If you’re like most of us, you probably answered “yes” to that question. Which of us wouldn’t want a little more coming in each month?

In this post, I’ll share a surprising technique to help you earn more freelance income–delegating your routine tasks.

When to Delegate

We freelancers are an independent breed. We like to “do it ourselves.” That’s probably one of the reasons many of us struck out on our own in the first place.

However, sometimes doing it yourself just doesn’t make sense. It may seem contrary to logic, but delegating routine tasks to others can often result in a higher freelancing income. That’s because delegation frees your time up for paid work.

Here are two clear signs that it’s time to delegate:

1. You are busy and delegating a task costs less than your hourly rate. Your time is a valuable limited resource. Doing something yourself doesn’t always mean you are saving money. What it could mean is that you are using your time at your average hourly rate when you could be paying someone else less.
2. You don’t know how to do something or don’t like doing it. Freelancers can’t afford to make mistakes. If you’re not good at something and can’t afford to take the time to learn to do it well, it’s time to delegate that task to someone else.

Delegation frees you up to take on more work at your higher hourly rate. Remember, you don’t earn anything for the time you spend on daily tasks.

Here’s an example of what I mean. Let’s suppose that you want to bill for thirty hours of freelancing business each week. You average $50.00 an hour for your freelancing services.

However, you rarely find yourself billing for thirty hours. The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough work. In fact, you’ve been turning work away because you don’t have enough time to get to it.

After examining your time carefully, you realize you’re spending about ten hours each week on non-billable tasks. You delegate these tasks to someone else for an average hourly rate of $25.00 an hour. Now, you can take those projects you’ve been turning away.

Now that we’ve discussed when delegate, it’s time to take a look at what to delegate.

What to Delegate

From personal tasks to professional tasks, many of your routine tasks can be delegated to others.

Here is a sampling of eight common freelancer personal and professional tasks that can be delegated:

1. Administrative tasks–Administrative tasks can take a lot of a freelancer’s time. Can you really afford to spend an hour or two each day on this? Routine administrative tasks can often be delegated to a virtual assistant at less than your hourly rate.
2. Bookkeeping/accounting–Many freelancers don’t really have a good grasp of accounting. They tend to put bookkeeping off and before long; they have a mess on their hands. A good bookkeeper can handle your tasks in a fraction of the time that it would take you.
3. Web development/maintenance–You keep telling yourself that you’ll figure it out, but you never really do. Your website is hopelessly out of date and it would take you a long time to fix it. Hiring a knowledgeable web developer can be a good freelancing investment.
4. Writing–You hate to write. You know that your grammar and spelling mistakes make you look bad. You’ve been known to spend an entire day composing an important email. Why not hire a professional writer and free yourself up for tasks you are good at doing?
5. Lawn care–If you have a lawn to maintain, you know that keeping up with this task can take a lot of your valuable time, especially during the summer months. You may be surprised that hiring a professional lawn service often makes more sense than doing it yourself.
6. House cleaning–How much time do you spend each week on house cleaning tasks? Whatever you answered, it’s probably too much. Consider hiring a maid service to take over some of your house cleaning tasks. You’ll also have the peace of mind that comes with a neat house.
7. Laundry–Laundry is another time-consuming chore that can be delegated. Many dry cleaners offer a laundry service at a reasonable rate. You drop off your dirty clothes and pick them up a few days later, clean and folded.
8. Cooking–Every time you eat out or order in, you’re essentially delegating your cooking task. While I don’t necessarily recommend having someone else prepare your food all the time due to nutritional concerns, if you are really busy sometimes it makes sense to order in.

Your Turn

What routine tasks do you delegate?

Share your answers in the comments.

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While it’s true that freelancing work can be flexible, it can also be challenging to get work done while the kids are home. Just how challenging depends on the kids and the freelancer… But there are ways to make freelancing with kids easier.

In this post, I’ll provide some easy tips for freelancers who juggle freelancing with parenting.

If you have children at home while you freelance, please add your own tips in the comments so that we can learn from each other.

The Childcare Question

Many freelancers turned to freelancing specifically so that they could spend more time with their kids. For many that works well. Parenting is an important life phase.

However, it’s important to remember that freelancing takes time too. So, a parent who freelances needs to make sure that they allow themselves enough time (and the proper conditions) to get their work done and done well.

While some freelancers thrive in a noisy environment (arguing kids in the background, babies crying, frequent interruptions), other freelancing work requires more concentration and quiet. If you find that you are a freelancer who can’t focus when your kids are noisy, you may want to consider paid childcare for at least a few hours a day. Of course, childcare can be costly, so make sure that you are charging enough for your freelancing services to cover the cost of childcare and still earn a profit.

