FreelanceFolder

35 Books All Freelance Web Developers Should Read

Amber Weinberg — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:30:29 PDT

If you follow me on Goodreads, you know that I absolutely love to read. I’ve always been a big reader, but since I’ve become a freelance I’ve made sure to read even more than usual, in the field of business, development and the web in general.

Reading is essential to any developer’s improvement. While blogs and magazines are great to read for a quick update, nothing replaces a good informative book. Even though web development isn’t the most interesting topic to read about, I’ve been able to find a lot of interesting and informative books over the years that have helped me to improve both my dev and business skills.

Books That I Liked

Six Pixels of Separation by Mitch Joel
A great business book on how to use social media to connect with your users, improve your business image and repair customer relations.
Digging Into WordPress by Chris Coyier and Jeff Starr
This book is a must-have for any WordPress fan. Without being overly technical and with a ton of great humor, Chris explains WordPress from the basic setup to some great advanced functions. The actual printed book is really pricey, but well worth it!.
The Smashing Book by Smashing Magazine
Printing issues aside, The Smashing Book contains several great articles on a wide range of web topics, from design, to development to usability practices.
10 Steps To Powerful Self Promotion For Creatives by Alex Mathers
A great eBook all about marketing for creative types. It covers several topics on how to setup your social media profiles, how to market yourself online and off and how to approach advertising.
The Designer’s Guide To Marketing & Pricing By Ilise Benun
Another great book for any designer or developer, The Designer’s Guide contains a ton of informative and helpful forms for the beginning or rebranding freelancer.
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Marketing genius Seth Godin goes into great detail in this short book about how to stand out from every other business and get noticed.
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
Learn how to become visible on the web by using social media and marketing principles from Chris Brogan.
Rework by 37signals
A must have book for any developer, Rework is one of the best business books I’ve read. It’s geared towards app developers, but will work for any business or freelancer and contains lots of great unconventional wisdom and funny swearing.
Advanced CSS by Joseph Lewis
It’s tough to find a good coding book if you already have a lot of experience in the development world, but Advanced CSS contained a lot of great information on microformats, mobile development, CSS3 and more. A bit dry in some parts, but a recommended read nonetheless.
Linchpin by Seth Godin
Seth’s newest book, Linchpin touches on the subject that we’ve been trained all of our lives from kindergarten on to blend in and be a busy worker bee. Linchpin explains the importance of sticking out and being indispensable in today’s tough market.
Getting Real by 37signals
Similar to Rework, Getting Real was their first book for app developers. While somewhat similar in content, Getting Real is a bit more technical. Plus, it’s free to read online!
WordPress & Ajax by Ronald Huereca
This eBook goes into depth about using Ajax and WordPress together. Easy to read and contains several great examples, including using Ajax in plugins and functions.
41 Questions To Ask Before You Start A Web Project by Justin Davis
I know Justin personally and he’s an awesome UX expert. His new eBook is a quick read and contains several sections of questions for beginning web projects. Mostly geared to business, but would make a great potential client questionnaire for any freelancer.
HTML5 For Web Designers by Jeremy Keith
The book from A List Apart, HTML5 For Web Designers is a must-read for any front-end dev. Only 85 pages long, but chock full of great information. The chapters on the history of HTML and the W3C are my favorites.
Beginning iPhone 3 Development by Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche
If you’ve been interested in iPhone development, start with this book. Even if you have no Objective C experience, the chapters are easy to understand and the apps are fun to build.

Books I’ve Yet to Read

I’ve purchased several of these books and the rest are all on my wish list. According to several of our readers, all of these books are must-reads, so I can’t wait to get to them!

Your Books

What are some of the awesome web development or business books you’ve read?

Share your favorites in the comments.

Image by Dennis from Atlanta

Should Freelancers Upsell?

Laura Spencer — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:30:28 PDT

“Would you like a large fries with that?” The drive-thru clerk stared at me eagerly.

I looked him right in the eye, “No,” I replied. “A diet coke is all I want today.”

If you’ve ever purchased fast food through a drive-thru window, you’ve probably been on the receiving end of upselling. Simply put, upselling is the sales practice of trying to encourage the client to purchase more than he or she originally intended to buy.

Some people believe upselling is manipulative–for obvious reasons. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a pushy upselling salesperson, then you probably know what I mean. However, some freelancers successfully use upselling to bring additional work to their freelancing business on a regular basis. In this post, we’ll discuss responsible upselling.

How Does a Freelancer Upsell His or Her Services?

A freelancer is engaging in upselling if he or she suggests an additional (usually more expensive) service to a client. Here are some examples:

A freelance copywriter who is hired to write a press release for a company encourages the client to also use their services to write the copy for their corporate web page.
A freelance designer who is hired to re-design a website encourages the company to let them redesign the company logo as well.
A freelance photographer who is hired to take pictures of a company’s new product for an ad encourages the senior management team members to get new corporate photos.

