Make Freelancing Really Pay
()
About this ebook
“Make Freelancing REALLY Pay – Communication and Negotiation Strategies That Take You to the Top”, is designed to help new and struggling freelancers identify and overcome barriers to their success. This resource is filled with practical advice that you can begin implementing right away.
Advance Praise for Make Freelancing REALLY Pay:
“I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever been shy, unsure, or overly humble about deciding 'how much should I charge?' The book is about increasing your income, but the moral of the story here is that you should continue to develop confidence and courage, and to believe in yourself and your business. The remarkable thing is, it’s so rare to find a book that truly exemplifies the saying 'knowledge is power,' but this one does. It’s a very empowering read, and completely worth exploring. If you or someone you know could use some encouragement in this area, let them know about this book." - Lucy Spencer, Freelance Editor, and Writer
Message from the Author:
How Is Freelancing Working Out for You?
Freelancing can be an exciting and fulfilling way to earn money. At first, you enjoy ‘being your own boss’. But after a while, this type of career can turn out to be a lot less fun than you imagined. You may face some real challenges when:
* Your income is a roller coaster from one month to the next
* It’s hard to find good projects that fit your skill set
* You price your services lower than you should just to get jobs
* It seems like your clients don’t respect your time
* You work all day, every day to make ends meet
Freelancing Doesn’t Have to Be That Way
Are you are tired of just scraping by as a freelance professional? I know exactly how that feels. I certainly struggled for the first couple of years in this career. Fortunately, I didn’t give up. Instead, I decided to change my approach so I could start making more money with less stress. I did a lot of experimenting to reach my current level of freelance success.
What Does Success Look Like for Me?
Here’s a snapshot of my situation to give you an idea of what’s possible:
* I work as much or as little as I please and only choose projects I find compelling
* I spend lots of time enjoying my family and pursuing other interests
* I don’t worry about where my next paycheck – or my next project – is coming from
* I charge what I know my work is worth and clients gladly pay my rates while recommending me to others
* More than 90% of my projects are repeat business or referral work
* I get paid promptly for my services (with the occasional bonus thrown in from very satisfied clients)
I know from personal experience which strategies really produce results for freelancers who provide a high-quality service but are struggling to find work and get paid what they deserve. Now, I’m prepared to share my knowledge with you.
“Make Freelancing REALLY Pay” gives you the inside scoop on how to:
* Choose consistently high-paying clients
* Expand your freelancing opportunities into new territory
* Improve client relationships through assertive communication
* Craft proposals that win more projects
* Raise your rates without raising too many eyebrows
* Manage your client load so you have less income fluctuation and less anxiety
* Set your own pricing with confidence – no matter what others charge
* Get paid well even if you choose to cut back on your hours
* Confidently demonstrate the value of your services to clients
* Negotiate for what you are really worth, without sweating it!
Who Should Read This Book?
I have crafted this book with all freelancers in mind. Writers, graphic designers, web developers, consultants, and anyone else who provides professional freelance services can use my communication and negotiation strategies to increase the profitability of their business.
Wish
Daisy McCarty
Hello gracious readers, my name is Daisy McCarty. I’m a self-educated writer and co-founder of Freelance Text, a professional services firm specializing in web content creation. Since transitioning out of a seven year career in Corporate Procurement in 2008, I have been using my negotiating skills to navigate to the higher levels of the online writing industry. Today, I mentor informally on LinkedIn and offer formal one-on-one consulting services to freelancers who are ready to increase their income.
