Managing Your Freelancer

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

In an effort to provide consistency within the freelance market, it is only fair to provide potential clients with some insight into managing their freelance contractors. By its very name, freelancing implies a level of “freedom” in comparison to the average 8:00 am to 5:00 pm traditional style job. As such, it is important to understand that as a client, you may or may not be that contractor’s only client. It is also important to understand that not all contractors are created equal.

If you have worked with freelancers before, then you have probably run across that “flighty” freelancer. The one that operates as a free-spirit, never to be tied down by the confines of structure…or a due date. Personally, I have always wondered how these freelancers manage to make a decent living. As a client, you would most likely be wondering when and if you will ever get a finished product.

Free-spirit freelancers may be able to do good work and even provide you with a great finished product. The question is, can you count on that? Are you willing to risk the implications of a free-spirit for a freelancer?

The choice is yours. The majority of professional freelancers require a set of guidelines to work with. The more experienced the freelancer, the more stringent the guidelines are likely to be. Here are a few examples of what most freelancers require in order to be productive, efficient, and effective in their work:

A clear, defined outline of the project and your expectation of the result
A time-frame for production
Regular communication
Regular feedback
A clear contract that outlines not only how much the freelance contractor will be paid, but when they will be paid, along with how and what the payment is based upon
Is there a non-disclosure agreement involved and if so, who is providing it
Who the freelancer will be working with, including all contact information, job title, who they report to, and what their contribution to the project will be
Who the freelancer is ultimately responsible to, including contact information, job title, and what their contribution to the project will be
To whom does the contractor submit issues of concern
What to do with the remaining documents that were used to perform and complete the project

Every contract is different. There is truly no “written in stone” method to working with your freelance contractor. For a client that is new to working with freelancers and freelance contractors, it will be more advantageous to work with someone that has experience. Of course, you are probably going to pay a higher rate for a more experienced freelancer. This stands to reason as the experienced freelancer has a reputation to draw upon and will be able to guide you through the process.

For those of you who have already ventured into the world of freelance contractors, then you may be comfortable enough to hire someone new to the industry. As you are probably already aware, just because your potential contractor is new to freelancing, does not necessarily mean that they are inexperienced in what it is that they do. Every freelance contractor had their very first freelance job.

Hiring a freelancer is very similar to hiring a traditional employee, with the exception that they should come with a portfolio that evidences the caliber of their work. Even a new freelancer, if they are truly dedicated to crafting a freelance career, will have created a portfolio of examples of the work that they can do.

Frankly, much of my own portfolio is a display of my own personal work, rather than that of a client. This is due, in large part, to privacy issues. Many clients that I have worked with and continue to work with, require an NDA. Privacy and security is a huge part of a freelance contractor’s world, not to mention the business world as a whole.

In essence, when you are working with a freelance contractor, be clear in what it is you desire from them. Be prepared for and remain diligent in your communication and feedback. You don’t have to speak daily, but you should not go two weeks without some type of communication taking place. Be sure the rest of your team is on the same page as you and your contractor. If your contractor is receiving conflicted message from your team, then you will lose your contractor.

If you are hiring a freelance contractor for a long-term assignment, then be prepared to sign a contract that clearly defines what happens if you or the contractor desires to terminate the contract prior to completion. Remember, a professional freelancer’s financial stability relies upon how much work is coming in and out of the door. If you fail to perform the contract as directed, then that freelancer is left scrambling to fill the financial gap you have left them. The same must be considered for you if your contractor pulls out before finishing the job.

As a potential client seeking a freelance contractor, there is really no need to be leery, just be diligent. At the very least, put in as much time and research as you would if you were hiring this person as an employee. Be sure they are who they say they are. Remember, you are opening up your business, to some degree, to a total stranger that you will not be seeing on a daily basis, and, for all intent purposes, will be working on their own, unsupervised by you. Better to err on the side of caution then regret the decision later.

One last thing I want to mention, reputation is a two way street. Freelancers have their own “grapevine.” This means that if you are not an honorable client, then the word will spread. Just as you will give a poor review if your freelance contractor was not up to par, the same will be done to you. It is very important to ensure that all parties understand every part of the contract before moving forward.

I live by this saying by Theodore Roosevelt, ““If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”

How to Choose a Freelancer

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

Choosing a freelancer can be a mind-boggling experience. With the current economic status, many people are choosing to work in non-traditional methods, including freelancing. This can leave potential clients at a loss when choosing the best contractor for their work.

