Comments on: Eight Lessons from Eight Months of Full-Time Freelancing http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:20:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: dianewb http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-19111 dianewb Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:14:28 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-19111 Great article, and totally true. I'm especially connecting to #7 right now. I've recently had conversations with several people who are afraid to start their own business because they don't yet "have everything they need." I tried to tell them that they needed less that they thought, but they weren't hearing me. I think it may just have been a way to indulge the fear and rationalize not getting started. So thanks for #7 and all the rest. Really good read. Great article, and totally true. I’m especially connecting to #7 right now. I’ve recently had conversations with several people who are afraid to start their own business because they don’t yet “have everything they need.” I tried to tell them that they needed less that they thought, but they weren’t hearing me. I think it may just have been a way to indulge the fear and rationalize not getting started.

So thanks for #7 and all the rest. Really good read.

]]> By: Brian Casel http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-19041 Brian Casel Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:48:46 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-19041 excellent list. I'm a newly switched freelancer (about 2 months now). I agree with (or will agree with) just about everything here... although my first step was setting up my new portfolio site. By the way - I found this article link from your main site: wakeuplater.com. Great stuff - keep it up! excellent list. I’m a newly switched freelancer (about 2 months now). I agree with (or will agree with) just about everything here… although my first step was setting up my new portfolio site. By the way - I found this article link from your main site: wakeuplater.com. Great stuff - keep it up!

]]> By: Huit leçons/huit mois comme Freelance « nomade sur mon divan http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18735 Huit leçons/huit mois comme Freelance « nomade sur mon divan Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:02:51 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18735 [...] leçons/huit mois comme Freelance Ce que je retiens du billet de FreelanceSwitch [...] […] leçons/huit mois comme Freelance Ce que je retiens du billet de FreelanceSwitch […]

]]> By: Just http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18646 Just Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:55:47 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18646 Wow. I really should come back to this website more often. I've always liked the content in the past, and I decided to stroll on by today only to scroll down and find this little tidbit that EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY LIFE for the past year. I have had 2 great resume making corporate jobs over 8 years, and I've been freelance for the past year. I am on the fence in my mind still, but my resume has started a foray leading me back into the corporate world. I have learned these same lessons, as well as many that are touched upon throughout this blog. For me, I think the biggest things that may make my freelance business less efficient are: not being picky enough in the work accepted, not managing work and personal time better, and undercutting myself. Also, it was brought to my attention by an entrepreneurial doctor client of mine that my skills would be better money makers in a niche market. So, while my return to the corporate world may be inevitable at this point, hope lies in the future to relaunch my freelance business with a new head on my shoulders, some much needed bills paid, some new experience and resume building, and some new contacts. Wow. I really should come back to this website more often. I’ve always liked the content in the past, and I decided to stroll on by today only to scroll down and find this little tidbit that EXACTLY DESCRIBES MY LIFE for the past year. I have had 2 great resume making corporate jobs over 8 years, and I’ve been freelance for the past year. I am on the fence in my mind still, but my resume has started a foray leading me back into the corporate world. I have learned these same lessons, as well as many that are touched upon throughout this blog. For me, I think the biggest things that may make my freelance business less efficient are: not being picky enough in the work accepted, not managing work and personal time better, and undercutting myself. Also, it was brought to my attention by an entrepreneurial doctor client of mine that my skills would be better money makers in a niche market. So, while my return to the corporate world may be inevitable at this point, hope lies in the future to relaunch my freelance business with a new head on my shoulders, some much needed bills paid, some new experience and resume building, and some new contacts.

]]> By: Thomas http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18457 Thomas Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:44:59 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18457 Great list. I've had similar experiences. Especially the business skill part is so true. However, most of the lessons assume you already have a client. Being a skilled negotiator and getting paid what you're worth isn't really important if you don't have anyone to negotiate with. Your number one priority is actually finding clients. Coming from a 40-hour corporate world, you're probably used to doing your "stuff" only (designing/programming etc). Someone else is doing the marketing/sales and your boss serves you new projects on a silver platter. Well, as a freelance, the marketing is now up to you. If you think that business cards and a portfolio website is everything you need in order to get the phone ringing, you'll probably soon be out of business. You're most likely great at what you do, since you've decided to freelance, but the world doesn't know that (unless you already have a good network). Marketing is crucial. You have to know who your customers are and how you are going to reach them, and how to sell yourself. You can't rely on them stumbling over your portfolio site and being amazed by what they see. Or perhaps it's just my site that sucks :-) So, you have to spend a lot of time finding new clients, perhaps 12 hours a week filling the pipe with new customers. You can't sit there and iterate on your own website and wait for the phone to ring. That way you will end up with a great website which you can admire from back at your old job... Great list. I’ve had similar experiences. Especially the business skill part is so true. However, most of the lessons assume you already have a client. Being a skilled negotiator and getting paid what you’re worth isn’t really important if you don’t have anyone to negotiate with. Your number one priority is actually finding clients.

Coming from a 40-hour corporate world, you’re probably used to doing your “stuff” only (designing/programming etc). Someone else is doing the marketing/sales and your boss serves you new projects on a silver platter. Well, as a freelance, the marketing is now up to you.

