Freelancer Shout-Out!

[jgerminario]

Hey all—

I'm curious how many of you fine Pavlina forum folk have gone the freelance route for their work and primary source of income. Seems like this forum could be a great 'watercooler' of sorts for those of us who don't actually have a watercooler at our apartment-cum-office—not to mention other people.

I'm a freelance copywriter myself, operating out of San Francisco since February of this year, with a bit of web/graphic design to boot. I've met my share of other web designers and a few freelance techies out here, but not too many writers. I'd be glad to share my experiences with fellow freelancers, or those thinking about taking the leap to the freelance life. And I'm still learning plenty myself!

JG

[hervens]

I'm glad to see you were able to build a successful career out of freelancing.
As for me, I tried it in the past, mostly through websites such as freelancer.com or getacoder.com, and had very disappointing results.
I was mostly focusing on web development/programming stuff, and there was just so much competition, that I was simply wasting my time.

For instance, I would bid on a project to design a website for the lowest amount I thought reasonable, say 3k. Than a few days later, that same project would have like 30+ bids where most of the freelancers seemed to be more qualified, and were bidding a lot less for the same project.

A better method I found, is to create a project/website that you think might be profitable, and hire freelancers to help you out
By the way, as a freelancer where do you get most of your projects?

[chadcharlie]

I'm a freelance copy writer and IT de-bugger on the side. I once read an article that said you could identify a writer if you ripped off his socks and shoes and saw impeccably clean toe nails, because they spend time in-between key strokes figuring out what to do with themselves and inevitably cut their nails to the point of OCD.

I've never observed that or heard of it though. Probably just that one author.

Anyway, I take my work out the house sometimes to create the "cooler," and I also run skype as I'm working for brief chats with other freelancers!

Take care,
Chad.

[clove]

I'm also a freelance writer. I primarily write textbooks. However, I am trying to move into the eBook market, effectively turning my income passive.

[jgerminario]

@Chadcharlie My toenails are of pretty normal length... but my kitchen is ridiculously clean. Not a coincidence. There are plenty of unproductive activities you can justify as 'productive' when you don't want to get around to the latest big project...

@Hervens I've been freelancing for 7-8 months now, and I have had the good fortune to get a good deal of work through people I knew. I started by volunteering marketing and copywriting services to a local YMCA. This produced two web design and web copy / editing jobs thanks to a very helpful supervisor. I also got a big web copy contract by running into an old TA at a party

I avoid freelancing sites like elance like the plague. Every writer on there is selling themselves disgustingly short... or else they are no good in the first place. I am now in the middle of a big marketing push through cold calls. This seems, in part, to be the way the profession works – right place, right time. Nothing certain has materialized from the cold calling yet, but I have several promising prospects with potential projects.

Though maybe if I get somewhere with this, I'll start hiring freelancers to do the work after I snag the contracts

Chad, just out of curiosity, how do you find your work?

[Peterw]

I'm an IT contractor if that counts?

[stevebrule]

Right now I'm a college student majoring in Writing, but I really want to work freelance copywriting/communications as a career (surprise surprise I read the well fed writer). Any tips for getting started? What is my best option to build a portfolio before I market for clients? Should I make spec. samples, or volunteer my services to someone? I'd really appreciate any advice.

[Alice Hive]

Originally Posted by stevebrule

Should I make spec. samples, or volunteer my services to someone? I'd really appreciate any advice.

As a freelance musician I always do both:
- Offer your services for interesting projects (for free): That will not only help you to get some work done for your portfolio but you will also will meet new people from the industry (very important!)

- If you're not involved in other's people projects, create your own projects
That way you keep improving your skills, gain valuable experience and have something to show for if you need it. I usually publish my finished work online. That has also helped me to get new project and job offers (because people are aware of my work even if I don't show it to them personally).

[Agota]

I'm a freelance writer as well