Remember, that childcare does not necessarily mean dropping your kid off at the local daycare center (although that’s an option). Here are some other childcare options you may want to consider:

• Swap babysitting tasks with another local freelancer. Alternate the days that each of you watches both sets of kids.
• Hire a teen to watch kids and keep them quiet in your own home for the summer.
• Hire a trusted relative to watch kids for a few days a week.

Some freelancers don’t want to rely on any form of childcare. This may be an economic or a personal decision. Those freelancers are not without alternatives.

Other Alternatives to Paid Childcare

If you can’t afford childcare or don’t wish to use it, you may still have some free and low cost options that will give you some quiet time to get your work done:

• Mother’s Day Out Programs–Many churches and community centers offer childcare for one or several days a week.
• Community Programs–Many libraries have a free story time for preschool and elementary age children. As a bonus, many libraries also offer free WiFi access to patrons.
• Summer Activities–Look for children’s community activities and lessons as well as summer camps. With your mobile device, you may be able to freelance while your child participates.

When my own kids were younger, they loved the library story times in our community. I loved the hour or so that I could sit in the relative quiet of the library with my laptop getting some serious work done.

Another option that many freelancers choose is to work while the children sleep. This can work well if your child still takes a nap or has an early bedtime. Take care to get enough sleep yourself, though.

Some freelancers delegate childcare to their partner while they work. If you’re the primary caregiver for your children, this can also be a great opportunity for your kids to spend some quality time with the other parent.

Make the Children a Part of the Business

You may be able to hire older children to perform basic tasks for your business. Is your teen an aspiring writer or web designer? Give him or her a chance to show you what they can do.

Younger teens may be able to help by making copies, filing, or performing other simple office tasks. This is a great way to pass on some basic business knowledge to your kids.

There may even be some tax benefits and other advantages to hiring your own child. Check with your accountant to make sure.

Your Turn

Do you freelance with children at home? How do you juggle freelancing and raising kids?

Did you ever start working on a project, only to realize that you don’t actually have enough information to get the job done? If you’d considered the 5 Ws of journalism that I’ll introduce to you in this post, you might have been able to avoid that problem.

In this post, I’ll explain what the five Ws are and describe how you can apply them to your freelancing business.

At the end of the post, please share some questions that you ask clients before you start to work.

What Are the Five Ws?

Freelance journalists are already familiar with the five Ws, but other freelancers probably need a bit of explanation.

Each W represents a question that needs to be answered.

In journalism the five Ws are:

• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
• Why?

And most journalists also add:

• How?

As you glance at the list, you can probably see that if a writer gets detailed answers to those questions, they will probably have enough information to write a story. Now it is time to make the five Ws work for freelancers.

Who?

Understanding your client is critical to successful freelancing.

A good freelancer needs to gather the basic contact information about their client such as:

• Name
• Location
• Email
• Address
• Phone

However, the best freelancers will make a sincere effort to learn and understand who their client really is, going beyond just the basic information about the client. Some ways to help you discover who your client really is include:

• Look at their mission statement. Most company mission statements express who they want to be.
• Examine the corporate history. This will tell you where your client came from.
• Try to figure out what makes your client tick. Find out what drives your client to do what they do.
• Discover your client’s reputation. Who does your client’s customers think they are?

If you review the information that you find, you are well on your way to really understanding who your client is.

What?

A freelancer also needs to know what their client does. This entails understanding the client’s product or service as well as knowing a little bit about their industry.

Are you really aware of all of the products or services that your client offers? Find out what their most popular products are and which products are not so popular.

Understanding what your client does will give you a head start in providing them with the best freelancing services.

Once you understand what your client does, you need to understand what they want from you. Make sure that you come to an agreement about the scope of your project.

Where?

Business customs and laws are different in different parts of the world. Where your client is located affects how they do business.

To be an effective freelancer, you should think about where your client is located. Pay particular attention to any restrictions or limitations that they may face due to their location.

If your client speaks a different language than you, it may be necessary to hire a translator to make sure that you are communicating clearly.

When?

The delivery date for a project is one of the most important pieces of information that you can get from your client. Also, remember that the delivery date can often be negotiated, so don’t panic if the first date that your client mentions isn’t realistic.

Once you’ve agreed upon a delivery date, be sure to get it in writing. Next, make sure that you stick to the agreed upon date. A missed deadline is usually a sure way to lose a client.

Why?

While the other questions are important to freelancers, this question is the one that allows you to really differentiate yourself from the competition.

If you can find out why the client is doing the project, you are in a position to suggest improvements for this project and to suggest additional projects that will really help the client meet their goal. Imagine the client satisfaction if you truly understood the client’s motivation for a project.

How?

There are also a lot of “how” questions involved in freelancing:

• How do you want this project done? This could refer to style or tools used.
• How will you use the finished product? This will help you understand the client’s goal.
• How many or how soon? There are also quantity and timing questions that can be answered by asking “how?”