If you think that business cards and a portfolio website is everything you need in order to get the phone ringing, you’ll probably soon be out of business. You’re most likely great at what you do, since you’ve decided to freelance, but the world doesn’t know that (unless you already have a good network). Marketing is crucial. You have to know who your customers are and how you are going to reach them, and how to sell yourself. You can’t rely on them stumbling over your portfolio site and being amazed by what they see. Or perhaps it’s just my site that sucks :-)

So, you have to spend a lot of time finding new clients, perhaps 12 hours a week filling the pipe with new customers. You can’t sit there and iterate on your own website and wait for the phone to ring. That way you will end up with a great website which you can admire from back at your old job…

]]> By: Robert John http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18410 Robert John Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:02:49 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18410 Nice article, it really gives answers to questions that have been raising in my head for a few days. Nice article, it really gives answers to questions that have been raising in my head for a few days.

]]> By: Samuel Ryan http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18326 Samuel Ryan Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:21:39 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18326 To the point of business cards and websites -- I'm not arguing that people don't need them. In fact, I would expect any subcontractor I work with to have them. But at the same time, you would be amazed to find out how many freelancers there are that are making very good money never having either. Realistically speaking, many freelancers have a few loyal clients that provide 5-7 projects yearly that each pay a few grand. They're aid well and are happy with their work and have had no shortage of it. So unless they need to find replacement clients or want to expand their business, they don't need business cards. What you don't need is different for everyone. I was using a more extreme example to show that it can be surprising to find out what you can do without and still make a good living. Plus, I like being a contrarian whenever possible :-) To the point of business cards and websites — I’m not arguing that people don’t need them. In fact, I would expect any subcontractor I work with to have them. But at the same time, you would be amazed to find out how many freelancers there are that are making very good money never having either.

Realistically speaking, many freelancers have a few loyal clients that provide 5-7 projects yearly that each pay a few grand. They’re aid well and are happy with their work and have had no shortage of it. So unless they need to find replacement clients or want to expand their business, they don’t need business cards.

What you don’t need is different for everyone. I was using a more extreme example to show that it can be surprising to find out what you can do without and still make a good living. Plus, I like being a contrarian whenever possible :-)

]]> By: Pablo Matamoros http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18299 Pablo Matamoros Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:16:56 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18299 Samuel, I enjoyed your article. However I don't agree with you and some of the comments about "business cards" and "professional portfolio". You shouldn't spend money in things that your business doesn't need. But not having a "business card" is not one of them. Business cards are not expensive. You don't need to have an extraordinary design. Unless you are a graphic designer, in that case you can design it yourself. The point is that if you don't have a business card or a website you are reducing the chances of new clients who might be willing to pay better money than the current ones. In regards to a portfolio, you can temporally setup a site with Squidoo, Wordpress, Tumblr, etc. Only include your contact details and links to your previous work. Or you can have a simple static webpage with an HTML version of your CV (that's what I had until a week ago). It is a numbers game, the more you spread the word, the more chances you get to find new bigger clients. Word of mouth is the best option, but don't underestimate the other ways of advertising (for cheap of course). Samuel,

I enjoyed your article. However I don’t agree with you and some of the comments about “business cards” and “professional portfolio”. You shouldn’t spend money in things that your business doesn’t need. But not having a “business card” is not one of them.

Business cards are not expensive. You don’t need to have an extraordinary design. Unless you are a graphic designer, in that case you can design it yourself. The point is that if you don’t have a business card or a website you are reducing the chances of new clients who might be willing to pay better money than the current ones.

In regards to a portfolio, you can temporally setup a site with Squidoo, Wordpress, Tumblr, etc. Only include your contact details and links to your previous work. Or you can have a simple static webpage with an HTML version of your CV (that’s what I had until a week ago).

It is a numbers game, the more you spread the word, the more chances you get to find new bigger clients. Word of mouth is the best option, but don’t underestimate the other ways of advertising (for cheap of course).

]]> By: sean steezy http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18294 sean steezy Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:42:11 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18294 thank you very much for the article. its made me less of a wuss for when I make my moves. i hate taxes, also, but being organized with the proper forms and such is so worth it. thank you very much for the article. its made me less of a wuss for when I make my moves. i hate taxes, also, but being organized with the proper forms and such is so worth it.

]]> By: Matt Halliday http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18262 Matt Halliday Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:45:25 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/eight-lessons-from-eight-months-of-full-time-freelancing/#comment-18262 All very great tips for freelancers starting out (me), but I'm sure others already in the field could also benefit from them. I think #1 is probably the most important - focus on what you know and you'll succeed. Everyone has their own forte. As soon as you start offering services you know little about is when you're really going to get in trouble. Keep more tips coming! All very great tips for freelancers starting out (me), but I’m sure others already in the field could also benefit from them.

I think #1 is probably the most important - focus on what you know and you’ll succeed. Everyone has their own forte. As soon as you start offering services you know little about is when you’re really going to get in trouble.

Keep more tips coming!

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