I love detective movies. I really do.

There’s nothing more thrilling than when the detective goes undercover by blending in with the bad guys.

You spend the rest of the movie holding your breathe to see whether the hero gets caught or catches the bad guys.

Going undercover makes for great entertainment. Unfortunately, going undercover isn’t so great if you’re a freelancer.

You see, as a freelancer, the absolute last thing you want to do is blend in with everybody else. You can’t hide your talent and succeed.

In this post, I’ll discuss the importance of standing out and also present a fun quiz that may show whether you’re acting like an undercover freelancer.

Why You Need to Be Different

The Internet is overwhelmed with freelancers. Nobody seems to know exactly how many there are, but everybody seems to agree that their numbers are growing.

What this means for you is competition–and lots of it.

The thing is, your prospects are basically lazy. That’s not a personal judgment about them so much as it is an observation. They don’t have the time or energy to really weed through hundreds freelancers just to find you and figure out why you’re special.

Your prospect doesn’t have the time, so you need to make it easy for them to find you and figure out why you’re different. But that won’t happen if you’re an undercover freelancer, just trying to blend in with everyone else.

You need to let friends, family, and everyone else know that you’re freelancing and that you’re the best at what you do. Going undercover as a freelancer doesn’t work.

Are You Undercover?

You could be an undercover freelancer and not even realize it.

Here’s a quick quiz to help you find out.

A. You’re at a dinner party listening to another guest drone on and on about their job. Suddenly, the guest turns to you and asks, “So, what do you do for a living?” You:

1. Choke, mutter something incomprehensible under your breath and hope the conversation moves to a different topic quickly.
2. Use the earlier conversation to segue into a brief explanation of what you do for your clients and how you could help your companion’s company.
3. Say, “I work for…” and name your latest client as your employer.

B. Your kid’s teacher calls and says that he is trying to get stay-at-home parents involved. He asks if you can commit to chaperoning the kids for lunch several days a week. You:

1. Grit your teeth and agree to help even though it will cut into your work time. After all, it’s your kid’s school asking and how could you say no?
2. Politely explain that your heavy workload as a small business owner doesn’t give you the luxury of taking several hours off a week.
3. Pretend like he has reached a wrong number and hang up as quickly as possible.

C. Which of the following describes your marketing strategy?

1. If a lot of other freelancers are applying for freelance work from a company, it must be good. You apply for the same opportunity.
2. You scour your local business directory for companies that meet your ideal client criteria and send them an information packet about your services.
3. You don’t believe in marketing your services. You hate sales.

D. When a potential client contacts you, you:

1. Always accept the project at the rate the client proposes. You have to take work whenever you can get it or you’ll experience the “famine” of the feast or famine cycle.
2. Negotiate according to your predetermined criteria for freelance work. You also turn a sizeable portion of potential clients away–they just don’t fit your business goals.
3. You don’t accept inquiries from clients for jobs you haven’t already applied for.

If you answered these questions with mostly “1″s, you are probably an undercover freelancer. You need to be a little bit more assertive about your marketing. You also could use a little more self-confidence.

If you answered these questions with mostly “2″s, good job! It sounds like you really know what you’re doing, so keep it up. You’re definitely NOT undercover.

If you answered these questions with most “3″s, ‘fess up. You just started freelancing or you’re not a freelancer, but thinking about it, right? Don’t give up. You can a lot right here on Freelance Folder.

Of course, the previous quiz was just for fun. However, I hope it gave you some insights into your freelancing style.

Your Turn

How did you do on the quiz? Are you an undercover freelancer?

What quiz questions would you add?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Could you use a little more income?

If you’re like most of us, you probably answered “yes” to that question. Which of us wouldn’t want a little more coming in each month?

In this post, I’ll share a surprising technique to help you earn more freelance income–delegating your routine tasks.

When to Delegate

We freelancers are an independent breed. We like to “do it ourselves.” That’s probably one of the reasons many of us struck out on our own in the first place.

However, sometimes doing it yourself just doesn’t make sense. It may seem contrary to logic, but delegating routine tasks to others can often result in a higher freelancing income. That’s because delegation frees your time up for paid work.

