Freelancefolder

18 Comments

• 

  Selene M. Bowlby

  December 8th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

  ---

  Yes, I love reading other people’s stories – it definitely gives you a more personal connection with that person, in addition to being helpful if you are facing a similar circumstance. I know that I personally read as many freelancer stories as possible while I was in the process of getting to the point of taking the “plunge” myself.

  I’ve since published a few stories of my own (bio on my site, story of how I came to the decision to take the freelance plunge, as well as an interview on another blog). I’ve received such positive comments about my own story and interview… you guessed it – from other people looking to take the freelance plunge themselves!

  I’d be writing a book if I put my story in the comments here, LOL but here are two links (on the one from my site, you can click over to my bio from the sidebar for more of the back-story…)

  Taking the Freelance Plunge… I Am FREE!
  http://www.idesignstudios.com/blog/work-life-balance/taking-the-plunge-i-am-free/

  How to Leave Your Job and Take the Freelance Plunge in Six Months (Interview on Sparkplugging)
  http://www.sparkplugging.com/sparkplug-ceo/how-to-leave-your-job-take-the-freelance-plunge-in-6-months/

• 

  Kirk

  December 8th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

  ---

  I kind of fell into freelancing. A native New Yorker, I moved to France on a whim some 25 years ago. The first jobs I had were teaching English as a foreign language, which I did for a number of years. In the early 90s, I got requests from students to translate documents for their companies, and in 1996, I went into translaton full-time. It was the dawn of the Internet in France, and I was fully booked within 6 months.

  After a number of years, I wanted to try my hand at writing, having always been interested in language. I started by writing some articles about computers for non-paying publications, then, though a referral, got a first book gig (as a co-author) in late 2001. After that, I wrote more books, and started getting paid writing gigs. At the same time, some of my clients in France started asking me to write manuals, press releases and other documents.

  A couple of years later, after the early Internet boom had subsided, there was a lot of price pressure in the translation sector, with companies outsourcing translations to India and other countries. I gave up (for the most part) translating, and moved into writing full-time. For the past 5 years or so, the majority of my activity has been writing: for a major US computer magazine, for a couple of corporate clients, and for some web sites. I’ve been lucky that I’ve never wanted for work, and that even in the current economic conditions my workload doesn’t seem like it will shrink.

  The morale of my story is that while hard work and skills count, luck and good timing are just as important.

• 

  Blog Expert

  December 8th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

  ---

  I think that your story is a marketing tool. It definitely can make people want you to be their freelancer. You can also get people talking about you by telling your story.

• 

  Max

  December 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

  ---

  I’m a freelance webdesigner who started a little more than three years ago and never regret this step so far, even though it’s an entirely different working approach compared with serving in a regular business.

  My personal story started immediately after the civil service I had to do back in 2005. I was interested and passionate about webdesign many years before already, working on various school and personal projects and so I’ve been searching for a suitable university where I could study accordingly. I even found one, but quickly noticed that the techniques I’d learn and particularly the quality of the courses itself didn’t exceed my expectations at all.

  Fortunately I already had some experience with an aspiring niche content management system, accomplished various personal and non-profit projects for it and so somehow saw an opportunity there. At that time I knew I would have to wait more than half a year anyway until I could enroll at a university again or initiate an employee training, so the decision to start freelancing was easy because it probably was the most logical attempt in that situation.

  Since then, business evolved very well, many customers come back with new work regularly, I often get to know interesting people from all over the world and it’s just a fantastic experience anybody who gets a chance to should seriously try.

  In the end, this decision was one the best in my life – however, there are of course various things I would have done in a different way if I could turn back time.

  First of all, I personally don’t like to take care of the accounting and everything related to taxes. Even though I learnt that in business school a couple of years before, it’s still confusing, particularly even annoying and so I would definitely search for a good and reliable tax consultant right before I’d start. This step not just avoids lots of work but also saves remarkable amounts of money and ensures staying on the safe side legally which is definitely important.