There are a few key issues that a client may want to consider before even beginning their quest. First and foremost, not all freelancers are made alike. Freelancer’s are just like the people you hire to work within the confines of your company, except, you do not have the luxury of looking over their shoulder to ensure the work is being completed as you desire. Second, you get what you pay for…

Of course you want to get the best deal possible, doesn’t everyone? You also know that when a deal sounds too good, it probably is, so keep this in mind when you are searching the masses for your perfect freelance contractor.

What Kind of Jobs Can Freelancers Do?

Freelancers come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and abilities. Some work from home and others work from an office. Some freelancers have experience as a freelancer, where there are many who lack this experience. Either way, a professional freelancer should be able to provide you with proof of what they can do for you.

Virtual Administrative Assistant
Freelance Copywriter
Freelance Copy-editor
Freelance Journalist
Freelance Marketing Creator
Freelance Web Designer
Freelance CSR
Freelance Social Media Expert
Freelance Writer
Freelance Editor

So, you can see, it is not as simple as hiring a freelance writer or a freelance editor. You can hone in on the freelancer with the greatest amount of experience and expertise in your desired area. Not all freelancers are created equally. Some freelance writers are great at health related topics and politics, others are great at creating SEO article content to drive more readers to your website. It all depends on what it is you are looking for.

Tips for Choosing a Freelancer

There are a lot of opinions on how to choose the best freelancer for your project. It is going to depend on the type of project, but there are some basic guidelines to follow.

Have a clear vision of what it is you need from your freelancer
Look at their portfolio (almost every type of freelancer is going to have a portfolio and a resume. If they are a Virtual Administrative Professional, they may only have a resume, but ask for examples of excel spreadsheets and other types of documents that you may require in your project)
If at all possible, get a referral
Follow-up on their references-don’t just get a list, call them or email them to find out how the project went
Look through their personal website
If you are hiring a freelance editor, as for specific examples of their work. If they are willing, send them a “test” piece of one or two pages for them to edit for free. If you need more than one or two “double-spaced” pages to use as an example, be prepared to pay a fair rate for those pages
Be sure that your freelancer is clear on delivery times
Be clear on the pricing and expectation of the contract

Let me just add this, I, like many freelance writers and editors, do not do “test for free” sample projects…at least I tend to steer clear of them. Rarely do I break this rule and provide a “test” sample. My portfolio and resume speak for themselves. If there is a particular type of work you would like to see that is not included in my portfolio, then I am happy to provide it to you. If I do not have a reference piece that fits your criteria, then I will do a “test” piece…a small test piece.

Also, bear in mind, when you are looking for a ghostwriter, many times we are prohibited by NDA from providing you any reference material or contact information. This is where it can get a little sticky for the client as well. Just because a freelance “ghoster” states that they are “published” doesn’t make it so. Once again, their portfolio should be able to reflect the caliber of their work.

Choosing a freelancer is crucial to the success of your project. Personality is still a part of the overall process. As much as I despise Skyping, it does provide you with the opportunity to meet “almost” face-to-face with your potential freelancer. If you are hiring someone to work customer service, you do want to make sure that they speak clearly and have a pleasant tone to their voice. If you are hiring a writer, how they look and how they talk is of little consequence. Yet, you will be working with this person, so you will want to make sure that your personalities mesh.

Let me reiterate, the cheapest freelancer is not necessarily the best choice. Nor would the most expensive freelancer necessarily be the best option. There are a number of freelancer for hire websites where you can have them bid on your project. There are also a lot of writing and editing websites, just like the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, that have a list of freelance professionals you can contact. You can visit my profile and portfolio, right here on NAIWE.

Okay, so look for my next post where we will cover some basics in managing your freelancer and how to ensure you get what you pay for. We will also discuss non-disclosure agreements and how they apply to copyright law.

Until next time, eat, drink, read, and write…you will be happier for it.

Surviving Competition for Freelance Writers and Editors

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

As a freelance writer, I receive many opportunities to write, edit, and ghostwrite on a number of different topics. The issue is seldom that there is not enough work to go around. More, it is an issue of what a writer feels their talent is worth.

Of course, we all feel that we deserve fair compensation for our work and our talent. What is “fair” in this economy? The cost of living varies from state to state, not to mention from country to country. So how does a writer compete with others who are willing to work for less than a penny a word?

A Google search of “average freelance charges” in the literary vein provides quite an array of choices. Frankly, every time I do a search for average charges, I feel as though I am under-cutting myself. More often than not, I find myself charging less than what the market supposedly calls for.