Here are two clear signs that it’s time to delegate:

1. You are busy and delegating a task costs less than your hourly rate. Your time is a valuable limited resource. Doing something yourself doesn’t always mean you are saving money. What it could mean is that you are using your time at your average hourly rate when you could be paying someone else less.
2. You don’t know how to do something or don’t like doing it. Freelancers can’t afford to make mistakes. If you’re not good at something and can’t afford to take the time to learn to do it well, it’s time to delegate that task to someone else.

Delegation frees you up to take on more work at your higher hourly rate. Remember, you don’t earn anything for the time you spend on daily tasks.

Here’s an example of what I mean. Let’s suppose that you want to bill for thirty hours of freelancing business each week. You average $50.00 an hour for your freelancing services.

However, you rarely find yourself billing for thirty hours. The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough work. In fact, you’ve been turning work away because you don’t have enough time to get to it.

After examining your time carefully, you realize you’re spending about ten hours each week on non-billable tasks. You delegate these tasks to someone else for an average hourly rate of $25.00 an hour. Now, you can take those projects you’ve been turning away.

Now that we’ve discussed when delegate, it’s time to take a look at what to delegate.

What to Delegate

From personal tasks to professional tasks, many of your routine tasks can be delegated to others.

Here is a sampling of eight common freelancer personal and professional tasks that can be delegated:

1. Administrative tasks–Administrative tasks can take a lot of a freelancer’s time. Can you really afford to spend an hour or two each day on this? Routine administrative tasks can often be delegated to a virtual assistant at less than your hourly rate.
2. Bookkeeping/accounting–Many freelancers don’t really have a good grasp of accounting. They tend to put bookkeeping off and before long; they have a mess on their hands. A good bookkeeper can handle your tasks in a fraction of the time that it would take you.
3. Web development/maintenance–You keep telling yourself that you’ll figure it out, but you never really do. Your website is hopelessly out of date and it would take you a long time to fix it. Hiring a knowledgeable web developer can be a good freelancing investment.
4. Writing–You hate to write. You know that your grammar and spelling mistakes make you look bad. You’ve been known to spend an entire day composing an important email. Why not hire a professional writer and free yourself up for tasks you are good at doing?
5. Lawn care–If you have a lawn to maintain, you know that keeping up with this task can take a lot of your valuable time, especially during the summer months. You may be surprised that hiring a professional lawn service often makes more sense than doing it yourself.
6. House cleaning–How much time do you spend each week on house cleaning tasks? Whatever you answered, it’s probably too much. Consider hiring a maid service to take over some of your house cleaning tasks. You’ll also have the peace of mind that comes with a neat house.
7. Laundry–Laundry is another time-consuming chore that can be delegated. Many dry cleaners offer a laundry service at a reasonable rate. You drop off your dirty clothes and pick them up a few days later, clean and folded.
8. Cooking–Every time you eat out or order in, you’re essentially delegating your cooking task. While I don’t necessarily recommend having someone else prepare your food all the time due to nutritional concerns, if you are really busy sometimes it makes sense to order in.

Your Turn

What routine tasks do you delegate?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by mysza831

“How much can you earn as a freelancer?”

I’m probably asked this question more than any other question when people hear what I do for a living. It’s also a question I dread because there’s no set answer and there are certainly no guarantees.

When I worked in a corporate job, I could easily give a salary range for what I did. I could even state my exact salary if I wanted to.

As a freelancer, it’s not quite so simple.

In this post, I’ll take a closer look at some of the very real issues behind the question of “how much can you earn as a freelancer?”

Freelancing Must-Have #1–a Marketable Skill

To become a freelancer, you first need a marketable skill. But not all marketable skill sets translate well into freelancing.

Creative types often transition easily to freelancing. The freelancing community is full of writers, designers, programmers, photographers, and other creatives. These skills seem to be easy to market.

Other jobs are not quite so easy to take freelancing. This is particularly true of jobs that require you to be at a specific place during a specific time in order to get the job done. A bank teller, for example, or a nurse–these skill sets are not so easy to translate into freelance income.