  Furthermore using a pc absolutely works, but a Mac and especially the outstanding software often developed by small companies is something I don’t want to miss anymore, because it can improve productivity significally in my opinion.

  In order to keep up with new trends and techniques and to gather fresh ideas how to improve business structures it also makes sense to read some blogs such as this one here regularly. I never thought it would be that important to do this by the beginning, but I quickly noticed that it’s not just interesting but also very inspiring.

  Last but not least, the most important aspect in my opinion definitely is to know that satisfied customers are essential for every successful business and to act accordingly. I think everybody knows that so it’s even more absurd to see that there are still companies from time to time who simply can’t seem to put it into practice for unknown reasons.

  To make things short, from my point of view, freelancing is an amazing opportunity today and offers great chances, but it also requires the ability to work hard and autonomous most of the time which is something not everybody is made for or likes to do unfortunately. This said, it’s good to have places like freelancefolder to meet like-minded people and share experiences. :-)

• 

  Mason Hipp

  December 8th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

  ---

  @Selene — Yea, your story is definitely an awesome one. I think just by showing people what is possible you can really inspire new freelancers, and that’s such a good thing for all of us.

  @Kirk — Sounds like it wasn’t just luck, you had to be there to spot the niche and the changing market conditions. Sometimes what freelancing really takes is being flexible enough to move when you have to.

  @Max — Awesome story, thanks for posting :-) I think your experience with accounting/bookkeeping is similar to many freelancers. It’s one of those hard-learned lessons that you need to find a professional to do the accounting, and find some good software to help keep records of everything.

  I’ll post my story in a bit…

• 

  Susan Johnston

  December 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm

  ---

  I started freelancing during college, because it was a lot more interesting and more flexible than getting a job on campus. Then I worked in several different marketing jobs after I graduated, but I just couldn’t shake that feeling that I’d be happier managing my own time and writing from home (all day long, these article ideas would float around my head and taunt me while I was supposed to be working my employer).

  So, last May, despite the signs of a shaky economy, I left my full time job to became a full time freelance writer. Since then, I’ve broken into several dream writing markets and finally felt in control of my projects and my time. Of course, I often work longer hours than I did in my 9-6 job, but the payoff is that I have no commute and a lot more flexibility. And in the time that I’ve been freelancing full time, I’ve earned more money than I did my first year out of college! Trust me, there is freelance work out there, even during a downturn.

• 

  Melissa Donovan

  December 8th, 2008 at 11:13 pm

  ---

  I wrote a whole post about how I became a freelancer awhile back and it’s a little too long to repost here, so I’ll just give you the link:

  http://www.writingforward.com/freelance-writing/how-i-launched-my-freelance-writing-career

  It has definitely been a journey and an experience and I’m always looking forward to what crazy turn the freelance life will take next.

• 

  Ed Gandia @ The Profitable Freelancer

  December 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm

  ---

  I stumbled into freelance copywriting. It wasn’t something I planned for or even knew about.

  Here’s how it happened. As a sales professional, part of my job involved writing copy (most of the companies I worked for didn’t have much of a marketing department). I wrote sales letters and marketing materials to attract potential customers. And it wasn’t long before I realized I enjoyed writing this stuff. To me, this was “selling on paper.”

  I found this idea (and the results I was getting) very attractive. In fact, I started thinking that maybe this is something I could turn into a business.

  So in early 2004 I began pursuing copywriting clients. I wanted to see if this was something I could conceivably do for a living. But I had to be careful. My sales job paid very well. Also, my wife had left her job to stay home with our then-2-year-old son.

  As my family’s sole breadwinner, I couldn’t afford to quit my job. I also couldn’t afford to let my sales performance suffer (commissions were a big portion of my total income). And I had to be methodical. I wanted to test the waters as a moonlighting freelancer to see what kind of results I could get.

