Freelancefolder

Freelancers: Are You Too DIY?

Posted August 6, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 11 Rockin' Comments »

As a freelancer, many of us have the DIY (do-it-yourself) attitude. DIY means more work, more potential portfolio pieces, and most importantly… more money. But sometimes, the DIY approach, and taking on too much, can kill creativity and make clients second-guess their outsourcing needs.

It’s only natural for the everyday client to assume his/her freelancer’s ability. Take the following questions as prime example:

Example #1

“Since you’re designing my Website… Can you just write all the copy too?”

Example #2

“We love the photography! Can you put together a quick Web gallery so I can show all my friends and family?”

Example #3

“The last print ad you did for us was stunning. We loved your creative writing. Now we’re in need of a 40-page technical user’s guide to go along with a new product we’re launching.”

Any of this starting to sound familiar? When faced with everyday questions like these, it’s important to know your freelancing boundaries. Several questions need to be asked before a quick “yes” jumps from your mouth: [Click Here to Read More...]

How Freelancing Is Like Network Administration

Posted July 28, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 1 Rockin' Comment »

I don’t regret my past life as a computer guy.

There was a time, back in the late 90s, when I could switch jobs every 6 months and make 30% more than I’d made previously. In two years, I nearly tripled my salary.

I went from working the phones at a help desk to administering networks in a short time. Things slowed down after Y2K was over and the dot-com crash, but overall the industry was good to me.

At any rate, I spent some time thinking this weekend, after pulling my hair out trying to get a new program to work, about how quickly my tech skills have become dated. Even if I wanted to go back to IT, does anyone really need a network admin certified in Windows 2000 Server anymore?

I got to thinking, though. There are some lessons from those bygone days I can use in my freelance writing business. [Click Here to Read More...]

How To Cope With Rejection As A Freelancer

Posted July 26, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 19 Rockin' Comments »

“I used to save all my rejections, always thinking, “I’ll show them“. I always talk about how hard it is, but I also think it’s glorious… …Writers are writers because they can’t help but be writers; they have to get it out there. I feel more whole and reassured when I’ve written something. I try to discourage my students from a writing career most of the time. The ones who get beyond it are really meant to do it.” – Lawrence Grobel

Is there anything more rattling than those few seconds after clicking the “Send” button when submitting an article to a publication? Your heart skips a beat. You briefly live out a nightmare where you envision the editor screaming to himself, “What the hell is this? Is this guy serious? Stop wasting my time!”

On the other hand, maybe you’re so confident that you assume everything you write is gold. Yes – there are definitely those people. However, it is this author’s belief that the majority of us, whether we’ll admit it or not, are scared little children when it comes to revealing our meager selves to the world.

How ironic then that the word “NO” is more common than any other – at least in this industry. Coping with rejection can prove to be large hurdle when it comes to persevering. [Click Here to Read More...]

Thrive, Even When Odds Are Against You

Posted July 25, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 6 Rockin' Comments »

Just last week I noticed it in a parking lot where I stop frequently. It was a spectacular sight – a bright red flower growing up through a tiny crack in the pavement. The fact that the plant had survived was amazing. The fact that the plant was actually in bloom was even more astonishing.

Now, before we go any further, let me clarify. I’m not talking about some scraggly weed with a half-dead flower. This was a healthy, flourishing bloom – worthy of the finest garden.

I examined the parking lot. Not even the smallest bit of topsoil was visible. There was nothing at all in the parking lot that looked like it could nourish a flower.

Yet, somehow this particular flower had managed, not only to survive, but also to actually thrive. Despite the odds, it was a healthy, growing organism.

The Lesson For Freelancers

The odds of success are against most freelancers, especially when they are starting out. The fact is that most business start-ups fail within a few years. [Click Here to Read More...]

