Have you ever had a freelance writing client ask for work beyond freelance writing? In the past clients have asked me for blog design, marketing, social media, and more. When we talk about freelance writers diversifying we often suggest they look to difference niches or more passive forms of income, but we never suggest they expand their skills to include other services. Many clients now prefer to trust one qualified person to perform a variety of tasks rather than hire different types of freelancers for different projects.
I already see this happening in that many bloggers are now expected to perform routine maintenance, community management and social media promotion in addition to writing up a specified amount of blog posts. I am also seeing clients who would appreciate finding web designers who can also provide the content.
Should freelance writers learn multiple skills?
Why Clients Want Freelancers Who Can Handle Multiple Tasks
To communicate with only one person
At BlogWorld ’09, I spent time talking with someone who is now one of my clients. He told me it was important to find someone who can handle a variety of tasks instead of only writing. He didn’t want to have to look for and interview five different people. Nor did he want to have to manage different freelancers for different tasks or deal with multiple payments at the end of each task. Having one person or company to handle all of his needs made more sense to him than taking out five different ads or putting out feelers in different networks. For solo entrepreneurs one stop shopping is especially important as they don’t have the time or resources available to delegate to a full freelance staff.
The Trust Factor
In 2010 trust is a major factor in hiring and keeping freelancers. Most clients would rather hire one trusted freelancer over five freelancers they barely know. When a client has a good relationship with one person, it’s that person he wants to hire for everything. He’d rather see his money spent where he knows it will do the most good.
I do have clients who ask me if I would like to handle their social media projects because they had good experiences with me as a freelance writer and would now like to hire me for other gigs. If I was more technically inclined, I’d have even more projects and clients.
It might be cheaper
Hiring one person to do a variety of jobs is cheaper for a client than hiring two or more freelancers. Why pay $50 per hour to four people when he can pay $75 to $100 an hour to one person? Depending on the jobs that need to be done and hours spent working, this can be a cheaper deal for the client.
However, it can also factor out to the same or more money if it takes one freelancer longer to do several tasks. The client will have to work out the most cost effective method for both him and the freelancer.
The Benefits of Boutique Services to Freelance Writers
Learning a new skill is never a bad thing
Learning, even if not used to further one’s career, is always a good thing. However, for those looking to take a freelancing career to the next level taking courses in web design, blog design and maintenance, social media, and marketing can only enhance the possibilities. Clients want writers who not only know their stuff, but also, who have knowledge in other areas.
More money
More skills = more money. Though it may be cheaper for a client to hire one person, it can be a financial benefit to the freelancer. Freelancers with multiple skills can charge higher per project or hourly rates since they’re expected to do more work. Freelancers also have the ability to expand their business, their realm of expertise and their bank accounts. As more businesses look to contract out and outsource, established freelancers are going to want to look for ways to remain competitive. Upping the service ante will help.
More business
Having more to offer means a larger client base. You might find clients contacting you for non-writing relating projects but remember you when it’s time for a freelance writer. More clients mean more word of mouth referrals and a higher visibility rate. Having a narrow range may mean losing business in the future.
Providing a One Stop Shopping Experience for your Freelance Writing Clients
Not everyone likes to shop at the mall. Many people like to visit more intimate boutiques that sell a variety of products. They enjoy seeing what they need in one location without having to climb stairs and navigate the kiosks and sales pitches. Though I’m sure you’ll charge more, I liken it $20 specials at Applebees featuring two entrees and an appetizer. Why would someone want to buy each of these separately when they can get it all for half price?
What happens if you don’t have the time, resources or inclination to learn more useful skills? Does this mean you shouldn’t think about offering boutique services?
Not necessarily.
Everyone knows someone. Align yourself with other talented people and outsource to them. You may not be keeping the higher rate but at least your clients are sticking with you.
Today’s businesses want to save more money and today’s freelancers want to earn more money. Offering a variety of services is a win-win situation.
Do you offer a variety of services to your clients? Have you ever had to turn clients down for services you couldn’t produce? Please share in the comments.
Great post! I always struggle with this, because I know it creates added value for clients, but I also have to balance the time and talent factor — you can quite easily spread yourself too thin, or try to diversify to a point that you’re not focusing on your strengths! (Though the recommendation to outsource is a good one, too. In that case, I assume you would hire a colleague as an independent contractor and negotiate a profit split?)
Deb, I don’t want to learn graphics and I don’t have what it takes to be a real copy editor… but I can farm that out to trusted folks and take either a referral fee or some other arrangement or just refer because it’s good business.
I’m finding getting help, being willing to ask, accept and even pay for help is a skill I’m learning that’s making my life a whole lot easier.
.-= Anne Wayman´s last blog ..Writing For European Publisher? Ask Anne The Pro Writer =-.
Great post! And one of your last points was right on. I know a good graphic designer, a good PR consultant, and tons of good writers and editors, so if one of my clients ever needs their services, I can quickly recommend someone. I like to think that this adds value to my relationship with my clients.
On the other hand, I say never underestimate the value of learning new skills yourself. When I started freelancing, I’d never written a blog post in my life aside from an old Livejournal account. But once I started blogging for clients, I realized how much I loved blogging and all aspects of social media. Nowadays, those two services are my specialties. If I hadn’t let a client talk me into writing a few one-off blog posts for him, I may never have found that particular passion. What a shame that would have been.
.-= Jennifer Escalona´s last blog ..Blog giveaways, tax deductible? =-.
Over the last year, providing “one stop shopping” has become a key part of my business. It’s not something every client wants, but many do. In fact, I bring it up.
