FREELANCING IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS

maryjunekeithlymaglente
Aug 25, 2019
4 min read

Updated: Aug 26, 2019

Table of Contents:

Introduction: What is a Freelancer?

Complications:Freelancer’s Pet Peeves

Findings:Overcome Freelancer’s Difficulties

Interpretation: Importance of a Freelancer

Related Careers

Branding Yourself:

Final Words of Advice

Promotion

Let’s Start!

Introduction: What is a Freelancer?

According to Wikipedia, Freelance is a term commonly used for a person who is self-employed and is not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance workers are sometimes represented by a company or a temporary agency that resells freelance labor to clients; others work independently or use professional associations or websites to get work.

Fields, professions, and industries where freelancing is predominant include: music, writing, acting, computer programming, web design, graphic design, translating and illustrating, film and video production and other forms of piece work which some cultural theorists consider as central to the cognitive-cultural economy.

Complications:Freelancer’s Pet Peeves

1. Vague Requests

Ambiguous assignments don’t just waste freelancers’ time; they also cost clients more money in the long run. Most of us have encountered clients who don’t reveal what they want from a project. In some cases, clients aren’t sure of their needs and goals and hope you can identify them. Other times, clients want to avoid offending you by being too direct in their instructions. Whether you’re writing blogs or designing logos, lacking specifics about the client’s needs and goals can be a significant hindrance.

2. Micromanaging Clients

As a freelancer, you probably want your client to know what he or she is seeking before hiring you. However, that doesn’t mean you need the person who hires you looking over your shoulder until the task is complete. Clients who micromanage assignments can leave freelancers feeling stressed and frustrated and prevent them from doing their best work. In some cases, you might feel compelled to complete an assignment to the client’s exact specifications rather than exploring other solutions that might provide superior results.

3. Unreliable Clients

The downside of having a flexible work schedule is enduring an uncertain workload. Just because August saw you flush with cash doesn’t mean September’s revenue will be equally strong. As a freelancer, it can be incredibly frustrating to work with unreliable clients who promise you regular work yet don’t deliver. Similarly, it can be tough to plan out your schedule if customers are continuously giving you assignments later than promised.

4. Poor Communication

If your client can’t or won’t communicate with you, you’re likely in for a rocky road. This issue is especially common among companies that aren’t used to working with freelancers. Often, these businesses forget that you aren’t present in the office for important meetings and conversations and might not bother to loop you in on developments.

Findings:Overcome Freelancer’s Difficulties

1. As a freelancer, you can save time and trouble by insisting that clients clarify their expectations before work begins. When in doubt, draft a contract that explains what you will do and limits the number of revisions you will perform. Otherwise, you could wind up redoing the project completely on your own dime.

2. To minimize this issue, strive to set limits with a client from day one. If you get in the habit of answering emails or responding to texts at midnight, it will be hard to discontinue this behavior down the line.

3. As a freelancer, you can strive to set clear expectations with clients upfront. While you can’t compel clients to deliver the amount of work they promised—or to do so on schedule—you can and should consider charging extra for rush jobs. It’s also wise to work with a diverse array of clients, so you aren’t left penniless if one drops off the face of the Earth!

4. For best results, set expectations upfront for the amount and type of feedback you require and stick to them.

Interpretation: Importance of a Freelancer

Freelancers are some of the bravest and most vulnerable people in the news business. They have always played a vital role in news gathering and their contribution today is more important than ever. Whether working internationally or in their own country, freelance journalists, photographers, video journalists are communicating independently across all news platforms: print, online and broadcast.

Related Careers:

If you would like to explore some additional career options, browse some of the career options:

* Administrative Assistant

* Virtual Assistant

* Online Marketing Freelancer Career

* Production Artist

* Web Designer

* Interactive Project Manager

* Social Media Planner and Coordinator

Branding Yourself:

Besides your business name, you should also have a logo that can be placed across multiple mediums. If you use your name, your logo could simply be your initials in a unique font that would be placed on your website, social media accounts, and invoices. Most importantly, you need to have a website where you can showcase your portfolio, share references, and promote Branding Yourself your services. When it comes to your website, make sure that the domain is easy to remember (your name would be the easiest place to start) easy to spell, and describes what you do.Your website should also contain the following components:

* A statement that introduces yourself to prospective clients, such as education and qualifications.

* Explain the services that you offer.

* Show examples of your work.

* Contact details like address, phone number, and email address.

Branding yourself makes it easier for you to stand out from other freelancers in your field, showcase your professionalism, and gives you the opportunity to properly promote your services and find more freelance jobs.

Final Words of Advice:

When you’re just starting out as a freelancer - whether it’s freelance writing, freelance graphic design, or anything in between, it’s really not that difficult to work more than 60 hours per week. Whether you’re just driven, excited, a workaholic, or worried about when you’ll see your next check, you can’t burn yourself out like this. We all need a break from time-to-time to clear our heads and recharge the batteries. And, that’s the beauty of being a freelancer. We can put in an insane amount of work in one week so that we can plan to take off a couple of days the following week.

Promotion:

If you have any questions about Freelancing, don’t hesitate to contact me through phone, email and my social media accounts.

Resources:

Keywords:

* Freelance

* Administrative Assistant

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* Transcription Jobs

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* Business