Your Turn

Remembering “5 Ws and sometimes how” can be a quick tool to help you make sure that you have enough information to successfully complete your freelancing project.

What questions do you ask before you start a project? Share your answers in the comments.

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It’s often the first few minutes of any initial meeting that determine whether or not you get a prospect’s business. Yet, many freelancers ignore the importance of leaving a good first impression–that’s because they don’t know how to make a good impression or they don’t understand how important it is.

In this post, I’ll remedy that problem. I’ll share fourteen easy ways to leave a good first impression. At the end of the post, feel free to add your own tips for putting your best foot forward.

How to Leave a Good First Impression

Here are some tips you can use when you initially meet a prospective client to make sure that you leave a good first impression.

1. Respond promptly. If you receive an email or a phone call, nothing leaves a bad impression like not getting back to the inquiry in a timely fashion. Yet, some freelancers make prospects wait days or even weeks for a response.
2. Listen carefully. If you’re doing most of the talking, something is already wrong. Whatever you do, don’t interrupt your contact while they are speaking. It’s okay to take notes. It shows that you are serious about the client.
3. Be positive. Think the best of your prospect. Attitude counts. If you come to a meeting with a bad attitude, it will show in your body language and tone of voice. Your prospect will likely pick up on it.
4. Research beforehand. Even if the prospect contacted you “out of the blue,” you can still make an effort to learn something about him or her. See if they have a website or blog. Are they involved in social media? Find out what industry they are in and learn something about it.
5. Be courteous. Another immediate turn off for prospects is rudeness. Even if you don’t think that the prospect is a good candidate to become a client, there’s no excuse for being rude to them. Rudeness will be remembered and may even become part of your online reputation.
6. Be punctual. If a prospect sets up a face-to-face meeting with you, make every effort to arrive on time. If it looks like an unforeseen circumstance is going to make you late, call and let them know.
7. Make eye contact. It sounds simple, but a surprising number of people don’t like to make eye contact. They may be shy or not making eye contact may simply be a bad habit. However, if you can’t look your prospect in the eye, you may appear shifty or dishonest. Don’t stare though.
8. Take note of your contact’s name. Try to use it in conversation as often as possible. Be careful. Be sure to get right. Listen carefully when your contact introduces themselves and repeat the name out loud just to be sure. While we all like to hear our names, there’s nothing worse than hearing your name mispronounced.
9. Relax. Since this is a first meeting or phone call, you’re probably a little nervous. Unfortunately, nerves are catching. If you appear nervous, your prospect may begin to feel uncomfortable. Try to calm down and appear relaxed.
10. Dress appropriately. Freelancers are notorious for sloppy dress. When you’re alone in your home office, what you wear doesn’t really matter. You can stay in your pajamas or wear an old comfy sweat suit with holes in it. However, when you meet a prospect, make the effort to look professional.
11. Be careful about your written communication. Mistakes matter. If your initial contact is through email, make sure that your email response is error-free. Proofread it carefully and look for any grammar or spelling mistakes that might make you look bad.
12. Don’t seem rushed. Avoid looking at your watch or any clocks on the wall. If you appear rushed or distracted, your contact may believe that you aren’t really interested. That’s not the impression you want to make.
13. Say thank-you. This is another courtesy that most business people no longer follow. However, just because other freelancers don’t say thank-you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. A thank-you note after your meeting is a sign of respect and can really make you stand out in the prospect’s mind.
14. Don’t forget to leave your business card. Your business card provides a handy way for your contact to connect with you in the future. While you might think the client will remember how to find you (especially if they contacted you first), this isn’t always the case. Don’t leave your initial meeting without passing your business card to your contact.

Your Turn

What are your best tips for leaving a good first impression? Share them in the comments.

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I’m talking about To Do lists, of course. When used properly, they can really help you to manage your time.

Freelancers are busy people. There’s no doubt about it. Discussions of time management are always among the most popular topics here at Freelance Folder. That’s why today I’m going to share a very simple time management To Do list technique that I use myself.

Getting Started

While you may wish to use one of the online To Do list tools, all you really need to get started is a notebook and a pen.

I like to place each of the four lists on a separate page in a separate section in the notebook. That way, old lists can be discarded without affecting the rest of your To Do items.

Your Immediate Tasks

Your first To Do list should consist of your immediate tasks. These are typically tasks that are due within a day’s time.

I include both work-related tasks and personal tasks on that list. That way, I only have one place to look to see what I need to do each day.

Try to keep this list to a reasonable length (less than seven items). If your list is too long, you not only won’t get everything done–but you’ll get pretty frustrated. I recently had a daily To Do list with 17 items, boy was that frustrating! To trim your list, move any items that don’t really have to be done today to the second list.