Let’s say someone wants ten blog posts for $X and they indicate that they’ll be lining up subject matter, keywords, etc. for future orders down the road. I won’t hesitate to offer research, keyword evaluation, securing proper post-supporting graphics, link building efforts, and to handle the posting. The list can get even longer…
If it turns out that the blogging is part of a larger project, I’ll discuss its contours with them, as well, offering any assistance I might be able to provide. This can quickly blossom into an all-out consulting role.
Obviously, I don’t handle all of the work personally–and the client is well aware of the fact that I’ll be acting in an administrative capacity. The fact that I can guarantee the work and its quality while providing a streamlined solution tends to be very attractive to them.
Pulling this off requires a few of the things you mentioned. You need to have the right people in your network and you need to know how to price in a way that will take care of them. You also need to know what you’re talking about. Bumping your role in their business’ well-being isn’t the place for OTJ training and you’re taking on some important responsibilities. You need to have the skills development in place. There are also infrastructure issues to handle when you’re bringing in multiple parties to work on a single project.
I suppose it would be easier from an organizational standpoint to take the 10-post gig and to wait for a re-order. The money is better when you can do more, though (assuming you put together the package in the right way).
You mentioned the trust factor and I think that is really at the heart of the whole thing. You need to be able to initiate the conversation in a way that builds up that trust and that displays your ability to deliver. Then, you need to make good on the trust extended to you to avoid disaster.
I know this approach isn’t for everyone. Those whose first and only true love is writing probably won’t be thrilled to learn the mechanics and interplay of many other tasks. There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with being a Writer. In some cases, that kind of specialization may be even more lucrative than offering a fuller slate of services. Being prepared to “do more” works for me, though.
Sweet mother of mercy. That was a L-O-N-G comment.
Actually, this is a pet peeve of mine. I am a writer. I was hired, for example, to write celebrity profiles for a website. They offered what sounded like a good price: $30/profile, including research and writing.
But wait, there’s more.
They wanted at least two public domain photos – I had to find them, source them, upload them, add them to the template, and create captions.
But wait, there’s more. They wanted me to search for, find, and link to multiple social media outlets for each profile.
But wait, there’s more. They wanted me to create a source list for each profile, including links to multiple outside sites that could not include a whole raft of specific (popular) sites that could be considered competition.
Then the whole thing went through a revision process, which could involve more than one revision.
This is becoming more and more common: for the same price you’d pay for straight writing, you can now get research, writing, image sourcing, uploading, limited design and graphics… in other words, we have become one-stop-shops for the same nickel we would have made to simply write.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
In that case I would have renegotiated my rate. It’s one thing to write up a simple blog post for $30 but once clients start adding all the bells and whistles the price should go up accordingly. One stop shopping is a good thing – but it also has to benefit all involved.
This was one of those many “take it or leave it” deals… they had a group of freelancers who made what they made – or left. It seems that quite a few of us left, but there were those who were either willing or able to do it all for that amount of money.
These folks are not alone in their expectations… and I’ve pretty much given up on answering ads for web writers for that very reason. “Web writing” seems to mean much more than just writing for the web: it entails all the elements of publishing, including image research, layout, and copy editing your own work. While that would be okay if I were paid a decent fee, the amount offered is usually quite low…
I believe, BTW, that Demand Studios falls in that same category. They want a great deal for a very small stipend. Some people find that they can do it all in half an hour… but it’s not for everyone.
Lisa
Interesting article and very true. It’s beneficial to have additional skills than just writing, either doing these things yourself or outsourcing with a referral fee. I’m being asked currently by two small businesses to build their online presence via their blogs.
I agree with Lisa, though, that this may soon become the standard to provide SEO, backlinks, social media, etc without the bonus of additional pay. I think it will soon become difficult to only offer just blogging skills or you may get left behind.
Personally, I’m learning how to create traffic with blog writing but now studying web analytics.
Amar
.-= amar´s last blog ..Slim Down With a Flatter Wallet =-.
Back in the days when newsletters were printed, my company handled writing, graphics, printing and mailing of a corporate newletter. I handled only the writing, but hired out the rest.
Graphics people can handle their specialty much better and more quickly than I can. I also work with a few firms where thye handle PR placement, pitching, etc., and I handle the writing. Win-Win-Win (my firm, PR firm and client).
This post brings out so many good points. For example, in any other trade or profession, multi-tasking is the norm. As a managing editor for four small town newspapers, I found that multiple skills were essential. I went into the position with that understanding, and the rate was set accordingly. At that time, my freelance or staff writers provided copy only. Over the years, however, the traditional reporter/writers roles have been changing, to included some design and photo work.
The skills I have acquired over the years are now more beneficial than ever. As a new freelancer (a little over a year), I am just now picking up clients that pay me what the job and my expertise is worth. Currently, I am working with a client to write one blog per week, perform research, locate and upload appropriate photos, source and place the package in the template. Further, I am responsible to help grow their websites presence. The price was right, and bonus opportunities exist for exceeding minimum expectations.
While I understand this is not the case with every client you find, I fill in the gaps with Demand Studios and other clients who offer work I enjoy, for less pay.
Thank you for bringing this post, it is very timely and relevant.
.-= Debra´s last blog ..No greater love =-.
Some great follow-ups, here, too … and quite a diversity of experiences and predilections. I totally agree that stretching yourself to stay competitive can have positive results (new skills learned, new areas to be passionate about), but the question I have around that is: How much time should one be spending on education/skill-building in non-writing areas, in the name of diversification? There are only so many hours in the day!
Good point Jenn, I find myself juggling time all the time. I break it up into small periods in my day for creating and learning. I try to set aside at least 2 hrs a day creating content. With learning, I also try to set aside 2 hrs a day or every other day. It doesn’t sound like much but consistency can build itself into something remarkable. I also don’t feel overwhelmed by working in small increments, which also improves the quality of my work.