Perhaps a more realistic view of “average charges” can be derived from searching through those “freelance” connection sites that offer an array of contractors for clients to pick and choose from. A contractor bids on a perspective client’s project, and the rest is history.

My favorite source for pricing my work comes from writersmarket.com (http://www.writersmarket.com/assets/pdf/How_Much_Should_I_Charge.pdf). This organization takes a great deal of time to put together a reference for various freelance services. Yet, there is a wide gap between the rates listed in the pdf file and the rates many freelancer’s are charging on freelance work-for-hire websites.

When I began my quest to work full-time as a freelance writer and editor, I swore by the information provided in the Writer’s Market guide. Then reality set in. The simple fact was, I wasn’t getting much work. I wasn’t winning those bids. I was, however, becoming quite discouraged.

Alas, I found myself giving in to the need to feed the monster. I began adjusting my rate to more of a middle ground between the ridiculous 0.001 cents per word often bid by those freelancers residing in third world countries and the lowest charge in the Writer’s Market guide of .25 cents per word. I was devastated.

The fact remains, there are always going to be those companies that fail to recognize the adage “you get what you pay for.” Now, when I lose a bid to someone who did the “ridiculous” bid, I tell myself, we’ll see that client back looking for an editor. And most of the time I am correct in that assumption.

I suppose the lesson here is that it takes time to build a reputation as a freelancer. It takes even more time to build a pool of reputable clients that recognize the value of quality work and are willing to pay for that quality. Even more important, it takes a long time to learn what to do and what not to do when bidding for freelance jobs.

Here is my advice for the day:

Build your portfolio
Decide what you can live with for pay (how much you hope for and how much you can get by on), start in the middle.
Bid on jobs that the content is something you already know about and already of the necessary source material to refer to
If the pay sounds too good to be true…it is
Never do a “free trial” sample…that is what your portfolio is for. If you do not have an example that fits that type of job, make one up
Check your copy scape often to make sure that your work is not being copied
Self-Brand
Self-Promote
Network
Be flexible
DON’T GIVE UP

I am by no means an expert on freelance writing and editing. I am, however, and expert on surviving to make my dreams come true. I have fumbled, dropped the ball, been sacked, and even crossed the finish line a few times. It is an amazing journey to self-fulfillment and accomplishing your goals.

Slowly, I am finding the path to ensuring that writing remains my passion, while making it my living as well. You can too!

What’s Your Brand?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

As a Freelance Writer, there are a number of different opportunities to write copy. Whether you are writing sales and promotion copy, or you are writing article content, the opportunities are boundless. But during this process, how often do you take into consideration your own Personal Brand?

Professional Freelance Writers and Editors are well acquainted with the concept of Organizational/Corporate Branding. Unfortunately, even armed with this knowledge, we often forget to put the same efforts into optimizing our own Freelance Brand.

With the emergence of social media, leveraging a Personal Brand is not only essential, but critical to your professional growth. You must develop an online presence that reflects your talent and your professional capabilities. Presenting a positive Personal Brand is a key aspect to a successful business as a Freelance Writer and Editor.

You must ensure that you create a Personal Brand that reflects who you are and what you have to offer in an honest and professional manner. Your Personal Brand is your reputation, it is who you are, what you have done, and what you plan on doing.

As a Freelance Ghostwriter, one of the most difficult issues to deal with is building a portfolio. Considering that Ghostwriting is primarily indicative of anonymity, it can be a somewhat challenging undertaking to prove your ability as a writer. Never-the-less, a writer learns that it is necessary to create that portfolio through one’s own endeavors rather than rely on their collection of Work-for-Hire products.

Once you have created a complete portfolio, the issue become marketing your talent. In order to market you talent or your abilities as a Wordsmith, you must begin promoting your Personal Brand. You do this through a number of avenues:

Build your website
Build your Linkedin Profile
Build your Twitter Feed
Build your Social Media presence with skill and professionalism

That last one is a double-edged-sword. Facebook is a wonderful means to build your Social Media presence, but be mindful of those “party” photos and personal comments. Always remember to be respectful and hold the highest level of etiquette when posting.

Although Blogging is somewhat different that writing informative article content, there should always be a level of professionalism in your writing. After all, a primary reason for your Blog is to drive traffic to your Freelance Writing and Editing business.

There are still the tried and true forms of building your Personal Brand. A good resume and business cards. Even though a large portion of a Freelance Writer and Editor’s business is conducted online, these tools are necessary to promote both online and face-to-face Personal Branding. A Freelancer without a resume and business cards is a Freelancer without a lot of business.