When someone asks me how much freelancers earn what they often mean is “how much can I earn if I start freelancing?” I really can’t answer that without knowing whether they have a marketable skill.

But simply having a marketable skill is not quite enough. Many freelancers with marketable skills fail at freelancing. That’s because they don’t have the next freelancing must-have.

Freelancing Must-Have #2–Marketing Savvy

Not only do freelancers need a marketable skill, but they must also know how to market that skill. This is a huge obstacle for many people coming from traditional employment.

In traditional employment, your company brings the work to you. There’s no need to develop marketing skills. Freelancing is quite different.

You may be the best graphic designer in the world, but if you can’t get the word out you won’t succeed as a freelancer.

Creative types are notorious for hating marketing. I dislike it myself, but I also realize it’s necessary if I’m going to earn a living as a freelancer.

If you’ve always relied on traditional employment to provide you with an income, you may have no idea where to start with your freelance marketing plan.

Here are a few freelance marketing tips from the Freelance Folder archives:

• Why Your Freelancing Business Must Have a Brand
• Plan a Marketing Strategy for your Freelance Career
• Two Weeks to More Client Leads

You can find even more freelance marketing tips under the marketing tab on this blog.

Let’s take a closer look other factors that affect freelance earnings.

Your True Freelance Earnings Potential

So what is your earnings potential as a freelancer?

What I usually tell people about freelance earnings is that the amount you can earn depends on how hard and how smart you are willing to work.

Of course, this assumes that you have a marketable skill and some basic marketing skills.

That’s the short answer, but it’s only partly true. The freelancing community is full of talented freelancers who are just barely scraping by because they don’t charge enough for their work. They are in danger of burning out before they realize that they should charge more.

Many other freelancers are part-timers. They may freelance a few hours a week, but they also have a full-time job. Naturally, they earn less–by choice.

Still, I’m really optimistic about freelancer earning potential. There’s virtually no limit to how much a talented freelancer with marketing smarts and lots of drive can potentially earn.

It’s not unusual to hear of freelancers who earn six figures–far more than they could have earned from a traditional job.

Sadly, most freelancers will never reach their true freelance earning potential due to some of the pitfalls I mention above.

Your Turn

How would you answer the question of “how much can you earn as a freelancer?”

Have you reached your true earnings potential as a freelancer? Why, or why not?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Peter Gene

Freelancers often overlook the resources available to them at their local library. This is a shame, because most library resources are free to library cardholders.

You may remember the library as the place where you did research for your school assignments, but there’s a lot more to most libraries these days.

In this post, I share a few free resources from the library that freelancers will find helpful. Most (but not all) local libraries offer these resources to local residents and/or library cardholders.

Resource #1: Books and Publications

It may seem obvious, but the library is a great source of books and publications–many of which have to do with your freelancing specialization. Make a regular effort to spend some time browsing through the stacks to see what books might help your freelancing business.

The periodicals section of the library is largely ignored by many freelancers. However, it contains a wealth of information for the savvy freelancer.

As you probably know, magazine subscriptions are pricey. Most libraries have a periodical section with hundreds of magazines available, ranging from popular publications to professional journals.

Writers who are interested in getting into print publications can browse through the periodical section in the library to get an idea of where to submit their queries. Designers and other creative professionals can find a wealth of inspiration in the magazine section.

Resource #2: Free WiFi

You like to get out of the house occasionally. Who doesn’t? You probably already do make use of many of the free WiFi spots in your area, but you probably overlooked the local library.

Many libraries offer free WiFi on their premises. This can be a great option for the freelancer whose internet went down or who just wants to get out of the house.

As an added bonus, most libraries tend to be quieter than many other free WiFi spots such as local coffee shops (which can be quiet noisy). During the day, you can ask to work in a study room for maximum concentration.

Resource #3: Classes and Meetings

Most local libraries also double as community centers. That means that they often have meeting rooms and classrooms available.

