Tag Archives: freelance writing

Negotiating Freelance Rates? Give Yourself a Raise

May 2, 2012 Joe Wallace

It’s easy to forget that the whole world is NOT paying attention to your every move–especially if you freelance online. But who really IS paying attention?

I don’t write that to be insulting. I write that to be ENCOURAGING. As in, who really knows what you’ve been charging for your freelance services in the last year or two? Sure, if you publish a rate card online you’ll need to be a bit careful when adjusting your fee structure, but when it’s time to talk fees with a new client it may be a good time to ask yourself if it’s time for a raise.

Even a small one.

One of the most difficult parts of the freelance game for many is staying motivated in the tough times. Getting compensated what you feel you’re worth–or at least within spitting distance–is part of that motivation. Have you been working for peanuts? Working too long for peanuts? Have you been working at a reasonable, but somehow still not quite satisfying rate? When you’re the boss, the only person to ask for a raise is YOU.

I struggled with that concept for ages…how could I justify charging my new client more when I was still working at a lower rate for others? When I realized that I wasn’t cheating, but offering my older clients a longevity discount, that’s when it occurred to me that I could indeed up my fee when warranted, and not worry at all about the idea that I might be fudging numbers, shortchanging a newcomer or asking for something I didn’t really earn.

The more experience you get as a freelancer, the more your inherent value as a freelancer goes up…unless you do shoddy work, of course. But this post isn’t aimed at the half-hearted, substandard, or just-barely-good-enough types. I’m talking to you, Mister and Miz Hardworking Freelance Person. Ask yourself–are you due for a pay increase? I bet the answer is “Yes”.

Joe Wallace writes music AND writes ABOUT music. He’s currently working on a video installation project for a gallery opening to be announced soon, sound design and ambiance for an art opening in Ohio, and polishing up his manuscript for WTF Records: The Turntabling.Net Guide To Weird and Wonderful Vinyl. Contact him: jwallace(at)turntabling(dot) net.

advice, blogging

The Truth About Thriving Freelance Careers

April 11, 2012 Joe Wallace 3 Comments

I read something on a known freelance blog today that should be filed under the “you know better” department. “It’s always nice to hear a good success story…(name deleted is) a UK-based freelance journalist (who) successfully made a career out of freelance writing with no previous experience or training. (Name deleted) is proof that as long as you can write well, you can start a thriving writing career at any time.”

Not really.

Experienced folks know better than this, and it always irritates me a bit to see such platitudes handed out disguised as encouragement. If the writer had said, “(Name deleted) is proof that as long as you can write well, know where to pitch your ideas, and how to market yourself in an overcrowded field, you can start a thriving writing career at any time.”

Writing well isn’t really what the freelance game is all about.

To be sure, knowing your trade as a freelancer–ANY freelancer–is important. But the marketing, the networking, the cultivation of sympatico pros is crucial to that thriving career. How many books did Stephen King write before he landed his first major success with a publisher?

I believe the magic number was FIVE. And the one that made it was fished out of the trash can by his wife, who basically saved the novel Carrie from oblivion.

Maybe not the best, or even relevant example. But it goes to show you that writing well isn’t really the key to success. It is an important part of the equation, but it’s not what lands you the paychecks. Take inspiration from the success stories, but ask yourself how those people got where they are today. In the blog post I read, the writer took a leave of absence from her unrelated career, started building her networks and portfolio, and landed some paying gigs before returning to work two months later.

The writer lived a spartan existence, saved a nest-egg and worked at her old gig until she felt safe enough in her new freelance career to ditch the day job. She also performed that time-honored freelancer magic of taking on so much freelance work she no longer had time for her day job.

How do you apply these things in your own situation? The trick is to learn how to use your current resources and network in the same way, even if you don’t think your current contacts are freelancer-friendly.

You never know. It takes a bit of creative thinking and some determination, but your existing network might be the key to getting that thriving freelance career up and running. Your writing will come along over time–even if you fancy yourself a good writer (or whatever skill you’re honing) already. Finding one gig isn’t too difficult. Finding enough work to sustain you over the transition from employee to self-employed is another thing. You have to cultivate relationships, build your portfolio, and create a living wage from scratch.

How to begin all this? Look at your current network. There’s the key to your freelance success.

To be fair, the bulk of the blog post I criticized in my intro here isn’t about blowing sunshine up your kilt with false hopes. The beginning, which sent me into this rant in the first place, is misleading and poorly chosen, because the bulk of the writing truly does touch on the principles I mention here. But some will read that opening statement and run with it–and that I’d like to avoid. Aspiring freelancers should know what they’re getting into. Being realistic doesn’t equal discouragement from trying…but it IS important to keep it real.

