There’s a lot of advice out there about freelancing. While that can be helpful, it can also lead to endlessly researching a topic without taking action — and paralysis by analysis is no way to run a business. Here are a few of the most debated topics and how your individual circumstances might influence your approach.
Is it better to specialize or be a generalist? I can’t honestly think of a topic that generates more heat and less light than this one. My opinion, after 22 years of freelancing and hiring freelancers is: It’s a false dichotomy and doesn’t matter, because I know successful freelancers in both camps. (Or, like me, they’re a hybrid — a specialized generalist or generalized specialist, depending on the day.) The main thing is that you should never feel guilty or wrong about your chosen path. After all, you can always alter your trajectory one way or the other. Making your choice requires a balance of what motivates you, what drives the most opportunities, and what makes you money.
How should I price my services? The most frequent debate in this realm is whether you should charge by the project or by the hour, and you can find solid reasoning on both sides. My personal preference is to use an estimated range, because it increases my negotiating leverage and potential revenue. But it is only a preference; if a client or prospect wants me to work hourly, or with a not-to-exceed estimate, or by retainer, that works too. To me, the key question you need to ask about pricing involves taking the perspective from the other side of the desk: What does the client want or expect?
Should I have a business name or use my own name? I have a difficult-to-spell last name, so that probably colors my perception. I’m firmly in Camp Business Name. (Psychologically, it also helps me reinforce the feeling that I’m a business, not just a writer and editor, just like having a separate bank account and a P.O. box.) Nonetheless, one of my friends — one of the most respected people in the industry — argues the opposite very persuasively. His contention is that writers and editors are different from other businesses, and that we’re more easily found by our real names than some obscure business name. Answering this question requires an understanding of how it will affect your own motivation and your ability to have prospects and clients find and refer you.
These are far from the only debates out there in FreelanceWorld, and yes, I realize the irony of giving advice about advice! My goal is to encourage you to seek your own answers, not just blindly implement some guru’s advice from a blog, Tweet, article, podcast, or webinar. Your business is unique: Your skills and experience, target audience, willingness to take risks, and finances (among countless other elements) are different from anyone else out there. When you find something that works, stick with it. And if you discover something that doesn’t fit your business or style, it’s time to move on and keep experimenting.
Jake Poinier made the leap into freelance writing and editing in 1999 after a decade of positions in the publishing industry, giving him key insights from both sides of the desk. As the founder and owner of Boomvang Creative Group, he has worked with a diverse array of Fortune 500 and small businesses, consumer and trade magazines, and independent authors. Jake is committed to helping freelancers improve their businesses and shares his knowledge and experiences frequently as a speaker at industry conferences, through webinars, and on his blog.
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