Whether you are looking to gain a new skill or to network, don’t overlook classes and meetings at your local library. Classes are often available to local residents for no cost or low cost.

As an example, a library near me is offering classes for adults on interviewing skills, a resume workshop, and a class on how to find a job online. A larger library (not too far away) has workshops for inventors, a class on how to get a grant, and a wide variety of language and computer classes.

If you’re knowledgeable about a particular topic, you may wish to inquire about offering a class as a community service. This can raise your visibility in the community.

Check your library’s website or give the library a call to see if they have any classes or meetings that you might be interested in.

Resource #4: Borrow eBooks

You may not realize it, but thousands of local libraries now allow cardholders to borrow eBooks for free.

If your library offers this service, you can borrow online from the library’s website if you have a Kindle, Nook, or other device for reading eBooks. (Check with your library for a list of compatible devices).

Borrowing an eBook can be a great option if you think that you won’t need to refer to the book more than once. It can also help you find great eBook resources that you ultimately want to buy and add to your professional eBook library.

Resource #5: The Reference Librarian

The reference librarian is another great resource for freelancers. Most larger libraries have one.

If you need to research something, the reference librarian can give you tips on where to find relevant information. The reference librarian is familiar with the materials available through the library and can often help you find online resources as well.

A good reference librarian can save you a significant amount of research time.

Your Turn

I’ve seen many posts predicting the death of the local library due to the accessibility of the internet and other online resources. Frankly, I think that these predictions miss the point of what a library really is, which is more than just a giant collection of paper books.

The local library may change, but I don’t think it will go away entirely. (At least, I hope not.)

As a freelancer, have you made use of your local library? What services does your library offer that might help freelancers?

Image by ESwift

Many people are drawn to freelancing because they feel the flexible lifestyle will give them more time to spend with their kids. With summer just around the corner, many schools are about to end their school year and freelancers with school age kids will once again find their kids at home.

While it’s true that freelancing work can be flexible, it can also be challenging to get work done while the kids are home. Just how challenging depends on the kids and the freelancer… But there are ways to make freelancing with kids easier.

In this post, I’ll provide some easy tips for freelancers who juggle freelancing with parenting.

If you have children at home while you freelance, please add your own tips in the comments so that we can learn from each other.

The Childcare Question

Many freelancers turned to freelancing specifically so that they could spend more time with their kids. For many that works well. Parenting is an important life phase.

However, it’s important to remember that freelancing takes time too. So, a parent who freelances needs to make sure that they allow themselves enough time (and the proper conditions) to get their work done and done well.

While some freelancers thrive in a noisy environment (arguing kids in the background, babies crying, frequent interruptions), other freelancing work requires more concentration and quiet. If you find that you are a freelancer who can’t focus when your kids are noisy, you may want to consider paid childcare for at least a few hours a day. Of course, childcare can be costly, so make sure that you are charging enough for your freelancing services to cover the cost of childcare and still earn a profit.

Remember, that childcare does not necessarily mean dropping your kid off at the local daycare center (although that’s an option). Here are some other childcare options you may want to consider:

• Swap babysitting tasks with another local freelancer. Alternate the days that each of you watches both sets of kids.
• Hire a teen to watch kids and keep them quiet in your own home for the summer.
• Hire a trusted relative to watch kids for a few days a week.

Some freelancers don’t want to rely on any form of childcare. This may be an economic or a personal decision. Those freelancers are not without alternatives.

Other Alternatives to Paid Childcare

If you can’t afford childcare or don’t wish to use it, you may still have some free and low cost options that will give you some quiet time to get your work done:

• Mother’s Day Out Programs–Many churches and community centers offer childcare for one or several days a week.
• Community Programs–Many libraries have a free story time for preschool and elementary age children. As a bonus, many libraries also offer free WiFi access to patrons.
• Summer Activities–Look for children’s community activities and lessons as well as summer camps. With your mobile device, you may be able to freelance while your child participates.

When my own kids were younger, they loved the library story times in our community. I loved the hour or so that I could sit in the relative quiet of the library with my laptop getting some serious work done.