Joe Wallace is easily annoyed by advice blogs, always amused by defensive replies to his snark, and fancies himself a better writer than he really is. He also collects and blogs about vinyl at www.Turntabling.net.

Marketing yourself

5 Website Mistakes That Most Writers Make

April 10, 2012 Diane Holmes

by Diane Holmes, Marketing-Zone: Marketing Yourself and Your Book, founder of Pitch University.

Ah, the well-designed website!

Sigh. Writers have some craptastic websites, don’t they? No, I don’t mean you. I mean the “other” writers.

There are exceptions, writers who not only write good content, but also develop a well-designed, effective website.

But most writers have a do-it-yourself mentality (due to budget), so they figure out how to get something “up,” and they equate “something” with “awesome.”

#1 It looks homemade.

You think: “Look, Ma, I made that!”

They think: “If this represents the best they have to offer, then it’s not up to our standards.”

* Your website should be just as professional as your client’s website. Any client? No. Your best client.

If your clients don’t own websites, then aim to match or exceed the sites they consider similar to yours.

#2 I can’t read this mess.

You think: “I’ve got everything I need up there and it looks great.”

They think: “I can’t see that tiny font, and I especially can’t read that gray-colored font on that darker gray background or that weird glow effect. And there’s so much freaking clutter, I can’t tell what to look at.”

* Reading, in the internet world, means skimming and finding your way around the site. Your site visitors need to be able to skim your homepage in a couple second, get the key information, and decide to stay.

#3 Who is your customer, client, or buyer?

You think: “I like to write and sell my writing. I’m for hire!” (Or “I have a book!!!”

They think: “I’m looking for something specific, and all I see here is someone who generally likes to write and is desperate for work.”

* You should be thinking: “I know who you are, and I’m here to delight you.”

Then focus on just that portion of the population who will really get you and who you’ll really delight.

#4 We need to talk about your personality.

You think: “I have to include this information.”

They think: “There’s nothing here that really gets me excited; it’s just information.”

* Have a voice. Create a relationship. Be interesting, dynamic, and unique. Make them say, “That’s the guy! I’d love to work with him.”

You think: “Hire me now!!! Call in the next 30 seconds! I’m excellent and wonderful combined with chocolate.”

They think: “Hey, I’m in control of this visit, and I’m clicking the back button right now.”

* You can’t force people to want your writing. But you can be excited about what you do and present it so that your perfect audience recognizes you as amazing.

#5 Info, info, info… all about you.

You think: “They came to the website to find out about me, me, me.”

They think: “I’m going to the website to see if there’s something I want.”

* You should be thinking: “They’re coming to my website wanting and needing something specific, and I’ll show them I have the perfect solution.”

Not communicating the problem or need you’re solving and the benefit you’re providing is a huge mistake. That’s how visitors decide if the website and YOU are a match to what they were hoping to find.

—-
Diane writes two columns for Freelance-Zone: Fiction-Zone: Leaps in Fiction Mastery and Marketing-Zone:Marketing-Zone: Marketing Yourself and Your Book.

She’s the Founder and Chief Alchemist of Pitch University.

advice, blogging, editorial, social networking

Blogger Advice: Are You Guilty Of This?

March 7, 2012 Joe Wallace 2 Comments

by Joe Wallace

Last night I read yet another blogger advice post telling people how to make their blogs an “internet sensation”. By the time I was done reading it I was so annoyed that I threw my laptop across the room counted to ten and said pleasant things to myself in an effort to prevent having a major wig-out.

Here’s a bit of advice for people who want to give a bit of advice: BE SPECIFIC.

If you want to tell people how to make their blogs more noticeable on the Internet, try giving them something actionable, like “Insure the headline of your blog contains an SEO-friendly keyword related to your topic and also make sure that keyword is repeated within the first two sentences. You don’t need to stuff keywords, just make sure you have something Google can latch onto within both the headline and opening statements.”

This is much better than the nonsense I read last night, which was basically a straight-faced, humorless version of what you’ll see in this clip. Don’t be like the people in this short video…seriously.

Joe Wallace is a writer, author, social media manager, video editor, and musician. He manages to combine all these pursuits at his vinyl blog Turntabling.net. He is available for assignments–contact him at jwallace(at)joe-wallace.com.

advice, blogging, editorial, freelance money

Calling Freelance Videographers

February 29, 2012 Joe Wallace

by Joe Wallace

One area we haven’t covered much of on Freelance-Zone.com is the world of freelance videography. Many freelance video professionals offer writing services as well as video shooting, editing, location scouting, and much more. If you are a freelancer working in video, we’d love to hear from you.

