Bad First Impressions That Can Drive Potential Clients Away
Posted March 3, 2010 in Business, Managing Clients 42 Rockin' Comments »
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Those initial defining moments can be the determining factor for whether or not a client hires you, so it is critical to make them count.
When a potential client makes first contact–by email, phone, IM, social media or in person–everything you do and say will have a lasting impact on their perception of who you are, how you operate, and more. It is important to ensure that this impact is positive, and not the opposite. This post will point out some of the worst first impression mistakes a freelancer can make and give some direction for ways to avoid them.
Earn More Money by Growing Your Freelancing Business
Posted February 23, 2010 in Business, Productivity 51 Rockin' Comments »
Do you need to earn more money?
At first, freelancers earn more money by taking on additional clients. However, there is a practical limit to how many clients a single freelancer, working alone, can handle. Eventually, a successful freelancer will be faced with more work than he or she can handle alone. That’s usually when the question of growing your freelance business comes up.
By growing the freelance business, I mean adding additional people to your business efforts so that you can handle additional work (and earn the additional income that goes along with it).
In this post, we’ll discuss the growth of your freelancing business. We’ll examine the best time for a freelancing business to grow and also take a look at several options for growth.
How to Be Competitive Without Alienating Your Peers
Posted February 19, 2010 in Business, Marketing 16 Rockin' Comments »
In the current economic climate, freelancers can very easily discover they are a not-so-distant relative to the starving artist. Scrambling for the next project, lowering rates and doing whatever else it takes to secure the necessary income can begin to raise the competitive mindset to new heights in even the most community-minded of individuals.
While competition can be a healthy motivation, it can also be the knife in the back of other freelancers in your field if handled carelessly. This post will look at ways to keep competition in its rightful place, driving your business forward without alienating fellow freelancers or damaging your standing in your respective community.
How Committed Are You to Freelancing?
Posted February 12, 2010 in Business 43 Rockin' Comments »
Freelancers come and freelancers go.
It’s a fact that many start freelancing, but not everyone who starts a freelance business sticks with it. What do you think it is that really separates those who stick with freelancing from those who quit?
Could it be talent? Is it the amount of knowledge that a freelancer has? Or, perhaps popularity is the true measure of a freelancer’s ultimate success…
While all of these factors are important, there is something that is even more crucial to freelancing longevity.
The answer lies in a single word–commitment.
In this post, we’ll discuss some of the traits of a committed freelancer. I’ll also share my own observations about freelancing commitment.
How to Make Your Portfolio Better Than the Competition’s Portfolio
Posted February 7, 2010 in Business, Web Design 38 Rockin' Comments »
Competition is fierce in the world of freelancing. In the clients’ eyes, one of the few factors that differentiates you from the competition is the quality of your portfolio.
While much of what makes up a portfolio is both subjective and based on personal preferences, there are still several surefire ways to distinguish yourself in the sea of freelancers.
Let’s takes a look at some ways you can make your portfolio better than your competition’s portfolio.
Staying Sane While Freelancing With a Loved One
Posted February 5, 2010 in Business, Freelance Stories 17 Rockin' Comments »
Two years ago, I was the full-time web guy at a conservative insurance company. My wife could see my frustrations there and encouraged me to quit and pursue a freelance career. She suggested that we could use her income as our base if things got really tight, financially. I’ve never been happier.
However, during the last two years, I’ve seen her deal with the same frustrations in her current work situation that I experienced two years ago. I realized our situations were reversed, and since she rescued me from my previous work situation and offered me a better career and better life, it was time for me to do the same for her. I encouraged her to quit and help me in my business. It’s only been about a month, but it’s been a month filled with lots of lessons on how to deal as a freelancing couple. So how did we get through our first month without divorce?
How To Find the Right Freelancer for Your New Project
Posted January 28, 2010 in Business 21 Rockin' Comments »
Sorting through job boards, posting ads on Craigslist, or just crying out for help on Twitter does not sound appealing, productive, or promising. Still, your desire to invest in and partner with an individual instead of possibly spending money with a corporation and becoming just another account in a file cabinet drawer is enough motivation to cause you to consider diving into the freelancing fray.
There you sit, on the precipice of the unknown, and you wonder how to start. Well, today is your lucky day! This post is about how you can define your project in ways that will enable you to connect with the right freelancer for the job, along with some important qualities you should be looking for in the person you eventually decide upon.
12 Reasons You Shouldn’t Freelance
Posted January 27, 2010 in Business, Getting Started 124 Rockin' Comments »
What are some of these perks of freelancing?
- You can choose your own hours
- You can choose your own clients
- You can choose the type of work you do
- You can choose your rates
We’ve discussed great reasons to start freelancing, but we haven’t really talked about why you shouldn’t start freelancing. Let’s take a look at some of the worst reasons to go into business for yourself.
Solve the Common Marketing Problems that Bug Most Freelancers
Posted January 19, 2010 in Business, Marketing 31 Rockin' Comments »
As a freelancer, you probably have a great deal of expertise in what you do. Whether it’s programming, web development, graphic design, freelance writing, or some other field–you’ve worked hard and honed your skills. Now, you may be starting to see some of the benefits of all that hard work.
With a few exceptions (those of you whose field actually is marketing), your knowledge of marketing is probably not as strong as your knowledge of your chosen profession. As a freelancer, you know that you have to market your business in order to survive. So, you’ve done what it takes. But, there are still a few nagging problems about marketing your freelance business that bug you.
It’s normal for a freelancer who doesn’t specifically specialize in marketing to struggle in this area. Here are four common marketing problems that bug freelancers (and their solutions):
Try searching "Getting Clients" or "Productivity"
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