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Somewhere between workaday jobs and entrepreneurship lies the murky world of freelancing. The idea of striking out alone appeals to many people. But where does one start? Phil Gyford has created a beginner’s guide to freelancing.
It’s been over a year since I first thought of writing down everything I’ve learned about freelancing. I’ve now been freelance for more than three years but the title still has a double meaning — this is both for beginners and by a beginner, because I know I still have a lot to learn.
Gyford covers a wide range of topics, such as:
- When to start freelancing
- You are your own marketing department
- You are your own accounts department
- You are your own project manager
- You are your own career advisor
Though some of the info is UK-specific, the general principles are applicable to anyone who has considered freelancing. Gyford also recommends this article about becoming a consultant.
For a time, I toyed with the idea of doing computer consulting full-time. (I still do a little of this on the side.) One book that helped me was Free Agent Nation. Part-time freelanding/consulting can be an excellent way to parlay existing skills into additional income while testing the waters of entrepreneurship.
[A beginner's guide to freelancing, via kottke]
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October 30th, 2006 at 9:17 am
I think that article about becoming a consultant was for the most part very good. Your skills are important- but your people skills are what will make or break your business. I highly recommend “How To Win Friends and Influence People”, as well as “Selling to the Affluent” as communicating, networking and people skills books. I know for me personally, taking on too many projects was a bad thing because my focus was diluted. I also disagree that if you are booked solid, your rates are too low- it might just mean you are good- just make sure you are getting paid well for your time. And when possible pick up checks personally or have them directly deposited so you don’t have to fuss with the mail or “it’s in the mail” people. I also disagree that long term clients are best. I had ot let my first client go although they had been with me for a long time, I had advanced beyond their pay-range and they had time consuming-go nowhere projects that were not a good fit anymore. If you can communicate well, and do a great job, yo will always have business. The key is learning to then value your time and continue cultivating your skills, and then turn as much as you cna into systems, and train people to do what you do, so you can work your way out the business, and sell it or have an asset that works for you. LOL My two cents.
October 30th, 2006 at 9:49 am
I have a full-time programming job and I find it hard to “switch roles” to a totally different mindset and programming project.
Plus I’d be afraid to charge too much.
October 30th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Escape from Cubicle Nation has a lot of excellent advice for the would-be consultant, entrepreneur, etc.
October 30th, 2006 at 11:05 am
BinaryDollar - Don’t worry about charging too much. You’ll probably start out on the low side to get clients. Then you can slowly increase your prices. If you’re doing great work they won’t care one bit….
- Bryan
October 30th, 2006 at 11:46 am
I’ve been a freelancer all my working life (16 years and counting), and this guide is spot on. That said, I’d like to add that setting aside a significant chunk of time and money for your training and any required qualifications is very important as well. It’s also a good idea to take an occasional class or workshop that’s only partially relevant to your line of work - it broadens your skill set and gets you to meet people outside your own professional community.
Like Mr. Gyford, I hate marketing, and am bad at it myself. Fortunately, at this point in my career I don’t need to do that much self-promotion anymore; word of mouth from my network of clients and colleagues has been more than enough to keep me busy. The trick is to do whatever it takes to make yourself a rare commodity in your field. When I was starting out, being a full-time freelancer gave me an edge because most of my peers were doing this kind of work as a side job; my clients liked the flexibility and faster turnover that I could offer them, and eventually referred other people to me. (I did end up working seven days a week more often than I cared for, but like I said, whatever it takes.) These days I maintain that edge by constantly improving on the quality of my work beyond what clients normally demand.
One last thing: being a freelancer is like running a company on finite resources. An entrepreneur can expand their business to keep up with the demand; as a freelancer, on the other hand, there’s only so much that you can take on. So you better make it count!