In my opinion, as long as it is done respectfully and honestly and with the client’s best interest in mind there is really nothing wrong with a freelancer offering additional services to a client.

On the other hand, if a freelancer tries to manipulate a client through upselling to buy something that he or she does not really need or even want, then that is not a good business practice at all.

Seven Freelance Guidelines for Responsible Upselling

Here are seven guidelines to follow if you use upselling as a marketing technique for your freelancing business:

Take the time to understand the client’s business. If you can really show the client how an additional service that you are recommending would be useful to their specific situation, the client is more likely to make the purchase. (Even you don’t make the sale, the client will appreciate the fact that you took the time to learn about them.)
Don’t offer something that isn’t in the client’s best interest. A mistake that many sales people make when upselling is trying to push a product or service that the client really doesn’t need and can’t use. If you do this to your freelancing clients, it could damage your reputation as a freelancer and decrease future sales.
Do take “no” for an answer (at least initially). Respect your client’s right to refuse. One reason that so many people are turned off by upselling is that it is often done in a rather pushy fashion. If your client says, “no,” let it go. You can always bring it up again (casually) the next time that they use your services.
Don’t argue with your client. Whatever you do, don’t argue with your client about whether or not they need the service that you are trying to sell to them. Most people don’t like conflict. Getting into an argument with your client will definitely give them a negative impression of you and your freelancing business.
Use compassion and common sense. If your client has just explained to you that their sales have been drastically down this year, you can still offer your additional service without pushing it. You could say something like, “when things pick up for your business we may want to rewrite that company home page.”
Don’t try to upsell if the client isn’t already happy with your work. It would seem to be common sense, but if your client is unhappy with your most recent work then this is not the best time to attempt an upsell. Make things right with your client before you try to sell them additional services.
Care about your client. This last principle is probably the most important. If you really do care about a client, you’ll instinctively know when to speak up and when to be quiet. You won’t be overly pushy or try to get them to buy something that they really can’t use. Most of all, your client will probably sense the difference.

If you follow these guidelines, your “upselling” should be a positive experience for both you and your client.

An Example of What Not to Do

Upselling can often be unpleasant to the client (especially when it is done wrong).

I had a very bad experience with upselling at a beauty salon recently.

I had gone in for a simple trim. In the course of trimming my hair, the beautician commented that she could feel hairspray residue on my hair. She recommended that I use a very expensive clarifying shampoo that the salon sold to remove it.

I explained to the beautician that I don’t use hairspray. I also explained that I didn’t want the expensive shampoo today.

If the beautician had stopped here, the whole experience would have been okay. However, this particular beautician took it upon herself to argue with me.

“I definitely feel hairspray residue in your hair,” she insisted, “I’ve been doing this a long time and I know what hairspray feels like on hair.”

The fact is, I don’t even own a bottle of hairspray. I have never used it. My mother used it. My grandmother used it–but me, I don’t use it.

Yet, despite my protests, the beautician kept right on arguing with me about the hairspray she thought she felt in my hair. I finally just said to her, “I’m not going to buy that shampoo.”

Not only did she not upsell the expensive shampoo to me, the experience was so unpleasant for me that the salon probably lost a client that day.

What Do You Think?

Do you engage in upselling when you market your freelancing services? If so, what do you think of the practice?

Have you ever been persuaded by a sales person to purchase something you didn’t want or need? How did it make you feel?

Leave your answers in the comments.

Image by tombothetominator

Five Personal Projects That Will Help You Find Clients

Lexirodrigo — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:30:51 PDT

Are things slow in your freelancing business right now? Are you in the middle of a “famine” phase?

If so, resist the temptation to stay in bed all day. Or run around in a panic because you have few or no client projects to work on.

Rather, think of this as the time to get some of your own projects done. Consider this “free time” you can use to get better in your field and to make your portfolio and resume more impressive.

By staying busy with personal projects, you avoid stressing out over your lack of work (and income). Instead, you can focus on improving your skills and improving your chances of landing better clients.

How?

Here are five personal projects you can work on right now to make yourself more attractive to prospective clients.

1. Create a Report, White Paper or Case Study

You don’t have to be a freelance writer to write a short report. Even if you’re a photographer, designer or programmer, a text document is still an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise.

Think of past projects you’ve completed. What lessons did you and your clients learn that would be valuable to prospective clients as well? Do you have a success story that demonstrate how the application of a certain principle in your field can help others?

Write it down into a brief report, nothing more than 12 pages in most cases. If you have a hard time writing, record yourself speaking and then have the audio transcribed. Barter services with other freelancers for transcription, editing, design and lay-out, if necessary.

