Tag Archives: freelance

Guide to Freelancing (Infographic)

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Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

Whether you work a full-time job, already or are fresh out of school, it’s likely you’ve considered freelancing at one point or another. It’s a great way to gain a little extra income without too much commitment, and pick up new skills in an area of specialization. If you’re curious about freelancing, or are finding that you freelance client list keeps growing, you may wonder if you should simply freelance full-time.

While going freelance means you can work anytime and anywhere you want, it also means that your income is entirely dependent on the work you’re able to do. You gain more freedom, but you also lose some security. It’s entirely possible that you’ll have some months when you’re barely scraping by, and some months when you can’t seem to keep up. The unpredictable nature of freelancing can take a toll on your health and your finances if you aren’t prepared for the ride.

You’ll need a healthy emergency fund, good client communication skills, and a support system in place to make sure you don’t get bogged down by any setbacks. To find out whether or not you’re ready to freelance full-time, check out this visual by Turbo below:Continue reading→

7 Side Hustles for Busy People Who Want to Earn Extra Cash

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Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

To some people, this is referred to as “moonlighting”. Other people tend to call it their “hobby that pays”. It doesn’t matter what you happen to call your side hustle, it isn’t simply something that will allow you to bring in a bit more cash. Your side hustle can actually be a quite valuable addition to your current career. It can give you the connections and skills that otherwise, you would never acquire. Let’s take a quick peek at some of the side hustles you can do that can earn you that extra money you need. Continue reading→

Lessons Learned from Making Money as a Professional Blogger by Miranda Marquit

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Miranda Marquit Headshot 2012

Unlike many of my fellow journalism-school graduates, I didn’t get a job at a newspaper or a magazine. I knew I wanted to work from home as a freelance writer. I wanted to stay home with my son, and have flexibility to enjoy travel and time with my husband. Without experience, however, it is difficult obtain gigs with magazines and newspapers.

So I looked online.

Online Writing

I began looking for online gigs. When I first started, I mainly wrote articles focused around keywords designed to draw traffic. However, blogging soon became a popular method of marketing, and I began providing content to blogs.

With search engines focusing on fresh content, more and more sites began looking for writers. I wrote for a physics web site, providing original reporting on breakthroughs. I began writing financial content a variety of web sites. I wrote on everything from weddings to investing to window treatments.

Everything was handled from my home office, including interviews with the subjects of my writing. Soon, I was the primary breadwinner – and I spent half the day in my pajamas!

Lessons Learned

While the Internet does provide opportunities to earn money, you do need to be careful. Here are some of the things I’ve learned during the my few years building my freelance business:

  • Create a business plan: When I first started, I didn’t think of my efforts as a business. However, after a couple of years, I realized that a business plan was in order. I had no direction, and things were haphazard. With the help of a CPA, I decided my business should be organized as a LLC, and I began creating a direction for my writing business. No matter what is your business, you will achieve more target growth and results, if you sit down and make a plan.
  • Get it in writing: Make sure that clients agree to your terms. Get it in writing, either via email or hardcopy. There are a number of resources that offer templates you can use as you create agreements. From agreements you make with clients, to agreements you make with employees and contractors, it helps to have something concrete to call on so that everyone is on the same page.
  • Make sure you’re paid: At one point, early in my career, a big client stopped paying. He assured me that the money was on the way, and that I would be paid at any time. $2,000 later, I finally stopped doing the work. I never did get paid. Now, I stop working much sooner. For large projects, I ask for half the money up front. This worked out well recently when a client ignored my final invoice after I finished the work. I’m considering turning the account over to collections, or pursuing it in small claims court. Take precautions, and be willing to stop working on a project when you aren’t compensated as agreed.
  • Networking is key: It really is, in some ways, about who you know. If you want to grow your business, get to know others. Network in person and online. Social media can be a great way to get to know people. I met my business partner through social media, and then we met in person. You can attend networking events and conferences, and connect with people who can help your business grow. Just remember that you need to help others, even as you receive help.

I’ve enjoyed carving out my niche as a personal finance blogger, and I love that I’ve been able to do it without sacrificing time with my family. Plus, it’s something I can do from anywhere – from my basement home office to the destination of my next road trip.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miranda’s business is Miranda Marquit Freelancing, LLC. She specializes in providing blog content for a variety of financial web sites. In addition to blogging, Miranda has ghostwritten several books, and provides a number of other writing and editing services. She is the co-author of Community 101: How to Grow an Online Community, and her blog is www.PlantingMoneySeeds.com.