During the day I like to listen to this local talk radio program that shares financial and business start-up advice. On today's show, the host was discussing the pros and cons of being an entrepreneur. Being your own boss sounds great in theory, but there are some very real issues that should be considered before taking that big step.
No guarantee of steady pay
I guess you could say that's the good news and bad news of being an entrepreneur. Getting paid is completely up to you. That's likely to be bad news if you're a slacker, or great news if you're a go getter. The reality of being your own boss is that some months will be better than others – especially in the beginning as you establish your business.
You will work hard
And that's an understatement. Count on putting in long days and maybe even pulling a few all nighters. If you are a solo business owner, you will wear all of the company hats. That's why your business should be something you love doing. The radio program host said it best: "It should be something you would get out of bed at three AM in the morning to do for free."
Build Trust
Whether you're dealing with clients or vendors, people do business with people they trust. The talk show host talked about how he has been trying to get a large order of t-shirts printed. He's talked to three different companies, and in two months not one has delivered on their promise to provide a sample product. Just think, all it would have taken is for one company to come through as promised and they would have gotten the business by default.
If you say you will do something, be professional and deliver as promised. If something comes up, don't just hide your head in the sand and pretend you don't have an obligation to meet. Deal with things head on.
Being an entrepreneur isn't for everyone. Think carefully about what you can and cannot deal with before taking the plunge.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Freelance Writing Trends: What Can We Expect?
Now, more than ever before, it's important to pay attention to industry changes, and the business of freelance writing is no exception. If you want to get steady work it helps to know which specialties show the most potential for growth. That means more opportunities for you.
Get the Inside Scoop
Luckily for us Yuwanda Black, from the freelance writing portal Inkwell Editorial, has done all of the legwork. Her detailed 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report reveals the hottest niches for freelancer writers for the next two years based on extensive research. It's an invaluable resource that could really help you determine where to focus your marketing efforts, and it's absolutely free! Download your copy today.
Get the Inside Scoop
Luckily for us Yuwanda Black, from the freelance writing portal Inkwell Editorial, has done all of the legwork. Her detailed 2008-2009 Freelance Writing Jobs Report reveals the hottest niches for freelancer writers for the next two years based on extensive research. It's an invaluable resource that could really help you determine where to focus your marketing efforts, and it's absolutely free! Download your copy today.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Productivity Pitfalls: Remaining Focused on Freelance Writing Goals
Staying productive when working from home as a freelance writer can be a real challenge for some of us. I fall into that category. I can admit it. There are so many distractions all around me – even when I eliminate the obvious ones like having the television on or answering my home phone whenever it rings. Still, dirty dishes in the sink, my two-year old's impromptu demands for snuggle time, and Internet surfing all threaten to disrupt my productivity on a daily basis (although I willingly submit to snuggle time).
I have some pretty intense freelance writing goals I'm hoping to reach before the end of the year, so I really have to become more disciplined in some areas. Staying motivated is a big part of productivity for me. Here are a few tips:
Set goals
Daily, weekly and monthly freelance writing goals are important. You need to have a clear understanding of what you are working for. Whenever you achieve a goal, cross it off your list. Seeing your progress in action is a big motivator.
Make a daily work schedule
Set a regular start and stop time for your day to keep focused. Remember to schedule in a small part of each day to participate in online forums, read/comment on blogs and other social networking activities.
Add some variety to your day
Avoid focusing on one single task for large blocks of time if you're having trouble staying focused on your freelance writing projects. Break up your tasks throughout the day to give yourself a break from doing the exact same thing every day. Mix it up!
Reward yourself
Being self-employed is hard work. It requires lots of long hours and complete dedication. Having something special to look forward at the end of each day or week can give you a big motivational boost.
Take care of yourself
Invest time in yourself by eating right, exercising daily and getting enough sleep. It's too easy to neglect your health when working for yourself. Making good health a part of your regular routine contributes to the total well-being of you and your business.
I have some pretty intense freelance writing goals I'm hoping to reach before the end of the year, so I really have to become more disciplined in some areas. Staying motivated is a big part of productivity for me. Here are a few tips:
Set goals
Daily, weekly and monthly freelance writing goals are important. You need to have a clear understanding of what you are working for. Whenever you achieve a goal, cross it off your list. Seeing your progress in action is a big motivator.
Make a daily work schedule
Set a regular start and stop time for your day to keep focused. Remember to schedule in a small part of each day to participate in online forums, read/comment on blogs and other social networking activities.