So, go forth, build your Personal Brand, expand your professional presence online, in the social media, and in face-to-face contact. Build your Freelance Writing and Editing business through promoting your Personal Brand.

Remember to check in with me on www.besthirefreelance.com!

Writers and Responsibility

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

Recently, a curious question was posed on one of the many forums I follow. Many of the people following this forum are professional freelance writers, published authors, and aspiring authors. The question was “Is it a writer’s duty to be the voice of his/her society?” Interesting question, is it not? Does a writer compose with the voice of the people in mind or does a writer compose based purely on desire of the subject matter?

One could argue that the media holds a fiduciary responsibility to the people, to ensure the content that they are providing across the airways via television, radio, and movies, will take into consideration the audience that may be watching and listening. The same could be said of writers.

In the past, there was the expectation of the news media to provide a litany of truthful reports, rather than the abomination of opinion reporting we are subjected to more often than not today. One needs only watch one news report on a particular subject, then switch to another news reporting agency to listen to a report on the same subject, only to find two entirely different underlying tones. Both, obviously choosing to report more on a subjective basis than objective basis.

So where does that leave the writer who views their trade more as an art than a product of a society smothered in political subterfuge? Is the writer of fiction held to a level of responsibility to ensure their content reflects the voice of his/her society? After all, it is fiction.

Of course, even in fiction, there is an element of fact. In order to write good fiction, the story must track. It must be, somewhat, believable. In order to accomplish that task, a great deal of research is often involved.

For instance, a good murder mystery requires research of the environment that the story takes place in. Not to mention, law enforcement regulations, anatomy and physiology, and an understanding of weaponry. Even Science Fiction requires research. A writer may be able to dream up a fictitious, far away planet inhabited by an Alien species, but the story will require an elemental understanding of space physiology at the very least.

Even though writing fiction is a very different beast than writing non-fiction, there must be an element of truth reflected in the story to engage the reader. Therefore, by association, the question of a writer’s duty would still apply, if in fact a writer does have a duty to be the voice of his/her society.

The author of a Historical Novel will no doubt combine a great deal of research with the art of telling an interesting story. This is most likely one of the major fiction arenas that requires more factual based context than Science Fiction or a Romance Novel. Yet, by design, the Historical Novel is still a work of fiction unless otherwise stated.

Another freelance writing area that many authors center their work on, is Children’s Stories and Children’s Books. How much fact is actually included in a book written solely for the purpose of providing entertainment for young children? Yet, if we hold to the concept that “children are our future,” then it is also presumed that the writer would have a duty to be the voice of his/her society. In essence, in writing for children, the duty or responsibility become even greater to ensure the content reflects well on society.

When professing to write factual content, then the answer to the question is clear. Yes, a writer has a duty to be the voice of his/her society. The writer is responsible for providing truth, not opinion, honest factual based content is presumed by the reader. The question still remains whether a writer of fiction is held to some level of this duty.

In a society overrun with games, music, and movies depicting some of the most heinous of crimes against humanity, the question of a writer’s duty is most fair to ask. These products would not be available without the creative processes of a writer of some kind. To perpetuate the cycle of violence and criminal behavior for the sake of “entertainment” could easily be considered a lack of duty on the part of the writer.

Freelancing: Freedom For Writers

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

The greatest challenge a Freelance Writer faces is facing themselves. The simple truth is, by design, writers are “artistic,” lack structure, and flitter about life as if they have know roots. Or at least, that is how society often views “Writers.”

This is no longer the case, or, in essence, is only part of the bigger picture. Professional freelance writers have learned to use the variety of tools that are now available to them to help maintain a more structured environment without dampening their creativity.

Freelance Writing Tools

Depending on your email, you can always use your default calendar
Essential PIM-http://www.essentialpim.com/
Toggl for time tracking-https://www.toggl.com/
yaTimer for time tracking-http://www.nbdtech.com/yaTimer/
ZenWriter for your writing-http://www.beenokle.com/zenwriter.html
yWriter for writing-download it for free at http://download.cnet.com/yWriter-5/3000-2079_4-77524.html
TextExpander saves time on repeat emailing-http://www.smilesoftware.com/TextExpander/index.html
Tweetdeck connects all your social media-http://www.tweetdeck.com/

Don’t forget all of the tools that Google has to offer. There are a number of excellent tools that assist freelance writers in their daily tasks, keeping them organized and free to do what they do best…Write!