Another option that many freelancers choose is to work while the children sleep. This can work well if your child still takes a nap or has an early bedtime. Take care to get enough sleep yourself, though.

Some freelancers delegate childcare to their partner while they work. If you’re the primary caregiver for your children, this can also be a great opportunity for your kids to spend some quality time with the other parent.

Make the Children a Part of the Business

You may be able to hire older children to perform basic tasks for your business. Is your teen an aspiring writer or web designer? Give him or her a chance to show you what they can do.

Younger teens may be able to help by making copies, filing, or performing other simple office tasks. This is a great way to pass on some basic business knowledge to your kids.

There may even be some tax benefits and other advantages to hiring your own child. Check with your accountant to make sure.

Your Turn

Do you freelance with children at home? How do you juggle freelancing and raising kids?

With more and more workers turning to freelancing, you may wonder whether you should freelance. Are you ready? What is the best path to take to become a freelancer?

In this post, I’ll identify five different routes people take to freelancing. I’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Path 1. Right After College

Faced with a weak job market, many new graduates turn to freelancing to find employment. There are some positives and negatives to freelancing right out of school.

Here are three advantages to freelancing right out of college:

• Find a job quicker–In today’s economy, new grads may wait months before finding a job in their field. With freelancing they can start right away.
• Earn more money–New graduates are often relegated to entry-level jobs with entry-level pay. With freelancing they decide how much to charge.
• Fresh training–College graduates are often equipped with the latest information about their field. Often this means more enthusiasm.

Here are three disadvantages to freelancing right out of college:

• No proven experience–A recent graduate often has no paid work experience relative to their field. They may have trouble providing samples of their work.
• Lack of confidence–Because they’ve not yet worked for pay in their field, recent grads may be unsure of themselves. Prospects can pick up on a lack of confidence.
• Culture shock–Going from an academic environment to the freelance marketplace is a big change. Working on an assignment for a teacher and working on an assignment for a client is different.

Of course starting freelancing right after college is not the only path. Let’s look at another.

Path 2. After Working for Someone Else

Many seasoned professionals eventually strike out on their own as freelancers. Freelancing after spending a few years in the traditional workforce also has some pros and cons.

Here are three advantages to becoming a freelancer after working for someone else:

• Plenty of proven experience–Seasoned professionals can point to years of relevant work experience. They will probably have many samples of past work.
• Good references–Because of their years of work experience, most transitioning professionals can provide references. In fact, for some their first client will be their former employer.
• More confidence–Since they’ve already worked as a professional, an experienced worker is likely to be more confident about themselves and their work.

Here are three disadvantages of becoming a freelancer after working for someone else:

• Less hungry–A traditional employee may have had time to establish savings and may have worked up to a higher pay level. They may not be driven to freelance.
• More obligations–A seasoned worker is also more likely to have made major purchases such as a home and may even have dependents. All of these obligations may make them more comfortable in a traditional job.
• Accustomed to traditional workplace–There are many differences between freelancing and traditional employment. Seasoned employees are not used to wearing the many hats freelancers wear.

Of course, not all freelancers are full-time. In fact, one of the paths to freelancing is as a part-timer.

Path 3. As a Part-timer

Is having a traditional job and being a freelancer mutually exclusive?

Of course not! The thousands of workers who successfully combine freelancing and employment will tell you that this is a very real path to freelancing.

One of the greatest benefits to freelancing part-time is that you still get to enjoy all of the benefits of a full-time employee (such as insurance, paid vacation, sick days, and other employee perks).

Part-time freelancing is not without its hazards, though. Time management is probably the biggest challenge that part-time freelancers face.

Many part-time freelancers do eventually move on to become full-time freelancers, but many others are happy to continue freelancing on a part-time basis indefinitely.

Not everyone is a freelancer by choice, though. Some people turn to freelancing because they feel that it is their only option for earning an income.

Path 4. Job Loss

The path to freelancing that no one wants to talk about is job loss. Some freelancers turn to freelancing because they have lost a long-term job and feel that they cannot replace it. Freelancing is their last resort.