Add some variety to your day
Avoid focusing on one single task for large blocks of time if you're having trouble staying focused on your freelance writing projects. Break up your tasks throughout the day to give yourself a break from doing the exact same thing every day. Mix it up!
Reward yourself
Being self-employed is hard work. It requires lots of long hours and complete dedication. Having something special to look forward at the end of each day or week can give you a big motivational boost.
Take care of yourself
Invest time in yourself by eating right, exercising daily and getting enough sleep. It's too easy to neglect your health when working for yourself. Making good health a part of your regular routine contributes to the total well-being of you and your business.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Conflict Management: When Your Back is Up Against the Wall
This weekend I had client contact me by email very annoyed that I had sent him a contract for an upcoming freelance writing project. He basically stated that he felt insulted that I would continue sending them after we'd had such a successful business transaction with the last project. Let me just state for the record that he is a new client, and I have only completed one freelance writing project for him so far. I'm working on the second one. I don't know about you, but I don't consider that a whole lot of history in our relationship.
His email continued to state emphatically that he would not sign another contract. Imagine my surprise after spending a lovely day out with my daughter to come home to such a snarky email? I immediately felt that familiar heat come over me.
I've mentioned my previous job as an advertising sales representative for a local newspaper here before. Even though it really wasn't my cup of tea, I received some very valuable training. That training has turned out to be a real asset as I build my freelance writing career. Anyone who's ever worked for someone else has very likely cultivated some very necessary survival skills that can easily carry over into running your own business.
Customer service was a big part of my job. But that's something that I do naturally. I like helping people solve their problems, and my personality is pretty upbeat. But I could kiss the feet of my old job for the conflict management skills they gave me. I am a hot-headed girl by nature, so I don't need much prodding to get me worked up. The conflict management training, handling unhappy advertising clients and just dealing with silly office politics has taught me a lot.
I have had a few conversations over the phone with this particular client. He has a forceful personality. The first thing I had to do was calm down and put myself in his shoes. It would be a mistake to just jump to conclusions. Once I knew I was calm I responded to his email explaining that I do not do business without a contract for my own protection and my clients' protection as well. I went on to explain that I respected his position and his business, but I would not compromise that policy of my business.
It felt good to know that I didn't have to just go along with something I didn't agree with. I have done that for so many years working in a corporate setting that sending that email felt completely liberating – even at the expense of possibly losing the client. I mean you can't just go along with everything in the name of a dollar. You have to stand up for your business, but you should always be professional no matter what.
In the end, the client responded to my firm emailed answer with a response asking me to create an annual agreement for him instead. He just wanted to sign it once and continue sending in his freelance writing projects. Thankfully things worked out well for both of us. Conflict resolution is an important skill that teaches you how to diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand. It doesn't mean that everyone will always be happy in the end, but nine times out of 10, the situation will be a lot less volatile if you take control and remain calm. Have you ever been forced to diffuse a difficult situation as a freelance writer/blogger?
His email continued to state emphatically that he would not sign another contract. Imagine my surprise after spending a lovely day out with my daughter to come home to such a snarky email? I immediately felt that familiar heat come over me.
I've mentioned my previous job as an advertising sales representative for a local newspaper here before. Even though it really wasn't my cup of tea, I received some very valuable training. That training has turned out to be a real asset as I build my freelance writing career. Anyone who's ever worked for someone else has very likely cultivated some very necessary survival skills that can easily carry over into running your own business.
Customer service was a big part of my job. But that's something that I do naturally. I like helping people solve their problems, and my personality is pretty upbeat. But I could kiss the feet of my old job for the conflict management skills they gave me. I am a hot-headed girl by nature, so I don't need much prodding to get me worked up. The conflict management training, handling unhappy advertising clients and just dealing with silly office politics has taught me a lot.
I have had a few conversations over the phone with this particular client. He has a forceful personality. The first thing I had to do was calm down and put myself in his shoes. It would be a mistake to just jump to conclusions. Once I knew I was calm I responded to his email explaining that I do not do business without a contract for my own protection and my clients' protection as well. I went on to explain that I respected his position and his business, but I would not compromise that policy of my business.
It felt good to know that I didn't have to just go along with something I didn't agree with. I have done that for so many years working in a corporate setting that sending that email felt completely liberating – even at the expense of possibly losing the client. I mean you can't just go along with everything in the name of a dollar. You have to stand up for your business, but you should always be professional no matter what.