What about finding the freelance writing job? That is most certainly an important part of a freelance writer’s world. Where do you find them, what do you need in order to find work, how much do you charge…it never stops. Just do a search on Google for “Freelance Writing Jobs” and see what you get. Some 4,510,000 is what you will find.

Freelance writing has become a “fashionable” way of making money. There are ton of “wanna-be” writers flooding the market today. Heck, we were all one of those “wanna-bee’s,” some of us are still in the transition from “wanna-be” writer to “newbie” writer. No doubt, that transition has been plagued with a number of pit-falls and money-sucking machines all touting that their product is capable of taking you to a top money making freelancer.

Never fear, if your heart’s desire is to be a freelance writer, then it can be done. After all, it’s already been done by so many truly talented writers. However, it was not accomplished over-night. Diligence and stubbornness are definite pre-requisets to becoming a successful Freelance Writer.

There are a number of Freelance Websites that can be found on the World Wide Web, some good, some not so good. Everyone has different experiences with each site. You won’t know which one works for you until you give them a try. Some you pay, some you don’t. I suggest starting with the “free” version unless you have inside information about the inner-workings of these site.

There is a down-side to the Freelance Websites…there are a lot of freelancer’s selling their craft at an extremely low rate. These contractors come from all over the world, as do the potential clients. Beware of falling into that “low bid” pitfall. Decide what your bottom price is for the work you turn out. I personally have no intention of selling my work for a penny a word. It can be difficult, but I stand by the belief that you get what you pay for. When I lose a contract to a “low bidder” I think to myself…well, that contractor is going to get what they pay for and will probably be back looking for editing or rewriting for that job.

That is simple logic. It has been a part of every industry known to man. If you want quality work, then you have to pay for a quality buyer. Remember, there are two sides to that coin. If you sell your work cheap, that is the reputation will be fighting in the future.

Freelance Websites

Elance-https://www.elance.com/ (I have had a great amount of success with this site, others have not.)
Freelancer.com (acquired Scriptlance as well)-http://www.freelancer.com/
Guru.com-http://www.guru.com/
Journalism Jobs-http://www.journalismjobs.com/
iFreelance-http://www.ifreelance.com/
Freelance Writing Jobs-http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/

The bottom line is, as a member of NAIWE, it doesn’t matter what stage of the game you are in. There are great sources to draw from, right here on this website. Whether you want to be a writer of Novels or a Freelance Blogger, it is important to do your research, study your craft, and most important…NEVER STOP WRITING.

Until next week, keep tapping away at those keys! Don’t forget to check out http://www.besthirefreelance.com.

WARNING! Word-Smith Ahead

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Brenda (B.K.) Walker

Writing is more than a passion, it is an art, a technique in delivering a message that is received in the manner intended. It is not for the faint of heart or the weak in spirit. It requires true “hands-on” living, breathing, life. Anyone can be a writer, but not everyone should.

Words are powerful. It is so important to choose them wisely and choose them well. Just imagine the impact of one single two letter word…NO. This word has multiple connotations spanning from a positive nature to a negative nature.

Amazing how two little words can carry so much power. Used without caution, without regard, the impact can be devastating. If this two letter word can carry so much weight, then imagine what the rest of a vocabulary can do.

As a writer, it is important to research, research, research every topic prior to engaging an audience. This is the difference between a professional writer and a writer. A professional writer recognizes the power of their words and the ultimate need to surround them with a proper environment.

The old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is for children who still believe in fairy-tales. The fact of the matter is, words can hurt much worse than any stick or stone. Physical wounds will ultimately heal, those wounds caused by emotional construct take much longer to heal.

This is not just a matter of negative writing…it goes beyond that. To write an article without verifiable facts and then print it for others to read carries great potential for damage. In today’s fast-paced society, people tend to believe what they read. They do not take the time to discern if the content of that writing is factually based or that of opinion.

It is our responsibility as professional writers to ensure that when we write, our readers understand the difference. Do not assume that the reader of a blog, such as “Saggy Bottom Sisterhood”, recognizes that this is the author’s opinion, most likely they do not. As a professional writer, when writing factual content, include not only the source, but a link to the source. Give the reader the opportunity to explore more on the subject.

Do not underestimate the depth and desire of the reader’s curiosity. Provide them with valuable, well written content that they can share with others. Build a rapport with the reader that allows the opportunity to become comfortable with the content. Let them immerse themselves in words. Be a word-smith, rather than a writer.

Brenda Walker

Member of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors