Book Review: The Wealthy Freelancer
Posted March 23, 2011 in Tools/Resources
The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle is one of the most important books published in 2010 specifically for freelancers.
Written by the three founders of the blog by the same name, The Wealthy Freelancer promises to show freelancers “how to get the clients, income, and lifestyle you deserve.”
The authors are all veteran freelancers with successful businesses as copywriters, marketing consultants, speakers, coaches and authors. Ed Gandia, a frequent guest writer here at Freelance Folder, specializes in transitioning from a full-time job to freelancing.
Pete Savage helps freelancers achieve their potential. Steve Slaunwhite runs the ForCopywritersOnly.com blog and leads seminars and training sessions for writers and copywriters.
What’s in It
The Wealthy Freelancer is not a step by step guide to get started freelancing, as the authors clearly state. Rather, it’s a collection of specific strategies so freelancers can get the projects we want, work with the clients we want, earn the income we want, and live the lifestyle we want.
In other words, it’s a recipe book for freelancers to become successful — on our own terms.
The chapters are divided into 12 main “secrets,” each one covering a different aspect of freelancing.
One can literally pick and choose the chapter most relevant to you, whatever stage of freelancing you’re in, and whatever challenge you’re currently facing.
Each of the chapters is very practical. For example, in the chapter “Secret 4: Employ High-Impact Prospecting Tactics,” Ed Gandia focuses on the most effective prospecting tactics: tapping your network; getting more out of existing clients; investing in smart local networking; leveraging social media as a networking tool; and, employing direct mail. The chapter is detailed enough so the readers can actually implement whichever tactics most appeal to them. There’s even a sample sales letter to use for a direct mail campaign.
Each chapter is filled with specific examples, diagrams and tips to make each strategy doable. The authors also unabashedly share what worked and failed for them. Real-life freelancing success stories serve to inspire and motivate us to try the strategies. The authors also include links to useful websites and mention relevant books.
At the end of each chapter, the key points are summarized in “Wealthy Takeaways.”
Who Should Read It
The Wealthy Freelancer is useful for beginner, intermediate, and experienced freelancers alike. The authors claim the book has more than 50 great ideas (I didn’t count them). This means even if you’ve been freelancing for many years, chances are you’ll discover strategies you haven’t tried before.
The strategies also have a lot of variety. They cover traditional offline marketing techniques like direct mail, for example, as well as online networking and marketing tactics.
If you’re completely satisfied with your freelancing career right now, then you don’t need this book. However, if you want to earn more, get more done, or enjoy your freelancing life more, then you’ll benefit from this book — if you try some of the advice!
Get the Most Out of It
As I mentioned earlier, the content isn’t meant to be consumed or implemented in a sequential manner. Rather, the authors intended it to be like a chocolate shop. You look at everything that’s available and pick the one that calls out to you the loudest.
Granted, the book may be overwhelming for freelancers who are just starting out. After all, being confronted with more than 50 choices to make is daunting!
Therefore, readers would do well to follow the authors’ recommendation, which is to create an action plan as you’re reading along.
I say look at the table of contents, choose one secret which is most useful to your current freelancing situation, and implement at least one thing from that chapter before moving onto the next one.
Where to Get It
The Wealthy Freelancer is available in most bookstores, as well as on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle versions. It’s also available via iTunes for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Other Freelancing Books to Read
Books for freelancers and other solo professionals are being published all the time. Some of the new ones worth exploring are:
- Successful Freelancing for Web Designers: The Best of Smashing Magazine, by Smashing Magazine (Coming in May 2011)
- Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants, by Stephen Fishman J.D. (March 2011)
- Marketing for Solos: THE Ultimate How-To Guide for Marketing Your One Person Small Business Successfully, by Jeanna Pool (January 2011)
- Writing Riches: Learn How to Boost Profits, Drive Sales and Master Your Financial Destiny with Results-Based Web Copy, by Ray Edwards (November 2010)
- The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed: The Only Personal Finance System for People with Not-So-Regular Jobs, by Joseph D’Agnese and Denise Kiernan (March 2010)
Have you read The Wealthy Freelancer? If so, what are your thoughts on it? What results have you gotten from following the advice there?
Also, what other freelancing books have you read lately?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Image by Lexi Rodrigo
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About the author: Lexi Rodrigo is the creator of The Savvy Freelancer, a blog that's all about achieving creative and financial freedom through freelancing. Check out Lexi's free guide, 31 Days to Start Your Freelancing Business (or Make Yours A Better One).
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20 Comments
Rachel Small
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 amI read The Wealthy Freelancer a few months ago and loved it! I definitely think it’s a book most freelancers should read. The best thing I took away from it was the idea of envisioning your “ideal day” and then comparing it to your current day (s) and figuring out how you are going to make it happen. Knowing exactly what I’m working towards is a great motivating technique.