You need to redo this list for the next day at the end of each day. Look at your second list to see if any of the tasks on it are due tomorrow. Also, add any new immediate tasks that came in during the day.

Your Second List

Tasks that are due within a week’s time make up your second list. It’s a good idea to write the due date beside each task on this list. Not only will this help you to update your first list, but it also helps to keep you from procrastinating and leaving all the tasks until the last day of the week.

You need to update this list daily and redo it completely at the start of every week. At the end of each day, add any new tasks that came up during the day. Remove any tasks that you’ve transferred to your first list. At the end of each week, review the list and make sure that all of the tasks are still due during the coming week. Add any tasks from your third list that will come due during the coming week.

Intermediate Planning

Your third list is used for your intermediate planning. This is for events and tasks coming up in the next few months. Be sure to right an approximate date by each item.

You need to review this list weekly to see if any items need to be moved to your weekly list (your second list). Also, add new items as you become aware of them.

Your Wish List and Your Goals

No time management method would be complete without a way for you to list your goals and dreams. That is what your fourth list is for.

Most likely, you won’t have specific due dates for the items on this list. However, you should still review this list at least once a month. Take time to brainstorm and figure out what it will take to turn your dreams and goals into reality. Add those brainstormed tasks to the lists above.

To Do List Tools

Admittedly, this is a VERY simplistic method of managing time and making sure that your deadlines get met. However, it will work for some freelancers. Sometimes, simpler is better.

For those who need more sophisticated tools, such as the ability to generate reports or interface with an invoicing system, consider one of the online To Do list tools.

Here are five top-rated To Do list tools that you may find helpful:

• HiTask–This To Do list tool allows you to work with a team. It includes file sharing, reporting, and mobile access. Great for teams.
• ToodleDo–Another helpful online To Do list tool. This tool includes a hotlist, lets you hide tasks. It also includes a scheduler and alarms.
• Remember the Milk–This is a very popular method of managing tasks. Remember the Milk interfaces with Google Calendar and can be accessed from anywhere including your phone.
• Evernote–This popular tool works more like a bookmarking/note-taking service. It can be accessed from anywhere.
• Do It Tomorrow–I was immediately attracted to the visual interface, which looks like a paper planner. This allows you to keep two short-range lists, one for today and one for tomorrow.

Most of these tools have a free version, so try several and find the one that works best for you. You can find even more apps here.

What Do You Think?

Choosing a To Do list application (or any kind of time management tool) is a very personal thing. A lot of it depends on how you work and how you prefer to organize yourself. It also depends on the needs of your clients.

I’ve shared a system that works for me. What works for you?

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Chances are that you answered “yes.” Studies show that up to one third of all adults don’t get enough sleep. If you’re a freelancer, chances are good that you’re among the sleepless.

The problems associated with sleeplessness can be severe. They range from overeating to poor driving to irritability. A sleepless freelancer is also more likely to make mistakes in his or her work.

In this post, I outline ten helpful tips to help you get a better night’s rest.

How to Get More Sleep

As a freelancer you need to be at your best. That means getting enough sleep, which most experts define as at least seven hours a night.

Not only does a lack of sleep affect your quality of life, it can also be detrimental to your freelancing business. Imagine working on a high-pressure assignment after getting only a few hours of sleep. Sure, you may be able to do it once or twice–but no one can keep it up night after night.

Yet, that’s exactly what many freelancers try to do. If they are having trouble managing their time and behind on a project, the first thing that they do is skimp on the amount of sleep they are getting.

If you’re not getting enough sleep, there are some actions you can take that may help. Here they are:

1. Turn off the electronics–Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, laptop, and other electronic devices are far away from your bed. If possible, keep them in another room. Turn the devices off so that you can’t hear the beeps when someone updates Facebook or Twitter.
2. Stick to a routine–As much as possible go to bed and get up at the same time every day. This lets your body gets into a regular routine for sleeping. Allow time each evening for winding down before you go to bed.
3. Get a comfortable mattress–Did you know that most mattresses need to be replaced after about ten years? An old, worn out mattress can keep you from getting your best rest at night. I recently replaced my mattress and I can really tell the difference.
4. Stay away from caffeine–It’s no secret that some people are bothered by caffeine intake. If caffeine keeps you awake, you should limit your caffeine intake. Try drinking caffeine only in the morning and avoiding it after lunch.
5. Exercise regularly–Having a regular exercise routine can help regulate your sleep. However, you should avoid exercising immediately before you go to bed since many people feel more alert after exercise.
6. Don’t go to bed hungry–The old advice says not to eat before you go to bed, but the new advice says that a small, healthy snack before bedtime is okay. A small bedtime snack can eliminate nighttime hunger pangs that might keep you awake.
7. Check the temperature–A hot, stuffy room can keep you from sleeping comfortably. Likewise, if your room is too cold you may have trouble going to sleep. Find out what sleeping temperature is most comfortable for you and program your thermostat accordingly.
8. Avoid alcohol before bedtime–A nightcap just before bedtime is a bad idea. While alcohol is a depressant, studies show that alcohol consumption can disrupt your sleep.
9. Dedicate a room to sleeping–Do you have a big screen TV, a work desk, and other non-sleep essentials in your bedroom? Well, try taking them out. If you use your bedroom for too many activities during the day, you may have trouble sleeping at night.
10. Get a physical–Remember to get regular checkups to make sure that there is no physical problem keeping you from getting enough sleep. If there is a physical cause for your lack of sleep (such as sleep apnea), your doctor can prescribe the best course of action for you.
11. Bonus tip: Learn to manage your time–Often, an overcrowded schedule doesn’t include enough time to get a good night’s rest. Make sure that you are managing your time well.