Related to Make Freelancing Really Pay
Related ebooks
Freelance In 30 Days: Get The Skills And Knowledge You Need To Be A Successful Freelancer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Want To Be An Online Freelancer... Now What? Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5How To Start Your Own Business With Upwork & Udemy (2 in 1 Bundle) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Simple Guide to Freelancing: Branding Yourself for Success Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsComplete Guide To Making Money From Home with Freelancing & Work From Home Jobs (2 in 1 Bundle) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Deliberate Digital Marketer: Adopt the Framework of High-Performing Marketers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsComplete Guide To Make Money At Home With Upwork & Shopify (2 in 1 Bundle) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFreelancing on Upwork: How to make money from home and make the most out of Upwork Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Six Figures in Sweatpants: A No-Bullsh*t, Practical Guide to Building a Freelance Career. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Make Money On Fiverr Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFiverr Social SEO: Perfect Rating Gigs For Website Social Promotion Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Freelance Writer: Freelance Jobs and Their Profiles, #18 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Best And Worst Freelance Marketplaces For You And Your Enterprise Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTips, Tricks, and Resources on How to Become a Successful Freelancer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEasy Ebook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Affiliate Marketing Complete Self-Assessment Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Freelance Sales Expert: Freelance Jobs and Their Profiles, #11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFind Your First Freelance Client Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Make Money From Home As A Freelance Writer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How To Make Money On Fiverr: A Systematic Guide To Building Your Online Empire Five Bucks At A Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsArticle Marketing Influence: Learn the proven tactics to be successful! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFiverr Frequently Asked Questions Answered Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster Fiverr Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings59 Unique Fiverr Gig Ideas Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Unleash The Power of Information Products: Learn the Keys To This Marketing Treasure Chest Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Freelance SEO Expert: Freelance Jobs and Their Profiles, #12 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Win More Sales in the Digital Age: Learn how to attract quality customers and achieve great results within 30 days Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFreelancing Days: Being My Own Boss Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Small Business & Entrepreneurs For You
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ultimate Side Hustle Book: 450 Moneymaking Ideas for the Gig Economy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feck Perfuction: Dangerous Ideas on the Business of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Small Business For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Company Rules: Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned from the CIA Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Starting a Business All-In-One For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Robert's Rules of Order: The Original Manual for Assembly Rules, Business Etiquette, and Conduct Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The LLC and Corporation Start-Up Guide: Your Complete Guide to Launching the Right Business Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Timothy Ferriss' book: The 4-Hour Workweek: More time, more money, more life: Summary Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Overcoming Impossible: Learn to Lead, Build a Team, and Catapult Your Business to Success Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Side Hustle: How to Turn Your Spare Time into $1000 a Month or More Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/548 Days to the Work and Life You Love: Find It—or Create It Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Start Your Own Business Bible: 501 New Ventures You Can Launch Today Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Your CPA Isn't Telling You: Life-Changing Tax Strategies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wealthology: The Science of Smashing Money Blocks Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Without a Doubt: How to Go from Underrated to Unbeatable Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whole Body Entrepreneur: A Physical and Emotional Self-Care Bootcamp Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Make Freelancing Really Pay
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Make Freelancing Really Pay - Daisy McCarty
Make Freelancing REALLY Pay
Communication and Negotiation Strategies That Take You to the Top
By Daisy McCarty
Copyright 2013 by Shasta Daisy McCarty
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Note to the Reader:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
Preface: My Freelance Success Story
Introduction: Facing the Challenges of Freelancing
Chapter 1: Choose the Most Profitable Clients
Chapter 2: Identify and Avoid Problematic Clients
Chapter 3: Expand the Scope of Your Business
Chapter 4: Set a Respectable Minimum Rate
Chapter 5: Find Your Niche in the Freelance Ecosystem
Chapter 6: Use the Right Pricing Structure
Chapter 7: Price Your Work with Confidence
Chapter 8: Don't Do Free Work
Chapter 9: Increase the Perceived Value of Your Services
Chapter 10: Improve the Quality of Your Communication
Chapter 11: Implement Common Sense Policies
Chapter 12: Assess Your Real Educational Needs
Chapter 13: Craft Proposals That Win Clients
Chapter 14: Get the Most from 'Giveaways'
Chapter 15: Maximize Client Profitability
Chapter 16: Feel Comfortable Raising Your Rates
Chapter 17: Get Off the Income Roller Coaster
Chapter 18: Handle Success Effectively
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Freelance Career
Final Recommendations
Contact the Author
About the Author
Hello, gracious readers and fellow freelancers. My name is Daisy McCarty. I’m a self-educated writer and co-founder of Freelance Text, a professional services firm that specializes in web content creation. Since transitioning out of a seven-year career in corporate procurement in 2008, I have been using my negotiating skills to navigate to the higher levels of the online writing industry. Today, I mentor informally on LinkedIn and offer formal one-on-one consulting services to freelancers who want customized guidance to help them increase their income.
