Yearly, more and more companies are seeing the benefits of hiring freelancers over employees.
In reality, as a lot as 62% of companies are already hiring freelancers and aren’t stopping. With saving costs, sooner deliverables, and a much bigger pool of experience to hunt out specialised staff, it’s no marvel freelancing seems as if the life to dwell.
Or is it?
Freelance writers are discovering it more and more troublesome having a sustainable residing by writing for purchasers.
Brady Dinkel is a contract creator and he makes use of his freelance income to cowl his backpacking journeys.
He shortly realized that the freelance life is means harder than he thought.
“After I started freelance writing, I anticipated splendor and riches. I began freelance writing to save lots of money for a backpacking journey with buddies solely to hunt out out it was further challening than the online made it out to be.”
To take a look on the REAL challenges new freelance writers are going by, let’s check out Freelancermap’s Freelancer Look at.
Of their analysis, they give attention to the primary challenges freelancers face, which is normally a helpful roadmap for model spanking new freelance writers.
1. Enterprise Acquisition
Can you take into account mission acquisition – the writing jobs you get – is harder than fluctuating income?
And it’s nearly twice as troublesome, too!
In accordance with the analysis, the very best three mission acquisition challenges are:
- Enterprise requests don’t match my experience (40%)
- Few recurring purchasers (38%)
- My neighborhood won’t be enough (35%)
Let’s break this down.
Enterprise Requests Don’t Match My Talents
Everytime you’re new to freelance writing, you most likely take any job that comes your means, correct?
I suggest, that’s what I did and that’s what I taught new writers to do (not anymore, though).
This tactic was to help new writers land writing gigs sooner and help them acclimate to the freelance place.
Nevertheless, nowadays, this isn’t the proper approach, notably when you’re employed to do a mission that doesn’t match your experience.
As an illustration, you pitch to a job advert wanting a copywriter to do an advert advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
*raises hand*
You suppose, “I’ve under no circumstances carried out adverts, nonetheless I’m a copywriter, and it could effectively’t be that troublesome.”
*nods, positive*
WRONG!
As an alternative of confidently telling the consumer you’ll be able to do that work, permit them to know you haven’t carried out it nonetheless are eager to review.
A while once more, a promoting supervisor contacted me on LinkedIn and requested about my advert experience.
I’ve under no circumstances carried out adverts for LinkedIn, nonetheless I’ve carried out Fb adverts.
So, I suggested them the fact as an alternative of lying and saying I used to concentrate on this mission.
By being truthful, the consumer accepted what I said and employed me for his or her web site positioning advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
Nevertheless for individuals who see a job advert that requires you to do one factor you aren’t conscious of (e.g., using their CMS to format your articles and together with a meta description), don’t apply to those jobs OR state what you may concentrate on and permit them to know it’s possible you’ll examine what you don’t know.
Few Recurring Purchasers
This isn’t an issue for underneath new freelancers!
I wrestle with this as correctly.
As an illustration, as soon as I landed a cool writing job for an AI agency, I was ecstatic to place in writing for them.
I wrote my first article and the content material materials lead was impressed, so he requested me for a further article after which one different.
Nevertheless, after that? Nothing further.
I requested one different creator for this shopper if that occurred to them, too, and it did.
Some purchasers get ‘well-known’ writers to place in writing only a few posts after which switch on.
What I assumed was a recurring shopper, turned out to be a bait-and-switch shopper.
Now, I get nervous after my third article with a model new shopper.
Fortunately, the editor on my present writing gig linked with me on LinkedIn, so hopefully, which implies I’m a long-term creator for them!
So, how can a model new creator obtain a long-term shopper that needs their writing every week or month?
My reply is to obtain working a weblog jobs!
I normally take such a content material materials because of it’s recurring and high-paying.
Many job boards have working a weblog jobs for model spanking new writers, so bookmark these web sites for gigs.
My Neighborhood is Not Good Ample
Networking is a important expertise a contract creator should have locked down to attain success.
Within the occasion you actually really feel your neighborhood isn’t enough, it’s time to differ that.
I would love you to go to LinkedIn to hunt out the acceptable people to attach with.
This suggests discovering:
- Editors
- Content material materials leads
- CEO’s
- Communication managers
- Content material materials strategists
- Content material materials managers
Listed beneath are quite a lot of the present connections I’ve made on LinkedIn.
2. Fluctuating Earnings
This could be a HUGE freelance writing downside EVERY freelancer has.
