Freelance Weekly

Becoming a freelancer takes thought and effort. If you recently lost a job, you might find yourself bootstrapping the first few months of your freelance existence. Some freelance workers have internal compasses that guide them effortlessly to what niche they need to be in. Others need help. If you are having trouble deciding what area to use your talents and knowledge, read these 5 laws for finding your niche and guess no more. Click here to read more »

A few days ago, I took a day off from the real work and created a production company for a friend. Now, I know there are people and companies that are experts in this arena, who know branding techniques and SEO secrets and all the best ways to establish and promote you or your client, but if you’re just starting out and your budget hasn’t yet proved profitable, creating a viable presence on the Internet isn’t as pricey or difficult as it may seem—just remember that everything is connected, and just because it’s free, that doesn’t mean it can’t get the job done. Click here to read more »

It’s a Catch-22 faced by freelancers and traditional job seekers alike—potential employers and clients want to see relevant samples or previous work you’ve done, but if you’re new to whatever biz you’re getting into, your portfolio is probably pretty thin. They want experience, and even though you may have every qualification on their bullet list, if they don’t have anything tangible to read or view, you’re nothing but words on paper. But if you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job … well … it’s not as hopeless as it sounds. Click here to read more »

In all my time as a freelance writer, I’ve covered hundreds of subjects, from online auctions to prostate cancer. As you can imagine, some projects are much more enjoyable than others, and as my business has grown, I’ve been able to figure out that my heart lies with entertainment writing, mainly reviews. Roger Ebert is my hero. New release Tuesday is like a tiny DVD holiday every week. I don’t know who my state’s gubernatorial candidates are, but if you need to know who just directed John Travolta’s latest movie and how it compared to his last foray into the action genre, I’m your girl. Movie and TV reviews may not seem as prestigious as a political Op Ed piece or as lucrative as specializing in business content, but for a fan like me, it’s a perfect combination of my career with my passion. (Oh, and I really do know who the governor candidates will be in November, I just prefer to think about John Travolta.) Click here to read more »

If you’re just starting out as a freelancer, all the ins and outs of those online job marketplace Web sites like Guru, Virtual Vocations, and Elance can seem tricky, like a foreign language that seems almost familiar but not quite familiar enough for you to consider yourself fluent. I’ve used them all, and each has its benefits and drawbacks, but for the freelancer who’s just starting out, they can be an invaluable way to gain experience, client contacts, and business savvy. Read on for a few tricks to navigating the online membership job site marketplace. Click here to read more »

If you’ve made the decision to become a freelancer, or even if you’re still considering the pros and cons of your new career, there are a few basics of which I’m sure you’re aware. You know you’ll be setting your own schedule, finding your own clients, and determining how much to charge for your services—in short, it’s all up to you. What you might NOT know, however, is what those things entail; for example, do you know what SEO means? Have you ever written a white paper? How much SHOULD you charge for a 300-word blog? These are all details you need to know before diving in, and while it’s true there is always the dangerous possibility of over-researching the freelance biz, there are some basics you’re going to need to have in your knowledge base before you’re off and running. Click here to read more »

My transition into freelancing was fast. I quit my job on a Friday without any real idea what I wanted to do and on Monday I decided I was going to be a freelancer. I had my first client by the end of the day, my second client by the end of the month, and by the second month of freelance I always had more than enough work each and every month for the years that followed. Click here to read more »

I wanted to be a freelancer long before the internet was around. (Yeah, I might be that old). I’d take books out of the library regularly that were about becoming a freelancer. I read them and re-read them voraciously. Then one day I realized something: I had been reading and reading and reading about how to become a freelancer but it wasn’t getting me anywhere. I wasn’t freelancing, I was just reading about freelancing. 

So I made a commitment to myself: I would stop reading anything else about freelancing until I had actually sold some of my writing. 

Whenever I thought about reading something on freelancing (which was often), I remembered my commitment to myself and I finally did something about it. I sent off a few queries and one of my first pieces was printed in the essay section of a large newspaper. I earned $100 and I had my first freelance sale! I was on top of the world. (By the way, it’s still framed in my office).  Click here to read more »