Your Turn

Do you get enough sleep at night? Do you think your freelancing business is affected by the amount of sleep you get? What are your tips for getting a good night’s rest?

Share your answers in the comments.

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The problem is that this can lead to an awful lot of stress if we’re not careful. And too much stress can be the enemy of productivity. The key to reducing stress is relaxation.

That’s why I’ve written this post that includes over forty things that freelancers can do to relax. Some of these will take a few minutes. Others will take a few days. Some may even take a few weeks. But if you’re stressed, it’s worth trying one or more of these ideas.

Unwind and Relax in Less Than a Day

If you’re short on time, here are a few ideas that will help you unwind in less than a day (along with the estimated time for each):

1. Pray or Meditate (Time Spent: 15 Minutes)–Prayer or meditation is a simple way to unwind. Surprisingly, many people forget to do it.
2. Read a Book (Time Spent: 2 Hours)–Losing yourself in a good book is a great way to forget your worries and relax.
3. Watch a Movie (Time Spent: 2 Hours)–Pop some popcorn and rent your favorite movie for a quick escape from your day-to-day problems.
4. Take a Bath (Time Spent: 1 Hour)–Imagine luxuriating in a warm bubble bath or jacuzzi? Try dimming the lights and lighting some candles.
5. Take a Nap (Time Spent: 45 Minutes)–A short power nap can be a great way to refresh yourself.
6. Take a Walk (Time Spent 1/2 hour)–Whether it’s a short walk around the block or a quick hike through the nearest park, walking is a great way to reduce stress.
7. Work Out (Time Spent: 30 Minutes)–Many freelancers find that a quick work out eases tension.
8. Clean Up (Time Spent: 2 Hours)–De-cluttering a cluttered workspace or home can make you feel better.
9. Have Lunch with Friends (Time Spent: 2 Hours)–Every freelancer should plan on getting out from behind the computer regularly.
10. Listen to Music (Time Spent: Varies)–The healing and relaxing properties of music are well documented.
11. Go Shopping (Time Spent: At Least 4 Hours)–If shopping relaxes you, head for the nearest mall.
12. Go to the Art Museum (Time Spent: 3 Hours)–Get inspired by wandering through the works of the masters.
13. Treat Yourself (Time Spent: 2 Hours)–Whether it’s a pedicure or a new software program, treating yourself to something you enjoy can relax you.
14. Go to a Garden (Time Spent: Half a Day)–Spend some time enjoying plants and flowers.
15. Take a Coffee or Tea Break (Time Spent: 1 Hour)–Brew yourself a pot of coffee or make yourself some tea.
16. Go Swimming (Time Spent: 2 to 4 Hours)–Almost everybody loves to swim. Head to your local pool.
17. Plan and Cook a Special Meal (Time Spent: 4 to 6 Hours)–When was the last time you baked your favorite food? Why not make it today?
18. Walk Your Dog (Time Spent: 30 minutes)–There’s something special (and relaxing) about the relationship between a dog and its master.
19. Go Fishing (Time Spent: At least Half a Day)–It doesn’t matter whether you catch anything. Just hanging out at your local fishing hole can help you to unwind.
20. Get a Massage (Time Spent: 1 Hour)–If your muscles feel tight, a trained masseuse can help.
21. List Your Blessings (Time Spent: 1 Hour)–It’s hard to be stressed if you’re focused on what’s going well. Make a list of everything that you are thankful for.
22. Eat Outdoors (Time Spent: 1 to 2 Hours)–Pack a lunch and take it outside to eat. There’s a reason everyone loves a picnic.

Of course, if you have more time to relax there are even more options for unwinding.