You probably can bill tons of of {{dollars}} one month after which merely tons of the next.
Purchasers let go of writers or don’t payment any articles to you.
So, how do you account for this and put collectively for this downside?
What I might do is a number of points:
- Provide fully totally different firms
- Protected your anchor purchasers
- Have advert hoc purchasers
Let’s break this down.
Provide Utterly totally different Corporations
As a content material materials creator on-line, you too can make some big money.
How? We offer firms like copywriting, advert writing, product sales internet web page writing, digital assistant, content material materials strategist, and social media creator.
You possibly can even present fully totally different ‘firms,’ resembling proudly proudly owning space of curiosity internet sites, starting a YouTube channel or podcast, or creating digital merchandise.
That’s efficiently going into the creator financial system.
These firms, roles, and corporations are based on CONTENT.
And as a contract creator….correctly that’s your speciality!
Should you want to assemble a content material materials enterprise arm from freelancing, check out my course Freelance Operating a weblog in a Weekend.
Protected Your Anchor Purchasers
Anchor purchasers are the 2-3 purchasers you’ve got who offer you sustainable income every month. They’re your ride-and-die purchasers who stand with you month after month, 12 months after 12 months.
Your anchor purchasers may fluctuate or change all yr lengthy, nonetheless it’s best to aim for 2-3 that make up most of your income.
And while you may think, “Nevertheless Elna, what happens if all of them mean you can go? Now you don’t have any further anchor purchasers and no income. What now?”
Whereas this MIGHT happen, it’s inconceivable. Constructive, one and even two purchasers may mean you can go or decrease the amount of labor you is perhaps doing, nonetheless along with having anchor purchasers, you moreover should be hustling.
This suggests staying associated on social media, networking, pitching, and connecting with the people who hire you.
Don’t ever flip into complacent alongside together with your anchor purchasers!
Have Advert Hoc Purchasers
Advert hoc purchasers are the purchasers that solely payment articles on an as-needed basis.
I’ve two advert hoc purchasers. One asks me for copywriting work each time they need it, and the other asks me for weblog writing every quarter.
Whereas these deliverables are few and far between, they’re fixed purchasers that I’ve along with my anchor purchasers.
3. Unpaid Journey
I’m shocked that unpaid journey is an issue for lots of freelancers.
I suggest, being a freelancer means having the freedom to spend your day one of the best ways you must.
You create the work by landing purchasers and managing your work in an effort to have the afternoons free and don’t have to work on Mondays for individuals who don’t have to!
I really feel for model spanking new freelance writers, the idea of unpaid journey stems from the employer-employee framework.
There is not a such issue as that when you freelance.
As an alternative, you is perhaps seen as a collaborator or on par with the businesses hiring you.
I did NOT make a journey for the first 3-4 years of freelance writing.
I suggest, I took Christmas off, nonetheless most likely not.
I nonetheless wrote for purchasers or wrote for my weblog.
Nevertheless I principally work at night, and which implies I’ve my days free, so there wasn’t a should ‘go on journey.’
It wasn’t until my twins have been old enough that I decided to take the summers off and do some road journeys.
So, it IS doable to take extended journey as a freelancer that is paid.
How?
By ending your work earlier or getting the work you may ‘miss’ earlier to finish…or, work a bit on trip!
Do what you want!
I personally am offline for my holidays as I work on-line for my job and need a digital meals routine.
You won’t be able to take motion throughout the first or second 12 months, nonetheless finally, you must have ample saved up or ample purchasers to take only a few weeks off a few occasions a 12 months.
4. Late Funds
Late funds positively suck as a freelancer and to allow them to’t always be prevented.
Even after nearly a decade of freelance writing, I nonetheless get the odd late payer.
Nevertheless I’m okay with this because of my purchasers are high-paying purchasers, and I do know they will finally pay me.
If I ship an invoice and each week goes by, I am going to nudge and remind them, which regularly works.
Nevertheless, for model spanking new freelance writers, this could be a REAL downside.
Lower-paying purchasers may view you as a commodity solely, which means they will benefit from you.
They may demand quite a lot of work for little pay and since you might be new, and probably decided you may take this pink flag shopper.
After which they delay value or worse, don’t pay you.
Now I’ll allow you to notice that each one shopper pays you (I haven’t hear of a consumer NOT paying you) nonetheless they won’t pay you in a sufficient timeline.
For me, I always give them the benefit of doubt and acquired’t do one different article for them until they pay.