If you must mention specific individuals or companies in your report, make sure you get their permission first.

After you have your special report, keep it handy to give to prospects. Send a digital copy when you send a “cold” email. Or offer it for free in your print ad. Have hard copies to give away when you attend networking events. If you have a blog or site, give the report away in exchange for people’s contact information.

2. Update Your Blog/Site

Take a long, good look at your blog/site. Is it updated? Does it communicate effectively with your Ideal Client? Are your work samples and testimonials fresh? Does your services page still mention work you don’t do any more?

If you blog, now’s the time to write posts in advance and pre-schedule them. That way, when the client projects start pouring in, your blog won’t get neglected.

Make sure your posts either directly or indirectly promote your services. You don’t have to be hard-sell about it. Simply write the types of blog posts that attract clients.

Promote your blog. Offer to write guest posts on other blogs. Leave thoughtful comments in blogs that your Ideal Clients read. Click here to get more ideas for increasing traffic to your blog.

Also revisit your site’s design. Is it still attractive and easy to navigate? Or does your site need a new look? Maybe your site needs a slight redesign or a total overhaul. Get to it now.

And don’t forget to look under the hood of your site. Update your plugins. Delete the ones you don’t use anymore. And, most importantly, make sure your site is regularly backed up.

3. Work on Your Dream Project

Is there a dream project you wish somebody would hire you to do? Don’t wait. Give the project to yourself.

Let’s say, for example, that I’ve always wanted to write a sales page and split test it to death. I could either quickly create an information product or buy resell rights to an existing one, write a sales page, split test different elements of it, and document the results.

Not only will this sales page be a new addition to my work samples. I’ll also have real-life proof of what elements convert better. I could even create a free or paid report out of the split tests. And, finally, I could make some passive income on the side (more on that later).

4. Volunteer for a Non-profit

Another excellent way to use some freelancing down-time is to find non-profits that need your services. Give them your services for free. If they’re happy with your work, ask for a testimonial and referrals.

You don’t even have to ask for anything back for your volunteer work. What goes around, comes around.

5. Set Up Passive Income Streams

This is my favorite way to use free time. If you write, learn to set up affiliate sites. Or write a few articles, put your affiliate links in the resource box, and publish them in article directories.

Or create your own products to sell, such as icons, graphics, website templates and WordPress themes. If you’re a programmer, create a script you can sell. Or a mobile phone app.

None of these things will probably be enough for you to quit freelancing. At least not right away. However, it’s reassuring to know you can earn an income in other ways… even if all your clients disappeared.

Moving Forward

Of course, you shouldn’t attempt to do all of these things at once, even if you have zero clients at the moment. Just start with one. Finish it and then move on to the next.

Share Your Personal Projects

I doubt you’ll get to do every single thing on this list before your work load picks up again.

In the meantime, do share: how do you keep busy during the lean times? What personal projects would you pursue if you didn’t have to do client work?

Image by amarette

Is the Title “Freelancer” a Turn-Off?

Brian McDaniel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:30:08 PDT

I have read a number of articles, blog posts and even comments here at Freelance Folder that suggest anyone who works under the title “freelancer” may be short-changing themselves. The idea is that the title has negative or substandard connotations that go along with it, and opponents recommend using some other type of terminology to define oneself in an effort to avoid any negative stereotypes that might be associated with the moniker. In this post I will offer an alternative point of view that may encourage you to not only claim the title of freelancer, but to wear it with pride.

What IS a Freelancer?

Let’s start off with the definitions. Merriam Webster defines a freelancer as “a person who acts independently without being affiliated with or authorized by an organization” and “a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer.” Wikipedia’s definition reads, “A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term.”

In my opinion, none of these explanations of the term denote anything negative or subpar. In fact, they point out the reasons many professionals choose to go the way of starting a freelance business. Working for yourself is the ultimate dream for many, and the freedom that can come with it is incomparable. Still, many fail to make the leap from being employed to self-employment due to the countless risks and uncertainty involved. For others, the thrill of this adventure is enough to push us over the edge into taking the chance and metaphorically draping a sign around our necks that reads “Freelance or Bust!”

What’s in a Name?

The argument against defining oneself as a “freelancer” usually includes recounting the experience that many, including myself, have had in which a potential client assumes a self-employed person has less overhead than his corporate competitors and therefore must charge significantly less for the same quality service. While there is a grain of truth to this reasoning, it usually gets distorted in the client’s mind and they will try to lowball the freelancer, expecting ridiculous rates that no self-respecting worker would charge or be able to survive on. Is this enough reason to avoid the term and form a LLC or something of that nature instead?