Unwind and Relax in a Few Days

Here are a few things that you can do to unwind in a long weekend (up to four days):

23. Get Out of Town (Time Spent: 3 Days or more)–Literally. There are a lot of vacation specials that you can get at the last minute online.
24. Do a Staycation (Time Spent: 3 Days or more)–If you can’t afford to get out of town, don’t worry. Be the tourist right where you live.
25. Proclaim a Technology-Free Weekend (Time Spent: 2 Days)–Spend a weekend without your computer, phone, and other electronic devices.
26. Go Camping (Time Spent: 2 to 2 Days)–A camping trip may be just what you need to get away from your day-to-day stresses.
27. Join a Tour Group (Time Spent: 2 to 3 Days)–Many cities have regular tours for vacationers. Try joining the one in your own town.
28. Visit Your Favorite Out-Of-Town Relatives or Friends (Time Spent: 3 Days)–While spending time with the wrong family could be stressful, think about how good your favorite relatives make you feel.
29. Take a Road Trip (Time Spent: 2 to 3 Days)–Just get in the car and drive. Stop at anything interesting along the way.
30. Explore Your Roots (Time Spent: 2 to 3 Days)–Go back to the town where you (or your parents) were raised and revisit familiar sites.
31. Visit a National Park (Time Spent: 2 to 3 Days)–Many U.S. National Parks have cabins to rent.
32. Take the Family to a Theme Park (Time Spent: 2 Days)–Find the nearest theme park and plan on spending a few days there.

Changing your life habits can also help you to unwind.

Unwind and Relax in a Week, or More

Here is a list of good habits that will help you relax over time. Try devoting a few hours a week to these activities:

33. Volunteer–Volunteering on a regular basis can help you to put things in perspective.
34. Take a Class–Learn something new just for fun.
35. Start a Hobby–What are you interested in outside of work?
36. Take Your Dream Vacation–Save your money and take that ultimate vacation you’ve always dreamed about.
37. Start a Garden–Many people find gardening relaxing (and you get a bonus of fresh flowers or vegetables).
38. Start an Old-Fashioned Journal–Even if you have a blog, it’s not quite the same as keeping a diary. Try old-fashioned journaling.
39. Remodel Something–There’s nothing better than fixing something up.
40. Get Crafty–Try your hand at a craft.
41. Pay off a Bill–Finances are a top source of stress. Target a bill and start to pay it down so that you can ultimately pay it off.

Your Turn

How do you relax and relieve stress?

Share your tips in the comments.

Image by eagan

If you’re a freelancer, you’ve been asked that question before. You may not have known what to say, or you may not have been comfortable with the price you quoted. That’s because pricing our services is one of the toughest issues that freelancers face.

No one seems to agree about pricing. There’s a lot of opinions out there and many of them contradict each other. What’s a freelancer to do?

This post is a bit different. You’ll find not one, but twenty different pricing principles for freelancers in one handy place. You don’t have to apply all of these principles if you don’t want to. However, in my freelancing experience, these really work.

Pricing Principles

Are you struggling with how to price your freelancing services? Here’s a checklist of principles to review before you set the right price for your freelancing services.