And for individuals who determine up a large mannequin, know that these types of purchasers have their very personal value schedule that it is essential to undertake.
5. Time Administration
With quite a lot of purchasers, time administration is an precise wrestle and downside for sure.
And for me?
Successfully, I’ve purchasers and school college students and e-mail subscribers and twins and correctly, I’m persistently busy.
So, for individuals who’re juggling many points and purchasers, what do you do?
Listed beneath are my stay-proof time administration recommendations:
- Batching can provide the outcomes you need
- Plan it out (on paper or digitally)
- Be company alongside together with your work hours (to stability the whole thing)
Let’s break this down.
Batching Can Work for You
Batching your work means selecting blocks of time or days of the week that you just do one exercise for all of your purchasers.
So this may doubtless seem to be:
- Mondays: evaluation for 3 articles
- Tuesdays: outline for 3 articles (get approval)
- Wednesday: Start introductions for 3 articles
- Thursdays: (outline licensed) Write the first draft
- Friday: edit (submit on Monday)
Now, this acquired’t always seem to be this, nonetheless you get the picture.
For me, I principally have to batch my firms.
So, Mondays are filming days for my Youtube channels, and Tuesdays are modifying and descriptions for shopper articles.
Wednesday and Thursday are content material materials writing days, and Fridays are tutorial days. This suggests I am going to watch a webinar or make amends for digital promoting info.
Plan It Out (On Paper or Digitally)
I’m a large believer in planning out my day.
I need to loosely know what my day seems like (non-public and enterprise).
This can assist me deal with my time greater if I do know I’ve an appointment throughout the morning or should stop working at lunchtime to attend a college function.
I moreover like planning my shopper’s initiatives in my Freelance Productiveness Planner.
If paper isn’t your jam, it’s possible you’ll go digital too.
I like using Trello and Notion, nonetheless there are totally different apps you must use.
They do take time to review, nonetheless YouTube will make it easier to with that!
Uncover a system that works for you and that you will use each day. Within the occasion you don’t use it each day, it’s not the system for you.
Be Company With Your Work Hours (to Steadiness Each little factor)
And lastly, be company with the work hours you set.
To start out with, I solely labored when my twins have been sleeping, which was principally at night from 6 to 10 p.m.
I did not work when my twins have been awake. As they grew older and commenced going to highschool, I adjusted my work hours to solely be all through school hours.
After they went to highschool, I labored, and as soon as they received right here dwelling, I ended.
I moreover don’t work on the weekends as I’m focussed on family and residential stuff.
By setting company hours, you is perhaps engaged on making a stability between work and family. That’s arduous for model spanking new freelancers because of working in your self doesn’t appear like work.
It’s pleasing, thrilling, intense, and fulfilling!
So, the truth is, you must have that feeling ALL day ALL THE TIME, nonetheless it’s possible you’ll’t.
You may flip into overworked, irritable, and neglectful of your life, buddies, and family.
So, take it from me and set these hours and honor them.
6. Negotiations
One different expertise you wish to succeed furthermore networking is the ability to barter cost to your writing service
This could be a ache degree for lots of latest freelancers because of some purchasers don’t value our writing or expertise and might take care of you unfairly.
That’s why it’s important to face up in your self, obtain that confidence, and be able to negotiate a great freelance writing cost.
I share in my program Write Your Resolution to Your First $1k how I negotiate my cost with a consumer because of I do know this could be a downside for lots of.
What I can say is be company alongside together with your cost and justify it by the expertise you’ve got.
7. Accounting & Finance
In distinction to standard employment, the place the employer sometimes handles taxes and retirement contributions, we freelancers are liable for our funds.
Look –
I’m not a lawyer (nonetheless definitely considered one of my school college students is, and throughout the personal course Fb group, she did a Dwell to help us get our enterprise in order), nonetheless it’s important to have a system in place for recording financial transactions and planning for tax funds.
Within the occasion you want help as a beginner, determine up the book, The Money Info for Freelance Writers by Alexis Grant of The Write Life.
My options:
- Use accounting software program program (or hire an accountant)
- Put apart money for taxes
- Create a funds
Let’s break this down.
Use Accounting Software program program (or Lease an Accountant)
Everytime you start as a contract creator, you’ll have to enroll in accounting software program program to hint your income and payments, generate invoices, and provide financial research.
Many accounting apps exist, nonetheless probably the most well-liked ones are Quickbooks and FreshBooks.