In the end, the client responded to my firm emailed answer with a response asking me to create an annual agreement for him instead. He just wanted to sign it once and continue sending in his freelance writing projects. Thankfully things worked out well for both of us. Conflict resolution is an important skill that teaches you how to diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand. It doesn't mean that everyone will always be happy in the end, but nine times out of 10, the situation will be a lot less volatile if you take control and remain calm. Have you ever been forced to diffuse a difficult situation as a freelance writer/blogger?
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Importance of Self-Care
We're all stressed out about a number of things: Was I crazy to start freelancing instead of getting a "real" job? Can I cut it as a freelance writer and still pay my bills? How can I handle all of the projects on my plate? Where can I find good paying clients that will send steady assignments? And that's only the work related stuff.
Deal with What You Can and Leave the Rest
My grandmother was fond of saying, "There's no reason worrying about the things you can't change." She was right. Over time constant stress can have some pretty negative effects on your body and your mind. The fact that many of us seem wired to worry doesn't help. There's so much going on around us that we are powerless over. It takes a real effort to reprogram yourself to focus on the things you can change to make your life better.
Since I've been freelancing full-time, I have neglected myself so much choosing instead to focus on building my business, and taking care of everyone else. Isn't that always the way? But it's starting to take its toll and only I can do something about it.
If you are a freelance writer, or any other entrepreneur, self-care is an important part of leading a balanced, healthy life and reducing stress. We can easily spend long days parked in front of the computer barely moving, even to eat. Not good. This is a recipe for burnout, isolation and possible health problems down the road.
Where Do You Start with Self-Care?
Why is it so hard for us to take care of ourselves? I ask myself this question all the time. Aren't I important enough or worthy of some good old-fashioned pampering now and then? I'll share with you the areas of my life that desperately need tending to:
1) Establishing a regular workout routine and refining diet. Sitting at this desk all day, day in and day out as a freelance writer has left me with some excess baggage. I'm often sluggish and low on energy, and my clothes fit too tight as a result. I've started working out every morning after dropping the kids off at school. Honestly, if I don't do it in the morning, I'll wind up pushing it back behind my work priorities and blowing it off altogether.
My diet is suffering too. I snack a lot when I'm stressed and what's better to snack on than cookies? I am living proof that you can be an unhealthy vegetarian. Bye bye junk food treats.
2) Taking time out. Because I'm a mother of four and wife of one, I often feel guilty about needing time away from my family, but I've always been a person who needs lots of alone time. Not allowing myself to do something as simple as go to Rite Aid unaccompanied for months on end makes me quite crabby. I now do myself and those I love a favor by taking at least an hour a week to leave the house and lose myself in solitude for at least two hours.
3) Take time off from freelance writing. I have been trying to make the transition to not working on weekends unless it's on my own stuff. Some weekends have been more successful than others, but I'm getting there. Three clients emailed me over the weekend about work. I rejected the urge to become involved and let them know I'd contact them first thing Monday morning. From here on out I will only make myself available to clients on weekends when we have made previous arrangements. My time with my family is precious.
4) Spending time with friends. Because I have a tendency to be a loner (dare I say maverick?), I don't realize how much I miss my friends until we talk on the phone or finally get to spend some time hanging out. Working as a freelance writer for the past year has increased the distance between us. Laughing with them feels like I'm a deflating balloon releasing built up stress. I can't continue to neglect these relationships.
There's much more that I need to change, but I've got to start somewhere, right? I plan to be a freelance writer for a very long time, so I've got to begin taking care of myself and create a more balanced life. Do you take care of yourself like you should?
Deal with What You Can and Leave the Rest
My grandmother was fond of saying, "There's no reason worrying about the things you can't change." She was right. Over time constant stress can have some pretty negative effects on your body and your mind. The fact that many of us seem wired to worry doesn't help. There's so much going on around us that we are powerless over. It takes a real effort to reprogram yourself to focus on the things you can change to make your life better.
Since I've been freelancing full-time, I have neglected myself so much choosing instead to focus on building my business, and taking care of everyone else. Isn't that always the way? But it's starting to take its toll and only I can do something about it.
If you are a freelance writer, or any other entrepreneur, self-care is an important part of leading a balanced, healthy life and reducing stress. We can easily spend long days parked in front of the computer barely moving, even to eat. Not good. This is a recipe for burnout, isolation and possible health problems down the road.
Where Do You Start with Self-Care?