These freelancers often the most stressed out and desperate. Often, they never planned on being a freelancer at all. They may not even enjoy freelancing.

Some of the challenges these freelancers face include:

• Low budget–Being thrust into freelancing as a last resort sometimes means these freelancers may be so desperate that they take jobs below market rate. They also can’t afford to make an investment in their freelancing business.
• Financial Distress–A freelancer who turns to freelancing because of sudden job loss may be caught without savings or they may have already exhausted their savings.
• Culture shock–The differences between traditional employment and freelancing are even more stark for those who feel freelancing is their only option. Remember, these freelancers never wanted to freelance.

Path 5. A Need for Flexibility

The final path to freelancing is taken by those who need a more flexible working arrangement. They may have others to care for during the day or they may just prefer a non-traditional work schedule.

For these folks, freelancing fits the bill like no other type of job. As a freelancer, you can choose when you want to work, how much you want to work, and even which projects that you accept. You can’t get more flexible than that.

Your Turn

Did I miss a path to freelancing? What was your path? Why did you become a freelancer?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Laenulfean

Whether you’re a freelance photographer or just a freelancer who wants to learn more about photography, you’ll find a resource you can use in this great list.

One of things that I’ve discovered is that there are a huge number of photography resources out there. In this post I’ve tried to pull some of those resources together for you.

I’ve put together a list of some of the most popular and helpful sites about taking photos. I’ve also included a brief description of each site.

Please note, these are not stock image sites. If you are looking for information about using stock images, here are some tips for you.

Helpful Photography Resources

Are you trying to learn more about photography? Look no further. Here are 18 helpful resources (listed in alphabetical order) about photography:

1. 500px.com–This is a social media site just for photographers. If you want to see what good photography looks like and rate others photos, this is the site for you. You can also buy a print of your favorite photo.
2. About.com Photography Site–About.com’s helpful photography site is hosted by an experienced freelance photographer. You’ll find lessons, informative articles, and other tips for photographers.
3. All Day I Dream About Photography–This unique blog with the creative name features a different photographer each week. You will also find tutorials and news.
4. ASMP–This is the website of the American Society of Media Photographers, where you can find a myriad of helpful information as well as a local chapter. If you’re serious about photography, look into the member benefits including some discounts.
5. BetterPhoto.Com®–This is an online member community (with two paid levels) that features photography classes, a forum, and helpful articles. They can also help you (for a fee) create an online portfolio.
6. Cambridge in Colour–At this popular site you’ll find helpful tools such as a variety of unique photography-related calculators, plus well-organized tutorials, and a photography forum.
7. Digital Photography School–This is perhaps one of the best-known photography sites online, created by master blogger Darren Rowse. Here, you’ll find tips and tutorials, equipment reviews, photos from readers, and a forum.
8. The Luminous Landscape–This is a popular and well-liked site. It has articles, photos, product reviews, and tutorials.
9. National Geographic Photography–Over the years, the National Geographic magazine has been known for its spectacular photos. On this site you can also find photography tips. You can even buy prints here.
10. Nature Photographers Online Magazine–This is the official website of the Nature Photographers Network^TM. It’s a great site for inspiration (featuring a member photo of the month) as well as tutorials and forums.
11. Photo District News–This online magazine is directed towards the photography community. It includes equipment reviews, contests, and even classified ads.
12. PhotographyReview.com–This site is specifically geared to review cameras and equipment, but also includes some tutorial articles and forums.
13. PhotoPreneur–Do you want to make money with photography? This site addresses market opportunities available to photographers.
14. Phototuts–A great learning resource for anyone interested in photography. From how-to articles to tutorials to videos, you’ll find a wealth of information here.
15. Pixiq^TM–This popular photography site contains a wide variety of helpful materials including news, equipment reviews, tips and techniques, and more.
16. PopPhoto.com–This site includes a buying guide sponsored by the New York Institute of Photography as well as workshops, videos, reviews, and more.
17. The Royal Photographic Society–The Society, established in 1853 and headquartered in the UK, has a long history of educating the public about the art and science of photography.
18. Strobist®–This is a niche photography site with an emphasis on how to use flash and lighting effects to get the best results. All of the information on the site is free.