1. Base Your Fee on Quality of Service, Not Quantity–You’ll wear yourself out if you are trying to do a high volume of work for a low fee. Instead of trying to charge the lowest price, concentrate on producing high quality services that justify a higher price.
2. Your Price Should Cover Your Expenses and Allow a Profit–While this may seem obvious, many new freelancers have never run a business before. They’re not used to thinking in terms of profitability. Be sure to include overhead in your expenses.
3. Update Your Price Regularly–Are you charging the same rate now as you did last year? The longer you go without raising your rates, the more likely you are to slip into the red. Plus, you are worth more now than you were last year because you now have more experience.
4. Base Your Price on the Current Job, Not Promises–Fairly often a prospective client will contact me wanting a price break because in the future they *may* have a lot more work for me. However, unless they are willing to sign a contract now for that future work, they don’t get a break.
5. Don’t Commit to a Project Price without Knowing the Scope–You need to know how much effort is involved before you can quote a price. You can’t do that unless you know the scope of the project. Scope creep in freelancing is a common problem, so get it in writing.
6. More Work Should Equal More Pay–If the client adds a task to the project after you’ve accepted it, your rate should almost always go up. It’s best to point this out sooner, rather than later. Otherwise, you could find yourself working for a lower hourly rate than you were counting on.
7. Free Work Often Doesn’t Pay–Occasionally, someone will ask you to donate your services. This may be coming from a charity, or a friend or family member. Think long and hard about whether you want to do this. Remember, free = no pay.
8. Don’t Work for Anything Other Than Money–Another request *prospects* often ask of freelancers is whether they would be willing to work for exposure, or even whether they would accept a barter. While some freelancers do engage in barter, remember that money is what pays your bills.
9. Your Prices Are a Guideline–Remember that your prices are a guideline. You are a freelancer, so you are in control. If you feel that a particular project is going to be more difficult than most, you can raise your rates to make up for the extra effort.
10. Never Guess What to Charge–While you may want to give a ballpark figure to a client before you know the details of a project, don’t commit to a firm price without knowing the scope. (Hint: if you do give a ballpark figure, guess high and give a range.)
11. Do Know What Other Competitors in Your Field Charge–As a freelancer, you should know what your competitors charge for their services. You can find this out through professional organizations (which often track such information) or by looking at competitor sites.
12. Understand Pricing Packages before Committing to One–Pricing packages can be a great motivator for prospects who are undecided, but it’s important to put a lot of careful thought into any pricing package that you offer. Make sure that the package makes business sense.
13. Put Date Limits on Your Pricing Proposals–The last thing you want is to have a prospective client pulling out a five-year-old proposal of yours and demanding that you honor the prices quoted. It could happen unless you include a date limit on your proposals.
14. It’s Okay to Charge Late Fees–Your freelancer agreements should include provisions for late fees. Most other businesses charge extra fees for their clients who don’t pay on time. Remember, as a freelancer you are also a small business owner.
15. It’s Okay to Charge More for Rush Work–Are you taking on a project with an extremely tight deadline? While I don’t generally recommend accepting rush work, if you do take it then it is okay to charge extra for it. Just make sure the client knows this up front.
16. Lower Rates Don’t Necessarily Mean More Clients–There’s a common misperception among some members of the freelancing community that lower rates will lead to more clients. This is not necessarily true. In fact, if your rates are too low, many prospects may think that you are not any good at what you do.
17. If Your Clients Say Your Rates Are Too Low, They Are–It’s a sure sign that you need to raise your rates if your clients are telling you that your rates are too low. Believe them and fix it. Remember, they didn’t have to say anything.
18. Track Your Time to Understand Your True Rate–If you don’t track your time, how will you know what hourly rate you are really earning? Fortunately, there are plenty of tools available online to help you with keep track of how you spend your time.
19. It’s Okay to Have a Proposal Rejected Due to Price–I know it hurts to have a proposal rejected, but stand your ground when it comes to your prices. If price is the main objection a prospect has, they probably won’t make a good client for you.
20. Understand When to Use Hourly and When to Use Project Pricing–Hourly vs. project pricing is a lively debate among freelancers, with some preferring one over the other. Understand which one works best for the types of projects that you do.

Your Turn

I hope that I’ve taken some of the mystery out of pricing freelancing services. Did I miss any pricing principles?

Image by MinimalistPhotography101.com

Do you know what factor really keeps a lot of freelancers from achieving their ultimate success?

If you’re like me you’re probably guessing things like “lack of clients” or “not enough skills.”

While clients and skills are definitely important factors in achieving success, they aren’t the only factors. Surprisingly, confidence (or lack of it) plays a huge determining role in whether a freelancer is successful or not.

In this post, I explain why confidence is important and show you how you can bolster your confidence as a freelancer

Why Confidence Is So Important

Fear of freelancing (otherwise known as lack of confidence) is a very real problem for freelancers and would-be freelancers. You could make excuses for yourself for a very long time, but remember that many of our fears do not come true.

Low confidence is bad news for freelancers for a number of reasons. Here are just a few of the problems that can be caused by lack of confidence:

• Not placing enough value on your work. If you don’t believe in yourself and in your abilities, you’re more likely to undercharge your clients.
• Not marketing yourself adequately. Freelancers need to be constantly marketing themselves to succeed and good marketing takes confidence.
• Not trying for the really challenging positions. Freelancers who don’t have confidence are unlikely to apply for really challenging or high profile projects.
• Not learning new skills. Lack of confidence can also keep you from learning new skills and trying new things.
• Not taking advantage of face-to-face networking events like seminars and meetups. Face-to-face meetings require confidence. Less confident freelancers tend to skip them.

In fact, lack of confidence may also be tied to creative block. Being too negative about yourself can drain your creativity. You need to believe that you can accomplish something in order to get something done.

The bottom line is this–if you suffer from a lack of confidence, your freelancing business is being hurt.

So, now that we’ve identified some of the problems that low freelancing confidence can cause, let’s look at some ways to build up your confidence.

How to Build Up Your Confidence

If you need an extra shot of confidence, try looking at these:

• Your portfolio–Your very best work should be showcased here. (If it’s not, your portfolio needs to be updated ASAP.) If you’re feeling down about your abilities, browse through the work you’ve done once again and allow yourself the pride of accomplishment.
• Your testimonials–If you’ve been doing your job properly, you’ve gotten some testimonials from clients about the value of your work. Reread thse from time to time to remind yourself of how clients view your work.
• Your compliments file–Every freelancer should keep a compliments file. These are comments (emails, tweets, wall posts, etc.) that others make about you that you find to be uplifting.
• Your network–Unless you’ve engaged in some sort of auto-following scheme, your network is made up of individuals who you interact with regularly and who are interested in your work.