  So I put together a plan. And I worked it very much like I worked the sales territories I had built before. It took a while to get that first client. But once the business started coming, it didn’t stop.

  I got coaching help. I continued to market myself aggressively. My clients continued to give me more and more work. Before I knew it, I was working six to seven days a week and most weeknights.

  Finally, in June 2006, I left my job to pursue my copywriting business full time. In only 27 months, I had gone from zero to a six-figure business. And I did it without sacrificing my steady paycheck…and without putting my family’s financial future at risk.

  Going out on my own is the best career move I’ve ever made. It allows me to live the lifestyle I want and chart my own course. Can’t imagine doing anything else right now!

• 

  Renee

  December 9th, 2008 at 10:27 am

  ---

  This is my story! :)
  http://www.ribbonsofred.com/ourstory.htm

  This was a great article, and it’s so true — your story is so important for your business. If people can connect with you, they are more likely to hire you. Plus, it’s just nice to see that companies are “human”.

• 

  Kirk

  December 9th, 2008 at 10:59 am

  ---

  In my experience, no one’s ever hired me because of my “story”. They hire me because of my experience and reputation. That’s one reason why, when I started freelance writing, I wanted to publish books; clients are impressed when they know you’ve written books, much more than for, say, magazine articles or documentation.

• 

  Melek

  December 9th, 2008 at 11:31 am

  ---

  I began freelancing (web/print design) almost 10 years ago (wow!) when I realized I was making more in the evenings freelancing than I was in my full time job!

  I was working as a layout artist at a tourist magazine and doing web freelancing for about 4 hours every evening after work. After months of trying to get my boss to let me create a website for our company, he went on a two week vacation, and I took it upon myself to create a website while he was gone. When he returned, he approved it, and I’d found my niche.

  My freelance work went from print to more web design. My then husband was a programmer, so it was a great team of I’d design it and he’d code it. Over the course of the first few years, he taught me how to code, and then I was off and running doing both.

  My main source of work is web and email design. But, it’s great to have that print background because it gives you another service to offer your clients (my first two jobs out of college were in print shops, where I learned all my graphics software and tons about print setup).

  Being a freelancer, working for yourself from home, is the only way I can envision living. When I moved from VA to TX in 2000, I thought it might be a good opportunity to get out of freelancing and get a ‘real’ job. So, I took a web design job….after 3 weeks I put in my 2 weeks notice. I just couldn’t stand working on someone else’s schedule :)

  Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to find/keep clients is through forming relationships. Networking (not cold calling/emailing) is what works, then staying in touch, going to social events with potential clients, and just being a nice person seems to be the way to go.

• 

  Amber Weinberg

  December 9th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

  ---

  I love reading other people’s stories. I don’t necessary consider myself successful just yet, although I’ve paid all my bills lol. I got started freelancing full-time after I got laid off from a job. I had no clients, but within a week I had two major design studios send me work. It’s been a bit slow because of the holidays but I’m using the extra time to network onliene, redesign my portfolio, and go out to network at meetups and conferences.

• 

  serj

  December 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

  ---

  my first contact with web design, more exactly with the developing part, had happen when I was 18. Beeing a fan of codes, html got my attetion and at that time it was enought. Did’nt really knew what to do ,but soon after I got more courious and voila here I am. I’m a 22 years young man, with a couriosity satisfaied in html xhtml css javascript xml as3(soon) flash php photoshop flash indesign illustrator.
  havent got really active in the domain , had concentrated on the theoretical part, marketing( gone get my major) usability, interaction design, colors and everything that is connected to the web. I love web design and soon I’ll be printing my skills on the net so that anyone can see, but till then Noroc !

• 

  Debbie

  December 9th, 2008 at 10:55 pm

  ---

  I knew I wanted to be a designer very early (like <10 years old). I got a design degree (Environmental Design with a landscape architecture concentration) but because I also am very interested in science, got a dual major in natural resource management. I went to grad school and got a master’s in ecology, and worked for 1.5 years at a job I hated because it was about 90% traveling.