Why is it so hard for us to take care of ourselves? I ask myself this question all the time. Aren't I important enough or worthy of some good old-fashioned pampering now and then? I'll share with you the areas of my life that desperately need tending to:
1) Establishing a regular workout routine and refining diet. Sitting at this desk all day, day in and day out as a freelance writer has left me with some excess baggage. I'm often sluggish and low on energy, and my clothes fit too tight as a result. I've started working out every morning after dropping the kids off at school. Honestly, if I don't do it in the morning, I'll wind up pushing it back behind my work priorities and blowing it off altogether.
My diet is suffering too. I snack a lot when I'm stressed and what's better to snack on than cookies? I am living proof that you can be an unhealthy vegetarian. Bye bye junk food treats.
2) Taking time out. Because I'm a mother of four and wife of one, I often feel guilty about needing time away from my family, but I've always been a person who needs lots of alone time. Not allowing myself to do something as simple as go to Rite Aid unaccompanied for months on end makes me quite crabby. I now do myself and those I love a favor by taking at least an hour a week to leave the house and lose myself in solitude for at least two hours.
3) Take time off from freelance writing. I have been trying to make the transition to not working on weekends unless it's on my own stuff. Some weekends have been more successful than others, but I'm getting there. Three clients emailed me over the weekend about work. I rejected the urge to become involved and let them know I'd contact them first thing Monday morning. From here on out I will only make myself available to clients on weekends when we have made previous arrangements. My time with my family is precious.
4) Spending time with friends. Because I have a tendency to be a loner (dare I say maverick?), I don't realize how much I miss my friends until we talk on the phone or finally get to spend some time hanging out. Working as a freelance writer for the past year has increased the distance between us. Laughing with them feels like I'm a deflating balloon releasing built up stress. I can't continue to neglect these relationships.
There's much more that I need to change, but I've got to start somewhere, right? I plan to be a freelance writer for a very long time, so I've got to begin taking care of myself and create a more balanced life. Do you take care of yourself like you should?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Is the Economy Changing the Way You Operate as a Freelance Writer?
I don't mean for you start taking $2 and $3 per keyword article writing jobs to make extra money. Please don't do that. I want to know if the recent economic changes have caused you to rethink your freelance writing business strategy.
Don't be a One Trick Pony
Whether or not you choose to specialize in a certain niche or work primarily as a generalist is a personal decision. There are benefits to both. As a specialized expert in developing winning press releases, you can position yourself to become known as the go to person for awesome releases that get results. Likewise, a generalists may be able to target more clients across the board. But if you freelance for a living, you still need to think about diversifying your income streams. Now more than ever.
Amy Derby discusses her decision to start offering blogging consultation services, Sharon Hurley Hall has initiated a valuable writer mentoring service to help new freelance writers start their own freelance writing careers. These are some very savvy business moves that prove freelance writers can take their valuable skills and increase their earning power significantly. Go ahead, give yourself a raise.
Just in Time for the Holidays
Jennifer Mattern discussed the impending holidays in a recent post. She talked about preparing your holiday marketing strategy NOW – something I've never bothered to do because I don't celebrate the holidays. But that's silly because most of my clients do.
She shared some great ideas for passing some savings along to your clients: Offering special rates for a certain length of time, sending a free special report and more. Check it out. I'm planning my own "end of the year closeout" special right now.
Should You Lower Your Rates to Give Clients a Break?
This is a sensitive topic for most freelance writers. Only James Chartrand at Men With Pens would be brave enough to bring it up as he discusses why "Recessions are the Best Time to Start a Business." I don't know about you, but it's taken a lot of research and silly mistakes for me to arrive at the rates I now charge. When I first read James' thought provoking post on yesterday advocating that freelancers consider lowering their rates, I wasn't quite sure where he was going. I suppose it's a personal decision for each individual writer – but it's one that deserves a certain amount of consideration.
Consider first whether you are charging enough in the first place before you even think about lowering your rates. As a business owner (which you are), it's entirely up to you to make sure you have enough clients and charge enough to live on. I realize the reason most freelance writers don't discuss rates, or display them on their websites. It's because so many different factors can wind up affecting the cost of a project; research, organizing information and the difficulty of a topic just to name a few.
Once you carefully analyze your situation, you might find that you can still benefit from slightly lowering your rates. It could make it easier for a client to send you more projects, or make it easier for a prospective client to afford you. But please don't go changing your rates without crunching the numbers first.
A lot of people consider freelance writing to be a very carefree business. But any business benefits from a well thought out business strategy. Take the time to figure out what you want from your freelance writing business and think of what you can do to continue making a comfortable living – despite the current economic gloom and doom. Have you made any recent changes as freelance writer or blogger?