In my experience, I have come to learn some basic truths. One of these is that a title is really only defined by the actions and beliefs of the one who wears it. In other words, if you define your freelancing business as ridiculously cheap rates for high quality work that is produced at all hours of the day, without boundaries, contracts or any of the other necessities of a successful business, your clients will define it the same way and bring those expectations into every project. Very few freelancing businesses, if any, will survive this way.

On the other hand, if you define your freelancing business as a fairly priced, highly skilled and experienced alternative to the competition, with all the benefits that an individual can give and a corporation cannot, your clients will come to you with the confidence and trust that you deserve.

Don’t get me wrong. You will still run into those who will claim their own definition and try to force you and your business to fit into their mold. I believe that if you hold firm to your understanding of your own definition then you will know how to identify these abusers of the title and brush them aside to make room for those who see you as you really are.

A title is quite simply just a word. Words have power, but they are powerless without our uttering them and defining their usage with our understanding, actions and beliefs. If you think your freelance business will earn more respect if it is called by another name, then it most likely will. By the same token, if you believe the title has little effect on the quality of work you do or the rates you will get paid, then it most likely will.

I am not trying to convince you of the power of positive thinking or anything like that. I am simply saying your business will be as successful as you make it, regardless of what you decide to call it.

In the past, I have toyed with the idea of beginning to present my business as a “one-man web and graphic design studio” instead of calling myself a “freelance designer.” In the end, I decided it really didn’t matter what I called myself. If a potential client is shallow enough to overlook my business due to its title, I most likely am better off not dealing with them in the end anyway. I can’t definitively tell you that my approach has helped or hindered my freelance business, but I am working enough to support my family, which is what I define as success.

A Final Thought

For me personally, there is something liberating about the term “freelancer.” The word includes one of the most important nouns I know: “free.” I am free to decide when I work, where I work, who I work for and how I do business. I celebrate this freedom every time I call myself a freelancer. Freedom is a beautiful and priceless thing that I have learned to not take lightly. Why not enjoy it with a constant reminder in the title that I choose to assume for my business? More than anything, the title is for me, and what others choose to believe about it is their choice, which I cannot be responsible for.

Share Your Thoughts

What do you think? What are your experiences in this area? Please share your thoughts and input in the comments below.

How to Become a Successful Freelancer When You’re “Different”

Ed Gandia — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:30:33 PDT

“Currently, I am a teacher, but want to make the gradual transition from the classroom to the freelance commercial writing arena,” an aspiring freelancer recently emailed me.

“However, because I lack a marketing background, I am concerned that clients may be hesitant to hire me. How can I transition from academia to this type of writing career?”

That’s a valid concern—one that some of you may also have if you’re exploring the freelance path. And while neither an email response nor a blog post will do the topic justice, I can at least provide you with some general direction and advice.

Strategy #1: Leverage Your Background

Who says that “agency types” make the best copywriters? And who says you had to go to art school to be a great designer? Some of the best writers and designers I know do NOT have what you might call traditional creative backgrounds. Instead, they have leveraged their diverse experiences and specialized knowledge to bring a fresh perspective to a field crowded with “me too” service providers.

I told my friend that she, in fact, could have an advantage over other writers. Especially if she decided to target companies that sell educational products or services to teachers, educational institutions and parents of homeschooled children.

Her background gives her tremendous credibility. She has “been there, done that.” She understands the emotional hot buttons of her potential clients’ audience (educators). And if she’s strategic about how she positions herself — and delivers value and results for her clients — she can easily become a very successful “go to” writer in her industry.

Strategy #2: Take the Courses and Certifications

However, that brings up another point. Your background alone won’t save you. Neither will raw talent. You also need to learn your craft. And learn it well.

There’s no way around it, folks. You need formal training. Without it, you’ll have a very hard time getting invited to the dance. The market is already full of talented freelance professionals struggling to make ends meet. If talent alone were the secret, most would be extremely busy, earning a great living.

Don’t get me wrong. Talent is a big plus. But these days you need much more. So take the courses. Get the certifications. Read the books. Don’t skimp here.

And don’t think the learning is over once you’ve established yourself. Make it a point to keep up your knowledge base. I’ve never met a successful person who didn’t continually invest in themselves and their business.

Strategy #3: Market Yourself Aggressively

Finally, you need to continually promote your services. This effort must be steady and aggressive—probably much more aggressive and methodical than you think.

Contributors to Freelance Folder have talked about this many times before, but it bears repeating. A focused and continual marketing effort is one of the most important factors in ensuring a successful transition from your current job to a freelance career.

I know that the thought of marketing your services may not sound appealing. But, it doesn’t have to be a chore. Break it up into small chunks. Instead of trying to do monumental activities every three months, commit yourself to doing lighter activities every day or every week.

For instance, promise yourself that you’ll mail five letters a day. Or, that you’ll make ten cold calls a day. Or, that you’ll write and submit one article every other week to a targeted online publication. Or, attend a very focused networking event every month (one that’s rich with potential prospects).

