Archive for July, 2008

No Track Record? No Problem!

If you’re an aspiring freelancer (or new to freelancing) and you’re down in the dumps right now, what I’m about to tell you will hopefully change the way you feel about the tough road ahead.
Here it is: When you’re starting out, what you lack in experience and track record you can make up by working [...]

Why I Don’t Have An Hourly Rate

I don’t have an hourly rate for my freelance copywriting services. Nor do I have a daily rate.
I really don’t.
When I estimate for a job I base my calculations on the value of the work I am going to be doing. Yes, I factor in the amount of time it is likely to take. But [...]

How to Get Paid Quickly on Every Project

If there’s one thing every freelancer absolutely hates, it’s waiting to get paid for your work.
There’s nothing worse than going weeks on end without a check and watching your bank account balance nosedive as the bills and expenses keep rolling in.
Many just accept this as part of the freelancing game.  I know I used to. [...]

Want to boost your business? Start with your business vision

Do you have some downtime over the summer? If so, you might want to spend some time focusing your business vision. Do you have downtime most of the time? If so, you really want to spend some time focusing your business vision.
Most freelancers I know do not have a business vision. Nor do they have [...]

How Much Did You Earn Today?

The garbageman who picks up my trash every Thursday morning has an advantage over me. He knows exactly how much he’s going to make that day. All he has to do is show up and do the work. When he goes home at night, he knows he’s earned a paycheck.
Not me. As a freelancer, I [...]

The Power of Gratitude

I caught up with a good friend last week, someone I used to work with back when I was in sales. When I asked him how things were going (he still works with the same company), he wasn’t too cheerful.

“I’m miserable,” he said. “As a company, we no longer take great care of our customers. And I’m no longer empowered to fix customer issues, which makes it extremely difficult when you’re working hard to build customer loyalty.”

I feel for him. Yet it’s these types of stories that remind me of how good I have it.

As a freelance professional, I get to make the rules. I can provide excellent service and value to my clients. I don’t need to ask permission to make something wonderful happen.

Time Management Advice You Should Never Follow

In my slightly biased opinion, time management is more important to freelancers than to any other type of professional. Why? Because we often do highly creative work under tight deadlines and client scrutiny. The better we manage our time, the more productive we are and the less stressed we feel.
That’s why I have little patience [...]

Need an Energy Boost? Be a Finisher

Feeling a little drained? That’s not uncommon for busy freelance professionals. We have so much that needs to get done. Usually by an insane deadline. (No wonder we drink so much coffee!)
But…
“It’s not what we do that makes us tired,” says Steve Chandler in his book 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself. “It’s what we don’t [...]