceSwitch, the j-word is something that provokes a rather strong reaction. Many of us have not had the happiest of experiences with conventional employment. And we’re not going back to the job world unless it kidnaps us. Which is unlikely to happen.
But when it comes to the world’s economic recovery, we’re anything but a sideshow. If anything, we’re a major part of the solution. To the point, we’re building a new economy.
This article takes you on a tour of three of this freelance economy’s major features. Continue Reading
Freelancers: How to Find Your Best Prospects, Video
View engaging conference lectures, interesting how to discussions, and high quality freelance advice via video here on FreelanceSwitch.
This week we look at Freelancers: How to Find Your Best Prospects by Ed Gandia. In this video he shows us how to find high quality prospects through triggering events.
How Much is Your Status as an Independent Contractor Worth?
Credit: MoneyBlogNewz on Flickr
As a freelancer, you’re independent. No one can tell you what hours to work or where to be — provided you complete your work to your client’s satisfaction, you’re free as a bird.
At least, that’s how the law works. The realities of working as an independent contractor can be a little different, especially when companies are willing to do things that don’t really meet best practices in order to save some money.
No matter what your clients think, though, your independence is valuable, to the point that you may even be able to put a dollar amount on it.
Learn how to maintain your status as an independent contractor and the tax benefits of doing so.
6 Steps To Scaling Your Freelance Business
Credit: Pressmaster on Photodune
Isn’t it about time you got a raise?
As freelancers, it can be difficult to make that happen. Sure, we might be making a comfortable living today, but what about tomorrow? If you’re supporting a growing family or if you’re looking to upgrade your lifestyle, you’d better start thinking beyond just your next project. You must begin thinking about how to scale your freelance business.
So how do you do that? Most freelancer’s incomes are tied directly to their time. Since there are only so many hours in the day, how do we break through our income ceiling? The answer boils down to this: Stop working alone.
In this article, I will outline six steps you can take to scale up your freelance business, and grow your income, without sacrificing your leisure time.
Proven Solutions to Freelance Income Fluctuation
Credit: SimpleFoto on Photodune
If you’re a freelancer, you probably know the Lumpy Income Blues by heart. You know how it goes: One month, your income is $10,000. That’s a five-figure income! In just one month! Wow! At last you’re one of those people profiled in The Wealthy Freelancer!
Then, in the next month, where did all those lucrative clients go? Your income slinks in the door and the monthly total is all of…
…$783.
That’s the Lumpy Income Blues. And, sorry to say, it’s one of the occupational hazards of freelancing.
Webinar Experiments: Creating Information Products That Sell
Credit: Stephan Ridgway on Flickr
Making information products is a way for freelancers to add another income stream to their business. It’s exciting to create your first product.
It starts with an idea – you realize that you’ve got some good information, and you think people would pay for it. So you choose a format for the product. Maybe it’s an e-book, or a video series, or an audio training program.
Then you outline the product, section by section. Then there’s content creation, design layout, and editing. And finally, promotion.
Many months and lots of late nights later, you’ve got a product all set and ready to go. You post about it on your blog, email your list, and ask your Twitter followers to take a look. And nothing happens. Nobody buys it. It turns out that you built the wrong product…
3 Ways to Raise Your Rates and Crush Your Freelancing Fears
Credit: SimpleFoto on Photodune
Are you getting paid what you’re worth as a freelancer?
You might think so, but it’s more likely that you — like many freelancers — are charging much less than what your clients are willing to pay. This is especially true if you do excellent work (and I’m guessing that you do).
The primary reason freelancers are undercharging is simple — we’re scared to do it. We worry that the work that we are doing isn’t good enough or that we aren’t experienced enough to charge more. We worry that if we raise our rates, then all of our clients will run away.
Fear is normal … but it should be ignored
It’s natural to have these fears and worries as a freelancer. After all, getting the next paying client is what keeps us in business. However, while having fear is fine, letting it hold you and your business back is not. To help you overcome freelancing fear and self-doubt — and grow your business — here are three strategies for overcoming fear and raising your rates.
Are Freelance Coaches Worth the Money?
There’s no shortage of coaches popping up online – from life coaches to business coaches. So it’s no surprise that there are coaches targeting freelancers.
Most coaches make grandiose promises about how they can help your freelance business and they charge hundreds of dollars for their services. They promise to help you win clients, manage your time, make more money, and achieve your dream lifestyle.
Are freelance coaches really worth the money, or is coaching a bunch of hype?
Whether you are a brand new freelancer who is going after your first big client or an experienced freelancer who feels stuck and wants to take your business to the next level, hiring a coach may be a good option. But if you’re not careful it could also be a huge waste of time and money.
I have worked with several paid mentors and coaches over the years to help me boost my freelance writing business. I’ve had some great experiences and some so-so experiences. My great coaches were attentive and freely shared resources and advice. On the other hand, I worked with a coach that I didn’t really “click” with and it wasn’t as beneficial.
Here are some questions to ask before signing up for any coaching program.
Cross Selling More than Just Your Services
Credit: james.gordon6108 on Flickr
As freelancers, the main thing we can sell is our services. Clients come to us because they want a particular project completed and we have the right skill set to accomplish it. But the truth of the matter is that we have a little more room to maneuver, at least when it comes to what we sell. We can upsell and cross sell our services to further establish our relationship with our clients and improve our bottom line.