Don't be a One Trick Pony
Whether or not you choose to specialize in a certain niche or work primarily as a generalist is a personal decision. There are benefits to both. As a specialized expert in developing winning press releases, you can position yourself to become known as the go to person for awesome releases that get results. Likewise, a generalists may be able to target more clients across the board. But if you freelance for a living, you still need to think about diversifying your income streams. Now more than ever.
Amy Derby discusses her decision to start offering blogging consultation services, Sharon Hurley Hall has initiated a valuable writer mentoring service to help new freelance writers start their own freelance writing careers. These are some very savvy business moves that prove freelance writers can take their valuable skills and increase their earning power significantly. Go ahead, give yourself a raise.
Just in Time for the Holidays
Jennifer Mattern discussed the impending holidays in a recent post. She talked about preparing your holiday marketing strategy NOW – something I've never bothered to do because I don't celebrate the holidays. But that's silly because most of my clients do.
She shared some great ideas for passing some savings along to your clients: Offering special rates for a certain length of time, sending a free special report and more. Check it out. I'm planning my own "end of the year closeout" special right now.
Should You Lower Your Rates to Give Clients a Break?
This is a sensitive topic for most freelance writers. Only James Chartrand at Men With Pens would be brave enough to bring it up as he discusses why "Recessions are the Best Time to Start a Business." I don't know about you, but it's taken a lot of research and silly mistakes for me to arrive at the rates I now charge. When I first read James' thought provoking post on yesterday advocating that freelancers consider lowering their rates, I wasn't quite sure where he was going. I suppose it's a personal decision for each individual writer – but it's one that deserves a certain amount of consideration.
Consider first whether you are charging enough in the first place before you even think about lowering your rates. As a business owner (which you are), it's entirely up to you to make sure you have enough clients and charge enough to live on. I realize the reason most freelance writers don't discuss rates, or display them on their websites. It's because so many different factors can wind up affecting the cost of a project; research, organizing information and the difficulty of a topic just to name a few.
Once you carefully analyze your situation, you might find that you can still benefit from slightly lowering your rates. It could make it easier for a client to send you more projects, or make it easier for a prospective client to afford you. But please don't go changing your rates without crunching the numbers first.
A lot of people consider freelance writing to be a very carefree business. But any business benefits from a well thought out business strategy. Take the time to figure out what you want from your freelance writing business and think of what you can do to continue making a comfortable living – despite the current economic gloom and doom. Have you made any recent changes as freelance writer or blogger?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Client Issues are a Freelance Writing Reality
I want to thank Lori Widmer for calling attention to a very puzzling issue I've been having with a recent client. You can read here to get the full story. Lori is a writer I respect very much. She offers very valuable freelance writing advice and insight for new and existing freelance writers that can help them to build a thriving business.
Well, Lori gave me some very straightforward advice, and I needed it. In taking her advice, I prepared to go on as usual with the business of consistently marketing and handling other projects. Then yesterday, the client in question called me up to discuss a brand new project.
I couldn't resist. I just flat out asked him what was going on with the "big" project he'd made a deposit payment on last month. He explained that his company had placed the project temporarily on hold while they worked on streamlining some internal operations. His business has recently experienced some growing pains lately, and they really needed to take care of some crucial issues before giving the "big" project the time and attention it requires. He assured me the "big" project is still a go.
So Lori, I told him that I was still committed to working on the project, but I couldn't guarantee that when he gives the thumbs up to get started I'll be available to jump on it right away. Thankfully the client said he completely understood.
So the mystery of the prepaid project that never arrived has officially been solved. The moral of this story is: Communicate with your clients right away when issues come up. Physician heal thyself…;-)
Well, Lori gave me some very straightforward advice, and I needed it. In taking her advice, I prepared to go on as usual with the business of consistently marketing and handling other projects. Then yesterday, the client in question called me up to discuss a brand new project.
I couldn't resist. I just flat out asked him what was going on with the "big" project he'd made a deposit payment on last month. He explained that his company had placed the project temporarily on hold while they worked on streamlining some internal operations. His business has recently experienced some growing pains lately, and they really needed to take care of some crucial issues before giving the "big" project the time and attention it requires. He assured me the "big" project is still a go.
So Lori, I told him that I was still committed to working on the project, but I couldn't guarantee that when he gives the thumbs up to get started I'll be available to jump on it right away. Thankfully the client said he completely understood.
So the mystery of the prepaid project that never arrived has officially been solved. The moral of this story is: Communicate with your clients right away when issues come up. Physician heal thyself…;-)
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