If I suggested you double the fees you charge, maybe you’d tell me that none of your clients would use you.
That sounds reasonable.
After all, as freelancers we don’t set out to charge less than we can. We think we know what our clients and prospects will accept, and we write up our estimates accordingly.
Suddenly I have strange superpowers and I’m going to force you to double your fees anyway.
In common with most freelancers and entrepreneurs, I’m a risk-taker.
It’s risky to run your own business. It’s risky when you have bills to pay, but no guarantee that you will be picking up new projects next month.
But that’s the nature of being a freelance writer or copywriter.
We take risks because we like the freelance lifestyle, and because we hope to earn more than we would as an employee.
But…
Too many freelancers believe it’s enough to find a niche that seems “OK”, and just dive in.
Not so.
If you want your freelance business to be as profitable, productive and enjoyable as possible, there are five elements you need to consider.
As a freelancer or other type of solo professional, you doubtless worry about how you can stand out among so many competitors.
You write articles. You send Tweets. You keep in touch on Facebook and LinkedIn.
But so does everyone else.
So how can you separate yourself from the crowd?
Many freelancers find it hard to say no.
When work comes their way, they say yes to every project.
They say yes to working evenings and weekends when their clients have a looming deadline.
And they say yes when clients and prospects ask for a reduction in fees.
In isolation, and on rare occasions, there is nothing wrong with saying yes in any of these circumstances. But…
As freelancers we have to generate our own energy and momentum.
We don’t have colleagues or managers to give us a quick boost. Nor do we have group meetings or off-site brainstorming days.
At times we can do a great job of creating internal momentum for ourselves. At other times it becomes hard, and we feel ourselves running down, like a battery losing its charge.
And then there are times when we are given a little extra energy from an outside source. Like…