Editor’s Note: Due to time commitments, Travis King will unfortunately no longer be writing answers for the AskFreelanceSwitch column. However, Thursday Bram will continue to hand out excellent advice for any freelancing quandry! For more Travis King, make sure to check out his Friday articles exploring the lighter side of the freelancing lifestyle, including Part One and Part Two on coffee! Take it away, Thursday!

In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we are looking at identity theft and clients who want more work than is in the scope of the contract.

Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to askfreelanceswitch@gmail.com. Continue Reading

Photo by Silvia di Natale.

Brought to you by Ilise Benun of Marketing Mentor and the Creative Freelancer Conference (August 27-29, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago). Find out more at: www.CreativeFreelancerConference.com

1. Look Closely and You’ll Find Your Market. When building your market, don’t start from scratch if you can avoid it. The foundation of your business should be rooted strongly in something you know well and in which you already have some expertise. Even if you’re just starting out, you’ve got a history. Past employment experience, a recent pro bono or side project, or even a hobby can be used as a diving board.

If you’re making the transition from corporate work, it’s important to build on that investment, even if you are sick of the field you are coming from. It will be much easier to leverage the relationships and the knowledge you already have than trying to do everything at once. Starting a business and approaching a new market simultaneously is double the work. Once you have a business underway, then you can move toward new markets.

Continue Reading