Even though becoming a full-time freelance writer is a dream that many people are chasing, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a part-time career. In fact, there are several benefits of becoming a part-time freelance writer that may help you decide that this is the right option for you.
1. You don’t have to give up your day job. Believe it or not, some people enjoy the work that they do. That being said, they still want to try their hand at freelance writing. If you work as a part-time freelance writer you can do both. While it may be a lot of hours working, those who enjoy writing find that it can be a lot of fun.
2. More money. When you keep your day job, but start working as a part-time freelance writer, you are going to earn more money. For most people, this is the number one benefit of going the part-time route as opposed to putting everything into their writing.
3. You can measure your skills before going full-time. There is no denying that it can be scary to quit your job and become a full-time writer. Rather than put yourself in this position, become a part-time freelance writer so you can test the water and get a better feel for what you must do to succeed.
Even though your end goal may be to work as a full-time freelance writer, you don’t have to jump straight to this. Instead, consider the many benefits of becoming a part-time freelance writer.
Chris, how can I make more money as a freelance writer? You don’t know how many times I hear this every week. Although there is no “formal†answer, I love to hear this question time and time again. It means that you guys and gals are interested in earning more – and that is a good start!
Most people will give this advice: if you want to earn more money you should find more clients. While this is 100 percent true, it is not your only option.
Have you given any thought to asking your existing clients if there is anything else you can do for them? You may be surprised at just how much assistance they need. For instance, you may be focusing purely on web content at this time. But did you ever stop to think that the same client may need help with writing and placing feature articles or creating marketing material?
There is nothing wrong with offering all your services. This may not lead to an immediate increase in responsibility, but if your client ever needs additional writing services you are probably going to be high on their list of people to speak with.
So, rather than spend all your time marketing your services and searching for new clients, think about what you can do for those that you have already established a relationship with.
With a lot going on lately, I haven’t had the chance to update this blog or many of my other sites. While I hate to let a few days go by without any new content, the freedom to do so is a nice benefit of working as a freelance writer. Of course, this just doesn’t hold true for my blog. If I need to take a few days off my clients have no problem with it. I always try to let them know when I will be away from the office, though. Along with this, it is important to me that I still meet any deadlines – no matter my reason for stepping away for a few days.
If you work as a freelance writer, I strongly urge you to take full advantage of the freedom that is available to you. You give up a lot when you leave the corporate world (benefits, steady pay, etc.) but the freedom you gain is a huge benefit. If you are not taking advantage you are missing the boat.
What type of freedom are you talking about? This can be anything from working different hours every day to taking time away from the office without having to get it “approved†by a boss.
This topic has been discussed, time after time, so there is no point in going any further. I simply wanted to write this post as a reminder of the freedom that you gain when you work as a freelance writer.
As a freelance writer you will be in front of your computer, hour after hour, day after day. With this in mind, it is essential that you are willing to take breaks every so often. If you think you can continue to work without any stop in the action, you will burn out sooner rather than later.
On a daily basis you should be taking breaks. Some freelance writers have a schedule, complete with breaks built into it. Others simply walk away from their work when they feel like they have hit a wall. Either way, make sure you are taking breaks throughout the day. This is a great way to keep your mind and body fresh. Personally, I always take a bit of a break at breakfast and lunch time.
What about long term breaks? Since you work for yourself, you may feel guilty if you decide to plan a vacation. This is crazy! It is very important that you take longer breaks from time to time. This does not mean that you should take off a week every month, but there is nothing wrong with extended vacations. Everybody else gets to take time away from the office, and you should not be any different.
There is no easy way of saying when you should take breaks from your freelance writing. Once you set a daily schedule you will know when this makes the most sense. Along with this, you should never feel guilty about long term vacations. A few days away from the office can do you a lot of good.
As you continue down the path towards freelance writing success, you will be faced with many questions. One of the most important is: when should I change my marketing strategy? It is the way that you market your business that will determine how much success you have, as well as the number and types of clients that you land.
