When you’re starting up a business or establishing yourself as a freelancer, it’s easy to think that all potential clients are good clients. The customer is always right, after all.
This isn’t always the case. Sometimes you may not be a fit for a project. All freelancers will run into that at some point, and that’s not a big deal. There are also clients that will make your life a living hell. [Read more…]
Within the next 2 years, it’s predicted that 43% of the US workforce alone will be made up of freelancers.
You might have seen a statistic like that before — typically referenced in articles promoting freelancing and working in the gig economy. And it’s true that millions of people are freelancing across the world.
What articles referencing those statistics don’t necessarily say, though, is how the growing percentage of freelancers means more competition and undercutting when it comes to working in the gig economy. [Read more…]
Working for yourself can seem like the ultimate prize. But it does come with challenges to overcome. Most notably, keeping organised and self-motivated.
For some, this comes naturally. For others, the freedom to plan your own time is fraught with countless temptations to distract you from the matter of work.
Do you have what it takes, or do you need some help to get organised and motivated?
Most of us sit somewhere in the middle. Here’s some tips to consider in your moments of weakness. [Read more…]
Freelance writing isn’t a “traditional” career, so to speak, so finding a model for success can be difficult. Many freelancers have to stumble upon their success strategies through trial and error.
But if you’ve found your way to this blog post, you may be able to save yourself that trouble. I’ve been a freelance writer for 10 years and can offer some advice based on that experience. Here are several key things I’ve learned. [Read more…]
“Big money” is obviously relative. For some freelance writers, this could mean at least $50 per hour. For others, this could be at least $100 per hour.
No matter what figure you consider big money, you can reach that goal. It may take a bit more work than you’re currently doing, but with these four simple tips, you will increase your worth.
First things first. You’re a writer. Therefore, you need to make sure that you know what you’re doing, that your writing skills are above par.
Go one step further. Make sure your writing skills are so good that clients can’t help but be impressed.
Additionally, know what kind of writing fits client requirements. Learn how to write copy for landing pages if you are targeting that niche. Learn how to write well-researched articles if you want to reach out to clients who need this type of content.
Be honest with yourself. How good a writer are you? What areas can use improvement?
Really fast. The faster you write, the more work you can take on, and the more money you can earn. However, do not lose sight of the fact that, on its own, writing fast won’t lead to big money.
You can be a blazingly fast writer, but if the quality of your work suffers, then you’re better off writing slowly and delivering excellent work.
How do you train yourself to write fast?
Go easy on yourself when writing the first draft. Just go ahead and write as quickly as you can. Once you’re done, edit and polish your article. It may be difficult in the beginning, but once get the hang of it, you’ll write even faster.
Here’s another way to help yourself to write quickly. Focus on what’s most important: the writing.
Yes, research is necessary in many cases. If you’re not an expert on the topic you’re working on, then you’ll definitely spend more time on research. However, do not spend more time than you have to on this activity!
You don’t need to spend hours and hours on research and ground work. Just get the information you absolutely need to get the job done well, and get on with it!
Note: research may include reading background material, looking up stats, interviews, and so on. You may have to do some tests to determine just how much research you need to do (on average).
We often see hourly rates in job ads, don’t we? That works most of the time, but if you want to earn more for a project, don’t give an hourly quote.
Instead, mention a flat fee for the whole project. The trick is to do the math so that the flat fee you quote gives you the hourly rate that you want.
Follow the advice of expert negotiators: quote a fee that gives you leeway to negotiate. Also determine beforehand the lowest amount you will accept.
These are ways freelance writers earn more. Although it does not encompass everything, it is a good start. Do you have your own success stories? Share them with us, and help fellow freelance writers earn more!
As a freelance writer, you probably have a particular subject area and style of writing to focus on. But because freelancing is inherently uncertain, it can be helpful to have a side gig or two to help stretch you through lean times. Here are five part-time side gigs that showcase the variety of opportunities available for writers seeking extra work.
Social Media Content Editor. If you have experience with social media and enjoy writing for particular audiences, small businesses often hire part-time and freelance writers to assist with social media management. Writing and communication skills are absolutely necessary in this role, which is responsible for interacting with current and potential customers through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
Content Curator. Like reading others’ stories as much as writing your own? Blogs, websites, and organizations hire content curators to research the latest content in their particular subject area, then compile the content into one place for easy reading. The work includes writing headlines, synopses, and copy. If you’re a subject matter expert who enjoys research, this part-time job would make a great side gig.
Editorial Assistant. If you enjoy writing, but also like the organizational side of publishing, consider a part-time job as an editorial assistant. Depending on the publication, you’ll help with page layout, article editing, and editorial calendar management. 
Language Translator. Writers who speak and write in more than one language should consider a part-time job as a website translator. The main work of this side gig is to translate website content from one language to another, and to proofread and edit translations that have already been made.
Captionist: Speedy typists who have solid listening and writing skills can find part-time work providing captions for a variety of multimedia. Colleges, production companies, and other organizations regularly hire captionists or transcribers, and the hours are typically flexible with alternative schedules available.
The key to choosing side gigs is to decide ahead of time what you’re looking for. The number of hours you want to work, when you’re available, what type of work you’d like to do, how involved you want the work to be — decide these questions before you start searching. Writers who have a good idea of what they’re looking for in terms of side gigs will find no shortage of options.
Brie Weiler Reynolds is the Director of Content and Community at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Brie provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