No career transition is easy. You can dramatically increase your chances of success if you leverage your strengths and work hard on the factors that you can control.

Share Your Thoughts

How else would you advise my aspiring freelancer friend?

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Are You Really Bold Enough to Succeed as a Freelancer?

Laura Spencer — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:30:56 PDT

How bold are you?

If you answered “not very,” it may be time to step outside of your comfort zone for the sake of your freelancing business. You see, it takes a certain amount of boldness to succeed as a freelancer. If you’re too shy, your freelancing business may suffer as a result of your shyness.

The good news is you can learn to be bold.

Being a freelancer is a bold move in and of itself. Being a freelancer means you’ve already had the courage to step outside of convention and take maximum control of how you earn a living. Not everyone can do this. There are many people who would like to enjoy the freelance lifestyle, but they just aren’t bold enough to take the very first step.

In this post, I’ll examine seven more bold moves that will help your freelancing business to get ahead.

7 Bold Moves That Can Help Your Freelancing

Here are seven bold moves that people often have trouble making. Yes, if you are bold enough all of these bold tactics could help you to grow your freelancing business.

Cold calling. It’s natural to be afraid of cold calling. Most people get a little nervous when faced with the prospect of talking to a total stranger. However, cold calling can work extremely well if you do your homework and focus your cold call efforts specifically on your target market.
Face-to-face meetings. Are you hiding behind your computer? Clients with bigger projects often want to meet the person who will be doing their work face-to-face. This means a meeting. Naturally, there’s some risk to a face-to-face meeting (what if you and the client don’t hit it off), but the rewards are bigger too.
Contacting a more experienced peer for advice. You’re stuck. You absolutely don’t know what to do next. If this is you, I guarantee that you’re not the first person who has dealt with your situation. Someone else in your field, probably already in your social network, has already faced and solved your problem. Why not contact them and ask for help?
Post something controversial. It can take a lot of courage to post something that you know others may not like. But, sometimes that bold and courageous post is just what it takes to help others relate to you better and to build the type of relationships that you need to really grow your business.
Talk more about your freelancing business to friends and family. Let’s face it. Our friends and our families can be our biggest critics. Half the time, they may not really understand what we’re doing or even believe that we’re actually working. The support of your inner circle is an important asset for success, so take the time (once again) to explain your business to them.
Do something you’ve never done before. It takes a bit of boldness to try something new. Even as a freelancer, it’s easy to get into a routine (although no one is imposing one upon you). You can get very comfortable doing the same work over and over, but are you growing professional and personally?
Follow your dream. Nearly everyone has a dream that seems to be just beyond their reach. You’d like to achieve your dream, but you’re too afraid to try. You won’t ever know whether or not you can turn that dream into a reality unless you are bold enough to do what it takes to follow that dream.

I’ve listed seven bold moves that can help you to grow your freelancing business. Next, we’ll discuss why it’s more important to be bold than you might think.

Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone Can Help You

Being bold is just good business. Bold moves, such as making cold calls and contacting others, are often how we get our customers.

Did you know that boldness can be good for you emotionally as well?

It’s true. If you challenge yourself with something new, it builds your confidence (which, in turn, makes it easier for you to take the next bold step when the time comes). You will also feel a greater sense of satisfaction when you complete something that was a challenge for you.

Staying comfortable may be, well…comfortable. But, the real emotional benefits come when you take some risks and leave that comfort behind.

What About You?

Is there something just beyond your grasp that you’re afraid to do, but you know that you really should try? Why not make a bold move and just do it? Take the steps needed to bring your freelance business to the next level.

Share the bold business moves you’ve made (and how they’ve affected your freelancing business) in the comments.

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Thank-you to Our July Advertisers

Laura Spencer — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:30:20 PDT

It’s July. The summer is winding down. Many people are planning vacations, others are planning to return to work and school.

July is also a great time to try something new for your freelancing business. Here at Freelance Folder we bring the best freelancing tips and advice. We also try to make you aware of good tools for freelancers–such as those offered by our advertisers.

At Freelance Folder we have the good fortune to have some extraordinary companies supporting the blog. Our advertisers provide services and products that are vital to freelancing success. Trust us, these companies know and understand freelancing. We would definitely recommend checking them out.

Here’s the complete list of our wonderful advertisers:

Thank-You to Our Advertisers

LogoDesignTeam has specialized worldwide in the field of customized logo design services. Their time of specialized design professions excels at customer communication and service. LogoDesignTeam is also looking for resellers.

b2bee enables you to organize your expenses and invoices online using their convenient system designed especially for service professionals and entrepreneurs. b2bee also donates a portion of each monthly payment to save honeybees.

activeCollab lets you work with a team, clients, or contractors in an easy to use environment with full control of your data. It lets you plan and track projects while controlling your data.