The Seven Deadly Sins of Freelancing Part 7 – Sacrificing Integrity

Posted July 23, 2008 in Lifestyle 9 Rockin' Comments »

There are a number of ways that a freelancer can lose her business. Sometimes, the economy takes a dive and she can’t recover. Sometimes, she isn’t good at what she does. Sometimes, she falls prey to one of the first six deadly sins of freelancing. She doesn’t plan, she doesn’t market, she aims too high or too low.

There is something else, though, that can destroy a freelance business. Of the seven deadly sins of freelancing, this is probably the most serious, the most severe, and the one sin with implications far beyond the freelancing business.

Deadly Freelancing Sin #7: Sacrificing Integrity

The old cliché tells us how “nice guys finish last.” We see examples of corporate leaders who do horrible things to get where they are. We hear about people climbing the career ladder, all the while stepping on the fingers of those below them. On, and on, and on it goes. People everywhere sacrifice their integrity and their own moral compass in order to get ahead. [Click Here to Read More...]

What To Do When You Feel Invisible

Posted July 16, 2008 in Lifestyle 10 Rockin' Comments »

Have you ever felt invisible? Or, perhaps I should ask instead, have you ever felt inaudible – as though your words and ideas are being totally ignored. . . as though no one hears you.

I remember the first time it happened. I was only about 11 years old. My dad took me out to eat at a restaurant. For some reason, I had my heart set on eating pancakes that day. My dad had other ideas…

When the waitress came to take our order, I voiced my order softly and hesitantly, “I’d like a plate of pancakes, please.”

My dad was firm. “She’ll have the chicken,” he stated loudly.

Later, when our order arrived, I bet that you can guess what meal the waitress brought to me. That’s right, it was the chicken meal!

That may have been the first time that I felt invisible, but it wasn’t the last.

Being Invisible to Clients

I sometimes feel as though I am invisible (or at least inaudible) to my clients. Despite the fact that I am a freelance professional with nearly 20 years of writing experience, there are still some clients who choose to totally ignore my professional advice. [Click Here to Read More...]

Why The Delete Key Is My Best Friend When It Comes To Telling Off Clients

Posted July 9, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 17 Rockin' Comments »

I’ve always prided myself on the fact that I provide impeccable customer service. But bottom line – if you’re in the service industry (which we are), you will find yourself dealing with ridiculous clients.

Whether you’re a waitress being screamed at by an angry customer about a spot on his fork, or you’re an IT person explaining the “I-D-10-T” error to a client who won’t accept that, every once in a while, computers will freeze – you will sometimes find your heart pumping faster, and your fingers scrambling for the “mean letters” on the keyboard.

However, no matter how much we want to put these clients in their place, we must remember that we’re in the “service industry“. Consequently, we must bite our tongues and solve the problem. [Click Here to Read More...]

Let’s Party! Why Celebrating Success Can Be The Key To Your Business’s Future

Posted July 3, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 9 Rockin' Comments »

What do you do after you successfully complete a major project?

At the conclusion of a major project it’s business as usual, right?

Wrong!

Feedback from other freelancers, and my own experience, has led me to believe that it’s crucial for us to celebrate our business successes as they occur. Yet, celebrating success is something that many of us are not good at.

Four Benefits to Celebrating Business Successes

Here are four reasons why celebrating your freelancing successes will help your business: [Click Here to Read More...]

You Don’t Realize How Talented You Are

Posted June 17, 2008 in Business, Lifestyle 31 Rockin' Comments »

We, as freelancers, are many times our own worst enemies. Through out my experiences, I’ve learned that artistic people tend to be the most analytical. Even to this day, I cringe a bit before pressing the send button when e-mailing a proof to a client.

Yes, I am always proud of my work, but there is always that little bastard on my shoulder who whispers into my ear, ‘You don’t deserve to be in this industry. You’ll never be good enough!‘

On this day, it is my intention to end that constant chattering that goes on in my head, and maybe in yours too. We don’t realize how talented we are. In fact, I believe that the harder we are on ourselves, the more talented we are as a result.

It takes a very talented person to realize how little he or she knows, ironically. Never-the-less, being down on yourself only creates a toxic environment that helps no one. [Click Here to Read More...]