  While in grad school I started playing around with HTML just for fun. I taught myself enough to be dangerous.

  Then I got a much better environmental planning job in Colorado and we (my husband and I) moved out here. I also designed and built my first real website, an ecommerce site that we ran for 9 years and recently sold. That got me started on web design for real.

  I worked as a planner for 7 years but In 2005 I quit my job and went back to school. I was working with a career counselor who suggested I try making a go as a web professional on the side, and by the end of that summer I had so much web work that I didn’t have time for school.

  Now I’m totally swamped with work and have been that way since August. I do about 95% of it through referrals, and I’ve learned a huge amount about managing my own business, and my own time, through trial and error and getting information from others (like in this great blog).

  So I got into web design as a professional rather late, but I’m very happy, I have many good clients and collaborative relationships with colleagues all over, and I’m starting to get the larger jobs that let me stretch my skillset.

• 

  Sean

  December 11th, 2008 at 1:09 am

  ---

  I just started freelancing this past July. The move comes as part of a career transition plan. I’m currently a EFL instructor in South Korea, but am planning to move back to Canada in a couple of years. Language teaching is not a lucrative position in Canada and I also want a change.

  My hobbie for the past 4 years has been tinkering with my various blogs, setting up web sites for freinds and colleagues. I really enjoy web work and felt that this would be a perfect second career for me. I set up my Freelancing site, launched my first design which was a redesing of my teaching blog and then got my first client due to the strength of that design.

  I’ve since finished 2 more clients (1 just this past week – haven’t had time to update portfolio yet) with two clients lined up and a potential third in the queue. I’ve done almost no marketing other than passing out hordes of business cards, mentioning my business at every possible opportunity, networking, and setting up a facebook page for it as well.

  While I’m not making enough to live off of web design yet, I’m definitely feeling more confident about this move and my plan to quit teaching come summer 2011. I figure 3 years (now 2.5) is enough time to build up my skills, reputation, network, & portfolio.

  AT this point I am very very grateful for the early success I’ve had.

• 

  Whimfield

  December 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm

  ---

  Loved reading everybody’s stories!

  Thanks for sharing.

• 

  Andrew Phillips

  December 12th, 2008 at 2:06 am

  ---

  Back in High School I started a video games website because the prospect of getting paid to play games really appealed to me. I would get sent stacks of games, and attend fancy product launches – I was in teenage heaven! I eventually sold the website to a US ad network who ended up going under when the dot-com bubble burst.

  I studied Software Development and Marketing at university, making websites and applications for others during the evenings. After uni I worked full-time at the local funeral home for two years in the Multimedia Department, while still doing freelance websites part-time.

  I got tired of working long hours for someone else. I quit my job, packed my belongings into the car and travelled the country for a few months, meeting some excellent and inspiring people. I settled in Melbourne and enrolled in a small business course. I ran out of money a few times during the course, lived on noodles, and was almost homeless (I even lived in a youth hostel for a few months), but was too stubborn to even consider another job. I was confident I could make my business work if given the chance.

  I can now say five months after starting the business it was the right choice. I’m far from rich, but I’m actually happy with work! The local library acts as my office during the day, which ensures I get out of the house and not become too pale and antisocial. My clients come from personal networking, although now I’m looking into other advertising to help with the Christmas slow down.

• 

  Scott Ogle

  December 13th, 2008 at 9:50 pm

  ---

  I started to teach myself web and graphic design when I was about 10 and by the time I was 17 I was already doing freelance work (and sorry guys, I’m one of those kids that undercuts you by 50%-60% because I don’t need to support myself). Long story short, after taking on too many larger clients at the same time a few months ago, I completely screwed up and wasn’t able to deliver one of the projects, the one that I put the most energy into.