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Make Freelancing Really Pay
Make Freelancing Really Pay
Make Freelancing Really Pay
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Make Freelancing Really Pay

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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

LanguageEnglish
PublisherDaisy McCarty
Release dateSep 14, 2013
ISBN9781301685806
Make Freelancing Really Pay
Author

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.

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    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

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