Whereas using software program program can streamline your accounting, it’s maybe a higher willpower so to hire an accountant.
Since my husband moreover runs a enterprise, we employed an accountant to take care of and analyze our funds.
Or, for individuals who hate doing your whole taxes like freelance creator Deevra Norling does, hiring an accountant is just a better risk.
Set Aside Money for Taxes
In distinction to standard employees, freelancers are considered self-employed, meaning you’re liable for paying every income and self-employment taxes.
To avoid being caught off guard by an enormous tax bill on the end of the 12 months, start managing your money, by keeping apart 25-30% of your earnings from shopper work.
I’m not an accountant so the 25-50% can fluctuate based in your tax bracket and deductions. It’s greater to overestimate and have a surplus than to underestimate and owe money.
Create a Funds
As always, create a funds and save your money because of freelance writing income can fluctuate month to month.
It’s going to present you the best way to deal with your funds greater.
So, put apart money for payments, monetary financial savings, and taxes.
This can make it easier to avoid overspending and be sure to afford to cowl your financial obligations.
8. Coordination with Purchasers
In accordance with the analysis, 57% of freelancers work with quite a lot of purchasers concurrently whereas 47% work with only one shopper.
This seems like most freelancers select one or the other!
I benefit from having quite a lot of purchasers, nonetheless primarily probably the most I can have at one time is spherical three since I moreover deal with totally different blogs and have quite a lot of applications with school college students!
So, how do you coordinate the whole thing with a few shopper?
One of many easiest methods is to use a planner to create shopper profiles.
In these shopper profiles, you might have:
- Contact info
- Value info
- Value
- Mannequin info
- Rivals
This can make it easier to shortly work out which shopper piece desires what mannequin info.
I might then batch my days in accordance the purchasers or article issues.
It could possibly most likely take some trial and error to find out how one can coordinate quite a lot of purchasers in a month.
Some freelance writers use Notion to assemble out their shopper calendars. In the event that they’ve spots open, they uncover a consumer to fill them or ask a recurring shopper within the occasion that they need further content material materials.
I don’t try this as my calendar is already crammed with content material materials creation for my mannequin, nonetheless for individuals who do freelance writing, this system may also work.
9. Staying Productive
I can agree that staying productive is a HUGE downside for freelancers.
It is for me.
When my plate is full, and my twins’ sports activities actions schedules are crazy, I am going to burn out and not be able to create content material materials for my purchasers or for my mannequin.
It’s an precise issue for us creatives and one factor non-creative husbands don’t understand.
Nevertheless, I HAVE to take breaks to be MORE productive.
This fills my ingenious cup and gives me further vitality to place in writing.
Chances are high you may not discover this nonetheless as a contract creator, every shopper piece you write is type of a freaking evaluation paper!
You is perhaps writing quite a lot of evaluation papers per thirty days…let that sink in.
So, it’s no marvel I NEED breaks all by my day to regroup, re-energize, and easily stage out my emotions.
One different issue that helps me be further productive is persistently creating content material materials.
I didn’t discover, nonetheless as soon as I had weeks of no shopper work or weeks of not writing a weblog submit, it was terribly troublesome to place in writing 1,000 phrases.
It wasn’t until I was creating content material materials every single day – filming a YouTube video, getting weblog submit ideas, writing a weblog submit, writing a LinkedIn submit, writing an e-mail – that creating that piece of content material materials was a breeze.
So, even for individuals who don’t have a full roster of purchasers to place in writing for, create a writing routine in your small enterprise.
This may seem to be:
- Mondays: write a submit on Medium
- Tuesday: ship out 10 pitches
- Wednesday: write a LinkedIn and X submit
- Thursday: write a sample weblog submit
- Friday: create a TikTok video or Instagram Reel
- Saturday: share photos on Instagram
- Sunday: outline a weblog submit
It could appear like fairly a bit, nonetheless if you get into the conduct of creating content material materials, your job as a CONTENT WRITER will doubtless be lots, lots, easier!
Freelance Challenges No Additional!
I hope this submit helped you see freelance writers’ challenges and the way one can overcome them.
It’s okay to wrestle. I wouldn’t have to dwell in a world the place the whole thing received right here easy.
I might get bored and marvel, “why am I even proper right here?”
Folks desire a wrestle to actually really feel achieved.
So, take these challenges, work with them, and use them as fuel to create a sustainable freelance writing enterprise.
Over to you – what downside is plaguing you correct now?
Share them with me and we’re capable of offer you a plan!