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Freelance Websites — Part 2
We are in the middle of a publishing and communications revolution. There has never been a time when it was easier or cheaper to put your message in front of a large audience.
Add to this the connectivity and search capabilities provided by the Internet, and the possibilities for generating business for your freelance practice are staggering.
In a desk drawer, I have what remains of a box of floppy disks I purchased about 15 years ago. I have no use for them now, but they were vital back then. As a freelance copywriter, it was the only way for me to send digital files to clients. I would save a file to the disk, put the disk in an envelope, and mail it. Two or three days later, the client would receive the disk.
My fax machine and phone were a lot more important then too. I would fax documents daily during a project. And communicating with a client meant calling their office (this was before cell phones were nearly universal) and usually leaving a message on a “machine” if the line wasn’t busy (this was also before voice mail was popular).
9 business-boosting benefits of a freelance website
Freelance Websites — Part 1
In the mid 1990s, I logged into my CompuServe account (remember CompuServe?) and created my very first website. It was a big deal, because the World Wide Web was fairly new to people at the time and I was probably one of just a handful of freelancers who had a site.
Of course, it was a complete waste of time, since few potential clients accessed the Web back then. It was cool to have a site, but not particularly useful. I don’t remember a single client who called me because of it.
Today, that’s all changed. Just about everyone has a website. Saying you don’t have a site is like saying you don’t have a phone or indoor plumbing.
But just because nearly every freelancer has a site doesn’t mean that every freelancer’s site is successful. Many have one for no other reason than everyone else has one. It’s often more a matter of not wanting to explain why they don’t have a site rather than finding ways to use the site to build their business.
This is the first of a series of articles on websites for freelancers. I want to discuss the benefits of having a site from a business perspective, what freelancers often do wrong when creating a site, and what elements you should include to make your site a business generator.
Is it time to go freelance?
You’ve dreamed about. You’ve read about how others have done it. And now you’re feeling the itch to try it for yourself.
It’s time to go freelance! Or is it?
For me and many other professionals, there’s simply no better way to make a living and have a life than to set up shop as a freelancer. But making the transition can be a little tricky.
There’s a right time and a wrong time. If you quit at the wrong time for the wrong reasons, you’re likely to find yourself in a stressful and financially difficult situation. But if you quit at the right time and for the right reasons, you’re on your way to a rewarding career. Read more
8 time-eating freelance client species to avoid
After a few years of freelancing experience, you will develop a sixth sense about the people who approach you with freelance work. Within about five minutes of meeting someone or picking up the phone, you’ll be able to tell if they’re worth your time or wasting your time.
However, this skill is hard-won. While I’ve tried from the beginning to be careful, I’ve been bamboozled a few times. Nothing serious in the way of money, but time lost cannot be regained.
To help save you time and aggravation, I’d like to introduce you to the eight dominant species of freelance Time Eaters. These are some of the ne’er-do-wells who lie in wait in the dark and menacing freelance jungle to feed on your valuable time.
7 freelance tricks to get new clients fast
Freelancing is a great option for many copywriters. I went this way years ago and I’ve never regretted it.
Good money. Control over working hours. Choice of work. No suits or ties. (I’m more of a jeans and untucked shirt kind of guy.) I simply can’t imagine re-entering the rat race to earn a living.
But there is one little problem: You must have clients to keep your freelance business running. And whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been around the block a few times, every freelancer has to spend a little time being the rainmaker.
Does that mean you have to turn into a hardball sales person. No. Most copywriters aren’t good at that. And it’s not necessary. All you need are a few tricks of the trade to find new clients and get those projects rolling in again.
Freelance fees: hourly or per project?
Fees are a difficult subject for most freelancers. And one of the most difficult decisions you face is whether to charge hourly or per project. There are advocates on both sides.
In the hourly camp are those who claim that charging for the time you actually work is the only way to be sure you are fairly compensated. It’s also familiar to most freelancers who have worked this way in full-time employment situations. You quote your hourly rate, track your time, and multiply at the end of the project. Simple.
But hourly fees have a downside. Neither you nor your client know what a project will cost. This can lead to some nasty surprises and uncomfortable conversations when it’s time to invoice. Also, the better you are and the faster you work, the less you get paid, which is inherently unfair. The most important negative is that hourly fees mean you are selling your time instead of selling your expertise. This can prevent you from attaining the higher professional image you want.
Turn an angry client into a loyal client (with one word)
If you’re a freelance copywriter, it’s like getting struck by lightening.
You’re having a great day and then BLAM! Your client ambushes you at a meeting or starts yelling at you over the phone. Something is terribly wrong and you are in the hot seat.
What do you do?
Don’t panic! You’re human and there’s no way to be totally calm when a client is angry. But you need to keep your head clear. How? By remembering one word: ANGER.
It’s easy to recall, given the situation. Each letter gives you a step for dealing with the problem: Acknowledge — Nod — Guide — Execute — Retreat. I’ll explain each step. Then I’ll tell you how this word can help you turn your angry client into a loyal client for years to come. Read more