If your confidence is low, don’t look at these:

• Your competition’s portfolio–The grass will always look greener on the other side of the fence. If you’re low on confidence, you’ll be much less critical of your competitor’s profile than you should be and much more critical of your own than you should be.
• Your unfinished goals–Of course, you have to keep up with your goals so you have to look at them once in a while. But obsessing over what you haven’t gotten done yet is no way to build your self-confidence.
• Critical comments from clients–There’s such a thing as constructive feedback, and that’s a good thing. But the truth is that some clients will never be pleased no matter what you do. Don’t let a negative client destroy your freelancing confidence.

Your Turn

If you’re a freelancer right now, you’ve already had the confidence to jump out of the traditional workplace into the freelancing marketplace. That’s a terrific start!

What techniques do you use to build up your confidence? List your confidence-building tips in the comments.

Image by Pedliano

You need something different–something better than what other freelancers offer. Your business needs that special something that makes a prospect pause and think to themselves, “I have to do business with this freelancer.”

We’ve talked about the importance of having a unique selling propositon (USP) before. That’s still important. But having the “Wow” factor does so much more for your freelance business.

Having the “Wow” factor can mean the difference between being considered for a project and being hired.

So what is this “Wow” factor and how can a freelancer go about getting it? The truth is that the answer is as individual as your clients are. If asked, many clients would be unable to give you an answer beyond “I know it when I see it.”

There are a few things that you can do to wow clients. While these tactics may not work for every prospective client, they will work for many. That’s what’s this post is about. It explains how you can wow prospects so that they become a client.

7 Ways to Ramp Up the Freelancing “Wow” Factor

Are you ready to really impress prospects and clients? Are you ready to take your freelancing business one step further? Try some of these ideas to really “wow” your clients.

1. Testimonials that rave about your services. It’s important to have testimonials, but some testimonials don’t add to your”wow” factor at all. I’m sure you’ve seen a testimonial before that reads something like this, “I hired Joe to design my website. Joe designed the website on time and in budget.” What you want instead is a testimonial that reads something like this, “I hired Joe to design my website and he did a fantastic job. He exceeded my expectations in every way. Joe will be designing all of my websites from now on.” Do you see the difference?
2. A blog that says, “I get it.” Most freelancers know that they need a blog. As a result, most freelancers have a blog. Sadly, most freelance blogs are just ho-hum. Some cover topics without any regard to who their clients are or what they need. Many freelance blogs sit neglected week after week and sometimes month after month. Instead, direct your freelancing blog to your clients. Use your posts to demonstrate how you can meet client needs. You don’t have to post daily, but don’t ignore your freelancing blog for months at a time either.
3. Out-of-this-world web design on your site. How would you feel about eating a restaurant that has peeling paint on the walls and holes in the upholstery on the seats of the chairs? What if they served your meal on dishes with cracks in them? You’d probably think that the place was a bit run down and you’d be right. The restaurant might serve great food, but they’ve already made a negative impression on you. They’ll have to work twice as hard to prove that they have good food. Your freelance is the same way. Is it out of date or incomplete? If so, you’re probably making a bad impression on prospective clients.
4. Snappy content on your site. Even if you’re not a professional writer, the copy you put on your freelance website is important. It needs to sell your message. It also needs to be completely error-free. Like your website, your web copy is part of that all-important first impression. If you have trouble in this area, consider hiring a professional writer to spruce your copy up. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
5. Social media leadership. Being a social media leader doesn’t mean you’re on social media 24/7 making inane comments. Regular participation is enough. Being a social media leader also doesn’t mean that you have the greatest number of followers or friends (or whatever). What it does mean is that your social media participation enhances your overall professional reputation. If you frequently get messages from people thanking you for the content you share or if your shares spark conversation, then you probably do have this wow factor.
6. A quick response. Prospects are notoriously impatient. If you get an email or phone call, try to acknowledge it the same day. Even if you can’t answer all their questions, at least let them know that you received the email and are working on it. I can’t begin to tell you how many prospects (turned clients) thanked me for my prompt responses to their inquiries.
7. Expectations exceeded. You don’t want to get the reputation of someone who just barely gets the job done. That’s not the way to “wow” clients. Instead, seek to exceed expectations whenever you can. If the project’s due on Friday, try to turn it in on Thursday. If the client asked for two ideas, give them four. Actively look for ways that you can improve the client’s business and make those suggestions. These little extras may seem small, but they have the potential to really “wow” clients.

Your Turn

What about your freelancing business? Does it have the “Wow” factor?

If it does, what do you think makes your clients say “Wow” about your business? If it doesn’t, how will you go about getting it?

Image by music2fish2 (eric lanning)