Note: Many of these photography sites contain a free section and a premium section with more material available for a nominal fee. In addition, most sites require users to register to make full use of the site.

Your Turn

Because there are so many photography resources out there, the previous list is by no means exhaustive.

Are you a freelance photographer? Do you have a favorite photography resource that I missed? If so, share it in the comments and tell a little bit about why you like it.

Journalists and other professional writers use the Five Ws (and one H) to make sure that they get enough information to write a good article. However, freelancers can use the same principles to improve their freelancing skills.

Did you ever start working on a project, only to realize that you don’t actually have enough information to get the job done? If you’d considered the 5 Ws of journalism that I’ll introduce to you in this post, you might have been able to avoid that problem.

In this post, I’ll explain what the five Ws are and describe how you can apply them to your freelancing business.

At the end of the post, please share some questions that you ask clients before you start to work.

What Are the Five Ws?

Freelance journalists are already familiar with the five Ws, but other freelancers probably need a bit of explanation.

Each W represents a question that needs to be answered.

In journalism the five Ws are:

• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
• Why?

And most journalists also add:

• How?

As you glance at the list, you can probably see that if a writer gets detailed answers to those questions, they will probably have enough information to write a story. Now it is time to make the five Ws work for freelancers.

Who?

Understanding your client is critical to successful freelancing.

A good freelancer needs to gather the basic contact information about their client such as:

• Name
• Location
• Email
• Address
• Phone

However, the best freelancers will make a sincere effort to learn and understand who their client really is, going beyond just the basic information about the client. Some ways to help you discover who your client really is include:

• Look at their mission statement. Most company mission statements express who they want to be.
• Examine the corporate history. This will tell you where your client came from.
• Try to figure out what makes your client tick. Find out what drives your client to do what they do.
• Discover your client’s reputation. Who does your client’s customers think they are?

If you review the information that you find, you are well on your way to really understanding who your client is.

What?

A freelancer also needs to know what their client does. This entails understanding the client’s product or service as well as knowing a little bit about their industry.

Are you really aware of all of the products or services that your client offers? Find out what their most popular products are and which products are not so popular.

Understanding what your client does will give you a head start in providing them with the best freelancing services.

Once you understand what your client does, you need to understand what they want from you. Make sure that you come to an agreement about the scope of your project.

Where?

Business customs and laws are different in different parts of the world. Where your client is located affects how they do business.

To be an effective freelancer, you should think about where your client is located. Pay particular attention to any restrictions or limitations that they may face due to their location.

If your client speaks a different language than you, it may be necessary to hire a translator to make sure that you are communicating clearly.

When?

The delivery date for a project is one of the most important pieces of information that you can get from your client. Also, remember that the delivery date can often be negotiated, so don’t panic if the first date that your client mentions isn’t realistic.

Once you’ve agreed upon a delivery date, be sure to get it in writing. Next, make sure that you stick to the agreed upon date. A missed deadline is usually a sure way to lose a client.

Why?

While the other questions are important to freelancers, this question is the one that allows you to really differentiate yourself from the competition.

If you can find out why the client is doing the project, you are in a position to suggest improvements for this project and to suggest additional projects that will really help the client meet their goal. Imagine the client satisfaction if you truly understood the client’s motivation for a project.

How?

There are also a lot of “how” questions involved in freelancing:

• How do you want this project done? This could refer to style or tools used.
• How will you use the finished product? This will help you understand the client’s goal.
• How many or how soon? There are also quantity and timing questions that can be answered by asking “how?”

Your Turn

Remembering “5 Ws and sometimes how” can be a quick tool to help you make sure that you have enough information to successfully complete your freelancing project.

What questions do you ask before you start a project? Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Steve-h

How do you keep track of your business contacts?

You know that it’s important to build relationships with your clients and prospects, but to be honest; you have trouble keeping track of them.

What if there was a tool that could help jog your memory about your clients and contacts and keep track of your last contact? That would save you time and possibly help you get more projects, right?