FreshBooks is designed to deliver fast and simple invoicing and time tracking services. It keeps your data safe, secure, and accessible to you. Plus, everyone gets the upgrades.

Men with Pens is the web design and copywriting team whose persuasive words help you make more sales. It is a one-stop shop, providing branding, design, copywriting and WordPress services.

tgethr lets you collaborate with your team safely and securely. tgethr is easy to use and best of all, you can join for free! You can integrate it with many popular programs. It features built-in security so that your team can also share sensitive and confidential information.

wpBids is an innovative tool that harnesses the power of WordPress to create beautiful, professional hand-crafted proposals. You can customize your professional proposals by choosing specific colors or themes. It is also optimized for the iPhone, iPad, and for print.

UPrinting.com can help you to project a professional image for a reasonable price. Turn to this trusted leader in online printing for your business cards, brochures, letterhead, envelopes and much more.

The Difference between Fluff and Interesting Content

Michael Collins — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:30:34 PDT

Freelance writing sounds like a great way to improve your writing and make some money on the side. Many people who are truly interested in writing choose freelancing, because it allows them to write on a variety of subjects and get paid for it. Unfortunately, the reality is that freelancing rarely gives you the opportunity to write interesting content, or let you choose your own subjects.

Because of this, most freelancers end up developing a boring writing style. They can pump out tons of content in a short amount of time, but it all sounds the same, and nothing is gained from reading these articles. These writers excel at writing “fluff,” but have problems writing actual quality content. This trend towards fluff is unfortunate, because many high paying freelance jobs require an engaging writing style, so when the time comes for you to apply for these types of jobs, your writing style will be inadequate.

In this post, I’ll explain how to develop an engaging writing style and keep yourself from writing fluff.

What Is Fluff?

I’m sure you’ve read fluff before. Fluff articles can be read all the way through, and then once you finish reading them, you realize you don’t remember what the article was originally about.

Interesting content, on the other hand, draws you in, and makes you want more. Interesting articles are in high demand. The only people who want fluff are people who are only using the articles for SEO purposes, which can only get you so far.

The Key to Good Content

So how do you start writing quality, interesting content when you’ve been writing fluff for a while?

The key is passion, and interest. When writing about something that you’re passionate about, or something that interests you, it’s easy to write an amazing article. The writing process goes very quickly, and in the end, you’ve written an amazing article.

However, if you want to write about relationships, and your freelance employer wants you to write about credit card debt, your lack of interest will usually show up on paper. If you can find a way to become interested and passionate about any subject, your writing will greatly improve, and you’ll be able to get freelance jobs that require an interesting and upbeat writing style.

How to Develop Passion for Many Topics

Developing passion might sound like a great idea, but how do you become passionate about any topic?

The secret is to learn more about that topic, and to have an open mind. For me, if I have to write an article on credit card debt, I expect to enjoy it. Then, once I’m in the right mindset, I start my research. I try to find the most interesting information available on the topic, and then become interested in it myself.

How you get interested can change depending on your personality. Using the credit card debt example, I find myself getting interested by learning tricks to lessen your debt by a small amount, and over time, it adds up. I like how you can change little things and get big results, so I choose to write from that viewpoint. Because of my extra efforts, my articles sound interesting and engaging, even though I originally had no interest in the topic.

Getting interested in a topic is easier to do than you might believe. It really is all about your mindset. If you still don’t think you could get interested in a “boring” topic, think of it this way. Someone is interested in that topic enough to write quality articles on it. So what’s the difference between those people and you? The mindset. They have the mindset where they enjoy writing articles on a so-called boring topic, therefore, they do.

This, like anything else, requires practice to perfect. Once you get into the habit of enjoying every topic, though, you will soon be able to write large amounts of quality articles, much like before, except this time, your articles are interesting.
Unlike writing fluff, writing with passion can help you improve as a writer. Fluff will help you make your grammar and spelling perfect, but writing passionately will help you become a better writer. On top of this, you’ll be able to get higher paying jobs.

Starting Your Own Projects (and More)

Once you’ve perfected this type of writing, you can move on from freelancing if you want to. Writing amazing articles for someone else is all well and good, but once you get to the point where you can write about any subject with passion, you should start your own project. Whether this project is a blog or some other type of website, you have a better chance of making a lot more money working on your own.

Once you’ve developed your writing style, starting your own projects is just one of the many options available to you.

To Sum Things Up

If you’ve wanted to become a professional writer, freelancing can greatly improve your ability to write–if you do it right. If you write with passion on any topic, you can move on to other jobs in the writing field with ease.

If you’re just freelance writing for some extra cash on the side, learning to write with passion will allow you to increase your rates, and apply for higher paying writing jobs.

