If you’re anything like me, you like getting paid, but you hate dealing with invoicing and collections. You’re a writer, designer, developer, etc… not an accountant.

This problem is multiplied when you’ve got a long list of clients with whom you’re working. It’s tempting, when a large gig comes along, to hitch your wagon to that star, and work almost exclusively for a single client.

There’s a problem with that, though. You’re ignoring one of the deadly freelancing sins.

Deadly Freelancing Sin #5: Lack of Diversification

When I worked in the Information Technology field, I worked for a contracting company. 80% of the employees for that particular contractor were assigned to a single client (a large pharmaceutical firm). The contracting company wasn’t small; there were something like 85 employees working onsite for that single client. [Click here to read more →]

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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 →]

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This idea of branding seems to come up again and again when I’m talking to freelance writers.

With the rise of blogging as a means of marketing, freelancers find themselves forced to choose a distinct voice, unique look, or narrow niche. Before they realize it, they’ve backed themselves into a corner, only able to get certain types of gigs.

Deadly Freelancing Sin #5: Accidental Branding

I’ve talked about my own branding story here at Freelance Folder before. I told you how branding myself as a work-at-home mom painted me into something of a corner, and how I struggled to move beyond that brand. [Click here to read more →]

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As freelancers, we know that there are different types of clients, all with unique needs and requests. It’s quite obvious because clients are human beings after all and they ought to have different tastes and perspectives. One of such clients some of us usually consider being the freelancer’s nightmare, is the non-savvy client.

I’m not just talking about the non tech-savvy clients, but about all of those who have no idea how this web-working thing works, ask tons of questions and seem to do everything they can to pester you.

So, how do you handle such clients? Do you get frustrated and call it quits? Well, if you dread such clients like anything then here are some things that should help you deal with them. Let’s all help each other out, that’s what the comment section is for! Please share your own tips and tricks with the rest of us! [Click here to read more →]

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Do you want to set your business apart from the competition? Of course you do! What sensible freelancer would ever answer “no” to that question?

If you want to set your business apart, then start paying attention to the details. Most of your competitors aren’t. What? You don’t believe me?

Here are four examples that demonstrate how paying attention can make a difference.

Name

Do you know the name of the individuals and organizations that you do business with? Are you sure?

It always amazes me how many of my business contacts get my name wrong. Despite the fact that my name, Laura, is attached to nearly everything that I write I’ve been called everything from Lori to Lara to Lauren.

While I’ll answer to any of the above, I have to admit that I’m more favorably inclined towards those who take the trouble to use my correct name. [Click here to read more →]

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One of the things that comes up again and again in conversations I have with freelancers is how much they hate marketing. Oh, we love to write or design or develop, but when it comes to creating a brand and putting it out there, we often come up short.

Add to that the fact that many freelancers just don’t understand or have a knack for sales and you have a double-whammy.

Deadly Freelancing Sin #4: Ignoring Marketing And Sales

See, most freelancers, like I said in the first post of this series, are pretty good at what they do. It isn’t their inability to write or design that costs them their freelance business. It’s things like marketing and sales. [Click here to read more →]

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