Well, guess what? Such a tool exists (and it’s not a card file or paper address book). In this post, I’ll briefly explain what customer relationship management (CRM) software does and list over twenty CRM options for freelancers.

What Is CRM?

What is customer relationship management and how can you use it? Several years ago, Thursday Bram wrote a great explanation here on Freelance Folder, The Freelancer’s Introduction to CRM.

Be sure to look at Thursday’s post for a more detailed explanation. In a nutshell, CRM software lets you keep a record of information about and your interactions with current and prospective clients. With the right CRM system, freelancers make sure that they follow through on every lead.

Thursday’s post recommended three CRM systems for freelancers:

1. ZOHO CRM. This is a great tool that integrates with many popular software tools. You can easily track leads, prospects, and business opportunities. There are various pricing levels available, depending on the number of users and there is also a mobile version.
2. Salesforce. Another good option for freelancers, Salesforce makes use of the sales cloud to let you find the information you need. There is a special focus on social media. You can integrate your email and pricing levels based on the number of users.
3. Highrise. This CRM tool can also help you to track clients and prospects. It interfaces with popular software. There’s even an iPhone app. It has several levels of service, and it is currently a pay as you go service.

Of course, there are even more CRM options available. Let’s take a look at some of those.

18 More CRM Tools

There are many other great CRM tools you may wish to consider for your freelancing business. In alphabetical order, here are eighteen more tools to consider:

1. BatchBook. This tool was designed specifically for small businesses with a limited budget. You can track contacts and even social media activity. There are currently five levels of service.
2. Big Contacts. Another great option for small businesses. This tool includes mobile access and features a unique contact dashboard. You can import contacts from other software.
3. Daylite. The CRM is designed specifically for the Mac. There’s a calendar and mail integration. There’s also an iPhone and iPad version of the tool for mobile freelancers.
4. Infusionsoft. This is another tool developed with the small business in mind. It’s focus is on CRM, marketing, and e-commerce. It also features strong email marketing tools.
5. Insight.ly. A user-friendly CRM featuring a way to keep track of all of your contacts. This tool is designed around Google Apps. You can also track tasks and milestones.
6. Landslide. This cloud-based CRM tool was recently acquired by j2 Global, so it will be interesting to see what develops. The tool has many features including social and mobile tools.
7. OnContact. This tool features automation and can also be used to improve client support service. There are three different levels of functionality available.
8. Oprius. Keep track of your professional relationships. Includes social media and email. There’s also a to-do list function. Designed for MLM businesses.
9. PipelineDeals. This tool includes contact management, custom reports, email integration. It also integrates with Google apps. Unlike other tools, there is currently one low price.
10. Plaxo. Use the cloud to track your contacts. Works like an online address book. There’s a free mobile interface and the basic version of this tool is currently also free.
11. Sage ACT!. This another customer relationship management option for freelancers. This tool even has accounting integration. It also integrates with other popular software tools.
12. Splendid CRM. This is an open source web-based CRM tool with various levels of functionality. It is a Microsoft Certified Partner.
13. Stride. This tool is geared to the small business person. The tool is in beta at the current time, but the pricing at the time of publication looked very affordable.
14. Stitch Labs. This new tool is geared towards those who sell products, although it could be used by others as well. Track the various channels you use to sell your products.
15. SugarCRM. This is another very popular open-source, web-based tool. Use the cloud, access it through mobile devices, and integrate with social media.
16. Vtiger. This online software application can help with your marketing needs and it’s comparable to some of the more expensive options. There are twenty different modules.
17. Work etc.. This tool integrates CRM, project management and billing from within Gmail. There are mobile and web apps available. It also integrates with Google Apps.
18. Xobni. This tool automates your address book using your Gmail and Outlook email accounts. There are versions for the Android, iPhone and Blackberry.

You can also find even more CRM tools listed in this post at Spyre Studios.

Your Turn

Do you use one of these CRM tools? Which one?

Did I leave out your favorite CRM tool? What is it?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by klynslis

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Giveaway Details

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