Freelance video pros–especially those who work on scripts as well as behind the camera and editing decks–have many of the same issues and concerns as freelance writers and print editors. The ever-changing nature of the business, the move to online media as a viable career option apart from bricks-n-mortar operations, how digital affects value of services rendered and pay scales, and the growing pool of freelance competition…you name it.

Having worked in television for Air Force News Agency, and doing online media for plenty of clients and employers, to me the only real difference between my work with and for video-centric clients and other work I’ve done as a writer, editor, proofreader, and consultant is the physical and technological nature of the gigs. Video work is more physically demanding, but I find the creative processes move along the same lines–at least for me.

But for some reason, video freelancers seem to be less visible online–Googling the phrase “freelance video blogs” returns as many writers as videographers. That’s what prompted this mostly rambling blog post–I was searching for an old colleague of mine who was active as a freelance videographer for a time…but couldn’t locate him. And then the wheels started turning.

So fellow video folks, please come out of the woodwork and say hello here—I’d love to know what you’re up to as a freelancer and offer a guest post or two–we would love to get your perspective on life as a self-employed freelancer. Share your experiences with us!

Joe Wallace is a Chicago based editor, writer, freelance social media manager, and PR consultant with credits that include a 13-year career as a reporter and editor for Air Force News Agency. He also does social media management for VALoans.com, and has worked as a web editor for Motorola. While he currently does work in video occasionally for his own projects, he is only available at the present time for writing, editing, and social media assignments. Contact him for rates and other details by e-mail: jwallace(at) freelance-zone (dot) com.

Business, client relationships, freelance money

Saying No to Freelance Work

February 15, 2012 Joe Wallace 5 Comments

It seems counter-intuitive to turn down any kind of freelance money, especially in this economy, but there are definitely times when freelancers need to use the n-word. As in, “NO”.

Or perhaps, “Not only no, but HELL NO”.

Freelance Folder has a very good post about this idea called 21 Times for a Freelancer to Say No. I won’t reinvent the wheel–their post is excellent and covers 99% of the bases. But there’s one thing that should be added to your mental checklist when sizing up a potential client.

Are they showing early warning signs that the relationship is something less than professional?

By this I don’t mean people who flirt with you, or act overly familiar, or display some of the warning signs listed in the “21 Times” piece. Instead, I’m talking about something I personally call “clingy client syndrome”, where you suddenly find yourself dealing with someone calling and messaging you excessively about the project, asking for things outside normal business hours when it’s not appropriate, or simply demanding too much of your time when it isn’t warranted.

I once found myself in negotiations with a potential client who seemed, based on a combination of behaviors I observed in the short time I spent at the company’s offices, more interested in creating an entourage than getting any real work done.

The symptoms included a large up-front payment, combined with randomly shifting priorities and goals. The work letter I drafted was ignored in favor of “idea of the moment” planning, actual deliverables seemed unimportant to the client, and there were lots of detailed emails at very odd hours.

In the end, I had to walk away. I’m a professional writer and editor, not an on-call monkey boy.

If you work in the freelance business long enough, regardless of your specialty, you’ll encounter the same type of person–a socially awkward, semi-isolated person who decides that what they really need is some kind of paid companionship in the guise of a legit business agreement. It’s sad, it’s strange, but it’s common enough. There are plenty of famous people who have done just that–I won’t mention any names, but I will say this–freelancers should pay attention to the sorts of warning signs they think they’re seeing in these cases.

When should you say no to freelance work? Sometimes those alarm bells going off in your head for no specific reason are enough. You can definitely read and heed the 21 scenarios listed in the Freelance Folder blog post, but don’t forget to trust your instincts about the intangible things making you uncomfortable. They might not solidify into solid hunches until later, but they’re worth your attention.

Joe Wallace is a writer, editor, social media manager and collector of bizarre record albums. He loves weird vinyl records so much he wrote a book called WTF Records: The Turntabling.net Guide To Weird and Wonderful Vinyl. Now he’s shopping for an agent. Contact him at jwallace(at) joe-wallace.com

Wallace is available for freelance work and consulting on a selective basis. His social media clients include FHA.com, Bank Administration Institute, and MilitaryHub.com. He writes web content for VALoans.com, FHANewsBlog.com and more; previous clients for his web content and editing work include Motorola.com, Artisan Talent, Verizon Wireless, and the official site for Jason Donnelly, AKA DJ Puzzle.