The Modern Woman’s Divorce Guide » 7 tips for newbie freelancers, written by published author and freelancer Michelle Goodman

7 tips for newbie freelancers, written by published author and freelancer Michelle Goodman

How can rookie freelance writers, designers, and programmers help ensure they stay in business? Here are seven of my favorite tips for breaking in, negotiating pay, wrangling your schedule, and playing nice with other freelancers.

I fled the cube 15 years ago to work as a freelance writer, and I’m happy to report that I’ve yet to be evicted from my home or wind up on food stamps. As a result, I’m constantly asked to share my top tips for would-be and newbie freelancers. Here are a few of my tried and trues:

Turn down some of the gigs. Don’t automatically accept every project you’re offered (unless of course, you can’t remember the last time you ate something other than a condiment). Instead, choose a handful of topics and industries to specialize in. Building a niche or three makes you far more marketable. Besides, some jobs are so downright miserable that you’re better off eating Ramen for a few days than tying up your schedule with them.

Diversify. Putting all your eggs in one basket — especially in a skittish economy — is asking for trouble. Make sure no client accounts for more than 20 to 30 percent of your revenue. Besides keeping you in the black, it’ll keep you from burning out on repeat topics. Because, really, who wants to write about home colonics every day of the week?

Hit up your ex-boss for work. There’s no better freelance lead than someone who already knows and loves you. (For the sake of argument, I’m assuming you left your day job on good terms.) Managers live to hire freelancers who are already familiar with their SOPs and corporate culture. And we freelancers love knowing in advance who we’re really getting into bed with.

Give it away for free. We all know that doing a few freebies is the best way to gain experience in a niche when you have none. But don’t just give it away to just anyone. Shoot for high-profile gigs that pay in prestige and visibility, like helping with a sizable charity fundraiser or contributing to a well-read but shallow-pocketed magazine. Often these projects will lead to bigger and better ones.

Never give your rate on the spot. People will ask what you charge in person, on the phone, over email, via IM. Ask questions about the project particulars first, then tell them you’ll get back to them within 24 hours (preferably later that day or first thing the next morning). It’s far too easy to sell yourself short when you haven’t had a chance to mull over all the project details.

Don’t do lunch. Yes, you need camaraderie when you work solo. But you don’t need a big fat timesuck right in the middle of your workday. Get your work done first, then meet your freelance comrades for late-afternoon coffee or chow.

Do refer other freelancers. Unless you’re looking to start your own subcontracting business or talent agency, there’s no reason to keep all leads to yourself when you’re booked and one of your prized clients comes calling. Most freelancers are not out to screw you and steal your clients; just make sure you agree that your client stays your client. Many fellow freelancers will return the favor when the tables are turned. Once you’re an outsourcing commodity, there’s plenty of work to go around.

Michelle Goodman is a Seattle-based freelance writer and author of The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube (Seal Press, 2007) and My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire (Seal Press, Fall 2008). She regularly blogs about career change and the boss-free life at anti9to5guide.

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