What About You?

Take a look at your own freelancing blog. Do you write with passion, or do you write fluff? The choice is up to you.

In the comments, share your thoughts on how to write more interesting and engaging posts.

Image by littledebbie11

How to Find Your Freelance Specialty

Amber Weinberg — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:30:16 PDT

There have been several debates on whether or not you should specialize your services. It’s almost as heated as a debate as whether or not you should charge hourly or project rates.

However, I firmly believe that specializing my services and clientele was what really allowed my own business to take off and succeed.

Being a Generalist

Before I specialized, I tried to do everything from consulting to design to development, backend programming, SEO and copywriting. I targeted every and any kind of client, not caring if they were a large or small business, agency or single entrepreneur.

I quickly found myself in a predicament. First-off, I was not busy at all. I barely had any work coming in. Also, the work I did have coming in really sucked. The budgets sucked, the project ideas sucked and the type of required of me sucked. I hated design, SEO, copywriting and anything not related to front-end development.

I finally decided on a risky move–I wanted to specialize both my services and the kinds of clients I would work with. I would only offer front-end development and WordPress services only to agencies, freelancers and designers.

This move was risky because it seems logical that by narrowing your field of clients and services, that your narrowing your chance for work. However, it only increased my work!

Why You Should Specialize

So why should you specialize? Basically, no matter how much you learn, it’s impossible to be great at everything. And to be a really successful freelancer, you have to be great at what you do.

Specializing allows you to become an expert in your field. You’re also more likely to be perceived as one by potential clients. Just by offering front-end dev and WordPress work, I became known to my clients as “the” WordPress expert.

Specializing also allows you to focus on honing your skills and is easier to keep up with new developments. This allows you to quickly become better at what you do than the generalist.

How To Specialize Your Services

In order to specialize, you need to decide on two things:

What you’re really good at
What you really enjoy doing

Normally, the answer to those two questions is the same, but not always. If not, I suggest going with the work you really enjoy doing, as you’ll eventually become better at it the more you practice. After all, you did go into business for yourself in order to do the work you really loved, right?

How to Specialize Your Clients

Specializing your clients is equally, if not more, important as specializing your services. Deciding what type of clients you want to work with will make you happier in the long run and will increase the effectiveness of your marketing. It’s much more effective to get your message to 10 perfect-fitting clients than to get your message to 500 clients who won’t work for you.

So, how do you choose who you want to work with? Ask yourself:

What type of services are you now offering?
What kinds of clients are the ones who’d need those services?
What is your ideal working relationship and which clients from above would fit that idea?

You Just Need Time

Just remember, as with every other kind of marketing effort, it will take some time for clients to notice that you have specialized. Just remember, if specializing doesn’t work for you, you can always go back to offering everything to everyone, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

Your Thoughts

Have you specialized your services or clientele? How did it work out for you?

Image by Davide Restivo

What it Really Costs to Be a Freelancer

Laura Spencer — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:30:08 PDT

A common misconception is that starting and running a freelance business is free.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

While most freelancers experience lower start up costs than other types of businesses, nearly all freelancers will wind up having to pay some money to start and maintain their freelance business. In this post, we’ll list some of the costs that you might expect to pay as a freelancer.

Types of Costs Freelancers Face

Freelancers typically face at least seven different types of costs. Those costs are:

Equipment and Tools costs
Self-employment costs
Benefits and perks
Advertising and promotion costs
Legal and accounting costs
Training and self-improvement costs
Living expenses

I’ll go over each of these categories and list some of the expenses you may face in each. While freelance costs vary slightly depending on your field and your location.

Equipment and Tools Costs

As a freelancer, you are responsible for obtaining and maintaining the equipment that you need to do your job. Even if you currently own some of these items, you will need to replace them when they wear out, need upgrades, or become obsolete. Also, remember that you may need more powerful, professional resources to freelance than you probably have for personal use.

