Comments on: Freelancers: Are You Too DIY?

By: Around the Horn: Week of January 19th | The Freelance Rant

Around the Horn: Week of January 19th | The Freelance Rant — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:16:44 +0000

[...] Freelance Folder: One flaw of freelancers is their tendency to be a do-it-all to please their clients. For instance you may be a web designer and a client may ask you to write the web content which seems hard to pass up. This can get you in over your head, too. [...]

By: waterprise2

waterprise2 — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:53:06 +0000

So on point! I’ve only been “in business” officially for six weeks, and the project of one of my first clients took WAY more time than it should have. She seemed to think I could spend all of my time on just her. While I was in her store tweaking her website for the umteenth time, she mentioned that her printer driver wasn’t working, and actually told her employees that I would fix it…since I was HER computer expert! I am NOT a computer expert for her or anyone, just because I can fix minor things on my own computer! I am a blogger and writer and set up very simple websites and blogs for others, period.

Of course I downloaded the proper driver and set her default printer; but geez!

I am getting a network of others with complementary skills; and I just got a little gig from my daughter who does what I do in a different niche in a different city! She’s an award-winning and published writer/poet; but I am the grammar expert with the eagle eye!

Love, LOVE your blog…thanks so much!

By: Doug C.

Doug C. — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:48:17 +0000

You have to also be careful you don’t get taken advantage of, too. There’s a lot of shifty people out there looking to get more work out of the “kind-hearted-DIYer” and you have to be aware of this fact also. I had this happen to me a couple times, before I wised up

I have a few design friends who can handle things which I cannot, like coding and Flash. So if a client does ask for something which I can’t provide I can at least pass them along to someone who does.And who knows, I may end up getting some work myself out of the deal.

By: Joe Norton

Joe Norton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:24:27 +0000

Interesting article. I agree up until a point, you have to be able to say when something is out of your league and be able to distinguish that from stuff that’s challenging but not impossible

By: Dave Piper

Dave Piper — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:03:01 +0000

It can be quite amazing how much trust people would put in your “skills” even when you doubt your self!

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:22 +0000

Bryan, I laughed and nodded as I read this post! You hit the proverbial nail on the head! When I first started freelancing, I used Elance to test my boundaries. I accepted challenges that stretched me but that I was also sure would satisfy the client. I even got to do a few things with trusted clients where they knew I had no experience, no skill set and it could end up as a total disaster. :-) Teaming up with someone who has skills that complement yours are a smart move that can help both of you to expand your services to clients. As usual great real world advice from Freelance Folder!

By: Dave Piper

Dave Piper — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:07:45 +0000

this advice is golden,

being a freelancer is hard enough as it is get work, is important to build networks around to not only support yourself, but other people like you.

By: Freelancers: Are You Too DIY? | WhiteSandsDigital.com

Freelancers: Are You Too DIY? | WhiteSandsDigital.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:50:26 +0000

[...] and taking on too much, can kill creativity and make clients second-guess their outsourcing needs.read more | digg [...]

By: Nicole LaMarco

Nicole LaMarco — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:23:35 +0000

I think admitting a lack of skills is difficult for me, because I love to take on a challenge. However, I have learned now to challenge myself on my own and pass on recommendations to other freelancers who are more suited for projects offered to me! It also feels good to pass on that work and recommend someone who I know will do a great job for that client.

By: Tracey Grady

Tracey Grady — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:49:52 +0000

One of the best things you can do as an independent contractor (read: freelancer) is to find people with complementary skills so that you can pass on work examples like this.

There are two advantages: first, you’ll gain the respect of the client because while you may not be able to do the extra work yourself, you’ve immediately solved their problem anyway by outsourcing; and second, you’ll gain a network of complementary contractors who may reciprocate by sending work your way too.