Nicole
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:18 amI’m definitely going to purchase this book. I can’t wait to read it :) Thank you for sharing this!
Jen @ Adrinah Design
March 23rd, 2011 at 1:44 pmThanks for the review! I’ve added this to my “to read” list!
Morgan
March 23rd, 2011 at 2:28 pmThank you for the review! I, too, have added it to my ‘must read’ list. Could always use a little help, no matter which stage of freelancing we’re in. :) Cheers!
Melissa
March 23rd, 2011 at 4:20 pmAdded it to my Amazon shopping cart. Thanks for the review…I’d never heard of this book until now.
Ed Gandia
March 23rd, 2011 at 5:32 pmWow, Lexi — thanks so much for the thorough review and wonderful comments. I’m honored. Truly am. ;)
And I love that you really “get” what we mean when we talk about “wealth.” It’s not just about the money — it’s about consistently getting the clients, projects, income and quality of life we want as solo professionals. Success on your own terms. That’s real wealth!
Ignacio
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:58 pmI actually read this book 5 months ago and it was very useful in many ways.
Among the best parts that I like are, how to charge more, getting the word out and acquiring new followers, and mainly “for me” how to propose a project in a way that the clients will always say “yes”.
A few things might seem kinda theoretical but well, you absorb what you need after all.
In general I think it’s a great book that will take your freelance business to a next level indeed.
paul
March 24th, 2011 at 8:00 amI nearly bought a signed copy, but the shipping costs to Brazil were 50 dollars. The Kindle version is only available for US residents for some strange copyright reason, as are all the electronic versions.So I would have to go to the US in person to buy one, unless someone has a better idea!
Ed Gandia
March 24th, 2011 at 8:20 amPaul – Been looking into this issue regarding digital copies of the book. Hadn’t found a viable solution until this morning, when one of our fans sent me this note:
“Bought a US iTunes voucher from eBay to buy The Wealthy Freelancer. It worked. It’s on my iPad now.”
Of course, this solution will work for the iPad and iPhone versions only. Will keep searching for options for the other formats. I also have an email out to the publisher regarding this.
Sorry for the trouble! I really don’t know what the big issue is regarding digital versions outside of the U.S.
Lexi Rodrigo
March 24th, 2011 at 10:00 am@Ed Gandia – I’m always on the lookout for good freelancing resources and, when I find them, I’m happy to spread the word :-)
@Rachel Small & @Ignacio – Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book.
@Nicole, Jen @ Adrinah Design, @Morgan & @Melissa – Come back after you read the book and let us know what you thought of it.
@Paul – I feel for you! We have the same restrictions on digital media here in Canada. We can’t even get Hulu. However, it IS possible to access the US iTunes. You just need a US credit card with a US billing address. Because I used to work in the UN, I have one. I used it for my iTunes account before finding out about all this, so I ended up having a US iTunes account. But I can’t go out and buy an iTunes gift card here in Canada and use it for my account. Quite annoying!
Scott
March 24th, 2011 at 11:21 amSeems to get glowing reviews everywhere so my copy is ordered.
A tip for non-U.S. people like myself, order from http://www.BookDepository.com which has completely free international shipping on every order. I was about to order on Amazon until I realized shipping costs more than the book itself.
paul
March 24th, 2011 at 12:18 pm@Scott : thank you! that’s a great tip! I’ve ordered the book now
Sariya Diraneyya
March 24th, 2011 at 1:40 pmI share your pain paul. I live in Saudi Arabia. It is a pain to get any of these books here because shipping costs are so expensive and there is no digital versions available (Kindle is not official here. I can’t buy any book from it :(…
But I was able to buy the book from Amazon. the cost was 11$ for the book and 16$ for the shipping (27$ total… ouch!).
I can say that this is the only book I bought in print format (along with the smashing book). I liked it so much that I need to take it with me wherever I go so I can read it times and times again to truly master whats written inside (it is amazing how many things you notice when you read the books more than once!).
In general I don’t like these kind of books. The only wealthy person in the equation is the writer himself. But in the case of this book it is really helpful and I recommend it to everyone. Thanks so much for your hard work on it and thanks for freelancefolder :)
Ed Gandia
March 24th, 2011 at 3:10 pmScott – Thanks for letting me know about that website. Never heard of it. Will let others know when asked, and will let our fans know. We have a lot of people outside of the U.S. with the same problem. It’s expensive to get it shipped and they can’t get the digital version.
Paul – Glad it worked out, and so slad Scott pointed us to this resource.
Sariya – Wow, I’m truly honored! Glad you’ve gotten so much value from the book. ;)
Nina
April 12th, 2011 at 1:36 amhmm… i want one!
Popa
July 8th, 2012 at 4:30 amI’m currently checking this out on amazon it looks like a great read. I’ve just started out as a freelance web designer and will be looking for all the help i can get.
Thank you.
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