Computer–Get the best that you can afford to buy. Memory and speed will make a huge difference in what you can accomplish. If your freelance work includes a lot of staring at the monitor (which is probably true for most of us), do yourself a favor and get a larger one. I currently upgraded to a 24-inch screen and I can tell you that I don’t regret it.
Internet Connection–Once again, speed counts. The faster your Internet connection, the faster your downloads and uploads. You will probably want a DSL or Broadband connection although a fast cable modem will work as well.
Software–The software that you need to work will vary widely depending on what your field is. At a minimum, you will need some sort of email system. You will probably also want something like Microsoft Office or something similar. You may also need specialized software for your field such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe FrameMaker. Don’t forget to include an antivirus software package.
Web hosting–As a freelancer you really should set up your own site or blog as a contact point for clients and potential clients. You can also use your website to host your online portfolio. While there are many free website themes available (particularly for WordPress), you may want to invest in something more distinctive such as a premium or custom theme.
Online resources such as stock photography, Copyscape, and access to professional sites like MediaLoot–Software is not the only thing you need. For many freelancing professions, you will want to subscribe to or use an online resource such as MediaLoot, a stock photography site, or something similar. While buying a stock image or two may seem cheap, if you use a lot of such images those dollars can really add up. Also, don’t forget to include PayPal fees in your expenses.
Printer–Most freelancers need a good serviceable printer that can produce letter-quality output. Usually these are not terribly expensive. Personally, I have a multi-function printer that doubles as a scanner and fax machine. For some businesses, a color printer may be necessary.
Desk and workspace–Technically, you don’t need a real desk when you start–although having a desk is nice. A table will do just fine. However, you need to make sure that you have a comfortable chair (since it is likely that you will be spending a lot of time in it) and a well-lit work area.
Phone system–You need to have some sort of phone system. While a starting freelancer may simply choose to use his or her computer as a business phone, it is a good idea to eventually get a separate business line for your freelancing business. Some freelancers may benefit from VOIP services such as Skype.
Mobile computing device–There’s a growing need for freelancers to have a mobile computing devices such as a smart phone, netbook, iPod, iPad, or Blackberry. This is particularly true for freelancers who travel or work offsite. Don’t forget that in addition to the equipment you also must buy a data plan.

As you glance over the list, it’s easy to understand why many freelancers spend several thousand (U.S.) dollars in this category each year.

Self-Employment Costs

Another area where freelancers must pay more is self-employment tax. In the U.S., most employers withhold a certain amount for federal income tax and pay an additional amount for social security and Medicare.

As a self-employed person, you are responsible for paying both the federal income tax amount that was not withheld and the additional amount (currently 15.3%) for social security and Medicare.

For many U.S. freelancers, this means paying quarterly estimated taxes. See your accountant for details on your specific situation. Non-U.S. freelancers should also check with an accounting professional in their own country.

Benefits

As a freelancer, you will get no benefits or other perks from your clients. You must fund items in this category yourself.

Here is a list of typical benefits that you should budget for:

Insurance (medical and life)–While many employers provide or subsidize medical or life insurance, as a freelancer you must find and pay for your own insurance.
Retirement–Some employers provide a pension while others may offer retirement programs such as matching employee contributions to a 401(k) account (in the U.S.). As a freelancer, you are responsible for creating and funding your own retirement.
Paid vacation and personal days–Most employers will pay you for a set number of vacation or personal days off as well as for some holidays. As a freelancer, there is no such thing as a paid vacation. Any time that you are not working, you are not earning. It is important to save enough so that you can afford to take time off when you sick or just need some rest.

These benefits do not come cheap, but don’t even think of skimping here. A major illness could cause a significant financial hardship if you are not prepared.

Advertising and Promotion Costs

At some point in their freelancing career, many freelancers incur costs related to promoting their business. Some of those costs can include:

Print or online advertising
Stationery
Business cards
Promotional items for giveaways or as gifts to clients
Fees associated with networking (from the proverbial “business lunch” to the cost of joining a professional society)

As you can see, even getting the word out about your freelancing business can cost money.

Legal and Accounting Costs

As a freelancer, you may also have some legal or accounting costs.

First of all, you will need to do your income taxes (freelancing tends to make your taxes more complex). While beginning freelancers may be able to use tax software, some freelancers will want to hire an accountant, bookkeeper, or both.

Also, you may need an attorney’s advice in choosing the right type of business entity for your situation (S-corp., LLC, LLP, etc.)

Trust me, accountants and attorneys do not come cheap…

Training and Self-improvement Costs

As a self-employed professional, it is up to you to keep up with the developments and changes in your field of expertise. In addition, you may which to change fields or add additional tools to your skillset.

Of course, one way to learn is by reading high quality blogs like Freelance Folder. If you can’t find what you need online for free, you may have to invest in one or more of the following:

Online or face-to-face courses
Tutorials
Books
Seminars

Living Expenses

Last, but certainly not least, you need to have enough money left over to pay your own living expenses (such as housing, food, clothing, utilities, transportation, etc.). If you have dependents, spouse, or other loved one you may also need to cover some or all of their living expenses as well.

Don’t forget to include some money for a few little luxuries and fun items in your budget.

Share Your Thoughts

While your expenses might not match up exactly to those listed in this post since everyone’s situation is different, these are the costs that freelancers typically must consider.

As you can see, freelancing is far from free. In fact, you have my permission to show this post to any client who wonders why your rates are so high. Perhaps after reading this they will understand that freelancing is not free. ;-)

Did I leave anything out?

What is your biggest freelancing expense?

Share your answers in the comments.