Archive for June, 2008

What Makes a $125-an-Hour Writer?

I got an email recently from a woman, understandably excited about the lucrative opportunity offered up by commercial freelancing. Referencing an oft-quoted fee range for the field of “$50-125 an hour,” she asked, “What makes a $125-an-hour writer?” Good question. Let’s start with a reality check…

Taking the Home Out of “Home Office”

One of the most appealing aspects of being a freelance professional is the opportunity to work from home. I know it was a real lure for me when I got started about a gazillion years ago.
However, I’ve since found that a home office can be both a blessing and a curse.

How to Avoid the Payment Nightmare

Ever struggle to get paid? Ever have to deal with a slow-paying client?
For some freelancers, this is a constant struggle. Cash flow is a problem. And the time they spend collecting money is time they can’t use for billable work. A double whammy!
Aside from picking good clients, there are simple things you can do to [...]

Mentally Ready To Crush That Obstacle?
Take This 10-Second Test

The freelancer’s life can be a rocky road, and most of us who decide to go it alone do encounter our fair share of setbacks, rejection and disappointment.
What do you do when you encounter an obstacle on your path to success?
If you find you keep worrying about a certain obstacle, take this as sign that [...]

Put an End to Business Volatility

There’s no doubt that the ebb and flow of projects is one of the most frustrating and nail-biting aspects of  being a freelance professional.
But for many freelancers, it has also become an accepted norm. And that’s a shame.
Yes, a certain degree of volatility is to be expected. Most of us can’t “store” client project opportunities [...]

A Safer Way to Launch Your Freelance Business

What’s one of the biggest obstacles keeping aspiring freelancers from making the leap?
Figuring out how to transition from full-time employee to freelancer - safely.
Unless you’re already financially independent, can live off your spouse’s income…or you have a rich uncle who’s willing to bankroll your new venture…quitting your job tomorrow and starting your business from scratch [...]

The Magic of the Five-Step Process

What do you say when you’re talking to a potential client who’s looking to hire you for an upcoming project?
Whether they acknowledge it or not, all clients secretly want to be led. They want a freelancer who can guide them through the project. And when they call you, they want you to convince them that [...]

Niche and Grow Rich? The Great Niche Debate…

Hey freelancers… is your typical project list filled with work of all shapes and sizes and spanning every industry? Or do you stick to serving one particular vertical (like healthcare) or performing one particular type of work (like writing white papers)?
In other words… are you a generalist or a specialist? And will one way make [...]