It is not always easy to alter your marketing strategy. That being said, you should never be afraid to try new things. Believe it or not, a few simple changes could help you take your marketing efforts to the next level.
Most freelancers know when it is time to change the way they market their business. If you are not striking up many conversations with potential clients, something is wrong. This is when you need to consider what you have been doing, as well as what you can change.
Don’t jump the gun, though. The last thing you want to do is change your marketing strategy without any good reason. There is nothing wrong with considering all your options, but make sure you stick with your plan long enough to determine whether or not it is working. If you jump ship too soon, you may be missing out on something that could do you a lot of good.
Marketing is one subject that I discuss time and time again, whether it is on my blog, in my freelance writing course, or when speaking with aspiring writers in person. If you don’t have a solid marketing strategy it is difficult to reach all your goals.
As a freelance writer you will find yourself getting paid from a number of clients on a regular basis. This is a good thing, for the most part, but can also add stress and confusion from time to time. One of the worst situations you will face is a client who just doesn’t want to pay.
If you are attempting to collect a past due payment there are a few tips you can follow:
1. Don’t jump the gun. Even if you believe that the client is late, give them a chance to explain their situation. You may find that it is nothing more than a simple mix-up that can be solved in no time at all. Don’t ruin a client relationship by jumping the gun and making false accusations.
2. Call instead of sending emails. It is very easy for a client to ignore your emails. A phone call, on the other hand, is not as simple to put on the back burner. If you have your client’s phone number, give them a call – without warning. By catching them off guard you are putting yourself in good position to explain yourself and get their side of the story.
3. Become gradually more forceful as time goes by. As noted above, you don’t want to go overboard on your first attempt to collect. But by the fifth phone call you may be a bit fed up. There is nothing wrong with getting more forceful as you continue with your collection efforts. Just make sure you don’t “cross the line.â€
Collecting past due payments is one of the most difficult parts of being a freelance writer. Unfortunately, it is something that all of us have to do from time to time.
Flexibility is one of the main benefits of being a freelance writer. In other words, you have the ability to set your own schedule – as long as you are getting your work done. When compared to a 9 – 5 job, you will find this to be a big change. Over the years, my freelance writing schedule has changed many times.
Generally speaking, I find it easiest to work regular business hours. This way I am on the clock at pretty much the same time as all my clients. Of course, this changes from time to time as I take care of other tasks and focus on my own projects.
It is not uncommon for me to start my workday at 6 am or earlier, and/or stay at the computer until 10 pm or later. Again, the ability to set this type of schedule is a huge benefit. If I get my work done early in the morning, for instance, I have the rest of the day for my own projects or to get even further ahead.
As you continue to work as a freelance writer you will begin to find a schedule that suits you well. You may have to base your day around the hours that your clients work. Or maybe your schedule will be dictated by another factor, such as your family.
Even though you have the ability to set your own schedule, try to work the same hours, for the most part, everyday. This will help to keep you on track, while making it easier for you to get into a “groove.â€
Take advantage of the fact that you can create your own schedule. Just make sure that this is benefiting you, as opposed to holding you back from reaching your goals.
Are you having a difficult time understanding what a client wants from you? Believe it or not, this is going to happen on a regular basis. There are two ways that you can approach this situation. You can begin the project without asking questions and hope that you do everything right. Or you can clear the air, get all the right answers, and know exactly what you are doing before you move forward. Which one of these options sounds best to you?
Your client is going to be happy when you ask questions. This shows that you are interested in doing your best, while helping them achieve the desired result. If you don’t ask any questions they are going to automatically assume that you know exactly what you are doing.
I know firsthand that it can be difficult to ask questions. After all, you don’t want the client to think that you are unsure of what they want or how to complete the job. But remember this: just because you are asking questions does not mean that you are lost and unsure of yourself. Rather, you are just trying to tidy up the details before getting started.
I have made the mistake of not asking questions and later regretting it – don’t let this happen to you. No matter if the project is just beginning or you have been working on it a few days, if something is on your mind be sure to get clarification sooner rather than later.