Why I Wrote This Book
Why am I sharing my freelancing secrets with you? Because the more you succeed, the better my career gets. When clients become accustomed to interacting with highly skilled professionals who command a respectable price for their work, all freelancers enjoy a better business environment. I believe it is well worth my time and energy to promote excellence and success in the freelance industry. I sincerely hope this resource will present you with the information, insights, and tools you need to make freelancing really pay.
Dedication
To my amazing and supportive husband, Ken
&
For my daughter, Jasmine, Momma’s precious flower
Preface: My Freelance Success Story
Before you delve into my book, you probably want to know where following my advice might lead. I’ll take a moment to share what freelance success looks like for me. Then, you can decide if you’d like to move your own career in a similar direction.
I realize that everyone has a different number in mind when they think about ‘making real money.’ You might be completely awed or only somewhat impressed if I put a dollar figure on my income. So, I’ll offer a perspective that gives you a better sense of how much success I have truly achieved.
In 2012, I worked about 25 hours a week (total billable and non-billable hours). I also took time off to have a baby. Yet I grossed more than twice as much as I did at my last white-collar office job working more than 40 hours a week. I love the fact that I was able to give myself a 100% raise while going from full-time to part-time. These days, I find my career both lucrative and enjoyable. It supports a very high quality of life.
Here’s what being a freelancer is like for me:
- I work as much or as little as I please.
- I choose projects I find compelling so I don’t get bored.
- I spend lots of time enjoying my family and pursuing other interests.
- I don’t worry about where my next paycheck—or my next project—is coming from.
- I charge what I know my work is worth, and clients gladly pay my rates while recommending me to others.
- More than 90% of my projects are repeat business or referral work.
- I get paid promptly for my services (with the occasional bonus thrown in from very satisfied clients).
I wish you the same success in your freelance career!
Acknowledgments
The creation of Make Freelancing REALLY Pay has been quite an undertaking. Throughout this project, I have relied greatly on the services of many other professional freelancers in my network. I am profoundly grateful for the support of the following individuals:
Lucy Spencer – Editor
Grace Alexander and Mandy Fox at Brilliance on Demand – Social Media
Tasneem Durbhai at T&M Design – Web and Book Graphics
Stuart Jones and Holly Zimmerman at Rose & Dagger Studios – Photography
Jenni Anderson – PC Limited
I would also like to express my thanks to every freelancer who has asked for my advice over the years. Your questions and your passion to learn how to improve your business are the inspiration for this book.
Introduction: Facing the Challenges of Freelancing
First, let me congratulate you on having the courage and self-confidence to become a freelancer. Ideally, freelancing can be an exciting and fulfilling way to earn a living. But it can also pose many challenges. Perhaps you have already discovered some of them.
- Your income fluctuates wildly from one month to the next.
- It’s hard to find good projects that fit your skill set.
- You price your work lower than you should, just to get jobs.
- It seems like clients don’t respect your time.
- You work all day, every day to make ends meet.
I know exactly how this feels. I certainly struggled for the first couple of years in my freelance career. Fortunately, I didn’t give up. Instead, I decided to change my approach so I could start making more money with less stress. I did a lot of experimenting to reach my current level of success. Now, I’m prepared to share my knowledge with you.
I have found that talent, skill, passion, and hard work aren’t enough to make it in this industry. The ingredient many freelancers are missing is an understanding of how to find the best clients, communicate with them effectively, negotiate a profitable price for their services, and build a robust referral network. Make Freelancing REALLY Pay provides practical advice that helps you do what’s necessary to build a successful business:
- Choose consistently high-paying clients.
- Expand your freelancing opportunities into new territory.
- Improve client relationships through assertive communication.
- Write proposals that win more projects.
- Raise your rates without raising too many eyebrows.
- Manage your client load so you have less income fluctuation and less anxiety.
- Set your own pricing with confidence, no matter what others charge.
- Get paid well while working as many hours as you wish.
- Confidently demonstrate the value of your services to clients.
- Negotiate for what you really deserve to be paid for your work, without sweating it!
Where My Book Fits in the Freelancing Puzzle
I don’t call myself a freelance guru. I’m not selling you a ‘million-dollar system’ to follow. What I am offering in Make Freelancing REALLY Pay is a collection of strategies that I have used to build a highly successful business as a well-paid freelancer. I’ve shared much of this information with other professionals over the years. These colleagues tell me that the advice